“It will not be like that between us.”
“How can you know? Have you ever loved a mortal before?” She kissed him softly and slipped from the bed. “I’m going to take a shower.”
“I’ll join you.”
“No, I’d rather be alone. I need to think.” She closed the door behind her and he felt her heart shut down as surely as he heard the click of the door’s lock.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” Gino snuggled closer to Tom and nibbled on his ear.
“I hope as much as I love you.” Tom shifted and cocked his head, pulling his ear away from Gino’s nibbles. “Did you hear something?”
“Yeah, I hear your heavy breathing after a fantastic session of love making.” Gino pulled his lover’s face toward him. “In fact, I think we should have another go.”
“No. Listen. Someone’s talking.” There was no denying the sound of a female voice as she came closer to their room.
“I’ll be right back. While we’re here we can do some laundry for Gino. I bet his hamper is over-flowing.”
Before Tom could push Gino away the door swung open and Angela stood on the threshold. Her mouth dropped open in shock. A small ‘eek’ slipped out as she placed a hand to her lips.
“Ma, what the hell are you doing here?” Gino sat up in bed taking most of the cover with him.
Angela started backing down the hall shaking her head. “No. No.” She turned and ran toward the kitchen.
“Shit!” Gino grabbed his pants and struggled into them and ran after her.
Tom knew he needed to follow and be there for Gino. He located the jeans he’d tossed on the floor last night and grabbed his shirt off the chair where it landed, buttoning up as he head after mother and son.
When he entered the kitchen area, Angela stood sobbing and Gino’s aunt sounded like a parrot that wouldn’t shut up as she kept asking, “What’s wrong? Gino what did you do to make your mama cry?”
Gino tried to gather his mother into his arms, but she jerked away. “Don’t touch me.”
“Angela, what’s the matter?” Rose now directed her parroted question to her sister-in-law. “Gino, what did you do to upset your mother?” Rose waved a finger at her nephew like she probably did when he was a little boy.
“I don’t want to talk about it. Rose, get your purse.” Angela swiped at the tears still running down her face and picked up the bag she’d dropped on one of the barstools.
“Ma, please. Talk to me. Let us explain.”
Tom resisted the urge to go to Gino and put his arm around him in a show of unity. The last thing Angela needed was to see more intimacy between them.
“There’s nothing to explain.” Angela’s rigid stance shut her son’s effort to speak off, and he dropped the hand he’d reached out to stop her.
“Ma.”
“I thought Mary Figello was being her usual nasty self when she said she saw you with a new friend. The way she described the red hair, I knew it had to be Tom and that the two of you must have become friends, but this.” She shook her head and the tears started to flow again in earnest. “Gino, I don’t believe what my eyes saw.”
“Ma, I’ve told you about me for years—”
Angela held up her hand to stop him. “We’re leaving, Gino. I need to go home and think.” She looked over her shoulder at her stunned sister-in-law. “Are you coming, Rose, or do you plan to stay here with these two?”
Before the door closed behind them, Tom could hear Rose demanding to know what happened. What did Gino do? Angela’s shut-up response had the other woman shifting tactics.
“You want to go get coffee?
The door clicked shut and Tom missed Angela’s response to coffee. He seriously doubted they would stop at the local café on the way home. If he guessed right about Gino’s mother, she’d end up in bed in a darkened room sobbing until her husband came home.
The silence became a little unnerving. Gino leaned against the refrigerator, shoulders slumped and staring down at his feet.
“How are you doing?” Tom walked over and touched his cheek.
“I feel like such a shit. Ma can be a pain in the ass at times. She’s always right, no matter how wrong she is about something, but she didn’t deserve to find out about us like this. I should never have given her a key.”
“Your sister and your mother have keys and both of them have walked in on us. Is this something they do often?”
Gino lifted his head and his lips twisted in what could have been a smile. “Yeah, how about that. There was never any question about giving Isabella a key and she doesn’t come by unannounced often. I have one to her place too. But Ma, who knows? The reason she has one is she nagged until I finally said, screw it, and gave her one. She’s like that.”
Tom wouldn’t argue with him on that point. He figured out the first time he met Angela at the office, she was a woman with a will of iron.
“So what do we do now?”
A shrug was the only answer Tom received before Gino wandered over and started making coffee. “Maybe, I’ll think better on a full stomach. When I’m upset I like to cook. Why don’t you go take a shower and we’ll talk over breakfast?”
Tom nodded and headed toward their bedroom. He knew Gino needed space to sort out the incident in his own head.
When Tom returned to the kitchen, Gino was putting the finishing touches on a huge omelet that he cut in half. “My appetite is a little off this morning so I thought we’d share.”
Tom admired the way his companion dove into his meal. For a guy who wasn’t very hungry he managed to devour his portion before Tom consumed part of his.
Gino wiped his mouth, picked up his coffee mug and leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been thinking. We need to go over to my parents’ house. Ma’s probably locked herself in the bedroom and Nonna will be worried sick waiting for Pop to get home. He’s the only one who can get my mother to listen to reason.”
