“Me?” Nicola choked on his drink.
“Your job is so fulfilling. You make a difference. You kick ass, and I know the girls go crazy over you.”
“You make a killing.”
“Yeah.” That was something Santo could not complain about. “So, when you go back to Memphis are you going to have a relationship with your Ivy?”
“We already have a relationship. If you mean, am I going to try to steal her away from Grey…no.” He rushed his fingers through his hair and chuckled. “There is too much at risk.”
“But now you can’t lose your friend? Now’s the time to go after her.”
“It’s not my ass that I’m trying to cover. Trina has been through enough. She has already lost Brooks. I don’t want her to lose Ivy too.”
“Yeah, you may be right, but that leaves you screwed. And good guys never finish first.”
“Believe me, I know. After all that has gone down over the last few months, I just want a meaningful relationship. I know it sounds…goofy coming from a guy like me, but I do.”
“A guy like you?” Santo didn’t understand. “What kind of guy are you now?”
“I’m not the kind of guy that deserves Ivy.” Nicola cracked a smile. “But I want to be.”
“Well, I don’t know what the guys are like in Memphis, but in Miami we have our ups and downs with fidelity. A good friend of mine, Vick Donnici’s wife sued him for half of his money in divorce court last month. On top of that he still has child support and alimony to pay. All of it was due to a phone number he forgot to erase from his cell phone.”
“Well, I’m not married. In fact, I’m far from it.”
“Well, I am married. That’s why I’m always careful, because Arin is always looking for signs. She thinks that I’m gonna go out somewhere and get some girl on pregnant on purpose.”
“And will you?” Nicola knew he brother well enough to know that he was capable of such a thing.
“Did you not hear what I said…half. The woman took half of his money!” He grabbed Nicola by the arm jokingly. “There isn’t a piece of grilla in the world worth half of my money. I don’t care if when the donna opened her legs the angels began to sing and gold silk poured from her body. It still wouldn’t be worth half of my money.”
“Gold silk?” Nicola sipped his drink.
“24 karat gold silk…” he looked at Nicola and they both gave a hearty laugh.
“So you’ve stepped out on her?”
“Look, I’m still in love with Arin, but yeah…I step out from time to time. Maybe that’s why I can’t have a kid. It’s sort of like a punishment.”
“I doubt it. If that were the case, I’d never have a kid. Besides, there’s always adoption.”
“In time, we’ll figure something out. At least, you don’t have to worry about it though right. You’ve got two on the way possibly. You just don’t know. I would give anything to be able to say that about Arin.”
“I would give anything to be able to say that in confidence about Ivy.”
**
Trina was lying on the couch watching old reruns of Momma’s Family when the doorbell rang. Getting up from her comforter and dry Captain Crunch cereal, she dragged to the front door in her flannel pajama bottoms. Amazingly, Emerald was on the other side. There was a curious little flutter in her stomach as she opened the door.
“Hey,” she said motioning for him to come in. “Don’t you have a key or something that Ivy gave you?”
“Yeah, but I don’t use it when I know that you’re home,” Emerald said stopping in the entranceway. “I came to see how you were doing.”
“Did you?” Trina lifted her brow. “Or did you come so that I can cook for you again.”
“Both.” Emerald cracked a smile. “Come on, Trina. You cook as well as momma. And I’m starving. Plus, Kakeline won’t talk to me. She wants to be left alone to take the world’s longest nap. Ivy and Grey are at his place. Mom is not the type of person to just sit around with when she’s in one of her moods, and you don’t have any other friends.”
Trina laughed. “I do, too.”
“Really,” Emerald said looking around. “Where are they?”
“This is the third time this week that I’ve cooked for you, Emerald.” Trina said going back to the couch. “Why don’t you cook for me?”
“Why don’t you get dressed? We can go down to Fresh Market and get all the ingredients that we need for a feast fit for kings, and then we can hang out here.”
“Why don’t you order a pizza and rub my feet,” Trina said wrapping herself in her comforter.
With a huff, Emerald gave in to her plea. “Okay. But I get to drink beer.”
“Only if it’s Corona…my favorite,” Trina said smiling from under her bundle.
There was something running a muck with Emerald, and Trina meant to find out what. Over the last three weeks, he had spent a considerable amount of time at her place even when Ivy was nowhere to be found. However, he was always a total gentleman only pining after her friendly attention and talking to her about everything under the sun. Like little children they sat in front of the television for hours swapping stories and quizzing each other on trivial facts about life. To her surprise, Emerald was far more intelligent that Ivy had ever given him credit. He was well versed in business matters and had a secret interest in surfing. The attention that he had showered on her had helped tremendously during her time of mourning and his ability to keep things non-sexual allowed her to continue to indulge in his company free from guilt.
Chapter Twenty-Two:
A Parting Gift
Chapter 22
A PARTING GIFT
“Could I have your attention please?” Adamo stood up at the head of the formally decorated table.
