My younger brother is a love. Whereas Nico is all sharp edges, Milo is a softie. As the youngest of the four of us, he’s always played the role of peacemaker. He can’t stand conflict and wants everyone to get along.
“I can see where you’re coming from,” Nico says tentatively as if he’s not sure he should fully speak his mind after everyone calling him a dick earlier.
“Whatever you want to say, just say it,” I tell him. “Get it out there so we can move on.”
It’s unusual for my older brother and me to talk this way, so I want to run with it while I have him.
“When everything happened with Marcus,” he says, peeling a straw and bending it around his fingers, “I wanted to kill him for doing that to you.”
I had no idea. “I’m glad you didn’t. You’d look washed-out in prison orange.”
His lips quirk with the start of a smile. “I’m serious. For him to marry someone else and not even tell you, I wanted to kill him.”
I reach over Wyatt to put my hand on Nico’s. “Thank you for caring. It means a lot.”
“Of course I care. Maybe I don’t act like it all the time—”
“Any of the time,” Maria says with a cough as the rest of us crack up.
“I care,” Nico says, his face flushing. “I never want to see any of you guys hurt the way Marcus hurt you.”
“Thank you, Nico,” I say. “I appreciate that.”
“While we’re having this come-to-Jesus conversation,” Maria says, “what’re you up to with Sofia at the restaurant?”
He recoils from the question. “I’m not up to anything. What does that even mean?”
“You know what I’m talking about, so don’t play dumb with me.”
I’ve never in my life seen Nico squirm the way he does under the heat of Maria’s intense glare.
“I’m honestly not ‘up to’ anything,” Nico says after a long pause. “We’re friends. That’s all it is.”
“She means a lot to everyone,” Maria tells him. “Abuela and Nona would castrate you if you ever did anything to hurt her.”
“For Christ’s sake, Maria. Why would I want to hurt her?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” My sister can be ruthless when she wants to be, and I love that about her. “Maybe you’re just looking to get lucky and move on, and if that’s the case, find someone else to mess around with.”
“Ease up, will you? We’re just friends. Don’t make it into anything more than that.”
“As long as you don’t, we’re all good,” Maria says.
Nico is saved from further inquisition when the food arrives, but I’m glad Maria put him on notice.
“We need a toast to Dee,” Maria says, smiling. “The new general manager at Giordino’s!”
“Shut up,” Milo says, grinning. “Is that what V and V were talking to you about after brunch?”
“How do you know that when you weren’t even there?”
Milo gives me a withering look. “We got a full report from Aunt Francesca.”
“I still can’t believe they asked me. They said Mommy’s illness has been a wake-up call for them, and they want to take some time for fun before they’re too old to enjoy all their hard work.”
“That’s great for them and you,” Nico says. “Congrats.”
“Thanks. I’m excited about it—and nervous. But Uncle V promised he’d teach me everything I need to know, and as he said, he’s not going anywhere that I can’t reach him if I need him.”
“You’ll be great,” Austin says. “Congratulations.”
Their excitement and encouragement mean everything to me. “Thanks, everyone.”
“So this situation with Mommy,” Milo says tentatively. “How worried do we need to be?” He addresses the question to Maria and Wyatt.
“It looks like just an infection,” Maria says.
“And that can happen with chemo ports,” Wyatt adds. “It’s not uncommon. How long ago did she have scans?”
“A month,” I tell him, “and they were clear.”
“That’s the most important thing,” he says. “Try not to panic. There’ll be setbacks and a few steps forward, followed by a few steps backward. It’s always like that with these sorts of illnesses.”
“Was it like that for you?” Maria asks.
“Hell yes. One month I’d be feeling good and thinking I turned a corner, and the next month, I’d be back in the hospital fighting for my life again. It was a total roller coaster until I had the transplant.”
“And you immediately felt better?” Milo asks.
“I felt reborn. Your mom is doing great. This is a setback, but she’s heading in the right direction with clear scans. That’s the most important thing.”
Nico insists on picking up the check, probably to prove he’s not a dick, and we say our goodbyes in the parking lot. Maria promises to check in with my dad and then update us on our mother’s condition to keep from overwhelming him with texts.
She gives me an extra-tight hug. “I love Wyatt,” she whispers in my ear.
“I do, too.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
That means everything to me, and she knows it.
As Wyatt drives us back to my place, I feel content in a way that I haven’t in a very long time. I’m worried about my mom but comforted by what Wyatt said about setbacks being common when fighting major illness.
I look over at him, drinking in the sight of him while I still can. I hate that he’s leaving tomorrow. “Thanks for being so great with them. It helped them to hear that setbacks are common. It helped me to hear that.”
“I’m glad it helped. The setbacks can be scary for the families. I get that.”
When we get back to my place, he asks if he can borrow my iron. I find one that some previous tenant left under the kitchen sink and set it up for him. While he irons his shirt for the interview tomorrow, I check my texts and find one from my cousin Domenic.
Hey, cuz, I hope things are good there, and Aunt Elena is doing ok. I found a new permanent roommate and wondered if it’s okay for me to pack up your stuff and ship it home. I figured with everything you’ve got going on, that would save you a trip to NYC. Let me know—and I’ll ask Tori to pack your underwear drawer. Ewwww.
I laugh as I respond to him. He’s been dating Tori for a while but refuses to call her an actual girlfriend. That’d be AWESOME. Just let me know what I owe you for boxes and shipping. I’ll Venmo you. My mom is doing ok. She had a minor setback with an infection in her port, so she’s in the hospital. We’re told it’s nothing to worry about, but that’s easier said than done. Also, LOL about the underwear drawer. Tell Tori thanks for me. How’s it going with her, anyway?
It’s good. We’re having fun. Not sure she’s THE ONE, but I guess we’ll see. I’ll get your stuff packed up this week. Sorry to hear about Aunt Elena—keep me posted on that. I heard some interesting stuff about you. What gives with the doctor with the bad heart?