Free The Yellow Braid by Karen Coccioli Page B

didn’t,” Caro said.
    “Shh! I don’t care. I’ll deal with him if
they accept me. In the meantime, please promise you won’t say
anything?”
    “I won’t…except that you’re crazy.”
    They rejoined Tommy just as he reached for a
second helping of cake. The women exchanged looks of envy that
Tommy was immune to gaining weight.
    “By the way, what should I wear to Phyllis’s
party?” Caro asked Nina.
    “Dress-down chic,” Nina said.
    “I don’t even know what that means, much
less own something that fits the description.”
    “We’ll go shopping one day next week and
I’ll show you,” Nina offered.
    “I’ll warn you now,” Caro said. “I have an
intense dislike for shopping, especially for myself, mainly because
I circle the racks for untold amounts of time clueless as to what
will look right.”
    “Not to worry. We’ll get you and Livia both
outfitted. Maybe buy something new for myself,” she said and
filched a chocolate curl from her husband’s plate.
    Tommy grimaced in semi-seriousness. “You own
dress-down chic already.”
    “But I’m sure whatever it is, everyone’s
seen it.”
    Looking at Caro’s hair with a professional
eye, Tommy said, “Am I going to see you before the party?”
    “I suppose I have to,” Caro said with
reluctance.
    “You do,” Nina agreed. “You don’t appear to
be anywhere near your age, so why announce it with all that gray
hair?”
    Tommy circled Caro’s chair, examining her
from different angles. “I’ll get my cosmetician to recommend some
make-up tips.” He held her chin. “If nothing else, liner to bring
out your eyes. Matter of fact, I’ll slot you in for a day of beauty
and you’ll have nothing more to do than slip on your party clothes
that night.”
    Nina pushed back her chair. “I’m going to
run up and check on Livia.”
    “I’ll help Tommy clean up,” Caro
offered.
    “Thanks,” Nina said as she gathered up
Livia’s presents and mounted the stairs to her room.
    “Tell her to stop by tomorrow,” Caro
offered. “I’ve got a new poem to show her.”
    Nina nodded over her shoulder.
    Tommy loaded the dishwasher while Caro
stored the leftovers. His methodical movements in the kitchen,
combined with the residual cooking aromas, reminded her of a
favorite uncle who’d entertained her with stories he made up while
he dished up Italian dishes. Like Tommy, between him and his wife,
her uncle was the softer of the two. “You care for Livia a lot,”
she said.
    “She’s sensitive, you know, and Nina, for
all her goodness, doesn’t understand her. She wants her niece to be
tough and outgoing. Unfortunately, those attributes can’t be
transferred just by willing them on someone.”
    “If she was stronger, more extroverted,
would you be less bothered about the photos?”
    “I’m supposed to be sophisticated and cool
about different art forms. A canvas painted completely black with a
purple circle in the middle of it and titled “Self-Portrait” I’ve
got no argument with. It’s ugly but doesn’t hurt anyone. A picture
of a tattooed porn star, I find less digestible, but she’s not
related. I treat Livia as I would my own daughter, so yes, I still
would have a major problem. I just wish Nina would stick to
shooting lighthouses and water mills.”
    “ Wow, you’re very clear on how upset you
are with Nina, but Tommy—I have to say, that’s a pretty selfish
attitude. Lighthouses and water mills, come on. You know Nina’s
better than that.”
    Tommy stopped what he was doing and turned
on Caro. “Did you ever compromise your daughter?”
    “In my own ways, yes,” Caro said.
    “Ever forgive yourself?”
    “Not totally,” Caro said. “I don’t think I
ever can.”
    “My point exactly.”
    “ I don’t believe you’re worried about Nina
regretting—”
    “Of course not. I’m concerned about
forgiving myself if I don’t try and stop her.”

CHAPTER NINE
     
     
    There’s a period of life when
we swallow a