Snatched Two Husbands, But They Both Remember the Fire Chapter 12

Snatched Two Husbands, But They Both Remember the Fire Chapter 12

Alexander’s big party. First weekend in May.

He’d been Don almost two years. But with Mama Ross and her people still around, no party. Now she was gone. Sophia was gone. People picked their sides.

Time.

The old house in Long Island. Bigger than the main house. Fields. Horses. Docks. Windows looking at the

ocean.

Alexander fixed everything. New walls. New furniture. Flowers in the ground.

“My father’s house,” he said. “Now it’s mine.”

Cars everywhere. Black ones. Long ones. Pearls and diamonds in the night.

All the Families. The old man in a chair. The lady in the red dress. Two sons. Both single.

I stood on the second floor. Looking down.

Crystal lights. White tables. Silver. Flowers. Men with trays. Champagne.

“Alright?” Luca next to me. Two glasses.

“Fine,” I said. “It’s not my party.”

“Everyone’s looking at you.”

“Let them.”

Rocco on the wall. Arms crossed. Black suit. Black tie. Hair back. Looking at me.

“Someone wants to see me,” he said.

“Who?”

“Someone.”

“Then go. You don’t need to stay.”

He looked at me a long time. Then stood straight.

“You not telling me to stay? Means you’re done with me. Then comes someone else. Then we’re over.”

“You read too many books.”

“I know you.”

He left.

Luca smiled.

“He’s right. That’s what you do.”

Alexander talked.

On the stage. No paper. Light on his face.

He said thank you. To the families. To the old men. To everyone.

Then he looked up. Past everyone. Past the lights. Past everything.

At me.

“Especially one person. My sister. Catalina.”

Quiet.

“Without her, I’m not here. Not because of things she did. Though she did things. But because I knew-

someone wouldn’t give up on me.”

“Not my dad. Not the old men. Her.”

“She didn’t give up. So I didn’t give up.”

“Thank you, big sister.”

He raised his glass.

My eyes were blurry. But I saw him. Saw his smile.

*You’re welcome, little brother.*

He heard.

People swarmed him after. Talking. Touching. Smiling.

Every few seconds, he’d look up. At me. To make sure I was still there.

I nodded every time.

He’d look away.

Night. Everyone gone.

Alexander at the window. Jacket off. Sleeves up. A cigarette in his hand. Not lit.

Looking at the water.

Moon big. The sea was silver.

“Can’t sleep?” I went to him.

“Too loud. People in my head.”

“They say?”

“‘Good job.’ ‘Don.’ ‘We pick you.’ But I’m thinking-who means it? If I fall tomorrow, who’s there?”

“Not everyone has to be there.”

He looked at me.

“Just you.”

Sea wind. Cold.

“Big sister,” he said. “Think about it. If she was still here. What would be different?”

I looked at the ocean. Silver road to the moon.

“She’d love you. Same as now. She’d love me. Same.”

“Then?”

“She’d make food. Tell you to wear warm clothes. Hold you when you cry.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

He smiled.

“That’s nice.”