AllFreeNovel
Share Us
8
Valentina
From the way my dad can still give me a helluva “I’m disappointed in you” speech, you wouldn’t think I’m thirty-six, divorced—soon to be twice—and raising my own child.
I turn my head in Dom’s arms and see our mas taking their seats, but they aren’t upset like they were before.
“What new plan?” Dom asks.
“You’re going to remain married,” Anna says.
“No, we’re not.” Dom’s insistence pulls at my insecurity that I’m not enough for him. “We’re in our thirties. You can’t tell us what to do.”
“I am your mama, and this was not a drunken mistake. The two of you got married for a reason, and you’re both going to act like mature adults and deal with the situation you created. You’re going to stay married and give this an honest try.”
Dom scoffs and shakes his head. “You’re insane.”
“Don’t you talk to your mama like that,” Mr. Mancini says to Dom.
I’m not sure what to say, so I remain quiet, letting him handle the absurdity of our parents’ plan.
“She can’t make me stay married,” Dom says to his father. “We made a mistake. It’s over and done.”
A tear slips from Anna’s eyes. “What did I do to you?”
“Ma.” Dom sighs, letting out a long, exasperated breath. “Nothing.”
“Your brothers are all settled down. Why not you? I should be a grandmother by now. But you just work, work, work. No one remembers a man for how much money he has when he dies, Dominic.” Anna points at Dom, but he’s rolling his eyes like an adolescent child.
Anna shakes her head and looks at Mr. Mancini as though Dom’s a lost cause.
“Valentina, this is marriage number two for you,” Ma says. “We understood Max. The problems with him, that maybe the pregnancy was the cause for the marriage. But this time… why are you giving up?”
Now they’re going to Catholic guilt trip me. Great.
“I’m not giving up on anything.” I glance at Dom. “It was a mistake. We weren’t in our right minds when we did it. I know that disappoints you and that I’m a failure of a daughter, but you can’t make me stay married to someone I don’t…” I stop talking because I could never say I don’t want to be married to Dom. There were times I thought maybe we were meant to be together. But that was a younger version of us both.
“Listen to us. We’re older and wiser than the two of you. Give this a chance,” Mr. Mancini says, staring us in the eye. “You might not see it now, but there was a reason you married. Something a lot greater than the two of you did that.”
“Pa.” Dom throws his hands in the air. “We’ve already signed the papers. It’s over. It’s done.” His curt tone startles both of our mas.
“No!” Anna stands, and although she’s not big, she’s still scary. “You listen to me, Dominic Anthony Mancini. You married that girl and you’re going to honor your commitment. Three months. You are going to give it an honest try for three months.”
“No.” He almost laughs in her face. “I’m thirty-six years old. You don’t get to dictate my life.”
“Dominic, if I have to warn you again about your behavior toward your mama, you’re going to be sorry,” Mr. Mancini says, his hands clenched on top of the table.
“What are you going to do—spank me? I don’t understand why you’re being so ridiculous. You want to know the truth? I was drunk and saw Valentina was in Vegas, so I texted her. We got together with one intention—to have sex. Neither of us are sure how we got the marriage license, let alone got to the chapel, but we did. It was all about the sex, so drop this whole ‘bigger power’ and ‘fate’ shit.”
Anna crumbles into her chair, and Ma tries to console her.
“Dom,” I sigh.
His scathing eyes zero in on me as though I’m next in line to be told off. We lock gazes for a few seconds, and he cools off a bit.
He sighs. “Ma.” He rounds the table and bends down in front of her. “I know you want the best for all of us. Enzo and Carm have settled down. They found their person. Val and I…” His gaze travels to me and tears well in my eyes.
I’m not his person. Is that what he’s saying?
