“I don’t think Julio’s Godson is to blame here. If anyone is, it’s me,” Grand Mama said.
“Oh, yeah, how so?” asked Mamacita, brightening up for the first time since they’d seen her that morning.
“My daughter was angry with me. I should never have agreed to allow the documentary filmmakers to spring things on my daughters the way that I did. I should have found a better way to let my two daughters know that I was alive. I handled it poorly, and it’s my fault that Joan was so upset.”
Mamacita spoke up. “I’m glad you realize that. Would you like a croissant?”
“Yes, darling, but perhaps just a tiny slice...”
The triplets, unable to hold the upside-down position any longer, collapsed and rolled back onto their bellies, quickly propping their chubby fists under the chins for support as they waited for the adult conversation to continue.
They watched as their father’s mother, the one they called Mamacita, cut the croissant into two pieces and put the largest slice in front of the other grandmother in the room.
Their Grand Mama smiled graciously to her hostess, but didn’t touch the pastry. Instead, she continued to speak on the matter at hand.
“I did some soul searching of my own. I’ve decided to see if I can get out of the contract to do the documentary. At the very least, I’ll try and stop the intrusions on the family. I should never have done what I did. I should have realized how insensitive and wrong my behavior- I mean, the director’s approach was.”
The triplets watched as their mother’s mother dabbed a silk handkerchief gently at her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she said. The boys could see she was watching her oldest daughter, as if to make sure she’d noticed her distress.
“Hey, I know that game,” Ryland said, and the others knew he was talking about the fake tears.
“Yeah, like I said, she’s cool.”
They all nodded. But, then frowned when they saw their mother getting upset. She ran over to their Grand Mama who was now fake shaking her shoulders with her dry eyes still hidden behind the hanky. “Mom, it wasn’t that bad. Joan was just overreacting. You shouldn’t quit the documentary – it’s an important story, what happened to you. You’re not the one who should be apologizing as far as I’m concerned. I still say it was that louse, Antonio Ferraro, that screwed up her life.”
Their Grand Mama sat up straight, made another dry dab at her eyes, forced a sniff, then said, “Sweetheart, perhaps he’s culpable as well, but that doesn’t diminish my part in this. Please, just accept my apology and allow me to find a way to help you deal with this situation.”
Their elegant Grand Mama dropped her head and turned away again, and their mother, father, and the other adults all became silent for a while with their own thoughts.
Marco decided at that moment to let out a long, juicy fart.
“Marco!” Ryland and Hunter said at the same time as they gasped, tried to cover their nose and mouth with their hands, and speed crawl away from him all at the same time.
But, then Marco spoke, as if he’d breaking gas had given him a powerful insight. “Hey, did she just say Auntie Joan’s friend was called Antonio Ferraro?”
Hunter responded, “Yeah, so?”
“I know who he is. I’ve seen him play, he’s an amazing forward, plays for AC Milan.”
Hunter and Ryland stared at their brother.
“How the heck do you know that?” Hunter asked.
“Yeah! And what’s a forward?” Ryland wanted to know.
“A forward is... never mind, you wouldn’t understand, Ryland. It’s a soccer position, anyhow, whenever papa and I watch soccer together and we get to see AC Milan play, he always points out Antonio Ferraro, because, for one thing, he’s outstanding and for another thing, he’s like Papa’s God son, or something like that.”
“You watch soccer with papa? I don’t believe you. When?” Hunter said.
“When you guys are asleep, on the nights when he’s home. He sometimes comes and gets me, and he takes me to the living room. It’s something we do.”
“He wakes you up to watch television?” Ryland asked with clear jealousy on his face. “Why doesn’t he wake us up?”
“Because he knows better. You slackers aren’t going to be the star athlete in this family someday. But, papa knows that I will be. Just like he knows I’m going to be the first one to walk. You wait and see.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Marco the Jock – rub it in. But, you aren’t going to be the ladies’ man like Ryland over here, and you’re not going to be the brilliant business man like me so, go ahead – enjoy your peak. It won’t last long.”
