Strain shows on his face. His gaze lifts to see Carmen, Summer, and Carlo coming from the interior of the emergency room. Joey’s mother jumps up from where she was sitting nearby.
“His skull is fractured, and there’s swelling of the brain. He’s in a coma now.” Carmen’s voice breaks with the word “coma.”
Joey opens his arms and draws his sister-in-law against his broad chest. Carmen falls apart, choking on a sob. Helpless, I turn to Donna Teresa to offer her an embrace.
“They’re doing a brain scan. I’m going to stay and wait for the results.”
“I’ll stay with you,” Joey says immediately.
“Me too,” I declare. I’m a part of this family now. I chose sides. I’m team Joey, which meansla famiglia. La Cosa Nostra.Everything it is. Do I still have reservations? Yes, definitely.
But after almost losing Joey, I know sticking it out will be worth it.
When Summer says she’s staying, Carlo positions himself in the seat beside her, draping an arm around the back of her chair protectively. The rest of us take seats in the waiting room, where the drone of CNN on the television has turned the occupants into zombies.
Joey wraps an arm around my shoulders, his fingers idly stroking my hair. It feels so natural, as if we’re a long-married couple handling a family tragedy together. Even though he was a victim of this tragedy, he radiates strength, power, and calm leadership. If this were my emergency to face, rather than his, I’d want Joey LaTorre beside me.
“Thank you for coming, Soph,” Joey murmurs. “I heard what you said to my mom.” He cradles the side of my face. “I’m so lucky. I love you so much,bella.”
“I love you, too.” I lower my head to his shoulder, finding a nook to nestle it in a signal of solidarity.
I wake a half hour later to the sound of Joey’s gentle voice. “Sophie. I want you to go home, angel.”
“No. I’m staying here with you.” I glance at Carmen and his mother, who dozes slumped in her chair. Summer’s knees are drawn up to her chest, and Carlo rests his forearms on his knees. “All of you.”
“I appreciate that, but you need your rest, and there’s nothing you can do here tonight.”
I open my mouth, but he touches my lips with his finger.
“Take one thing off my mind,bella. I need to know you’re resting and eating and safe. Okay?”
I nod. “Okay. Of course.” I stand and let him walk me out to the parking lot.
He kisses me.
“Sleep at my place?” I ask, hating to be apart from him again so soon after nearly losing him.
His smile is faint but warm. “Count on it.”
I reach inside my purse and pull out a key to my townhouse, pressing it into his palm. He pulls me against his strong chest and kisses the top of my head.
Joey
It takes everything I have to let Sophie drive home alone. I need to be in her bed. Or bringing her to mine. I need to be skin-to-skin with her, remembering every curve of her body. Reminding it how it responds to me. Thanking her for not giving up on us. For returning to me.
But the Family needs my lead right now, which means wrapping up all the loose ends I can tonight.
“I was wrong,” my mother says when I return. “She does love you.”
“Ma…” It’s not in me to give her a piece of my mind. Not when she’s suffering over Al’s condition. But the fact that she orchestrated our break-up kills me.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you apart. I see that now. I didn’t know about the baby.”
I’m not going to issue my complaint over what she did, but I am going to recruit her help for our future. “I need you to keep us together, Ma.” I hold her gaze. “She’s my family now. I need you behind us.”
My mom only hesitates for a moment, then she nods. “Yes. Yes, of course. I will help any way I can. She’s a good girl. She’ll make you happy.”
“I’llmakeherhappy,” I say fiercely. Because that’s what really matters, and right now, it’s feeling more and more difficult.