Adamo decided have a huge family dinner at the yacht club to give his son a proper farewell. It had been a short and impatient two weeks, and he longed for Nicola to stay for a few more weeks, if not a lifetime. With only the boys, Arin, Liz and Delmin set in an intimate room in the back of the club with a great view of the many masterful yachts, full moon and clear starlit sky, he lifted his glass to his closest companions.
“I’d like to propose a toast to my oldest son by seven minutes, Nicola Michael Agosto,” Adamo said in his heavy Italian accent.
“We know who the guy is,” Santo said playfully. “Get on with it, Pop.”
Holding up his crystal champagne glass, he looked over at Nicola and smiled. “To a wonderful son that we are so glad to have home after many years. We pray for your safe return to the Memphis. We pray for your continued success on the Memphis Police Department and most of all, we pray for you to return soon to visit. Let’s not have years that we do not allow ourselves to embrace one another. As I grow old in my age, I see you boys and I think to myself that I am proud to be whom and where I am. My only wish is that you two continue to build on the new relationship that you’ve developed since you’ve come home …Salute.”
“Salute,” Nicola said with the rest of the family as they lifted their glasses.
“And I would like to propose a toast to the possibility of new additions to the Agosto family,” Liz said unable to keep her peace. After hearing the Nicola could very well be the father of Ivy’s children, she hadn’t had a moment’s rest. She had long prayed for grandchildren and wanted Ivy to be carrying her blessing more than even Nicola did.
“Alright let’s eat,” Adamo said sitting down.
**
As the other members of his family laughed and huddled around the table talking later that evening, Nicola stepped outside in the night air to take in the beautiful view and gather his thoughts about Ivy. Arin came out moments later behind him with a full glass of champagne. Smiling she inched up beside him and leaned on the rail of the deck.
“You still won’t really acknowledge me, will you?” Arin asked smiling at him revealing her deep dimples.
“Of course, I acknowledge you, Mrs. Agosto. How could I no
t?” Nicola gave her a smug grin and then turned to look up at the moon.
“Well, you’ve ignored me for seven long years.”
“Why stop a good thing now?” he smiled. He had lost his desire to hate either of them over time.
“You know, when you left, Santo was here for me. He loved me. He looked after me. He was a reminder of you without being you…Mr. Stubborn for lack of a better word.” She took a deep breath. “He went on for months fighting with the possibility of losing you to gain me. And finally it was me that convinced him that he would not. Needless to say that I was wrong. And he has been lost without you ever since.”
“So you say,” Nicola said trying to hide his surprise.
“I came out here to ask you for your forgiveness for both of us, Nico.” She touched his hand lightly. “The way that Santo and I broke our news to you was wrong, but after so many years, Nico…” Her voice drifted away. “Your brother needs you. You are all that he has. Surely, you realize that.”
Nicola turned to face Arin standing tall and proud in a silk white dress that hung off her soft golden-bronze shoulders. Her yellow silk wrap fell into the folds of her arms and her blonde hair flowed in the wind. “You are still so beautiful, Arin,” he said taking her hand. “And I’m happy that you chose my brother instead of me. He’s given you all that he could for many years. I only hope that someday I can find that happiness. And as far as forgiveness, maybe I should be asking you two for that.” He laughed thinking about Trina. “Of course, I forgive you.” He said it to Arin, but in his mind he wished to hear it from Brooks.
Arin was taken aback by his soft tone and sincere manner. His brown eyes looked through her causing an old stir in her stomach. She looked away as she pulled at her shawl. That was what she missed. The overpowering masculinity that he possessed. The power of his undeniable touch. She smiled at him as she recovered herself. “You have our forgiveness, Nico. You have it.”
“Well, that only took seven years,” Nicola said revealing his dimples.
“Awe, the old Agosto curse,” Arin blushed and put her index finger in his dimple.
Hugging her, Nico smiled back at his family that had stopped talking and watched them from the wall-to-wall windows. At last, their family was starting to complete itself. Santo raised his glass with tears in his eyes for his brother. Liz grabbed Adamo’s hand crying tears of joy. At last her boys had made a miens.
Chapter Twenty-Three:
What’s Mine is Mine
Chapter 23
WHAT’S MINE IS MINE
“Momma, what are you doing?” Emerald took Kakeline diaphragm out of Sadie’s hand and gave it back to his wife who stood petrified in her short Victoria Secret lace baby doll nightgown.
“I will not condone pre-marital sex in this house,” Sadie said in her deepest and loudest maternal voice.
“It’s not pre-marital if you’re married,” Kakeline said staring at Emerald. She could no longer keep their secret. His family was about to drive her mad. “Go ahead and tell her, because I’m sick of this shit!”
“Tell me what?” Sadie said whirling around at Emerald. “And do not curse at me under my own roof.” She cut her eyes at Kakeline.
“We’re married,” Emerald said as he took his eyes off of his mother to see Madison walk out of the guest bedroom. In his pajamas and robe, aggravated with the late night confusion Madison marched into the hallway.
“What is going on?” He asked still yawning.
“Moon Pie’s baby blocker fell out of her hand as she was walking to the bathroom. When I picked it up, I knew that I had had enough. At least until a second ago. Now, Emerald has concocted some silly story about them being married.”
