“It’s not just that you talk about him. It’s how you look when you talk about him. You’re all dreamy-eyed.”
Violet frowned. “I don’t get dreamy-eyed. Certainly not about a man. Must be my pregnancy glow.”
“There is that, but this is more. This is the look in your eye.”
“I do like him. He’s a good man. He is the father of my child and we need to get along.”
“You’re doing so much more than getting along. You’re sleeping with him.”
“Yes, it’s sex. That’s it.”
“I think your pregnancy brain is making you deny your feelings for him,” Kalia said.
Violet sighed. When Kalia got something into her head, she wasn’t going to let it go. Arguing with her was going to make it worse. “Can we drop this?”
“Why? Because you don’t want to face how you feel? You need to think about it, Violet. If you know that this is going to end, you have to protect your heart. He’s going to break it and you’ll still have to deal with him. He’s going to be in your life for a very long time. So either admit it and get over him or protect yourself.”
Violet shook her head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just amazed at his behavior. I had no idea that someone could be this nice. That’s all. Each day he does something sweet. It doesn’t mean anything. He just feels responsible for me.”
Kalia shook her head. “You are way into denial. You love him. It’s so clear. I wish I could save you from the train wreck that this will be.”
Violet had to change the subject. This one made her uncomfortable. She cleared her throat. “Enough.”
Kalia frowned. “Fine, but I’m going to say ‘I told you so’ when this all ends badly.”
“Fine.”
“I got a new job.”
“I didn’t know you were looking?” Violet said.
“It’s in an office. It’s a real job finally. I’m not doing much beyond filing, but it’s a good paycheck and health benefits when I’ve been there three months.”
“Oh, that sounds great, Kalia. This is the beginning of you getting out of that apartment. You’ll never have to see Reggie again.”
“That will be wonderful. I cannot wait until I’ve save for a security deposit on another place,” Kalia said.
Violet couldn’t help but be happy for her friend. Things were looking up. “I did some hacking while I was bedridden.”
“Anything good?”
“Nothing that would have breached national security, but I may have left a trail. Amedeo came back early and I lost my focus.”
“That isn’t good, right?”
“No it isn’t. If I’ve left a trail the IT department may find me. I haven’t heard anything, so I’m hoping it’ll be fine.”
“That’s kind of scary. Couldn’t you go to jail?”
“Yes, I could. I was bored. I shouldn’t have done it, but I was sure I could get out without leaving a trace.”
“How about your job now?”
“I’m just waiting for the hacker to come back and set off the trap I set for him,” Violet said.
“Wow. Cool stuff.”
***
Amedeo loved his mother. He loved that he had this family. He wouldn’t want to see them every day, but seeing them once a month or so was perfect. He could catch them up on what was happening and they wouldn’t have time to ask too many questions.
He figured since his mother didn’t know about Violet that he could gloss over that until next month. Or maybe the month after that. He wasn’t sure why he was so hesitant to tell his mother about Violet. She wouldn’t judge. She’d accept what had happened and rejoice in another grandchild.
Was it because he knew his mother wanted at least one of them to marry an Italian girl? He shrugged as he pressed the doorbell to his mother’s house. He’d bought some flowers. Dante would bring wine. Salvatore would bring dessert.
His mother would cook the dinner because, well, she was Italian. They would all go home with the extra food. Violet would appreciate that.
Dante answered the door. The two men hugged. “No Violet?”
“Not ready to bring her into this yet. Besides, she’s not my wife or girlfriend. She’s just a baby mama.”
Dante gave him an odd look. “Baby Mama?”
“Apparently that is the term,” Amedeo said.
“I think you’re underestimating what she means to you.”
Amedeo had been heading for the kitchen, but he stopped in the hallway. “What do you mean?”
“If she was just a baby mama, then you’d have brought her. You wouldn’t care what Mom thinks.”