by Chelle Bliss
“You know I love your ma,” she said as she walked beside me, squeezing my hand.
“You do?” I asked as I glanced at her.
“Yeah. She calls me every day to check on me.”
“Fuckin’ great,” I mumbled as we approached the door.
“You don’t know how lucky you are to have such a loving mom.”
“Is that what she is now?”
Fran found a way to weave herself into every part of my life. The only sanctuaries I now had were at work and home, and even then, she’d barge in to check on me.
“Stop being a jerk. Fran loves you.” Race wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest.
I tangled my fingers in her hair and hugged her. “I’m a little worried you’re on a first-name basis with my ma,” I said.
“Morgan,” she whispered, peering up at me. “I don’t talk to my mom, so it’s nice to have yours to talk to every day.”
“She has plenty of love to give, princess.” Maybe if Ma focused some on Race, she’d get off my back for a little while.
The front door opened and, like clockwork, Ma appeared. “There you two are,” she said, holding her arms out.
Race released me, drifting to Ma as I watched. Ma had met very few women in my life, but this was the first time she’d welcomed one.
“It’s good to see you, sweetie,” Ma said, patting Race on the back and sticking her tongue out at me. “We’ve been waiting for the both of you.”
“Sorry we’re late, Fran. It won’t happen again,” Race said as she backed away.
“Oh honey, you’re fine.” Ma smiled at me, repeating the gesture and holding her arms out.
“Ma, I’ve missed you,” I said sarcastically as I let her hug me.
“Don’t be late again,” she whispered in my ear. “Aunt Mar will have a cow.”
“But I thought—”
“You know better than to be late.”
To Race, she was as sweet as sugar, but to me, her stinger came out and the old Fran appeared.
It didn’t matter.
I appreciated the fact that Ma liked Race and treated her differently, even if I received the same old treatment.
“Okay, Ma,” I said, not willing to argue and ready to see the rest of the family.
I’d seen James and Thomas every day at the office, but I’d missed my other cousins and my aunt and uncle.
In Chicago, I’d barely thought about them, with scattered phone calls and greeting cards throughout the year. Now that they were back in my life, there was nothing I wanted to do more on a Sunday than have family time.
After my dad had left—don’t get me started on the rat bastard—family meals were never the same. Ma and I had sat around and stared at each other before I’d headed off to basic training. Life had changed in a hurry.
I realized I needed to cut Fran some slack.
Not only had her husband left her, but in a very short time after that, I had too. Her world had crumbled. Everything she loved had disappeared, and she had been left alone.
“I love you, Ma,” I blurted out, giving her a final squeeze.
“Where did that come from?” she asked as she backed away from me and gawked.
“Nowhere. Just thought I should tell you more.”
“You should,” she replied in true Fran fashion. “I spent hours giving birth to you. Painful hours.” She guided us into the house. “They’re here!” she yelled in the foyer, the sound echoing through the space.
Ma stood on her tiptoes, putting her mouth next to my ear. “I told them not to scare Race,” she whispered.
I gave her a brief nod.
Ma wasn’t always a pain in the ass. More often than not she was, but there was also a thoughtful side to Fran DeLuca.
Times like these reminded me why I was thankful she was mine.
I put my arm around Race’s shoulder as she glanced up at me. “You’re going to be fine,” I told her as we walked into the living room.
“Morgan!” Izzy bellowed, handing one of the babies off before walking over to us. “Race, it’s good to meet you.” She smiled at Race and hugged her. “Good to see you too, cousin.”
James held both boys in his arms, looking content. “Yo!” he said, sounding a little like Mike.
I nodded then turned my attention toward Uncle Sal.
“Son,” Uncle Sal called out as he approached me, holding his hand out.
I placed my hand in his and shook. “Hey, Uncle Sal.”
He pulled me against him and gave me a hug. “I’m glad you’re here, Morgan. We missed you the last month.”
“I know. I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened.”
He shook his head and stared at me, rubbing his chin. “Don’t be sorry. You’re here now.”
“Morgan,” Auntie Mar chimed from the kitchen doorway. “I made your favorite.” She winked.
“You’re the best, Auntie Mar.” I blew her a kiss.
An elbow smashed into my ribs. “Hey now,” Ma warned, poking me again with that bony thing.
“I’m kidding, Ma,” I lied. Then gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“How are you, dear?” Auntie Mar asked Race as she hugged her.
“I’m well, Mrs. Gallo. I head back to work tomorrow, which is a little scary.”
“You’ll be fine, dear. Keep your head held high,” Auntie Mar said as she rubbed Race’s back.
Race waved as everyone stared at her. “Hey, everyone. I’m Race,” she said as she elbowed me in the ribs. “Morgan seems to have forgotten his manners.”
I grimaced. “Sorry, princess.”
I’d just been so happy that I’d totally forgotten she hadn’t met everyone.
To my utter disbelief, I felt more content than I had in…well…forever.
* * *
“I envy you,” Race told Mia as we sat on the lanai after dinner.
I could barely move.
My stomach hadn’t consumed that much food for as long as I could remember. It was hard to resist my aunt’s cooking, especially when she’d gone above and beyond this week because of Race.
