Page 119 of Fish out of Water
In any other family the question would be absurd.
Or a joke.
“I was not burying a dead body.” I grabbed the brush I kept by the sink and went to work on the dirt caked under my nails.
“You know I wouldn’t judge you.” She edged closer. “Some people need killin’.”
I looked up to the ceiling and started counting. This was why I moved down here in the first place. I loved my dad. Missed him with everything I had.
But I wanted no part of the life he lived.
I switched off the water and grabbed a towel. “Have you decided how long you’re staying?”
“At least until Vito shows back up.” My grandmother followed me as I stripped out of my shirt and tossed it straight into the washing machine. “Ifhe shows back up.” She fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist. “I don’t think he’s ever going to learn.”
“He’s definitely not.” I shucked my pants, stopping short of tossing them into the basket I used to collect my dry-clean-only items. “Shit.”
“Maybe I did the wrong thing, bailing him out all these years.”
I stopped, stalled out by the worry in her eyes. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
She nodded, her lips pressing flat as her eyes got watery.
Damn it.
“What do you want for dinner?” It looked like I was going to miss out on more than just the shower I planned to take with Julia. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
Nonna sniffed a little. “That sounds nice.”
“You think about what you want while I go take a shower.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
I rushed down the hall in my boxer briefs, passing my bedroom door in favor of the bathroom off the main hall. The shower in it was small, but it was a better option than being faced with Julia naked and soapy and no alone time coming in the near future.
I hurried through scrubbing off the dirt clinging to any part of me that hadn’t been covered, before snagging a towel and wrapping it around my waist. I hoped to find Julia in my room so I could explain the change in our plans for the evening, but it was empty when I stepped inside. The only sign she’d been there was the lingering scent of the body wash she used hanging in the air.
I pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before sliding on a set of flip flops and heading out to find her.
“Oh honey, that’s awful.” My grandmother sat at the kitchen table, holding Julia’s hand in hers. She looked up as I walked in. “After dinner we need to take Julia to check on her friend.”
Of course we did.
I was fairly certain Collette had more than enough company, but I was also sure that wouldn’t make Julia feel any better. “Have you heard from her?”
“Andrew said they were probably going to let her go tonight.” Julia frowned as her phone dinged in her hand. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” I didn’t really want to know. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind it was yet another thing that was going to ruin my night.
“Andrew said he can’t stay past eight thirty.” Her shoulders slumped down a little.
She had to be exhausted. She’d had just about everything imaginable thrown at her these past few days. “We can take her home when they release her.”
Julia’s eyes lifted to mine and she smiled. “Really?”
“Of course.” I could suck it up for an evening. Share the woman I was more attached to than I should be.
Especially considering I’d known her less than a week.
