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“No, I didn’t do the same to her.”

“And promise you won’t,” Leonardo prodded.

“My beef is with you. Not with her. How I proceed with you will be determined by your ability not to piss me off or fuck with me and mine.”

“Fine. How do we figure this shit out?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

IT'S TIME TO TELL THE TRUTH

The meeting yesterday turned out much better than Ivy had anticipated. She had been proud of the way Manny made amends with Jasmine. He’d treated her with a great deal of empathy. This was the man she knew and loved. Manny was a good man, and his kindness towards Jasmine was all the hope she needed he wouldn’t change too much.

Acknowledging Jasmine’s son as his nephew was a tremendous step.

His actions towards Leonardo had given her pause. It was something Larson would have done, and Ivy had always been grateful that he hadn’t modelled himself after his father.

Ivy was keeping everything crossed; Leonardo did nothing to set Manny off. Her husband was holding on by a thin thread where he was concerned.

“Almost ready, Doc?” Manny asked as he encircled her waist and kissed her neck.

“Yes, I just need to grab a sweater, and we can head downstairs.” Ivy turned in his arms. “Are you sure you are up for this?”

“Well, our sperm donor probably would have preferred for both of us to be put up for adoption.” Leonardo mentioned.

That drew everyone’s interest. It was Manny who asked, “why would you say that?”

“Because he was married.”

“Wait. You said you didn’t know who he was.” Manny’s tone was full of accusations.

“I don’t, but Mom mentioned he was married in one of her journals.”

“What else did the journals have to say about him? Did she use his name, give initials?” Manny fired off the questions. He was desperate to know.

“I haven’t read all her journals. I skimmed through them, though. Mom would only refer to him asHEorHIM. She didn’t want to say his name and protected him, even in her private thoughts.” The revulsion was clear on Leonardo’s face as he spoke.

“Then you don’t know for sure that she didn’t name him. If you let me have them, I can have a team read through the journals—” Manny offered.

“I’m not giving you my Mom’s journals, and especially not to have a bunch of strangers read through her private thoughts. Absolutely not!”

Leonardo was adamant, despite Manny pleading with him.

“Listen, I know she means nothing to you, but she was all I had. I won’t allow it.” Leonardo had been absolute.

Even when Manny had insinuated that withholding the information could put his livelihood in danger. It had taken Frank and Gordie to help Manny and Leonardo reach a solution that they both were happy with.

Leonardo was bringing the journals and the five of them, the brothers, Frank, and Gordy, would read through them. While Ivy was eager for Manny to have the answers he was looking for. She wasn’t looking forward to reading the private thoughts of his mother. A woman she would never get to meet. It felt like an invasion of her privacy, but Concetta’s sons needed answers. Hopefully, she could provide them with closure from beyond the grave.

The mood was sombre as they sat in the conference room. Frank didn’t grumble about the time they were meeting up, nor did he offer any wise cracks. They waited for Leonardo and Gordy to join them.

Her husband’s brother, Ivy, supposed she could refer to him as her brother-in-law, arrived with one banker’s box. He placed the box on the table. “I brought her journals. There are eight in total. I stayed up last night and read the first one cover to cover. I’m warning you guys now, it isn’t an easy or pretty read. My Mom went through a lot. You all better be goddamned respectful of it.”

Leonardo glanced around the room, making sure he made eye contact with everyone. Including his friend. Almost everyone acknowledged what he was saying in some way. Everyone except for Manny.

“I’m telling you now. You better keep your judgment about my mother to yourself. If I hear a whisper of any judgment. I’m taking the journals and getting the fuck out of here.” Leonardo stared at Manny as he spoke.

Manny finally nodded. His brother opened the box.

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