Page 34 of Hello Goodbye Amore

“You need to come in here,” his father said in a measured tone that set his stomach churning. His mother was usually the one who led the sort of talk he was expecting, but his father…. This was worse than he thought.

He entered the room, finding his mother and father sitting rigidly on the sofa. “We need to talk. This is very important,” his mother said. “I believe there is some information that you have neglected to tell us.” She cocked her head slightly to the side.

Antonello nodded. “Yes, there probably is.”

His father leaned forward. “Why didn’t you tell us?” He sounded hurt, which was not the reaction he had expected from his traditional father, especially about this sort of thing.

“Because I didn’t know how to. You and Mother are so traditional. I understand that I have a duty to the family, andI’ve always put that first… but I also deserve to be happy, and it’s time I stopped hiding the person that I am.”

His parents turned to one another and shared one of those silent conversations that came with being together for decades. “What are you talking about?”

Antonello paused, wondering what was going on. “The fact that I’m gay and that I have feelings for another man. That I will never marry a woman, and that no matter how many Mother tries to fix me up with, I will never fall in love with just the right girl.”

There, he had said it. Whatever happened, he was now being honest with his parents, and if they turned their backs on him, then so be it. The family would find themselves in the hands of his cousin Lorenzo, and God help all of them.

His mother blinked as though she couldn’t believe her ears, and his father almost seemed like he had been slapped. “My son is afrocio?” he said softly.

Antonello glared at his father. “Your son is gay, and I am still your son. Never use that word again.” His father startled at his vehemence. “I will not be disrespected or spoken down to because of who I am. I’ve hidden a big part of myself from both of you because I was afraid of how you would feel, but I don’t care any longer. You can think whatever you want, and you can cut me out of the family, but I will still be the same person, and I will not change to please either of you.”

His mother’s red lips parted and then closed again before she nodded slowly. “That explains a lot, but it changes nothing.” Her glaze hardened, and she stood and left the room without another word.

“I never thought she would not know what to say,” Antonello said as he turned to his father, ready for the onslaught.

“Being a member of this family comes with a price. I know it.” His father put his hands in his lap. “Your mother and I were not each other’s first choice. I was eighteen, and I fell in love with the daughter of one of the men who worked in the shop on the Ponte Vecchio. She had long black hair and eyes that sparkled like the stars. She also didn’t stand for any of my attitude and gave as good as I did. Claudia and I were very evenly matched, but my father put his foot down and said that I was never to marry her. That she was not the kind of person that his son should be marrying. Then he spoke to her father and arranged for her to be sent away to school in France. I was never to see her again, and as long as I kept my promise, then Claudia would be able to pursue her dreams.” His father sighed. “I let her go because we snuck into the Boboli gardens more than once, lying on the grass, looking up at the stars as we told each other our dreams. She wanted to be a doctor, and I didn’t want to stand in her way.” His father swallowed. “A year later, your grandmother and grandfather introduced me to your mother.”

“You had to be very angry,” Antonello said, and his father nodded slowly. “Why did you just give up?”

“Because I wanted what was best for her.” He snorted, a sound Antonello had never heard his father make before. “That’s bullshit. I didn’t have the guts to stand up to them. I backed down and told myself that if she was happy, I could live with it. I went along with what they wanted, and I married the girl they wanted me to marry. I was lucky, because your mother is an amazing woman, and I grew to love her very quickly.”

Antonello had never heard this story before, and he was intrigued. “Did you love her when you married her?”

“No,” his father said honestly. “But that changed within the first year we were together. She shared my dreams and helped me lay the foundations for the expansion of the business. Your mother has never failed to support any decision I’ve made.”

Antonello nodded. “But what does this have to do with me? I meant what I said. I will not marry a girl to please you, and I will not hurt someone that way.” He leaned forward, drawing closer to his father. “And I will not allow my mother to canvass her friends to find out if they have gay sons. I will find my own partner.” He knew his mother well. She might bluster and put up a fight, but once she accepted the situation, she would be back to trying to get him married, one way or another.

“Your mother and I only want you to be happy.”

He met his father’s steely gaze with one of his own. “And there is the issue. You think you know what would make me happy. You do not. In fact, you and Mother don’t have a clue, because you do not know me. You only know the person I’ve allowed you to see. Like I said, I will choose my own mate.” He turned to leave the room.

“Antonello,” his father said as he reached the door. “I’m sure you will.” He stood as well. “Now I need to see to your mother. There was something she wanted to discuss with us, but it seems that conversation will need to wait for now.” He patted Antonello on the shoulder and left the room.

Antonello had no idea if what had just happened was good or bad. He was pretty sure he had his father’s support, but his mother… well, that was another matter. He was tempted to go find her and get whatever she had in mind brought out into the open, but he didn’t want to push.

Maybe it was best if he let his father talk to her first. His dad had a way of soothing his mother’s nerves, and as long as his father accepted him, then his mother would eventually come to terms with the fact that he was gay. As much as she might try to push or prod him, she wouldn’t go directly against his father.

Antonello poured himself a drink from the bar in the corner and went up to his room, where he sat at his desk and tried to get some work done, but he couldn’t concentrate.

I told my mother and father about me, he said to Chase in a text.

That got an almost immediate answer.Are you okay? Did they take it well? Do you need to come over here to get away from them?Leave it to Chase to be supportive no matter what.

I’m fine. My mother walked out, but my father and I had a good talk. I think things between us are going to be okay.

I had that feeling, Chase sent, and Antonello found himself smiling.

You were right. Now I just have to deal with the fallout of whatever my mother decides that she thinks is in my best interest.He typed the words, hoping he got them right.I’ll have to wait and see how things shake out.

It will be okay, and now you can be yourself. You don’t need to hide any longer, and I hope you’ll find that freeing. I did once I stopped trying to pretend and didn’t worry about it all the time.He sent a smiley face, and Antonello sent one back. Whatever happened, he knew he could see it through. Still, Antonello didn’t want to be alone, and right now he felt very much like he was flying solo.

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