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“I can’t. You know I go to the cemetery that day.”
Mom shrugs, her smile growing brittle. “You can go the day after this year. It’s not as if Ennio will notice if you’re there or not.”
That’s hardly the point. Of course Dad won’t notice if I’m there, but it’s something I’ve always done and she knows that. Every year she makes some flippant comment about it, but she’s never actually stood in my way before.
“He’ll notice Mia’s absence from the cemetery more than you’ll notice her presence at the party.”
I shoot Laz a grateful look, and he gives me a tiny smile in return.
I turn to Mom. “You can have the party without me. Laz’s right. No one will miss me.” No one except him. It might have been fun to sneak away and do shots together.
Mom puts down the syrup bottle, every trace of a smile disappearing from her face. “Mia. Life is for the living. I don’t know what makes you think you can pretend you’re not part of this family.”
Laz puts down his fork and sticks his hand in the air. “I’ll take a wild stab at that.”
“No one asked you,” she shoots at him, her voice filled with venom. “I don’t want to hear any more excuses, Mia. You’re coming to this party.”
“Can’t you move the party a day earlier or later? Isn’t your anniversary on the tenth anyway?”
“The tenth wasn’t available. I booked the room for the twelfth, and I can’t change it with the Regency. It’s the most popular venue in the city, and they’re booked out solid for months. I could only secure the ballroom because there was a cancellation.”
“Then I’ll go to the cemetery in the morning,” I tell her.
“I need you to help me set everything up in the morning. Your family needs you, Mia. Why are you being so selfish?”
“How can you say I’m being selfish? You know what that day means to me.”
Mom’s nostrils grow pinched and white with anger. “I made you this lovely breakfast, Mia. I put that photograph in a beautiful frame. I thought you could be as thoughtful to me as I’m being toward you.”
Laz reaches for the syrup and pours it all over his waffles. “You should have married Faber. He loves emotional blackmail, too.”
I spent the whole night feeling guilty because Mom was being so nice all of a sudden. I should have realized she had an ulterior motive.
“Tell me,” I say, my voice shaking with anger. “Did you get that photo framed because you scheduled your party on the anniversary of Dad’s death by accident, or on purpose?”
Mom flushes red. “You unreasonable, ungrateful child. After all I suffered to bring you into this world, and this is the thanks I get? If you don’t want to be part of this family, then you can pack your things and get out. You’re eighteen years old, and it’s time you started taking some responsibility.”
Laz gives her a dirty look. “It’s a party, Giulia. Why are you being such a bitch about this?”
I wipe my hands on my napkin and stand up. “Thank you for breakfast. If you need me, I’ll be upstairs choosing my dress for your stinking party.”
As I walk out of the room I hear Laz growl, “You’d kick your own daughter out over a party? Classy move.”
When I’m alone in my room, I throw myself on my bed and pull out my phone to check my banking app. If Mom does kick me out, how much money have I got to work with?
Thirteen hundred dollars. After paying rent and deposit on some shitty apartment, I’d have nothing left. I’ve only worked a handful of Saturday nights, and the first two times I barely broke even after tip out and house fees. When my confidence grew, so did my earnings, but not fast enough.
I sigh and drop my phone.
A moment later it buzzes. It’s a text message from Laz.
I’m sorry. I should have let you go to work. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
I can feel his outrage over what Mom’s done and it warms me a little. I stare at the message, wishing I could feel Laz’s arms around me.
A moment later, my phone buzzes again.Will you still be my Mia even if I have to share Tasha with other men?
He was so jealous and torn up about me in that strip club, but he’s willing to swallow it down for me?You would be okay with that?
