Chapter 65
Entering the condo with Antero holding her hand, Alcee felt her man nerves pinging wildly. The flight from Italy to New York for Torq’s parents made record time and allegedly they were already in place in the condo. Torg left work early to go meet them and bring them up to date with the news of her and Antern and she agreed to pick Antero up from school.
When she told Antero hos Torg’s parents, his grandparents, were in the conde along with an aunt, his only question was whether or not Avalanche was still there. When she then asked him if he was nervous about meeting new people has response made her question whether Torq was a good influence
“I’m
n not nervous because if they hurt me or are rude, my dad will shoot them, and Avalanche will eat their faces.”
Loud laughter coming from the kitchen propelled her to follow the poise and she realized it was the second day in a row, laughter greeted her as she came home from work. A bark as a ball bounced into the hall followed by Avalanche made Antero’s eyes light up.
“Avalanche!” he squealed and threw his arms around her neck as the dog licked his face as if they’d been separated eight days instead of right
hours
“He licks his butthole with that tongue,” Alere commented as she watched her son who was usually terrified of germs in general take a tongue to
the mouth.
“Oh my god, they’re here!” a woman the size of a pixie with eyes to match Torg’s bounded into the room. “Mama, Papa, they’re here and holy, they’re gorgeous. No wonder Torg has it had for her. She’s stunning. The woman threw her arms around Alcee’s neck and rocked her back and forth, “I always wanted a sister and now I get one. We’re going to he best friends forever. I’m going to tell you all the things Torg related because forewarned is forearmed. Come, come, Mama is making the eggplant panesan,” she looked down at Antero, “oh you are the spitting image of your father, aren’t you, well except you are handsome and he has the face of a frog. I saw a meme once of a frog which is angry and I thought, this looks exactly of my brother Torquato. An angry frog.”
Antero looked between his mother who was still locked in a half embrace and the woman hanging off her with wide eyes.
*I am Lorita, but you can in call me Tia, if you like, Antern.” She looked at Alcee, “he is the spit of his father, isn’t he? Do you beat him much?”
*She doesn’t beat me
“Oh!” Lorita made wide eyes at Antero, “then it must be because you are such a good boy. Your father got heat a lot as a child.”
Antero tried to decide whether he was finding Lorita amusing or annoying and instead he stood up from Avalanche and gave a shake of his head and wandered away.
“He is cute!” Lorita giggled as she dragged Alcee further into the condo to the kitchen. “Look Mama! Look.”
Alcer felt herself on display as if she were a new toy as Lorita pushed her towards the diminutive unuin standing at the stove. The smells coming from the kitchen were divine, but Alcee didn’t have time to think on how hungry they were making her as the woman, with her wooden spoon full of tomato sauce lunged at Alcee, sputtering in thick emotions in her own language.
“My darling, you are finally found, and I am so happy to know you are safe and sound and look at how beautiful you are. You are strong and smart and beautiful. Torquato told me all about how brave you were to raise your son despite your family’s objections, and I say,” she made a spitting sound, “to them! I curse them to live long lives with children who are disappointments and who put them in nursing homes with scratchy sheets and understaffed!”
Alcer looked at Torquato over the woman’s shoulder and he gave a hapless shrug as Antero moved to him and nudged him. She watched in wonder as Torquato lifted Antero up in his arms as if he were weightless and held him on his hip and Antero in turn wrapped his arms around his father’s neck
“Hello, my son, did your day get better?”
“It did but I missed you and Avalanche.”
“And Mama?”
*) always miss Mama,” Antero whispered as the entire kitchen openly eavesdropped on the tender moment, “but you are new, and Avalanche is
Torquato kissed Antero’s forehead softly, “I missed you very much. Did you know I put security in your school now and I spent much of my day logging into the computers to see you?”
Chapter 65
Antero’s eyes widened, “you did?”
*I did. Your mama says school is very important and she is right, but I wanted nothing more than to take you home with me and your mama and Avalanche and keep you to myself for the day.”
“I would have liked this”
“Me too.” He brushed his nose against Antero’s, “however the weekend is coming up. I think we will spend a day doing family things together. Would you like this?”
“Yes,” Antero nodded vigorously.
“Torquato, he is beautiful.”
Alcee looked at the man standing off to the side of the kitchen, she presumed he was Tory’s stepfather and nearly giggled. He was far shorter than she was, coming only to Torq’s bicep.
“Papa,” Torq smiled at the man, “this is my son Antero and my fiancée Alcee. Alcee, Antero, this is my Papa Cicciu, my mother Brunella and my sister Lorita.” He held his arm out for her, and she escaped the crying woman Brunella and slid under his protective arm. “Mama, Papa, this is my family.”
