Page 59 of Karma Kitty Christmas
Even as he moved up to Luca’s side, he heard Todd in his head, telling him stay out of it because it wasn’t his family.
They’re my family, he told Todd.They’re my family, and I love them more than you could ever understand.
As the door started to creak open, he bumped Luca’s hand with his own, squeezing when Luca laced their fingers together. Okay. Yes. This was where he belonged.
The woman who opened the door was thin and elegant, with high cheekbones and thick, dark, glossy hair swept back from an expressionless face. She wore a rose-colored twinset, which made her golden complexion sallow and a little sickly, but Isaac got it. Somebody had told her to wear muted colors to church.
In contrast, Allegra’s bright gold and green (and magenta!) was wild and whimsical and exciting. Even at almost eight months pregnant, Allegra’s brilliance could not be dimmed.
“Allegra?” For a moment, Isaac saw an unfettered joy cross the woman’s severe features, and his heart fluttered with hope. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this strictly limited box could expand, grow bountiful, with a little bit of love?
How can you not love them?He wanted to scream it, but he squeezed Luca’s fingers instead.
“Hi, Mom,” Allegra said, giving a small smile. “Can we come in?”
The woman’s lipsticked mouth opened, and Isaac thought,Yes, yes, yes!And then her eyes flickered to Isaac and Luca, and the emerging light shut down, and the bar between her dark eyes saidNO!
“Only you, Allegra,” the woman said, a note of hesitation in her voice. “Your grandmother told us of your condition, and your father will allow you to come stay with us if you wish, to raise your baby.” Her eyes flickered to Luca again, and Isaac didn’t imagine it—for a moment, there was a maternal hunger as she took him in, looked to see how he’d grown.
And then she shuttered down on it, and what was left was only a blank coldness, a frozen piece of a human soul stuck in her eyes.
But Allegra was back on her words. “Allow me?” she asked, her voice rising. “Allowme inside? To stay with you while I raise my baby? That’s real generous of you, Mom, but I was here toallowyou into my baby’s life. Toallowyou to get to know your grandchild. I guess that’s not so important to you, is it?”
And those frozen eyes blinked again, a little bit of soul seeping back in. “We understand that you need help, Allegra. We’re willing to give it to you—what more do you want?”
“I don’t need help!” Allegra shouted. “Iwould likemy mother to be in my life when I become a mother, but believe me, I don’t need to be ‘allowed’ in the house. I’vegota home. I’ve got a nursery. I’ve got a job with my brother, and we have ablastworking together, Mom. He’s got his own business—you didn’t even fuckingask—”
“Don’t swear,” her mother said automatically. “And I know your…situation. Your grandmother keeps me informed.” Again, that terrible split-personality eye-flicker to Luca. “We’re both glad to hear your brother—”
“He’s right here!” AllegraandIsaac shouted it. Luca’s hand in Isaac’s had grown icy, and Isaac heard Luca’s breath growing shorter, and knew the suppressed tears were there in his chest.
“I’m right here, Mom,” he said softly.
And that prompted her to look at him, full-on, her face older, worn down by pain and denial. Her eyes full of pity, her face still cold.
“But you’re obviously still choosing a lifestyle your father and I cannot condone,” she said softly.
“I’m in love,” he said, a smile touching his pale features. His full mouth was drawn now, his lips pressed together, probably in an effort not to scream. “I know you don’t care. You’d ratherI was dead than in love. But I’m in love. And me and Isaac and Allegra, we’re afamily. We had a birthday party for Allegra that would put a queen to shame. Her nursery is adorable. She and Isaac and Nonna, they made this blanket that could welcome anemperorinto the world. And my business is in the black, and I got jobs booked for years. Years, Mom. I don’t even have to work a site. But you don’t care about that. You just care that the person I’m in love with isn’t who you think I should love.” His lower lip wobbled. “But I’m not going to change that for you. We came here….” He glanced at Allegra, who nodded.
“We came here,” she echoed.
“To ask you if you wanted to be part of our lives. ’Cause we’re having a great time, and we wanted to share. If you don’t want to share, well….”
“You don’t have to,” Allegra said firmly. She took Luca’s hand and kissed it. “‘Allow me’ to come in, my fat ass, Mom. Like I’d leave these guys behind for that sort of ice-cold comfort in a million years.”
With that she spun on her heel and headed back to the car, calling over her shoulder, “C’mon, fellas. I was promisedpancakes.”
Luca turned to follow her, but Isaac stayed behind.
For a moment, Mrs. Giordano stared at him. “What?” she asked, her voice gratifyingly wobbly.
“My parents died when I was younger than Allegra,” he said. “They knew who I was and loved me, and would have loved Luca and Allegra and that baby so much. I just wanted to tell you that. That the best people I’ve ever known would have loved us and embraced us as a family, and you’re missing out on that. That could be you celebrating your grandbaby. Your son’s business. Your son’s relationship. But it’s not. And that’s all your fault, because it’s right there. How’s it feel to have everything in the world right there at your fingertips and be too blind to see?”
She stared at him, her mouth open, and he turned to take Luca’s hand as they made their way back to the Kia.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “That probably wasn’t my place.”
“It’s fine,” Luca said, wrapping his arm around Isaac’s shoulders. “It’s fine,” he repeated, leaning over to kiss Isaac’s temple. “I love you so much for standing up for us.”
