36.
“Gio,”
Here we go again.
“Yes, Mona mi,”
She appears out of nowhere and with a crazy look in her eyes.
“Why the hell haven’t you picked up AJ yet?”
I sigh, “I sent my sister to get him, I can’t drive while I’m heavily medicated you know that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
“That is my child Gio, I have every right to know what’s happening, good or bad.”
I slowly pick myself up from the wheelchair and pick up my walking stick.
“Mona please, I’m sorry, I promise that next time I’ll tell you.” I reply.
Ever since I got back, things between Mona and I have been tense and me being on a wheelchair doesn’t help. I never asked to be in this position but she makes me feel like I did, constantly talking about how I don’t do anything to help around the house and I’m not spending enough time with them and a whole bunch of other things that I can’t seem to remember. Things have changed and I don’t know if us being together is what is best for us and our son.
I walk over to her and look down at her short frame, she looks up at me and her body language shifts, she’s turned on.
If she wanted some love, she should have asked for it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She clears her throat and steps back.
“Nothing,”
I step closer to her, “Mona mi, speak to me, I’m here for you.”
She takes a deep breath in and out, “I- I
“You what dear?” I smirk.
“If you think you’re getting in between these legs, I’m sorry to disappoint you,” she says pushing me away but I grab her hand and pull her.
“Gio, let me go,”
“Mona, listen to me,” I say, she looks up at me, “I’m sorry that things have changed between us but I love you and I know that me not being able to be a man around the house is really putting you under pressure, I understand that but please don’t give up on us.”
She sighs, “I just wasn’t expecting you to come like this, I thought that when you got back, we were going to be one big happy family but we are not and, and –
“Sshh baby, I know, everything will get better okay,”
She presses her head against my chest, “I can’t wait for date night.”
I chuckle, “I know Mona mi, me too.”
“Mama,” I hear my son scream from down the hall, “Papa.”
“Coming honey,”
We make our way down the stairs and we are greeted by an overly excited one year old and a tired aunt.
“Thank you, Theresa,” I say, kissing her on the cheek, “I really appreciate you picking him up at such short notice.”
She gives me a smile, “The pleasure is all mine fratello, I’m glad I could help.”
“Honestly, T, thank you. Would like something to drink, coffee?” Mona offers.
“Oh no, no, I have to get back to work but thank you Mona,” she says.
“I’ll walk you out,’
Theresa kisses my son goodbye and hugs Mona and I walk her to her car.
“Is everything alright Fratello?”
I nod, “Yeah, things have just been strained between Mona and I, it’s been a huge adjustment for me too.”
“I understand, have you decided to quit the mafia,”
“I can’t, you know that.”
She sighs, “Honestly Gio, when will you see that this life is dangerous and now that you have son, you’re more at risk, look I know that this life is all you know but there is always something better out there.”
“I know Sis, I just, I don’t want to let my best friend down,”
“He’s letting you down by not letting you go. Vincent is selfish and only thinks of himself, I’ve always told you that and it’s time you see that, for AJ’s sake.”
“Don’t you have to get to work?”
She unlocks her car and gets in, “Think about this Gio.’
“Bye Theresa, I’ll talk to you later.”
She closes her car door and she drives off.
I walk back into the house and hear AJ laughing in the living room with his mother, I tear slides down my cheek and I wipe it away. Truth be told I’m scared of leaving the mafia but I’m even more terrified of the dangers of staying in the mafia.
I can’t abandon my brothers, they would never abandon me, right?