Sempre (Sempre 1)

“Because it doesn’t.”

25

Haven opened the dryer door and flung the wet clothes into it, listening as everyone chatted in the foyer. Celia had a flight to Chicago in a few hours, and Dr. DeMarco was going with her for a few days. They were saying good-bye, so she’d slipped away and secluded herself in the laundry room, feeling like she was unfairly imposing on family time.

There was a light tap from the doorway after a moment, and she turned to see Celia. Haven stiffened when she wrapped her arms around her in a hug. “It’s been great getting to know you.”

“You too, ma’am.”

“Call me Celia, dear,” she said. “I have to go before Vincent complains, but I couldn’t leave without saying good-bye to you.”

Haven was touched she cared so much. “Good-bye, Celia.”

Celia smoothed Haven’s hair before walking away. Haven turned back to the dryer, and Carmine strolled in after they left. “Dia wants to know what time we’re going tonight.”

“Do you think I should go?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t you?”

“Well, your friends will be there. I’ll probably just be a complication.”

Truth was, it was New Year’s Eve, and she didn’t want to watch Carmine from afar all night.

“Don’t ever call yourself a complication,” he said. “And yeah, I want you to come.”

“Okay,” she said softly.

He ran his hands down his face with frustration. “Okay? We’re back to that again? If you don’t wanna go, say so. I’ll stay home too. I just thought it would be nice to get out tonight. And honestly, everyone knows about us already because of Lisa’s big mouth. Damn schifosa.”

“What’s a schifosa?

He tugged at his hair. “An ugly girl.”

“Do you really think she’s ugly, or are you saying that because you’re angry with her?”

“She’s all right, I guess.”

She smiled to herself. “I’ll go tonight. I just don’t want to embarrass my boyfriend in front of the schifosas he goes to school with.”

He stared at her like he was dissecting her words. “That’s the first time you’ve called me that.”

“Called you what?”

“Your boyfriend.”

She hesitated. “Isn’t that what you are?”

“Yeah,” he said. “You’ve just never acknowledged it before. I was starting to wonder if you were embarrassed.”

* * *

The New Year’s Eve party was being held in a vacant field on the outskirts of Durante, a cotton farm that had been abandoned years before. The barn still stood, empty and collapsing, the ground overgrown from lack of use.

Haven eyed the place peculiarly as Carmine parked, dozens of cars surrounding them. It was already late, everything shrouded in darkness, but Haven could see a large bonfire in the distance. Carmine took her hand as they strolled through the field. A few people greeted him, but Carmine seemed distracted. He diverted them to the left, taking her to where Dia stood by herself along the side. “I’ll be back, okay? Stay here.”

He looked torn as he let go of her hand before walking away. This was the reason she had considered not coming in the first place. “I’ll be fine on my own. You can go have fun, Dia.”

Dia laughed. “Fun? I think not. This is so not my scene. I’d rather hang out with you.”