Page 51 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
The space was vast, with enough room for a table that could seat up to ten people and a smaller circle table in a corner near the bay windows overlooking our back yard. The ceilings were high, with a bunch of windows that stretched floor to ceiling and one large chandelier hanging above the main table. A matching China cabinet sat behind my mother’s chair, and on one side, instead of chairs, there was a single tufted bench that matched the rest of the dining set.
Snatching up a roll for myself, I slid one to him as he sat on the bench and swung his little legs after taking a bite. Ivo escorted Jordan inside, and Staten was behind them with Saga, Piaget, and Tavi. Cambrie brought up the rear, eyes wide and lips slightly parted while taking in our immaculate family home.Most people had that reaction after walking through, and this was just one wing.
“Everyone take your seats so we can have prayer. Marcie, you can start bringing the food in after.”
“Yes ma’am.” Marcie nodded from my mother’s side, preparing to bow her head as the rest of us took our seats.
“Father God, we thank you for bringing us all together this evening. We are forever grateful for your grace and mercy on us. Bless this food we are about to receive for the nourishment of our bodies. Amen.” Rossi opened her eyes and peered around the table at everyone.
Marcella settled in what used to be Justus’s seat opposite her. For a moment, my mother didn’t speak as she observed her there, leaning in and poking playfully at Rogue beside her. Piaget, Saga, and Tavi all lined the bench. Ivo, Jordan, Cambrie, and Staten were lined up in order to Rossi’s left. Which left me as the odd man out. I grabbed a chair from the other table and brought it over to sit between Marcella and Rogue. Marcie trickled in dish by dish. There was roast with veggies, loaded mashed potatoes, and cornbread spread out in front of us. My stomach rumbled from the hearty fragrance floating through my nose.
“So, Cambrie, tell us a little about yourself,” Rossi encouraged, making plates for the kids and passing them along to them one by one.
Like a deer caught in headlights, Cambrie paused. She observed the kids first before glancing at Staten beside her.
“Dang, Ma, put her on the spot,” I chuckled, shaking my head.
“Well, she’s the only one sitting here that we don’t know,” Rossi intervened with a shrug.
“Um, well, I’m an only child.”
“What about your parents?” Rossi prodded.
Cambrie cleared her throat, and Staten passed her the bowl of potatoes to stack on her plate. She accepted and put two scoopfuls on her plate.
“My mother died years ago. An aneurysm,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Marcella chimed in.
“And your father?” Rossi wasn’t letting up.
She was in mama bear mode. Being the mother of three sons left her ultra protective over us, especially when it came to women. Cambrie lifted her glass to her lips and sipped her water. She swallowed and took a moment before answering.
“He’s… alive. He lives at the Rosemont Lodge now.”
“Isn’t that a long-term care facility?” Rossi questioned.
“Yes. A couple of years ago, he started showing signs of early onset dementia. He has his days where he’s lucid, but it’s becoming a lot. I had to move him to a more secure facility because they couldn’t handle him here in Oak Bluffs. His paperwork was a bit delayed, but they transferred him today.”
“What’s dementia?” Piaget questioned, scooping potatoes onto her spoon and looking up from her plate.
“It means he has problems with his memories sometimes,” Cambrie broke down for her. “He can forget where he lives, what year it is, who I am.”
“Oh. So sometimes when you see him, he don’t know who you are?” Piaget questioned.
Cambrie’s silence was evidence of a pain that seemed to sit heavily at the whole table.
“Sometimes.” She finally nodded.
“Damn,” Ivo mumbled.
“I need a real drink.” I tipped the glass of Merlot to my lips and gulped. “That shit heavy.”
“But sometimes he does remember me, and we catch up, and I love it. I don’t take it for granted because he could not be here,” Cambrie went on with misting eyes.
“A silver lining,” Marcella spoke up.
Rossi didn’t speak much the rest of the night. We ate good, talked shit, and had dessert and drinks after. The whole time she sat back, taking it all in. I wondered what was on her mind, because I found myself doing the same thing. Having Jordan and Ivo over for dinner was of the norm, but Staten and his kids was refreshing. Don’t get me wrong, they was bad as hell, and loud, but them was my nieces and nephews, and I was sticking beside them. I loved how ratchet they was.
