Looking at our son, I watched as my father sat on the floor with him, keeping him entertained. The family had made sure that Colin would be comfortable, and he was as I heard him laugh at something funny my father did.
The whole family was here to welcome us home.
Though I was happy to see my parents and I loved being back home in Chicago, I didn’t have the same sense of security I had in California. I couldn’t explain. I wanted to be here. Dreamed of being here, yet now that I was, why did I want to go back to California?
It didn’t take me long to figure it out.
While everyone was happy and enjoying the reunion, I found myself looking around the massive home. I wondered where he was. Expecting him to show his face. Did any of them know what he really did? Did my parents know?
Reggie wasn’t the only one a little apprehensive about being back in Chicago. My brother had destroyed my life. He’d taken everything that I truly ever loved and crushed it so easily. As much as I wanted to believe that I could safely be back here, I knew it was impossible.
Seeing Reggie and Gio eased some of my fears, but like Reggie, I could tell he was still worried.
Getting up, I walked over to him. He quickly wrapped his arms around me, giving me that feeling of safety once more. It was at that moment I knew. No matter where we were, we were home as long as we were together. It didn’t matter where we lived. A house didn’t define us. It was our love, and we were stronger together.
As the day wore on, the family kept us both occupied, and by the time we walked into our room for the night, I was exhausted. After getting Colin to sleep, all I wanted to do was sleep myself.
Laying on the bed, I sighed, then grinned as Reggie plopped down next to me.
“Fuck, I’m tired.”
I smiled. Turning my head to face him, I asked, “Reggie, I know I never asked, but where is Angelo?”
His smile faded as he sighed. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore. He will never harm you again.”
“So, he’s dead then.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Shortly after your return.”
“I see.”
“Does that bother you?”
“I thought it would. He was my brother. I loved him, but after what he did. Knowing what he was capable of…no. In fact, I am happy he is dead. I feel bad for my parents, though. Do they know?”
“Yes. Gio informed them.”
Silence engulfed us as we both just lay there on the bed, looking at the ceiling. There was so much I wanted to ask him, so much I wanted to know. But I didn’t ask. I learned early on that it was best not to ask questions when it came to the Valentinetti family.
Knowing that my brother was dead did nothing to alleviate my fears. I thought it would, but it didn’t. Something else was still bothering me. I didn’t know what it was. It was more of a feeling than anything else. Something I couldn’t shake. No matter what I tried, I still couldn’t get comfortable or relax.
As the night wore on, I found myself restless. I couldn’t get comfortable. Not wanting to wake Reggie, I quietly got up from the bed and left the bedroom. Heading downstairs towards the kitchen, I hoped that something to drink might help.
The house was quiet.
It was the first time I’d ever been in the house without hearing someone’s laughter. Growing up around the Valentinetti’s, there was never a moment of silence. Everything around them was loud, vivacious, and fun. Laughter rang supreme, and their love for each other was paramount.
I never had that growing up in my family.
My parents were from the old country. They were hard workers, and though I knew they loved Angelo and me, they had us later in life. It wasn’t that my parents didn’t love me. I knew they did. It was just a different dynamic. More reserved.
Maybe that was why being around Reggie and his cousins attracted me so much. They were part of something greater than themselves, and perhaps subconsciously, I wanted to be a part of that too.
Opening the refrigerator, I looked at everything in front of me before settling on a glass of apple juice. I had just put the pitcher on the counter when I heard a low moan from somewhere behind me.