Page 103 of The Boss

“Start with what?” Vanessa asks.

“We’re going to have everyone over for lunch to celebrate Mateo being back.”

She starts to get up from the couch.

“Oh, you’re not helping; you just relax.” My mom tells her, and she leaves for the kitchen.

“Just relax, hang out with the twins, or if you want, you can sit at the bar while we get everything together?” I tell her.

“I’d rather do that. The twins are napping in their playpen right now, and I don’t want to sit here by myself,” she replies.

We both walk into the kitchen. Vanessa takes a seat at the bar, and I go to the fridge, grabbing her a soda.

I place it in front of her, and she gives me a soft smile.

“Vanessa, we haven’t known each other long, but I know Lucy and Kevin, and they’ve talked about you over the years. They never said you were Antonio’s daughter, but I will say they’re very proud of you,” my mom tells her.

Vanessa swallows. “Yeah, I really do consider them my parents. Not to discredit my biological parents. But Aunt Lucy and Uncle Kevin really did step into the role of parents for me.”

Mom gives her a soft smile. “How do you feel with Mateo back?”

“Good, still pissed at my brother for keeping that secret,” she says.

I look at her; I know she’s upset with everyone for keeping all the secrets over the last year.

“We have a long way to go, though; he was held captive and tortured for almost a year. It's going to take time for him to fully recover, not just physically but mentally too,” Vanessa says.

My mom and I look at her silently, both knowing that but not fully coming to terms with that fact until now.

“I’ve asked Jordan if he has any recommendations,” she adds.

I never met Jordan, but his wife, Lauren, is a good friend of Vanessa’s. They both worked at the hospital with Vanessa, and he’s a psychiatrist from what I remember.

“That’s good. I know you have Lucy and Kevin, but I want to make sure you know you also have Henry and I in any way you and your family need,” my mom says.

“Thank you,” Vanessa whispers.

After a few moments of silence, I turn to Mom.

“Where’s Dad?” I ask.

“He’s picking up some of the food for today,” Mom answers.

“So what’s on the menu?” she asks.

“We’re going with a mostly simple menu,” Mom says. “We've got some deli trays for people to make sandwiches; we’ll make some pasta and potato salad.”

“Sounds great,” she says.

One of the twins starts crying, “I’m going to handle that. Thank you for doing this, Mateo, and I appreciate it.”

And she walks out of the room.

“She’s got a good head on her shoulders,” Mom says. “I don’t know if I could be as strong as she’s being through all of this.”

“Yeah, she’s been dealing with a lot,” I say.

“I hope Gino understands the mistakes he’s made. Especially when it comes to secrets.”