Scorched(21)
“Molly, I can explain, sweetheart,” Devil soothed, holding up his hand and trying to reach for his wife.
“Sounds like famous last words to me,” Sami grunted, glaring at Devil.
“Don’t they just?” Molly returned, nodding at a sage Samantha.
“Not everything is simply black and white here, dammit. There is such a color as grey, you know,” Devil hissed at the three women, dropping his arm when Molly backed away from him and kept glowering at him. “Nick Santino is not the villain your overactive imaginations are trying to conjure up. He’s a decent guy, Molly.”
“Oh, my God,” Molly scoffed, carefully keeping her voice pitched low so she didn’t disturb a snoring Armando. Heaven knew that the poor man would need his rest to manage whatever ordeal was headed toward them. “You’re actually going to defend what he’s done? You know what you are, Devil? You’re a Judas!”
“Excuse me?” Devil snapped, his shoulders stiffening as he focused furious eyes on Molly. “I haven’t betrayed anybody, little girl. I simply didn’t stick my nose into somebody else’s relationship where – incidentally - it didn’t belong. I listened to Nick talk about his problem with his parents over a couple of beers during a business trip several months ago. I gave him some advice when he asked for it and then I put it out of my mind because it wasn’t my problem! I do that when something is none of my affair. It’s a pretty common practice. I certainly didn’t deceive anybody! Not Mannie. And certainly not you,” Devil argued quietly as he stared at his wife. “The bottom line here is that I know Nick loves and adores young Armando over there just as much as I do you and listening to you three harpies crucify the man before he’s had a chance to defend himself is wrong. I know it, and so do you. When exactly did you get so self-righteous, huh? Since when aren’t you willing to at least hear the other side of the story, Margaret? How the hell can you or your terrible twosome here make an informed decision if you don’t have all the facts?”
Despite being irate that he employed the use of her much hated Christian name, Molly chose to let it go and pay attention to the matter at hand. Crossing her arms over her chest, she lifted her chin in defiance. “Don’t you think we have the pertinent facts, Devil?” she asked with a scowl. “Nick’s been lying to his parents and lying to the man he claims to love. Call me crazy, but it appears that he was willing to build a marriage on a foundation of lies and sins of omission. I’d say we all have a pretty good grasp on the facts. And as for Nick loving Mannie like you love me, if that’s true, Devil, I’m a little concerned about the health of our own relationship. How many deceptions will I find if I take a closer look at our marriage?”
“Okay, you two,” Vivian interceded calmly, “let’s agree to retreat to our neutral corners before somebody says something they can’t take back.”
Disregarding Vivian’s warning, Devil shook his head. “Have any of you asked yourself why a stand-up guy like Nick would choose to keep this to himself? Any of you given his reasoning any thought? Do any of you care about that?”
Stunned by Devil’s passionate defense of his employee and friend, it occurred to Molly that her husband was as protective of his pal as she was of hers. Shifting uncomfortably on her feet as she felt his observant eyes drilling into her. Knowing that he was waiting for a response, she murmured, “I care. Not as much as I care about Armando, but I do care.”
“Good,” Devil returned with a satisfied nod. “Then give Nick a chance to get here tomorrow and explain his reasons for doing what he did. I promise you all,” he continued, his gaze sweeping over all three worried women, “This is a far sight more complicated for Nick than you think. Armando doesn’t possess all the information that he needs to decide if he really wants to cancel his wedding. I’m asking all three of you to stall him for more time before he does something he’ll regret.”
“Whoa, there, Dr. Phil,” Molly drawled, automatically lifting her hand up in the air to stop Devil from carrying on. “I won’t do that. Whatever Nick’s motives were or weren’t, he’s deeply injured that man,” Molly declared, pointing at Mannie. Now sprawled on his back with feet propped on an ottoman, the man now slept, unmoving and drooling. “If Mannie wants to cancel the ceremony, I can’t stop him, Dev. Nobody will be able to do that. He’s a highly emotional, hot headed Latin man that feels like he’s been living a lie with his lover for years. I’m pretty sure that not even Godzilla could slow him down if he decides to end things with Nick.”