Tangled In Strings

Chapter Twelve

"My mom is such a bitch sometimes."

I smirk at her. "She's just looking out for him."

"No, she's not. She's been so consumed in herself ever since my dad died. She's had to be on all these anti-depressants, and she'll cold turkey them without telling anybody, so we never know when she's about to break down."

"His death hit her hard?"

"My dad was the greatest person I've ever known, other than my brother. My dad kept us all close. The minute he was gone, we fell apart. Tony turned his back on Giovanni, and nothing has ever been the same."

"I'm sorry you have had to go through that."

"It's nothing compared to what you've gone through. I can't even complain," she responds, looking down at her hands when my head twists towards her.

"Everyone has their story. Some are happier than others." I lean down to check out a picture in a photo frame by her bedside. It's of Giovanni and her, definitely a recent picture. I'm shocked by the similarities they share.

"Giovanni will calm her down. It will be okay."

I nod. "I know. This takes time."

Am I being convincing? I don't know.

"So, you're moving here?"

I smile. "He told you?"

"Yesterday, on the phone. Mom doesn't know yet."

I nearly tell her I'm also his fiancée, but something stops me. Fear of what today will do to us, possibly. If his mother truly doesn't like me, can this last? How important is that to him?

There's a soft knock at the door. Valentina answers loudly.

"Yeah?"

Giovanni opens the door, looking dashing in one of his custom linen suits. His olive skin glows against the creamy color of the material. He finds me and exhales, flashing a reassuring smile.

"Dinner is ready. Val, she wants to see you for a bit."

Valentina nods, grabbing a pink dress on her way out. "You guys coming?"

"We'll be down in a minute."

My body is stiff in defense, refusing to bend. She makes a face and exits, shutting the door behind her.

Giovanni turns to me. "I'm sorry, my mother is a bit anxious with the medication. She's... really a nice woman on a normal day."

"We all have bad days," I reply, shrugging. I think my smile is convincing. He swallows, sticking his hands into his pockets. His large watch gleams against one of Valentina's crystal vases.

"She's been excited to meet you, so this is just unfortunate timing."

I look down, hearing his lie. "I get it."

He's fooling himself.

"Should we go down?" I ask, sick of sitting in silence. As I pass by him, he shoots out a hand, grasping my waist. I suck in a breath, holding in my anger for his sake, needing time to calm myself and knowing that I won't get that time. He presses his mouth to my cheek, and his lips linger, intent on cooling me down.

It works.

I push past him, grabbing onto the door.

...

"Dinner is served!"

As we all lower down into the handcrafted table chairs, surrounded by thousands of dollars of art, our eyes feast on the food on the table. Giovanni looks at Laurie, smiling.