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“I just found out we’re expecting our first child together and I feel I may have done this way out of order, but I hadn’t planned to get involved like this at this time. What’s done is done and I couldn’t be happier.” I pause to take a breath and look up into his intense eyes.
I continue with conviction as I look into the face of the man who blessed this world with the woman I love more than anything. “Well, actually, I could. It would make me the happiest man in the world to marry Carleen before my son or daughter is born. I’ve come to ask for your blessing,” I finish.
“Get out,” he shouts at me and stands, his body trembling with his anger.
I sit stunned. This is not the reaction I thought I’d get. I scramble, trying to figure out where I went wrong.
“Percy, stop it. The boy is coming to you out of respect.”
“Respect? She’s my only daughter. He wants to rush her into a marriage after knocking her up. Give me a break. I will not be robbed by his family again. Not of my daughter’s wedding and not of my daughter. No. Get out.”
“Don’t move, Dario. You sit right there,” Dr. Mitchell says, she turns her glare on her husband. “You can hate my family and me for what happened, but I won’t allow you to take this from Carleen. He didn’t have to come here for this. God knows that girl loves him enough to marry him without our blessing.”
“And there is the problem. I wasn’t raised like this, Pat. How can you turn a blind eye to all of this?”
“The same way you turned a blind eye when his grandfather helped you close on that property they weren’t trying to allow our Black asses next to. All-cash offer or not.”
Her husband scoffs. I wipe my hands on my thighs, still not entirely sure what’s going on here. To be honest, I’m at a loss for what to do next.
“If you have never benefited from our connection to his family, go on, tell him no and break our daughter’s heart, but as you think of all the times we’ve received donations, invitations, and favors because of the Di Lorenzo name you think about Carleen and that baby she’s carrying. His baby.
“We are well beyond acting Indignant about who they are. If you have a problem with his family, you go ahead and take issue with mine. Kington runs things and has since you met me. Don’t try to turn a blind eye to that and condemn this child.” She points at me as I sit with my mouth open.
Not that I didn’t know about the Thompsons. I’m just shocked to see her go to bat for me like this. This is a couple I’ve never seen disagree. I’ve admired their love growing up.
Percy shakes his head and sits back down. “She’s my only daughter. You can’t ask me to give up walking her down the aisle. I have an account I’ve been putting money into since she was born, just for this day. I’ve lost enough. Don’t ask me for this.”
Dr. Mitchell comes to sit beside me and takes my hands. “Maybe we can compromise. Dario, if my husband gives you his blessing, can you promise us we’ll get to throw her a proper wedding? Her uncles will want to be there. I understand you want to be married before the baby comes, but this is important to the men in my family.”
I nod. “She will be in Italy with me, I want her and the baby with me, but a wedding isn’t out of the question when we return. We can have a small ceremony before the baby comes. My brothers and father won’t be there either, if that’s any consolation.”
Dr. Percy nods. “I may not be into all of this gangster shit, but if anything happens to my daughter. I will make sure you are the next one my brothers-in-law make disappear.”
I smile. I’ve heard the rumors about the Thompsons and how they make entire families disappear. I get the reference, but I’m not scared. I’d welcome death if anything ever happened to Carleen.
“Thank you. And for what it’s worth. I’m a chef. I run a restaurant. That is what the world will know me for, but if anyone ever and I do mean ever, threatens my wife or child, I will show them a true Di Lorenzo. Your daughter is always safe with me.”
“Humph.”
Like I said, I’m a Di Lorenzo when it comes to my woman and child’s well-being. What happened the other night has awakened Rio the Butcher. I won’t rest if I don’t do this.
I unfasten my jacket and remove it as I make my way to the car. Tossing the jacket over my arm, I flick out my wrist to check the time. I still have four hours until I need to be back on that plane.