“Me?” Mia asked, placing her hand on her chest.
Race nodded as she took a sip of her wine. “You have your own business. You don’t need to deal with anyone’s BS.”
“Mama, mama,” Lily, Mia’s daughter, whined next to her, holding her arms out and shaking them.
Mia smiled at Lily before looking back to Race. “Why don’t you just quit?” Mia suggested as she pulled Lily into her lap.
Race scrubbed her face with her hands and sighed. “I’ve worked my butt off to get where I am. I can’t imagine just walking away.”
“Do you love it?” Mia asked.
“My work?”
“Yeah. Do you love it?”
“Ugh,” Race muttered. “I used to, but I don’t know anymore.”
“I’m sure what you’ve been through changes things.”
“So, dude, when are we going to go out?” Mike asked, elbowing me.
“What?” I asked, too busy listening to the ladies talk to have heard Mike’s question.
“I want to hang out.”
“Oh,” I said, glancing over at him. “I’m so busy between work and Race. Sorry I haven’t been around.”
Mike nodded. “I get it.” He motioned toward Race. “New love.”
“As soon as stuff levels out, we’ll have a guys’ night out.”
“Maybe we can get everyone to go.” He smiled, looking around at his brothers. “Kids have put a damper on everything.”
I peered over at Mia after he spoke. “How would you know?” she asked, glaring at him. “It’s not like you’ve even changed a diaper in your life.”
Mike blanched. “Have you smelled what comes out of those little things? I don’t have the stomach for it,” Mike said, waving his hands.
“For such a big guy, you sure are a sissy,” I teased Mike.
“You change her, then,” he said,
pointing at the beautiful little Lily, with her wild, curly, dark hair as she sat in her mother’s lap.
“Daddy sissy,” Lily said.
“Lily,” Mike said.
“Daddy sissy.” Lily giggled, staring up at Mia.
“Great, man. Nice job,” Mike muttered as his shoulders sagged.
“Baby, Daddy isn’t a sissy. Look at how big and tough he is,” Mia said as she glanced over at Mike.
Growling, Mike flexed. “That’s right, baby. Daddy is tough,” Mike said as he stared down at his biceps, watching them jump.
“Daddy sissy,” Lily repeated as her giggles grew louder.
“Jesus,” Mike muttered, scrubbing a hand down his face.
Race giggled, covering her mouth as tears started to form in her eyes. She mouthed “Thank you” to me.
We stayed on the lanai, chatting until the sun hung low in the sky and dusk started to settle across the backyard.
“We better get going, princess. You have to be up early for work,” I said as I pushed my chair back.
“But I don’t want to go,” she whined as she climbed from her seat.
“Be a good girl and I’ll give you a reward,” I said, giving her a wink. “If you’re a really good girl, I’ll give you a spanking.”
“Mama, why would Morgan spank Race if she’s good?” Tamara asked Max, her face scrunched up and her tiny nose wrinkled.
Anthony patted Tamara’s head, glaring at me. “Thanks for that, Morgan.”
Max knelt down, bringing herself eye level with Tamara. “Sweetheart, Morgan was just kidding.”
“But when I’m bad, Daddy says he’s going to spank me.” Tamara looked at me from the corner of her eye. “He doesn’t look like he’s kidding, Mama. Morgan is kind of scary,” she whispered to Max, but it was loud enough that everyone could hear.
I found the entire thing priceless.
“Don’t worry, Tamara,” Race said as she looked down at her. “Morgan is like a teddy bear. Don’t listen to him. He just acts tough.”
“Like Uncle Joey?” Tamara asked, glancing over at Joe.
“Just like him, dollface,” Race replied, tapping Tamara on the nose. “Should I give him a spanking for scaring you?” Race looked up at me, her green eyes twinkling.
Tamara pulled at her lip, nodding slowly. “You should,” she replied as a lopsided smile formed on her face. “If he’s been a bad boy, then he deserves it.”
“Oh, baby, he’s been a very bad boy.” Race winked at me as she stood. “I’ll take care of him.”
Tamara turned her body from side to side as she giggled. “Morgan’s going to get punished,” she said cheerfully.
“Only if I’m lucky,” I mumbled, patting Tamara on the head as I kissed Max. “Sorry, babe,” I whispered in her ear.
“Oh, please. Anthony says things that are ten times worse.” Max kissed my cheek. “I’m sure she’s going to be very confused when she gets older.”
“Yeah. Or she’ll realize how sick we all are.”
“Ready to go home, Mara?” Anthony asked as he picked the little girl up and placed her on his hip.
She tugged at his ear, resting her head on his shoulder. “Yeah, Daddy. Will you sing for me tonight?”
“Which one, baby?” he asked, before kissing the top of her head.
“The one you and Mommy danced to at your wedding,” Tamara replied, grabbing his face between her tiny hands. “Please, Daddy.”
“Anything you want, baby girl.”
“Sounds like you have a busy night in front of you, cousin,” I said as I walked up to him. “I’ll see you next week.”
He held his hand out. “I wouldn’t trade nights like this for anything in the world.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” I said as I shook his hand.
