Once we are back home, I pull her into the shower and love her again before falling exhausted into bed, pulling her close to me.
Chapter Seven
Autumn
The next morning, I get dressed in my only dress. I am not a dress girl, but luckily, I have this one dress. Thankfully, it happens to be a dark maroon color, so it’s perfect for Thanksgiving. I finish the look with a pair of black knee-high boots that I got on sale at a big fancy department store on 34th Street. Alright, my friend who works there stole them and I bought them off of her for fifty bucks. Geez, I’m a terrible person, but with Alberto by my side, I don’t give a flying fuck. I am exactly who he needs me to be. A little while later, we walk back over to Mom’s. She called me this morning panicking. This was the first time I wasn’t there to help her get the boys fed and ready for the day.
Some would say that it’s not my responsibility, but I’d tell them to fuck the fuck right off. She’s my mom. Sal was never any help and I don’t know anyone who could do this alone. Three under four is no fucking joke. I help my mom dress the boys while she gets some food going. Albie beelines for Santino, sitting on the couch next to him.
“Who you?” Santino asks in his tiny voice.
“Al.” Santino climbs into his lap. Albie looks good holding him.
“I be Santy,” he says, holding his hand out to shake like I taught him.
“Nice to meet you, Santy.” Albie shakes his little hand and my heart melts into a puddle.
A few minutes later we get into a souped-up minivan, equipped with the proper car seats for the boys, and drive up the driveway to another part of the estate. If I thought Albie’s house was huge, this looks like a friggin’ castle. We park in front and Albie gives my mom the keys. She is sitting right behind us in the first row.
“I’ll just hold these until you are ready to leave then,” she says tucking them into her dress pocket.
“Oh no, they’re your keys,” he says nonchalantly, getting out of the van and opening the side door. He helps Santino out then climbs in unbuckling the other two handing Gio to my mom and he carries Sal out himself. Santino tugs on Albie’s arm so I smile and take Sal from him. Sal likes to walk, so I hold his hand as we start up the many steps to the front door.
“Up,” Santino says when we reach the base of the steps and I grin like a fucking loon when Albie complies.
I’m nervous as hell to meet his parents, but at least I have something to occupy my hands. Before we can get all the way up the steps, the front door opens, and a plump older woman comes out onto the porch.
“Alberto, introduce us,” she says, straightening out her flour-covered apron.
“Mama, this is Betty and the boys, Santino, Sal, and Gio,” he says as he gestures to each boy. “And this is my girl, Autumn. Everyone this is my mama, Maria.” A man comes out to stand behind Maria. “And this is my father, Alberto.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say. They both pull me into a hug. Lorenzo comes outside too.
“You’re letting all the heat out,” he says smirking.
“Hush up. Let’s get these babies inside,” Maria says. We start to follow her when Lorenzo stops us.
“Betty?’’ he questions. My mom looks up and her eyes widen.
“Lolo?” she questions, handing me Gio before she runs into his arms. Okay, so they know each other.
“Lorenzo? Is this Berry Betty? From P.S. 195 in Brooklyn?”
“Yes, Mama. My first kiss in fifth grade. Then she moved to the Bronx. What a small world.”
“How did you know it was me?” Mom asks.
“I stalk you on Facebook, among other things.”
“I have four kids and a missing ex-husband,” my mom blurts out and her cheeks flush.
“I know, BB. We should talk about that,” Lorenzo says. Alberto, SR picks up on that too.
“Let’s go inside. Here, Autumn. Let me take Gio.” I nod and hand him over, following him in the house.
I’m overwhelmed by the decor.
“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Diaz,” I say.
“None of that, everybody calls me Mama or Maria. I’d like you to call me Mama.”
“Sure, Mama,” I respond, smiling.
“Tony will hold the baby. Come help me and Angelina in the kitchen,” she says walking away. Tony holds his arms out and takes the baby from me. Smiling, I thank him.
“You forgetting something, Lolita?” Albie asks.
“I don’t think so,” I say confused.
“My fucking kiss,” he growls.
“Oooh you say bad word,” Santino says. I burst out laughing then kiss him before following Mama into the kitchen where two beautiful girls are. One is slender while the other is chubby, but they are gorgeous.