“Like I said, dad, it was a long time ago. There’s no point.”
“She’s lying, mom, and I never did anything to her. And if mom did do something I was just a child, how can I be held responsible?” So that’s the new game you’re playing.
“Fontane, did you know that the youngest killer in US history was a little five-year-old girl who killed her sister in her bed? She bashed her head in while she slept because she was jealous of her.”
His simple ass became flummoxed, I guess he was suffering from information overload, or his mind was finally starting to work after being brain dead for so long. “Victoria, tell me the truth, what really happened?”
“Dad, I’m telling the truth; none of that happened. I don’t know why she’s making it up. Are you trying to gain points with Gabriel? Is that why you’ve been lying on the family?”
“His name is Gabe!” Even I looked at Gianna in shock; I don’t think I’ve ever heard that voice come out of her before or seen the look on her face that she sent Victoria’s way. “No one calls him Gabriel, but me. Unless you want me to reveal all your dark secrets here and now, you won’t cross me on this.” She added on the last when Victoria opened her mouth to argue, but those words shut her up right quick.
I think I may be a sexual deviant because her tone and attitude made me, well, not fit for company. She was breathing fire, barely holding onto her temper, and I was here for it. Fontane himself was shocked, and Victoria shut right the hell up, but I knew that wouldn’t last long.
“So, you’re saying your daughter is a liar, and the strangers are telling the truth. That makes sense to me. In the off chance that you no longer wish to be her dad, she has a whole family willing to adopt her, just say the word.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you sitting here taking the word of that instead of your daughter. I’m talking about ten years of mistreatment right under your nose. Do you even know where they came from? Victoria, you want to tell him?”
“Tell him what, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really! Who’s Jimmy? Where is he? Where did you live with him and your mother before moving here? I know you were young when all that happened, but I also know that you know more than you’re admitting to. You lived with the man for the first five years of your life; there’s no way you could’ve forgotten him. Besides, didn’t you run into him just a few nights ago?”
Gianna looked at me like I had two heads. “What?”
“I forgot to tell you.” No, I didn’t, but you asked me to leave it until after the party. I smiled at her and turned back to the other two. Victoria had lost all the color in her face, and Fontane was damn near epileptic.
“If you have something to say, Russo, then spit it out. You keep making all these unsubstantiated accusations with no proof.” I pretended to unlock my phone, “I can call Jimmy right now and let him tell you. He’d love to see his daughter again.”
“NO!” Victoria forgot herself for a second, I guess, and almost rushed across the room.
“Why not? I thought you didn’t know who he is?”
“I… I don’t know; I’ve heard the name before, but it’s not like you said. Felix, dad, you should wait until mom comes home to get to the bottom of this. Why are you trying to destroy our family?” That last was for me.
“Don’t pay him any mind, dad; I think he has us mixed up with someone else, or she’s putting him up to it.”
“For someone who’s such a damn bully, you’re weak. Come on, Gianna, let’s go; the twins are waiting.” I helped her up from the chair and walked past a fuming Victoria; Felix was still processing.
Becky’s in jail; now, these two can spend the next week in misery. Victoria no doubt will spend the time trying to unravel the lies, while Fontane can go looking for answers, while I show Gianna the time of her life on the island.
I felt a slight pang of sadness at the thought of what will follow but brushed it aside. I won’t let that put a damper on her first real vacation. I hope she looks back on it with fond memories somewhere down the line; in the future, she’s bound to have without me.
* * *
BECKY
* * *
Why isn’t anyone answering the phone? This is nonsense. Our phone can’t be out of service. “Hey, can you check and see what’s going on? I can’t get through to my husband.”
“Lady, this is the jailhouse, not the phone company.” I bit into my already raw nail bed that I’d chewed away in the last few days locked away in here.