“Well, that’s one thing we can agree on,” Sofia barked at Armando.
“Due respect, Mrs. Santino,” Mannie’s heavily accented voice replied, “But I pray that it’s not the only thing we ever agree on. You and I… there is little common ground to be found, but I love your son. He has my heart. My soul. Does that mean anything to you?”
“Very little. Your relationship goes against everything I believe to be right. I’m sorry, but you are not for my Nicholas,” Sofia replied. “As I was saying, Nicholas. You can have this immoral relationship with him, or you can have a relationship with your family. Come home. Let your father and I get you some help for this….this….sickness.”
Molly felt Devil leaning toward her. “For once, I really wish we had Samantha here to turn loose on her,” she heard him whisper against her ear. She nodded. “Me, too,” she murmured back to him.
“My God! Enough, Sofia!” Gino bellowed, speaking for the first time since the conversation began. “I. Have. Heard. Enough!!!!!!!!” he shouted again, making his wife jump as she turned sharply to look at her husband. Grabbing her arm and giving her a quick shake, he exhaled a long stream of air through his nose as he scowled at her. “Do you honestly believe that you have the power to browbeat the gay right out of our son?” he shouted, throwing his arm out in a wide arc to gesture at Nick. “Is that what you believe?”
“Mmmmm,” Armando hummed appreciatively, blinking at the exchange. “Go, papi!”
“Shhhhh,” Nick hissed, holding Mannie’s hand tightly. “I don’t know what’s happening,” he whispered frantically. “He’s never yelled at Mother in my life!”
“That’s because she never let me get a word in edgewise,” Gino informed his son irritably before turning back to his wife. “But those days are over. OVER, Sofia, do you hear?”
“Gino,” Sofia hissed, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
“No! I’ve listened to quite enough. In fact, I’ve heard so much that my stomach turns,” he bit out, beyond angry now.
“I know!” Sofia returned, reaching for his hand. “The way our boy is throwing his life away on this sick, depraved man….” She began, throwing her arm out toward Armando.
“Damn it, Mother! I love him and if you don’t show him some respect….. You know what? No. I’m done,” Nick thundered. “You wanna know my choice? It’s him. Armando. I choose Armando Savage, and I pray with everything that I am that he chooses me in return,” he concluded, turning to stare at the man he loved. “You wanna disown me for following my heart and loving a man? Go ahead. Do your worst. You’re the ones losing out. Because being loved by this amazing man,” he continued, squeezing Armando’s hand in his, “It’s made me better and stronger than I ever thought I could be, and you’re both fools for passing up the chance to know that kind of wonderful.”
“Awwwww,” Molly whispered, blinking back tears and sniffling while she leaned her head against Devil’s shoulder and watched Nick make his stand.
“Now, you make a choice mother,” Nick continued. “Refrain from your uptight judgments regarding me and my future husband… or leave. If you stay, I’d love you to have dinner with us and get to know your future son-in-law, but if not, please just go.”
“Pick leave, pick leave, pick LEAVE,” Devil entreated in a whisper from his position at Molly’s side.
Stunned, Sofia looked from her son to her husband. “Did you hear how your son just talked to his mother? Aren’t you going to say something?!”” she asked Gino in outrage.
Gino merely stood and blinked at his wife for several long seconds. “Yes, Sofia, I do want to say something. Something important.”
Impatiently, Sofia huffed out an agitated breath. “Well! Say it!” she ordered.
Turning to look at his son, Gino smiled, his bluish-grey eyes sparking with humor and goodwill. “What’s for dinner, boys?”
Chapter Ten
Devil
Well, their mission had been a resounding success, but not without its challenges. After all, every good mission had to have a few hiccups to keep things fresh and interesting, right?
Happily, Nick and Armando were completely reconciled. Sofia Delancy’s actions and attitude had convinced Mannie that Nick had, indeed, been trying to protect him all along. Even better, Nick had disowned his mother when she’d steadfastly refused to accept who he was. But the biggest surprise of the day had come from Nick’s own dad.