There’s silence again... which seems to stretch at least a week.
Then, “You’re old enough to know what you’re doing.” My mother’s tone is soft. “I know your instincts must have told you it was okay to do so.” She pauses. “And Isaac was fine with this, presumably?”
“Isaac and I are no longer together.”
“Ah… I see.”
There’s a pause again.
“Me and JJ... uh, JJ, that’s Isaac’s father, and I—”
“You’re with his father now?”
“Not really. I mean, I am, kinda, but not. I moved out of his house and am renting a place until I figure out my next move. But don’t worry, Mom, I also have friends here. Friends who have proven to be a great support network. In fact, I was on my way to meet them when you called.”
“So, you and JJ, are you going to get back together?”
“I’m not really sure, Mom,” I say honestly.
“It’s good you’re taking your time to figure this out. Relationships are not easy, honey. God knows I’ve screwed up my fair share of them. And most of the time it’s because I was impulsive, know what I mean? I allowed my heart to carry me away... Which, admittedly, in the moment, it wasn’t too bad, and I still believe it was the right thing to do. I just wish I had the maturity to take things a bit slower.” I sense her moving around. A door bangs in the distance then, “Mom?” Josh’s voice reaches me, followed by more footsteps.
“Who are you talking to, Mom?”
“Your sister.”
“Dinky? You’re talking to Dinky?” I hear the sound of the phone being taken from Mom, then, “Dinky? It’s you? Why haven’t you been on the group chat? We were beginning to worry that you and Isaac were having trouble, and maybe that’s why you’d gone all quiet.”
“It’s that, and more. I’m not with him anymore, but I am with someone else.”
It’s Josh’s turn to go silent, then he chuckles. “O-k-a-y, well, that was fast. Either way, Isaac wasn’t one-hundred percent into you, you know? He was always going on about his paintings and his art and finding his muse. You should’ve been his muse, Lena. Anyone could see you were too good for him.”
“Ah, thanks, I guess. Josh, I gave Mom the lowdown. I’m sure she’s going to share my news over family dinner.”
“Right, well, gotta go. Mom’s threatening to hold back her chicken curry if I don’t hand the phone over to her. Bye, Dinky. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Josh.”
“Dinky?” My mom’s voice again. “You do you, okay? Don’t worry about what the world thinks of you. Don’t worry about what we make of your man or your relationship. If he makes you happy—”
“I think he does, Mom.”
“—then you need to figure out what you really want and go after it, ya?”
“Ya.” I nod. Tears prick the backs of my eyes, and I lift my head toward the ceiling to keep them from spilling over. “I’m so sorry I didn’t talk to you earlier.”
“I understand the need for getting clarity on the status of your relationship in your head, but I also wouldn’t have let more time go by without calling you.”
“I know that.” Maybe I counted on it. It’s one of the things I love about my family, especially my ma. She knows exactly when to push and when to hold back. “Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, honey. Now, I’d better go before your brother eats all of my vegetables before I can cook them.”
I disconnect the phone, and it pings with a text from Summer.
You coming? Karma and I are waiting for you.
"You sure he hasn’t put cameras in your apartment, or bugged your phone, or has his security team following you?" Karma Sovrano cups her palms over her obviously pregnant stomach. She’s staying at her sister Summer Sterling’s townhouse in Primrose Hill. Karma and Michael came over from Sicily to attend Massimo and Olivia’s wedding.
I’ve learned that Michael kidnapped Karma for a debt he thought her father owed his, but instead of exacting his revenge, he married and then fell in love with her. In that order. Karma had messaged Summer—or rather Michael had messaged Summer on behalf of Karma—to let her know she had a beau in Sicily, and that she should not worry. Karma stayed away nearly four months, during which time she’d gotten married and fallen pregnant. She probably would have stayed on in Sicily until the child was born, but Summer finally lost patience and told her she was hopping on the next flight to see her. At which point, Karma turned up with Michael in tow. Summer has refused to allow them to return to Sicily. She must have been very persuasive because both Karma and Michael have stayed. In fact, they managed to rent the townhouse next to the Sterling’s. Because Michael had to return to Sicily for a few days for work, Karma has temporarily moved in with Summer. The sisters have had a wonderful time catching up.