“Yes,” I breathe through my tears, not needing to think twice.
He places the gorgeous ring on my finger and it’s like my entire world settles into place. With both my hands grasped in his, he stands and pulls me into a kiss I’ll never forget.
Slowly, my mind unfogs to reveal the memory of the day we watched that cartoon. I marvel at how this is yet another memory I hadn’t known I’d forgotten. I can’t help but wonder what else I don’t remember.
Dario
She said yes. I can’t even begin to name the feelings I have. I had to pull that proposal together in a matter of days and I still wasn’t sure it would go without a hitch.
Nonno and Uncle Lucas were a big help. Should I feel guilty that I’m happier to have my uncle here rather than my father? It doesn’t seem like it.
Uncle Lucas has been there for us all our lives. When I fell off my bike and broke my arm, he was there. When I got my braces and was pissed off and embarrassed, he was there. When I was confused about my physical reaction to Car and I didn’t know how to hide or stop it, he was there.
I walk the halls as those thoughts run through my head. Carleen is fast asleep. I had to get out of bed to keep myself from touching her and disturbing her rest. I can’t wait to feel the baby move, although Car told me it will take a few more weeks before that happens.
“Dario,” Uncle Lucas calls, drawing my attention. I look into the study he’s seated in. He waves me into the room.
“Hey, Uncle Lucas. How you doing?”
“I’m fine, my boy. Excited for you and Carleen. A baby and a wedding. Ava would be so proud.”
“Yeah, I wish she were here.”
“She’s watching over you. I’m sure she’s happy you’re getting the one thing she couldn’t have.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
He takes a sip of his drink as I take the seat across from him. I sit back and spread my arms across the back of the sofa. He looks down into his drink as if his next words are in the tumbler.
“Frances didn’t even want to meet your mother. She was supposed to arrive in the States for the summer. It was their first meeting. Nothing was settled as far as their marriage, but there was talk of the union.
“Frances sent me to pick her up from the airport. I was to act as him and spend time with her so he could be off with the girl he’d fallen for. He was my best friend. I was doing him a favor.
“It wasn’t the first time we’d disobeyed our parents together. It was only to be for the summer.”
“Uncle Lucas,” I hiss out.
“Hear me out. Giuseppe said you wanted the truth. The truth only I can give.”
I narrow my eyes and nod for him to continue.
“She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Tall, statuesque, she carried herself with such authority. I’d follow that woman to the ends of the earth.
“I was drawn right into her life. This wasn’t her first time in the States. She already had friends. Friends and lovers. I…I…” He shakes his head. “At first, I didn’t understand. Beth was gorgeous, she and Ava were like two goddesses. I was young, of course, I had no problem joining them in their bed.
“Emil was when I took a step back. I was so jealous of him. The quiet strength he gave to Ava was something I didn’t comprehend.
“It took me a few summers before I realized she needed all of us. The four of us became one and Ava rose to power with all of our strength. It was who she was meant to be.
“But our love was something else. She and I had a different kind of bond. Frances had all but forgotten about her. He was ignoring the fact that his father was becoming impatient and more insistent that he secure a marriage with Ava.”
I hold up a hand. “What the fuck are you telling me?”
“It’s called a quad in the polyamory world. I was in a relationship with Ava, Beth, and Emil. We were best friends and lovers. We were also Ava’s circle. Her counsel.
“However, there was something we all wanted. Beth and Ava yearned for children. We just couldn’t agree on how to do that as a quad. We were always free to see others outside of our circle.”
“Un-fucking-believable. I don’t think this is the truth I was looking for. I want to know what happened to my ma, not who she was fucking before she married my father.”
“You can’t have one without the other. Listen to me, son. It will all make sense if you listen.”
“Beth found Carl first. She was the first to leave the quad. Things were never the same after that. Your mother and I spent more time together and became closer. Emil met someone and started to spend less time with the two of us. However, he and Ava remained very close. Then Gio was conceived. We didn’t mean for it to happen. Ava was already supposed to marry Frances.