Page 60 of Second Chance

Daniel is a professor, not a psychologist, and it’s clear Lily needs the latter right now.

Daniel doesn’t get the text. The checkmarks at the bottom remain grayed out instead of blue. Tony reopens their thread more times than he wants to admit, just to be sure. He debates telling Daniel he fucked up with Gianna again. But he doesn’t want to reopen night’s conversation. Then he would have to admit there are things he needs to talk about and that maybe Lily isn’t the only one who could do with a psychologist.

It doesn’t seem fair to mention it to Daniel. Not right now, not with everything going on. There will be time enough to deal with all of Tony’s shit when the killer has been caught and Daniel’s home and workplace aren’t literally life-threatening. Again.

Anyway, it’s harder to talk about—harder to think about—in the cold light of day when he can’t hide in Daniel’s arms.

Instead, Tony texts again to ask if Daniel wants rice or pasta for dinner.

Tony closes up shop alone. Apparently, Kyle’s boat was more messed up than he thought. Either that, or Kyle offered Pa a beer, and they got caught up. Good thing it’s a Tuesday. There are less walk-ins in the middle of the week, so Tony’s had the shop to himself. Lucky in that he doesn’t think his customer service face is up to scratch right now, unlucky in that he’s been alone with his thoughts all afternoon.

By the time he’s locked up, Daniel still hasn’t texted back. It’s five thirty though. He’s probably still talking to counseling. Tony has an easy hour and a half before it will be time to start dinner. Maybe he can sort things out with Gianna, if only so it stops weighing on his mind, and he and Daniel can enjoy a nice meal together after last night’s failure. With that thought in mind, Tony heads over to his parents’ house instead of across the bridge.

“Ma?” He unlocks the door and kicks off his shoes. “Gianna?”

“Gimme a second,” Ma answers. He hears footsteps, farther away than usual, and then she’s coming down the stairs. “Your sister took the baby on a drive. She wouldn’t stop crying.”

For a moment, Tony’s uncertain if Ma means Gianna or Lia.

Ma chooses not to clarify. “She said you’d had a fight?”

Tony winces. “Yeah. I was hoping to apologize.”

“Good kid.” Drawing up close, Ma presses a kiss to his cheek. “She deserve it?”

“I think so?” Tony has no idea whether or not Gianna’s to blame for their fight. The righteous indignation still burns under his skin. He’s not interested in groveling. He’ll do it, though, to keep the peace.

Ma gives him a look, part fondness and part exasperation. “Tony Baloney,” she says, chiding.

It shocks a laugh out of Tony. “You haven’t called me that in ten years.”

“I was looking at some old albums in the attic. Thinking I should start one for Lia. I have so many pictures on my phone.”

“Gigi would love that.”

She pats him on the shoulder. “I think she’d love it if you apologized, whether or not you should.”

He smiles weakly.

“You staying for dinner?” she asks over her shoulder as she walks toward the kitchen.

“Nah.” He pulls out his phone to check the time. Past six already, Daniel’s probably headed home. “Just a pit stop. I guess you don’t know when Gianna will be home?”

“Sorry. You want to take anything with you? I made meatloaf.”

Tony debates trying to explain how he can’t bring meatloaf to Rhinebeck because Daniel tries not to eat meat on weeknights to lessen his carbon footprint. An incoming text from Colette thankfully distracts him from that Sisyphean task. She rarely texts him. “No thanks,” he says, distracted. “We’ve got stuff at home.”

Have you heard from Daniel?Colette has texted him.He’s late picking me up and he’s not answering his phone.

Frowning, Tony tries to call Daniel. It goes straight to voicemail. He texts a question mark. Only one check mark. Daniel’s phone must be off.

“Hey, Ma?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I gotta go. Tell Gianna I was looking for her?”

“You got here three minutes ago.” Ma pokes her head back in from the kitchen door.

---