Page 19 of Descent into Madness

I want to smack him for the sigh that fills the car. “They are going to throw a fit and the first thing out of their mouth is, you’re not my real mom. Any time they don’t agree or like something you’ve done, they’ll believe things would be different if their ‘real’ mother was alive. Resentment will fester within them, comparing their relationship with you to your relationship with your ‘real’ kids.”

The picture he paints is one I flinch from. Because I’ve heard exactly those things from one of the girls I went to high school with. Her mother died, and she was raised by her nanny, who became her stepmother. It’s bizarre how his words are exactly like hers. “What about their grandparents? Your wife’s parents won’t want to know them and tell them about their mom?”

“Her parents were not in her life. They were at our wedding, but she hadn’t seen them for more than two years. She was ignored as a child. Since she was the only girl of three boys, her parents cared more about her brothers. They attended her funeral because it was the polite thing to do. Even then, they had no desire to encounter their grandchildren. They won’t be an issue.”

We’re stopped outside my home. I don’t even realize it until he’s out of the car then opening my door. He offers his hand to help me out of the car, I follow him to my door and unlock it. As I do, I hope to god my father isn’t waiting.

I’m unlucky. The moment the door is open, my father calls to me from his office.

“Coming, Daddy. Manuel is here,” I warn him as I close the door behind Manuel.

“In that case, go up to your room. Manuel and me are going to talk,” he yells.

Despite being grateful I won’t have to face him freshly fucked, I don’t love the idea of leaving them alone. But I’m out of my depth, so I go upstairs. I need a shower, a nap, and a Xanax.

* * *

Manuel

Entering Richie’s office, I find him with his second, Vinny, a man who is openly drooling while waiting for his boss to implode—in the belief he’ll take Richie’s place. Vinny gets up to stand behind Richie. It might appear as though he’s backing up his boss. All I see is he’s putting someone else between me and him. Maybe he’s not as stupid as he seems.

“You and Nicolette good?” Richie asks, unable to hide his desperation.

I nod. “I met with Dominic Sabatini too.” I pretend I don’t see the way he pales, and Vinny’s eyes bug out. “I’ll take care of the Fed. Bring her to me tonight. Tomorrow, we meet with Sabatini for the marriage contract negotiation. The marriage ceremony needs to happen on Friday morning before I return to Colombia for my mother’s surgery.”

Richie is nodding like a bobblehead. “Yeah, okay. Yeah. You want a drink or something?”

Running my eyes over him, I picture the stark white of bone peaking out among the red of his blood after I’m done with him for the bruise he gave Nicolette. I shake my head. Amused at his clear fear of me, I leave without a word.

CHAPTER7

Nicolette

I’m shaken from a deep sleep by Harriet. “What?” I grumble.

“Your mother. She’s demanding to speak with you. I told her you were sleeping, and that’s why you turned off your ringer. She doesn’t care.” Harriet apologizes as she hands me the bulky cordless house phone.

I take the phone. “Mommy, what’s the matter?”

“How could you not be the one to call me and tell me? This is amazing,mija. He’s going to be such a good husband for you. I’m so sad I can’t see you marry. I told him you deserve a wedding here in Colombia. He promises he will give you a wedding as soon as we can plan one. I cannot wait. The interior decorator just left. She says he is paying for my suite to be ready by Friday.” The joy in her voice causes unease in me, and I don’t understand why.

“I’m sorry?” I sink back into bed. The display on my cell phone tells me I have twenty-one missed calls and thirteen texts. I think thirteen texts are how many my mom sent me all last year—she hates texting. I’m also seeing I only got a little over an hour of sleep. I hadn’t taken the Xanax as planned because I was so exhausted I didn’t need it.

I’m surprised but vaguely aware I shouldn’t be. Manuel is swallowing me up into his life. Sighing, I admit it’s not a fair way of thinking. He gives a shit enough to ensure my mom feels welcome in her new home—my new home. How come he hasn’t asked me if I want to change the house… Okay, I didn’t get enough sleep. “You do want to come live with us in Medellin? Or are you thinking of it for visiting and stay living in Bogota?”

“Oh no, I’m happy to come live with you. Bogota is beautiful, but it’s too different from the city I grew up in. The times I’ve visited your cousin in Medellin, I didn’t want to leave. Besides, I cannot wait to get my hands on my grandbabies. Three babies under four, you are going to need help. I love my little house here, but I prefer to live with you and keep my place in the city for when we come to do some shopping or for a nice weekend. I’ve wondered if Manuel was interested in you. When he’d come to see me, he couldn’t take his eyes off pictures of you,” my mother teases.

He looked at my pictures? Her teasing stings in the face of what I have to tell her. Now I remember why I feel uneasy, she’s happy I’m marrying a man who is going to kill her husband. “Mom…”

“What,mija?” Is curious.

I’m trying to find the words.

She says it again, this time she’s irritated. “What,mija? What’s the matter?”

“Manuel is going to kill daddy. Dad struck me. He’s actually been hitting me a lot since you left and while you were gone before—I’m not… I don’t know if it’s the real reason or an excuse he’s using. I’m sorry, Mommy.” Fear over my mother hating Manuel has me holding my breath.

Would she make me choose between them? I’m not sure she would forgive me for my choice.

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