Tom sat his fork on the plate, the last bite of omelet stuck in his throat. “Are you sure I should go, too?” The idea of facing Angela again so soon made him nervous. His being there might set her off on another crying fit.
“Yep. And once we get things sorted out with my family, we’re going over to your parents and break the news to them. Let’s get this all out in the open and be done with the secretive part of our life as far as our families go. If anyone needs time before they come around, then that’s the way it is.” Gino set his mug on the table and offered the first real smile Tom had seen since Angela walked in on them. “The sooner they start adjusting the sooner they’ll realize this is our life.”
“Okay.” Tom pushed back from the table. “Get your shower, and I’ll do kitchen duty. Let’s get this over with.”
He paused to watch Gino walk down the hall. The man actually had a spring in his step.
Let’s hope cleaning up the kitchen does for me what cooking did for him. I have to come up with a way to break the news to my parents. Did I ever give any hints about a lifestyle I didn’t know was in me?
“Look, my dear. Our son honors us with his presence. Do you think he has returned to his senses and realized this is where he belongs, not pursuing a woman of Earth?”
Thor paused in his chess game with Loki and watched as Galvin walked across the room to greet his mother with a kiss on the cheek. “What makes you think that, Father?
“You come without her. Surely, this is a good sign.” The carpet of red that covered the deity’s chin jutted out at a stubborn angle.
“Checkmate.” Loki’s naturally arched demonic eyebrows lifted and he returned a grin for the glare shot in his direction by the Thunder God.
“How dare you move your piece when I was distracted?” Thor’s visible facial skin color now matched the hairs that covered the rest of his face.
Loki spread his hands and shrugged. “It would have made no difference if you were watching, I would have won.”
Galvi
n laughed. “I think he has you there, Father.”
“Bah.” Thor pushed up out of his chair. “You did not answer my question. Have you left the woman on Earth?”
“I did leave Isabella to go to her work. I will be there when she returns.” Galvin delayed in what he came here to tell his parents. Neither of them would be happy with what he was about to say.
“You paid a visit to Freya?” Loki gave up in his attempts to entice Thor into another game of chess.
“Yes. I took Isabella to meet Grandfather, but both Odin and Frigg were gone. Freya commanded the halls of Valhalla.”
“You did what?” Indignation seeped from every pour of Thor’s body. “You did not tell me you planned this. Taking this mortal to meet my father is inappropriate.”
“How so, Father?” Galvin knew the only thing wrong with the visit to Valhalla was he did not seek Thor’s approval in consulting Odin.
“Odin has no time to waste on one of your passing fancies.” Lightning flashed in the depths of Thor’s eyes as he took a menacing step toward his son.
Sif came to her husband’s side and placed her hand on his giant arm. “Please. Do not start this battle of wills again.”
Looking at his mother’s hand on the huge appendage, reminded Galvin of a spider’s web restraining a bumble bee…one small strand holding back the flight of the larger insect.
“I will not engage in such a battle with my father, Mother. Do not fear.” Galvin picked up the needlepoint his mother laid on the table beside her chair. The scene showed Thor in his chariot pulled by the goats as streaks of lightning flashed around them. How ironic that his mother was so wrapped up in her husband that his world even consumed her needlepoint. He laid the fabric hoop back on the table.
Turning, he faced his parents and saw his mother now sandwiched between Thor and Loki, the three presenting a united front. “Actually, I have come to tell you of my intentions and to find out how to accomplish something I wish to do.”
“With your powers, there is not much you do not know how to do Galvin.” Loki spoke the thought he saw reflected on the faces of the other deities.
“True. But, I am going to make Isabella my wife. My life is nothing without her.” Inhaling he continued. “There is one thing, though, I have not been exposed to.” Galvin met his father’s stare. “I wish to know how to renounce my powers. I wish to become a mortal.”
Galvin was gone when she woke up. The smell of him lingered on the pillow and she clutched it to her, inhaling his scent.
Not having to go into work until late afternoon, Isabella huddled under the covers, pretending the pillow she snuggled against was the immortal who had stolen her heart. Unable to ignore nature’s call any longer, the need to go to the bathroom won. Pushing away the comforter she took care of business and plodded her way through the living room, determined to make coffee. Her lethargic body resisted each step but she succeeded in reaching the kitchen.
She drummed her fingers on the counter as she waited for the coffee brew. If only her life could be pushed through a filter and cleaned up. Why did she have to fall in love with a god? He didn’t even bothered to tell her goodbye when he left. Awaking to a kiss would have been a nice way to start the day instead of cuddling a pillow that still held his scent.
Probably for the best he did leave. This gave her aching heart a little longer to avoid the words she knew she needed to say. Their relationship had to end. Intense pain knifed its way through her at the thought of never seeing Galvin again.
Good grief woman, if it hurts this much now think how painful his leaving will be later when he grows tired of you. Why would he want to spend his days watching you age? Face facts; you’re no spring chicken now. Time will only make that more obvious.
Tears mingled with the coffee she poured into her favorite mug. The splashes of red, purple and yellow on the cup did nothing to lift her spirits as they usually did when she drank from this cup. The coffee tasted salty, but no wonder given how hard she cried.
