Page 60 of Alfie: Part Two

I’d worn her down. She lit up with a smile every day when I stopped by. She just liked to give me shit, and she’d likely continue doing that for years to come.

It was okay.

As it turned out, my kids had become my best weapon. The moment West and I had told them about “Nonna’s accident,” they’d wanted to visit a lot, and they always had a fun story to share about Ryan, CJ, Uncle Liam…all of them. And Mom couldn’t be angry with Trip and Ellie.

“Still enjoying your mobster bagel?” I asked.

She shot me a look. “You are a menace,mijo.”

“But you love me anyway, ’cause I’m your sweet baby boy.” I grinned.

She scoffed. “I can’t say sweet anymore.” Her next bite of the bagel was more delicate, as if it might bite her back. “You know, West gave me a lot to think about. I have put you on a pedestal. I have to remember you are not flawless.”

Hey, whatever worked for her.

“Only God is,” she finished.

I snorted and rose to my feet. “Yeah, okay, Ma. I gotta get back to work. Dad will be home by five, and he said he’s bringing a casserole from Aunt Nora.” I dipped down and kissed her cheek. “You need anything else before I go?”

She shook her head and chewed. “Only more grandbabies and for you to stay safe.”

“I can make one of those happen,” I replied.

The expression she gave me was too fucking hysterical, like she couldn’t decide what she wanted the most.

“And you callmea wackadoo?! Ay!” I laughed and headed for the door.

Crazy. We weren’t having more kids. West and I had actually discussed it a couple weeks ago, and it’d been the shortest discussion. We were happy with our two-and-a-half. Life was finally great, and we just wanted to spend our time with the family. We wanted to travel more, and I definitely wanted to enjoy a new side of West that’d emerged lately. I didn’t know what it was, but sometimes he had this extra commanding presence, and he took it out on my ass several times a week.

Same routine the following day. I stopped by at my folks’ with a late breakfast while Dad was at work, and then I got stuck in traffic and scrolled through the listings West had sent me.

We’d had two new offers on my house here in the city, and I was itching to say goodbye to it. The place had been a temporary home at a shitty time in my life, and now that everything was better, I’d started feeling disconnected from all the positive things I used to feel. It no longer felt like a home, and I didn’t have many good memories painted on the walls.

Little by little, we’d begun packing shit up in boxes. The kids didn’t have much left in their rooms, and we were bringing a few boxes of old toys with us to church this Sunday.

I flicked a glance at the traffic before scrolling to the next house in West’s message. A five-bedroom on Sutton Road, but I wasn’t sure. I kind of preferred the other side of the tracks.

I texted him back.

What about the house on Wister? Did you ask if they were showing it anytime soon? (And remember, no more listings from Delco. We’re not Delco people.)

He’d sent me three listings yesterday on the other side of the county line, and I’d thought he was joking. But no, he was trying to “keep an open mind.” It’d led to a discussion about “North Delco” versus “South Delco,” before I’d shut him up with a blow job.

I lifted my gaze when the lights changed and the cars in front of me didn’t move, so I honked twice.

Nothing.

Seriously?

I honked again and rolled down the window. “Get off the road!” At the same time, I caught someone throwing their fucking Frappuccino or whatever it was on the sidewalk. “Oi! The fuck is wrong with you?!”

A few confused pedestrians looked my way briefly before they kept walking.

“You shoulda been swallowed, mate!” I yelled.

Goddamn littering. Hated it.

I huffed and started driving again, and West texted me back.

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