Free Mobster's Girl by Amy Rachiele Page A

father.
He hangs his head.
    “How long has this been going on?” he
asks.
    “It hasn’t. We saw each other at Alessandra’s
last night. I’ve liked her for a while, Pop, I just didn’t say
anything.”
    “Alright…” he pauses for a long time then
says, “I’ll talk to her father.”
    My mother uncharacteristically jumps up and
down in her heels . I hope she doesn’t twist her ankle. I
stand and she hugs me tightly-the fact that I have knocked someone
out in church forgotten.
    Megan:
    I was lucky to get through Ave Maria without
throwing up. I couldn’t get the image of Antonio hitting Dino in
church. It came out of nowhere. I had just settled behind the harp
when the room exploded.
    Through the entire Mass, I saw a replay in my
mind of Antonio spinning around and punching-Dino’s head snapping
back. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dino had whiplash. From the
backseat of the mini-van, I could hear my mother talking to my
father.
    “That kid is no good. He’s got the devil in
him!” she said still fuming. “If he was my boy, I would take him
over my knee then smack a for sale sign on his fancy car.” She went
on and on. I thought I was going to start crying now that the shock
was starting to wear off. “You see now why your Father told you to
stay away from him?” Pointedly, she’s looking at me as she swivels
in her seat to face me. When my mother gets going on something,
there’s no telling when she’ll stop. My father says nothing.
    My phone buzzes with a text from Antonio:
     
    I’m sorry! Can I C U later?
     
    I quickly text back:
     
    Not sure yet
     
    Sweet elation pumps through my veins at just
the idea of seeing Antonio. He was gorgeous in his Sunday suit this
morning. The searing kisses from last night mingle with the visions
of his fist flying. I know I should be afraid but I’m not. I want
him. I don’t think in my entire life I have wanted anyone. One day
I’m running from him; the next day all I want to do is run to
him.
    My father’s cell phone rings while my mother
is still going on and on about the horror show at church today. My
father’s words are short and one word at a time.
    “Yes.” Pause, “No,” he sighs, “No, I didn’t
know.” A long pause, “Okay, this afternoon.”
    My father hangs up but not before doing
something to his phone. Silence hangs in the air.
    “So, what was that about?” my mother
asks.
    “Antonio Delisi and his son are coming over
this afternoon.” My father says with absolutely no emotion.
    “What? What does he want?” My mother asks in
a panicked voice.
    My father does not respond and my mother
knows better than to press further. Erin glances at me, a smile
creeping on her face.
    My mother is a wreck. She races through the
house, cleaning in one room then running into the next not
finishing what she started in the first. She is barking orders at
Erin and me.
    “Erin, put this is your room. Megan, vacuum
the stairs.” We all work like crazy in a knowing silence. No one
talks or asks why the Delisi’s are coming.
    The doorbell rings and all of us stop in our
tracks. My mother smooths her skirt while my father answers the
door.
    “Hello, Patrick.” I hear Mr. Delisi say from
the doorway.
    “Hello.” My dad says and invites Antonio and
his father in.
    They come in the door and Mr. Delisi
immediately acknowledges my mother. “Hello,” she says lightly.
    Antonio steps forward handing my mother a
foil covered dish. “Hello Mrs. O’Neill. This is from my mother.
It’s Tiramisu.”
    “Thank you,” she says tightly.
    Antonio smiles at me and winks. I am standing
just behind my mother. Embarrassed and not sure what to do, I take
the plate from my mother and head to the kitchen. As I am just
shutting the door to the refrigerator my mother and Erin walk
in.
    “The gentlemen would like to speak
privately.” My mother says through pursed lips. Excitement dances
through me. Antonio in my living room talking to my dad, I never
thought I would