Page 31 of Beguiled and Broken

I wish you were here too. How is everything going there? Any closer to figuring out the shop shit?She seemed so adamant about me, Cat and the kids leaving. I’d hoped she was at least closer to figuring out what was happening.

No. Well, maybe a little bit, but it’s hard. There’s still a lot of unknowns but I’m determined to figure this out.

I looked up to see Cat standing in the doorway. I was sitting on the bed. The kids were still sleeping. She was dressed in jeans, a sweater and her hair was down in a short bob cut. She always had it pulled back. I wondered if she cut it recently. It didn’t matter. I stared too long and realized I needed to respond to Bianca.

Hey B, we’re heading out. I gotta go. Love you.

I love you too, Vin. Be careful. Xoxo

I stood up, shoving my phone in my pocket and nodding at Catarina. “Can you help me wake them up?”

“Of course.”

We woke the kids up and told them we were heading to their Nonna’s. They got excited and their eyes lit up so it didn’t take long for them to fully wake up. Gianna reached for me so I picked her up while Angelo hopped out of bed and came to my side.

Angelo said, “She’s not going to remember us, huh? We look different than before when we was little. Right, Papa?”

I smiled, reassuring him, “Oh, she’ll remember you,” and laughed. “You do look different, but your Nonna will recognize you. She gets pictures of you all the time.” He beamed with excitement. “Come on. Let’s go. Hold onto my jacket.”

Catarina spoke up. “I got him, Vinny. Angelo, hold my hand.” I’d already forgotten she was coming with us. I nodded at her and turned for the door. It was going to be a night. I was certain Ma would flip out.

*

Ma answered the door and said, “Come in my little bambinos! Come in!” Angelo was jumping with excitement. He ran right into Ma’s arms and almost knocked her over.

“Easy, Angelo. Remember what I told you. You gotta be gentle with your Nonna.”

Ma laughed and wrapped her arms around Angelo. Gianna had fallen asleep again in the car, but she was slowly waking up. Catarina carried her this time because I needed to keep Angelo under control.

Ma asked, “Where is my granddaughter?Dammi lei!” Ma motioned for Catarina to hand Gianna over and moved closer to Catarina. Catarina let her go and smiled.

I realized I hadn’t introduced them. “I’m sorry. Ma, this is Catarina. She’s the kids’ nanny.” Catarina smiled but my ma looked cautious and unimpressed.

“A nanny?” She looked at me and then back at Cat. “Sei Italiano?” She asked her.

“Yes ma’am. I’m Italian.” Catarina smiled again but looked nervous. My ma was savage. I hoped I could play interference as much as possible but when Ma sets her sights on someone, there’s no escape until she feels comfortable. And that moment, I could tell that she wasn’t comfortable with Cat.

“Nonna! Baci!” Gianna asked Ma for kisses which was a welcome distraction. The kids didn’t know much Italian besides the basics because they were still so young, but we tried to teach them as much as we could. Gianna knew kisses. Ma smiled and covered Gianna in kisses.

“Mia Gigi! Baci baci baci!” Ma continued her barrage of kisses all over Gianna’s cheeks, making her squeal and giggle uncontrollably. Gianna threw her arms around ma and hugged her tight. Ma was the only one whoever called Gianna, Gigi, but it was cute. It was special between them.

Then, Ma turned her attention back to Catarina. “You look familiar, no?”

Cat shoved her hands into her back jeans pockets and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure how ma’am. We’ve never met before. I only worked for Vinny at the restaurant in Illinois.”

Ma looked at her, still cautious, and shook her head. “Very familiar. I just can’t place you. Well, welcome. You take good care of my grandbabies, so you are welcome here.” Then, Ma turned and walked with Gianna to the living room where she sat with her on the couch.

The rest of the evening went well. We laughed and cried long into the night, recalling memories with Nonno. Ma never really felt quite comfortable with Cat and she couldn’t hide it on her face at all.

The kids were both asleep and laying on Cat’s lap when I got up to go see if Ma needed anything before we left to go back to the hotel. She was whispering on the phone with someone. It was late, so I wondered who she could be talking to at that time of night. I leaned against the counter while she glanced up at me with worry in her eyes. She finally hung up and looked down at the ground before turning toward me.

In a whisper I said, “Ma, what’s the matter? You look like someone died, again, and I can’t handle anyone else right now.”

“Vinny, I’m worried. That was Raffe…”

“Who’s Raffe? You’ve never mentioned him.”

“I did. Once, many years ago. Raffaele. Raffaele Romano.”

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