“There’s nothing like the first time your daughter says, ‘I love you.’ You realize there’s no other love like it.” He clutched Tamara a little closer.
I dropped my hands, realizing that my cousin had everything in the world. A loving wife, a child, and an amazing family.
“You’re a lucky man, Anthony.”
“I imagine you’re not too far off from where I’m standing.”
I shook my head. “I’m at the starting line.”
“It’s not a marathon.”
“I’m not sprinting.”
“Just don’t wait until you’re as old as I am to realize you’ve wasted years running from the thing that makes you the happiest.”
I glanced over at Race, taking his words in and knowing he was right.
No matter what, I was nothing alone.
The one thing in the world that made me feel complete stood across the table, laughing with my family.
I wouldn’t let her get away.
Being apart for three weeks made me realize that I didn’t want to be alone anymore.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Hard Choices
Race
A warmth between my legs woke me from my slumber. My eyes fluttered open and a moan escaped my lips as his tongue circled my clit.
I closed my eyes, pushing my body down against his face.
This was better than any cup of coffee I’d ever had, the way I wished I could wake up every morning.
He gripped my thighs, holding my legs open as he licked me. Clutching the sheets in my hands, I arched my back and struggled to catch my breath.
As my toes started to curl, his mouth left me.
“Don’t stop,” I pleaded, lifting my head from the pillow.
“I have to be inside you,” he murmured as he crawled up my body.
Before I started to whine, he rubbed the head of his cock through my wetness and plunged inside.
“Yes!” I cried out, the feel of his mouth on me quickly forgotten.
He placed his arm behind my back, drawing me closer to him. When his hand slid under my ass, tilting my hips, his dick went deeper.
“Oh,” I breathed, loving the feel of him inside me. I wrapped my legs around his back, drawing him to me as he thrust inside me over and over again.
Our skin grew damp, both of our bodies shaking as we came together. For the first time in my life, I actually had an orgasm at the same time as the man I was with. It was like the clouds parted, the heavens shone, and the angels sang.
“Damn,” he murmured against my lips, his breath skidding across my face.
“Mmm,” I replied, unable to say anything else.
“Now that’s the way to start a week,” he whispered, rolling to his side.
“Ugh. Don’t remind me.”
“Still don’t want to go to work?” he asked, pulling me to his side with the arm that was lodged under my back.
“No, but I have to,” I whispered, nestling my cheek against his chest.
“Want me to drop by and see you today?” he asked, his lips brushing against my forehead.
“No. I’ll be okay,” I lied. I didn’t know if I could handle going back.
Everyone in the office knew what had happened with Natasha. There was no way to hide it, and I knew that it would be on everyone’s mind today as they looked at me. I wondered if they’d ever forget.
It had made all the papers. I hadn’t even left my house for a week after I’d been released from the hospital. I hadn’t wanted people to stare at me. I’d figured that after ten days, people had moved on to the next big story and had forgotten all about me.
When I did venture out, I still felt like everyone was staring at me. I knew they weren’t, but I couldn’t convince myself otherwise.
If it weren’t for Morgan, I might have become a shut-in.
Let me rephrase that. If it weren’t for Morgan’s mother, I might have been perfectly content to stay in my home forever. She came to me, held me while I cried, and helped me pick the pieces up.
Without her, I wouldn’t have been lying in his arms and feeling the peace that had just washed over me.
“I’m just a phone call away, princess
. If you need me, I’ll rush to your side.” His other hand touched my arm, gently rubbing it as my body was flush to his.
“It’ll be okay.” I didn’t know if I was trying to convince him or me. “I’m tougher than this. Damn,” I mumbled.
“You’re one of the toughest women I know. Remember that. You can do anything you want.”
“Even quit?” I asked, glancing up at him.
“Quit if you want, princess. Don’t do something you don’t want to anymore.”
I chewed my lip, wondering if I’d have the guts to quit and never look back without regret. “Easy for you to say,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“See how today goes. You may have an easier time saying those words than you think. If you can’t handle it today, then don’t go back. Life’s too damn short to be unhappy.”
“I have a meeting with my boss at eleven. I’ll see how I feel then.”
Months ago, I would’ve said that nothing in the world could make me quit, but that had changed. Looking into the face of death had made me reevaluate my life. No longer did I find joy in my work—instead, I found peace in life’s simple moments.
“You call and I’ll be there, babe.”
“I know you will,” I whispered, wrapping my arm around him and squeezing him. “I love you, Morgan.”
“Princess,” he whispered, dragging my face to his. As he stared down at me, he smiled. “I love you too, Race. More than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything in the entire world.”
I reached up and gave him a kiss.
Best Monday ever.
* * *
Worst Monday ever.
When the elevator doors opened, this morning, it sounded like everything in the office stopped. It was like being in a movie. As I walked by, every person turned to face me, papers fluttered to the floor, and people whispered to each other.
I knew that it wasn’t really happening, but it felt that way to me. I felt every eye on me as I walked toward my office door. People nodded, giving me a sad smile as if they felt sorry for me. I held my head up high, refusing to play the role of the victim as I marched toward my office.
“Hi, Cara,” I said as I stopped at her desk. “Please give me a few moments to myself.”
