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“Trust me, I’ve considered everything. Achille is complicated, but he’s also a wonderful daddy, and he’s made sure we’re comfortable here.”
“Oh, baby girl, don’t be naïve. They’re good at making things seem perfect, lurin’ you in. Once you’re in, you’re in. There’s no way out. Think about what happened to Elise. You want Jack growin’ up around him?”
“Achille had nothin’ to do with her death.”
“These men have a reach you can’t imagine. You’re not safe just because he smiles at Jack and plays house with you.”
My face flushed. “It’s not like that. He’s honest with me. He’s been clear this marriage is givin’ Jack a family.”
“A family built on what? Money? Fear? Violet, listen to yourself. This ain’t you. You’re sellin’ yourself for some false sense of security.”
“Jack’s future is more important. Achille can give him opportunities I never had.”
“And what does he want from you?”
My mouth tingled as I replayed the kiss from last night. How his hands had seared my body. For hours, I couldn’t sleep. I lay in my bed, smoldering.
“He wants me to be a mother to Jack.”
“You believe that? Oh, I’m worried about you. You’re walkin’ into a lion’s den thinkin’ you can tame the beast. But beasts don’t change their nature.”
I swallowed hard. “I have to make choices that are best for Jack, even if they’re difficult for me.”
“I know you want to do right, but you’re givin’ up an awful lot. I’m scared you’ll realize it wasn’t worth it when it’s too late.”
“This isn’t about love.”
“Violet, you can’t go through with this wedding!”
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want.”
Mama paused, then said, “Of course I will. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The silence stretched out like a long, winding road.
Mama sighed. “Be careful. Don’t let him into your heart.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. Achille was many things, but a thief of hearts? That remained to be seen. “I will, Mama. I promise.”
“Good.”
We said our goodbyes.
I hung up the phone and drifted to the kitchen. Every pot and pan he’d used stood on a drying rack. I headed outside, where Achille jogged to keep pace with Jack on his push bike, his hand on his back. I watched them as a familiar car rolled down the street.
It parked in the driveway, and my future mother-in-law got out. He’d asked her to babysit, which gave me the whole day to myself. Again. Gratitude swelled in my chest as Achille showed Jack something she’d brought.
“Look, Jack! Nonna got you glow-in-the-dark tattoos.”
Jack pointed at a red fire truck. “That one.”
“Alright, let’s do it.”
“Yeah, let’s do it!” Jack parroted.
Smiling, I disappeared into Achille’s office. I didn’t want to get in the way of him bonding with Jack, but having all this free time was strangely disorienting. I pulled Lucille over my lap and practiced until the door creaked.
I turned around.
