Page 129 of The Deadly Candies

“Brought something special for tonight—Lovecraft’s 'The Call of Cthulhu.'”

“That sounds scary,” Kathy murmured, then hesitated. “Ely reads…” Her voice trailed off.

The air thickened.The words hung between them.

Carmelo’s eyes darkened slightly. “He doesn't like me much, does he?”

“I don’t want to fight about Ely!” Kathy sighed.

“He doesn’t like me? Doesn’t approve of us?” Carmelo's voice grew tight. “At first, I understood. I wanted you protected down South, to have a friend when I couldn’t be there. But then I saw the way he looked at me. It's not about me being Italian—it's about you. He loves you.”

“No! He's just my friend?—”

“Don’t lie, Kathy!” Carmelo shouted.

“You’re ruining everything.” She stood abruptly in her nightdress.

Carmelo rose quickly, towel slipping slightly before he caught it. “I'm sorry. I'm just jealous—insanely jealous. Ely has your family’s approval. Suppose I looked like him, all of this would go away. Your father would accept me. My mother and your mother would be best friends. There wouldn’t be an issue anywhere for us to love each other. You have no idea how much I want that.”

“What do you want from me, Carmelo? Yes, Ely said he loves me. He’s told me more than once. And I told him I love you! More than once!”

“Have you kissed him?” Carmelo’s voice trembled.

She stared, shocked.

“Have you?” he demanded again.

“No, never! I told him no,” Kathy said, eyes filling with tears.

“But there's more, isn't there?”

“Don't make me say it…” she pleaded.

“Say it, Kathy!” he insisted, stepping closer.

“My Daddy wants me to marry him,” she confessed softly. “He wants me to go back to Mississippi, marry him, have a baby, then he can get your father to lift the price he put on my life!”

Carmelo froze, shaken. Kathy lifted her tear-streaked face. “My family is broken, Melo. My Daddy’s life has been in danger since the attic. My parents need each other, and they both need me. I love you with my soul, but I can't let my daddy suffer, die, or be shamed and chased out of Harlem because of us.”

Carmelo pulled her close, holding her as she wept. “There’s another way,” he whispered fiercely. “I promise you, I’ll find it,” he murmured against her hair.

When the tears subsided, they lay together quietly, Carmelo softly reading Lovecraft’s eerie tale to her as she curled closer, escaping briefly into fantasy, away from harsh reality. Then they made love again, gentle, tender, their whispered vows healing their fears and doubts. Vows no one could sever.

She slept soundly beside him, peace lingering through their final night together.

Too soon, dawn approached. Debbie knocked urgently, reality returning sharply. José had gone for Ely, signaling their time was up.

Carmelo gently dressed her, comforting her with soft whispers and brave promises. Their final kiss was heartbreakingly tender before she vanished down the stairs.

Outside, Ely stood waiting, unable to meet her eyes. Kathy glanced back at the apartment window, knowing Carmelo watched hidden behind the curtains. Her heart clenched tightly as Debbie softly reassured her, “It’s gonna be alright, Kathy. It has to be.”

“Yeah,” Kathy sighed, leaning her head onto her cousin’s shoulder, “it has to be.”

* * *

“You ready?We get back before Ma’s done with breakfast. She might not even know we left,”Matteo said, already halfway to the door, pulling on his leather jacket. Carmelo didn’t move.

Matteo turned, scowling.“The hell’s wrong with you?”

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