“Hunter, you’re a turd sometimes. You know that, don’t you?” Marco said.
“Takes one to know one,” Hunter said back, muttering, with his chubby arms crossed over his chest.
“Quiet – they’re saying something!” Ryland hissed.
The three rugrats turned their concentration back on the proceedings. Their clever Grand Mama was speaking again, in her clear and well-modulated voice. “I have a proposal and I want you to all hear me out.”
“We’re listening,” said Julio.
“I think first, we need to look at Joan’s minor slip-up as just that. A minor slip-up.”
“Minor slip up?” said Mama Lissa, with an unbelieving tone. “She was arrested for helping herself to drinks in a closed bar at the Grand Hotel of all places.”
“The charges were dropped, so there was no arrest. I’ve already taken care of the damages at the hotel, and they’ve agreed not to say anything to the press. The problem has been taken care of. No harm, no foul.”
“But my sister drank again, don’t you understand? My baby’s nanny! She’s an alcoholic. And she’s drinking again. How can I be expected to go on a honeymoon for two weeks and leave my babies in her care? How can I trust she won’t get drunk again? There isn’t time to find a replacement nanny. Everything is ruined!”
The boys, distraught by their mother’s distress, each began to fuss as tears welled up in their eyes. They looked to their father for hope, as he moved to their mother’s side and tried to comfort her. They wiped their eyes with their snotty fingers, waiting for good news, and spoke to each other telepathically, the same terrible thought. “No more Auntie Joan?” Was their mother saying she intended to keep their Auntie Joan away from them? Just because she had some drinks? It didn’t seem right.
Their Grand Mama stood up, gave out a tremendous sigh, then said. “Por forvor, please, will you listen to me. Please.”
Everyone turned to pay attention to her. “Lissa, I am your mother. As your mother, I’m asking you to please calm down and hear me out. Will you do that for me?”
The triplets watched their mommy wipe her eyes, and sit back. Their father sat next to her, holding her hand for support. She nodded.
The triplets relaxed.
“Good. Here’s what I want you to understand. First, Joan’s relapse was my fault, no one else’s, so I’m taking responsibility for it. You don’t need to hire another nanny, because you have Joan for the job.”
“But, how can I trust her?” Asked mommy.
Grand Mama held up a quieting hand and continued. “Joan will be on the job, but she won’t be on it alone. I will be there with her, we will both have the job of being the full-time nanny while the two of you go on your honeymoon.”
“Mom, I can’t picture you doing that.”
“Nonsense, darling, didn’t I raise you two girls, often by myself? I think I can handle this. Besides, Mamacita and Aunt Sophia will be available as a back-up. We’ll be fine. And I’ll make sure Joan goes to her meetings every day, and I’ll keep her away from temptation.”
“Yes!” Marco said, as he punched his brother. “Hooray,” Ryland agreed.
“Shut up,” Hunter said, “They’re talking about Antonio.”
“So, you’ll keep her away from Antonio Ferraro?” their mother Lissa said.
“I didn’t say that,?
? Grand Mama said. “There’s no evidence that he was involved in her downfall.”
“There’s no evidence that he wasn’t,” Lissa countered.
Julio stepped in. “I agree, Lissa. As much as I want to come to the aid of my Godson, I agree that they should stay away from each other, at least until we return from our honeymoon. It’s only two weeks. If the two of them want to be together, they can surely wait until we get back.”
“Oh, I’m not going to be gone for two weeks. I’d already told you I thought that was too long, considering our work in Milan, but with this new development – two weeks isn’t going to happen. I’ll give you one week and that’s all.”
“But, Lissa.”
“Take it or leave it.” Their mother said. “In fact, you either agree to one week right now, or you can just forget about marrying me to begin with.”
Their mother got up from her chair, and the boys watched as their father tried to stop her from moving away, putting his hand on her arm. She jerked her arm away from him.
“I’m not kidding,” she said.