Sold! To the Grizzly Don
Chapter 82
When she came back out to the kitchen, Torq and Antero were both on the floor and they were discussing why Antero was not going to school today. Obviously the child picked up on Torq’s comment and was wondering what was going on.
“But I’m supposed to do a test.”
“I understand you have a test however we are going to spend a family day together.”
Alcee realized as she looked at the way Brunella was digging through the pantry and Cicciu was avoiding Torq’s desperate eye contact with his father, they were letting him tell Antero they were staying home.
“Antero,” Alcee commented quietly, “do you remember how I told you before Don Mariani is someone who is dangerous and if we ever see him out and I tell you we need to run, you must run?”
“Yes.”
She ignored the judgmental stares from the three people in the kitchen who clearly thought she was mishandling the situation.
“Well, Torq’s father is dangerous too, just like mine and he wants to hurt us. The best way for Torq to keep us safe is for us to stay home today. Tito, Bastian, Kylen and Tank are going to work hard to get things sorted.”
“I though Nonno was Torq’s father.”
“Torq has a biological father named Corrado and he’s meaner than even Edgardo. We want to keep you safe. The person who knows Corrado the best is Torq, which means he knows what to do to keep safe from him. If Torq says we need to stay home, then we stay home.”
Antero frowned and then moved closer to sidle up and sit on Torq’s lap. “Dad, you’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt my mom, right?”
Alcee didn’t miss the way Brunella’s lip trembled at the question and her eyes watered.
“I will do everything in my power to keep you and your mom safe. I promise you.”
“And my new Nonno and Nonna too? And my tia?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” He shrugged and sighed loudly. “I don’t want to miss my test though.”
Alcee nodded, “I will email your teacher and let her know you’ll be out of school and ask her to send me your test and you can do it online
with the class.”
He reached out and stroked Avalanche’s fur gently and the dog put her head right on his lap. “Mom, why does when I touch Avalanche, my heart doesn’t beat so hard?”
She plunked down on the floor opposite where he was sitting in Torq’s lap and gently stroked Avalanche’s big head and smiled, “well, we should look it up online.”
“Actually, I know the answer to this,” Torq commented as he joined them in loving on the dog who was enjoying all the attention. “Patting a dog can reduce cortisol levels which typically rise during stressful situations, and it also can help increase oxytocin levels which is known by some therapists as a cuddle hormone. It can also help in the production of dopamine which is a feel–good hormone.”
Antero looked at him in awe, “how do you know so much?”
“Truth?” he grinned at Antero. “When your mom was freaking out about us bringing Avalanche home without asking her first, I was looking up reasons why having a dog is good for kids and families and learned all about it.”
1/3
Chapter 82
“I don’t know if Mom feels those same hormones.”
“I think she does. Look at her as she pats Avalanche. Your mom wasn’t really touching Avalanche until now because she was seated.”
“Why were you scared of Avalanche, Mom?”
She shot Torq an irritated glance but then continued rubbing the silky ears of the dog between them and smiled when the dog let out a long happy sigh and shifted to lay on her side so Torq could scratch her belly.
“Well, when I was little, I really loved my dog, and my dad took her away and so a little piece of me is still a bit scared if I love her Avalanche will go away and it will hurt the same way it hurt when I lost my other dog.”
“You are scared she might go away?”
“I’m scared if I love her and for some reason we can’t keep her it will make me sad, and i don’t want to be sad.”
“Dad will make sure nobody takes Avalanche away from us, Mom. He’s big and strong and he said he wouldn’t take her away and I believe
him.”
“I believe him too,” she agreed with Antero’s assessment. “Your dad is helping us be a bigger, better family. It’s a little scary for me because ! haven’t had a family other than you for a long time. Having to trust and rely on someone else, learning to love someone other than you, is a bit scary for me. Before it was you and me, and sometimes Amal and Susana. Now it’s you and me and your dad, and Nonna and Tia Lorita and Nonno and Tank and Bastiano and Amal and Susana and it’s a lot of people I need to trust.”
“And Avalanche.”
“And Avalanche.”
Antero was pensive for a moment and then he said seriously, “I’m scared too, Mom.”
“You are?”
He nodded. “I am scared you might love my new Dad more than me,”
“Oh,” she nodded at his words, “I think it makes sense because you’re the only boy I ever loved and now there might be someone else I could
love.”
“Do you love my dad?” Antero asked curiously.
“Not yet.” She shook her head again aware of the censure from Brunella and Cicciu, but she saw the smile on Torq’s face. She smiled back.
“Why are you smiling, Dad?”
“Because your mom said not yet. It means,” he kissed the top of Antero’s head, “someday she will. I feel the same way, I don’t love her yet, but I know someday I will.”
“What about me?” Antero asked him.
“Oh, that’s different, I think.” Torq thought about it. “I saw you and immediately loved you, but I think it’s because you’re a part of me. I saw you and felt such a strong connection to who you are as my son, I instantly felt love in my heart for you.”
Antero was quiet. “I felt the same thing but,” his eyes lit up, “I think I was like Mom with Avalanche. I was a bit scared yo I would be sad, so I didn’t want to love you, but I do love you, like I love Avalanche and my mom.”
d go away, and
Alcee watched as Torq’s nose flared as he took a deep breath and she smiled and leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Big softy.”
“I like being a family,” Antero said as he looped his arm around Alcee’s neck and pulled them all together.
2/
Chapter 82
Alcee nodded, “so do 1, Ant.”
“Even Avalanche?” Torq teased.
“Even Avalanche,” she agreed and then smiled when the dog huffed loudly her own agreement.
POST COMMENT
Chapter Comments
Visitor
I’m not crying, you’re crying sold to the grizzly don
Visitor
I’m trying to decide who I love more, Torq, “Big Al” aka The Ghost, or Addy…so hard to decide.
View All 2 Comments >
5