“It’s not silly,” Madison said with a big grin on his face. He finally knew something before Sadie and intended to rub it in her face for as long as he could. “They are married. They’ve been married for nearly two months. They came here married. Kakeline’s not the kind of woman to travel across the country with some undependable stray.” Madison smiled proudly at the young woman now red with contempt. “It was supposed to be a surprise, but now you’ve gone and ruined it being nosy and mean.”
“I wouldn’t have been mean if you had told me.” She was more appalled at being the last to know than them being married, and Madison knew it.
“We were trying to wait until this whole thing with Ivy blew over.” Emerald rolled his eyes and folded his arms.
“We do move next week.” Kakeline added still bitter. “There was no need to explain.”
“What kind of backward logic made you keep it to yourself?”
“We wanted to wait until after Ivy’s wedding so that you would have the same type of excitement for us.” For a moment sibling jealousy was detected in Emerald’s tone.
“That is the most ridiculous thing…” Sadie was interrupted.
“Come back to bed, Sadie.” Madison pulled at her satin pink robe.
“After all these years, here we are still with the sibling rivalry? We’ll talk in the morning,” Sadie said admonishing Emerald. “I do apologize, Kakeline.” That was the hardest thing in the world for Sadie to do. Gulping down a large helping of pride, she excused herself from the bedroom and went down the hall with Madison grumbling under her voice.
As Kakeline heard Sadie’s bedroom door close down the hall, she closed the bedroom door and hit Emerald in the chest with her fist as hard as she could.
“Don’t you dare touch me!” Kakeline screamed at Emerald. Going to the drawer, she pulled out a pair of pajama pants and slipped them on quickly.
“What did I do?” Rubbing his chest, Emerald smiled. He was determined to have her naked on the bed by one o’clock. It was already twelve fifty.
“You have put me through hell. That is what you have done. My family wants to know when I’m coming home. They don’t know I’m married. This had been a piss poor honeymoon, and I have had enough!”
“Kay.” He walked up to her and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m sorry.”
“Bullshit,” she said wiping away his kiss. “Emerald, I’m leaving you. I made my mind up today. Tonight was just a goodbye…thing.”
“Leaving me?” He could tell by her tone that it was best that he take her seriously. “I don’t understand. When did you decide this, during one of your marathon naps?”
“I just explained. This is not good enough,” she said pointing at the bed. “I’m living like I don’t have a home to go to or money of my own. Well, I’m sick of it. And I’m sick of you. This was such a mistake. I mean, you don’t really love me do you? Well?” When she did not get a reply she continued. “Well, this trip out here has made me realize that I don’t love you.!”
“Oh.” Emerald could not respond. “I brought you here, because you wanted to come to the states.”
“Yeah, like L.A., Miami, New York. I didn’t want to come to Memphis, not really.”
“I told you we were coming to Memphis before we left Hawaii.” Emerald calmed his voice. “What else do you want from me, Kay?”
“Nothing, Emerald. I just want out. That will be enough.”
“Fine,” Emerald said dismissing the need for further pleas.
“You never answered.” Kakeline said with her hands on her hips.
“What?” Emerald said lost in her tantrum.
“Do you love me?” She crossed her arms.
“What happened to the submissive little…” Emerald shrugged. “The sweet little woman I brought home with me?”
“Your mother rubbed off on me,” Kakeline said rolling her eyes. “She’s right. I need to think for myself and not let you do it. Just look at where your own thinking has landed you…right back in your mother’s house.”
“Ouch,” Emerald said holding his heart. “That hurts.”
“Answer me,” Kakeline said.
“Okay.” Emerald moved back a step. “This time back at home has made me realize that while I do have feelings for you, we did move too fas
t. But I had good intentions, Kay. You have to believe that.”
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Emerald.” She said opening the door to his bedroom. “I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning. My brother sent money and a plane ticket before my father started to ask too many questions.”
“I could have at least bought your ticket,” Emerald said offended. “But you didn’t think to include me in on your little escape plan.”
“Don’t worry. You have over ten payments left on this ring, and I’m keeping it,” she said pushing him out of the door. “Goodnight.”
**
“Wake up,” Kakeline said hovering over Emerald’s bed blocking the morning sun from his face.
“What?” The slits of his eyes opened slightly. Was it already morning? He felt as though he had just laid his head down.
“I’m leaving that’s what.” She sat down on the bed beside him. “I wanted to say goodbye to you one last time.” Her voice was softer than the night before.
“Are you sure that you want to do this?” He wasn’t much for arguing, and even though he was sad to see her leave he agreed that their marriage had been a mistake.
“No. I’m not sure of anything…except that I cannot stand your mother.”
“You don’t like my mom?” It was as if she had cursed his blood.
“No.” Kakeline folded her arms. “Is that all that matters to you?”
“I’m sorry.” Sitting up in the bed, he took her in his arms and kissed her lips softly holding her face to his and rubbing her arms softy making her sink down on his chest. “Aren’t you going to miss that?” he asked moving her long mass of hair from her shoulders.
Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux Page 32