The ring of the phone interrupted her pity party. “Hello.” Her voice sounded as dead to her ears as she felt inside.
“Bella, is that you.”
“Yeah, Ma.” Not really caring, she waited for her mother to disclose the reason for the call.
“Bella, I need you to come over here…now.” The anxious tone in Angela’s voice penetrated the fog in Isabella’s brain.
“What’s wrong, Ma? You sound upset.” Her mother spent a great deal of her time being upset, but she learned to tell the difference between a true problem verses the Angela created ones.
“It’s best you come over and we talk, Bella. I need to tell you something before Gino gets here.”
Biting back a groan, Isabella said, “Okay, Ma. Let me grab a quick shower and get dressed.” Wasn’t her life bad enough right now without having to help her brother keep up his front to the family? She knew her mother, and Angela wouldn’t be the one doing the telling. The last thing Isabella didn’t want to deal with was Angela’s inquisition about her brother. The start of their mother’s line of questioning played through her mind. “Since you’re so close to my Gino what’s he up to these days?”
“Oh, and Bella. I think it’s best if you come alone. This meeting is just for the women.”
“No problem, Ma.” That presented no problem at all. She’d probably spend the rest of her life going alone to family functions and anywhere else, she went.
“That’s the story.” Angela twisted the shredded tissue in her hands and looked over at her daughter.
Her mother had walked in on Gino and Tom cuddled together in bed. Chances were she’d seen them in the afterglow of a hot love making session. Not a pretty picture for sure and to have Aunt Rose there—well... Nosey Rosy being there gave speculation that one could safely assume by now everyone else in the family knew something strange had happened. The guessing games would be on as to what had upset Angela on her visit to her son’s place. Knowing a couple of her uncles were big gamblers, Isabella wouldn’t be surprised to learn they were placing odds on what their sister discovered.
“I’m so sorry, Ma.”
Isabella had never seen this side of her mother. The woman in front of her appeared broken, not the strong force to contend with she usually presented. Was the strength just a front? Could her mother have insecurities and fears like everyone else?
Nonna reach over and squeezed Angela’s hand. “It will be okay, Assai. You wait and see.”
Life had become much too complicated. Angela didn’t fall apart and Nonna didn’t express concern. Isabella’s world had turned upside down. On top of that, her mother called her over here to share her pain. Hell I can barely deal with my own right now.
“Tell me, Bella. Did you know?”
Did she know what? Did she know her brother was really gay? Well, yes. He’d confided in her when she came home for Christmas break her freshman year of college.
Gino waited until he moved out of the family home a few years later, before breaking the news to their parents for the first time. Though that didn’t make any impact on their mother, because she considered his interest in the opposite sex a phase he was going through.
Did she know about his relationship with Tom? Well, yes to that one, too. Even afflicted with blindness, she couldn’t have missed that there was something between the two without their having shared the fact, the day she showed up unannounced.
She managed to suppress a sigh. Appearing unannounced must be a gene passed along to the females in the family. Guess we deserve the surprises we get.
“Did you know about Gino and Tom?” Angela’s tissue became a ball of tattered shreds which she rolled around between her hands.
Should she lie? Isabella hated her mother putting her on the spot like this and sifted through her mind for an answer on how much to tell. The doorbell saved her from the need to say anything.
“That will be Gino.” Angela stood and tossed the wad of tissue in the trash on her way to
answer the door.
Isabella slumped down in her chair. The makings of a migraine played around the edges of her vision.
“You got problems, Bella?” She forgot Nonna remained at the table with her and the kindness in the old woman’s voice shocked her.
“Yeah.” She sighed and knew how bad things were when an almost irresistible urge to lay her head in her grandmother’s lap came over her. The sound of voices coming toward the kitchen helped Isabella decide a hug from her brother would be the smarter move to make here.
Her mother’s face broke her heart when the woman came into the room ahead of Gino and Tom. Good heavens, what is Tom doing here? Gino has really lost his mind bringing his lover.
Thank goodness their father hadn’t made it home yet. Pop was an easy going man, but seeing his wife upset really got him riled. He worshipped the ground his Precious walked on and anyone who caused her pain, answered to him. That would include his son. She only hoped their mother got herself under better control before Pop arrived.
“Sis.” Gino leaned down and buzzed her cheek. “So, you’re part of the planning team now.”
He looked tired and haggard and even Tom’s pink complexion had a pasty hue, causing his freckles to stand out even more.
“No planning team, little brother. Ma just wanted to talk.” Part of her felt their mother got what she deserved. It probably was the only way Angela would accept what Gino tried to tell her over and over for the past several years. He is gay.
“Gino. I’m trying to accept this, but it is not easy for a mother.”
He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I know, Ma. I only wish you hadn’t found out about us the way you did. I was going to tell you, but wanted a little time to make sure Tom and me worked out.” A sympathetic glance at Tom earned him a crooked smile. “Tom isn’t ready to go around broadcasting the news either. This is a first for him. His folks don’t know.”
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