by Vera Roberts
“Now imagine that your mother—the same one who’s been busting her ass for as long as you can remember—decided one day she’s going to play the lottery for fun, not thinking she’s going to win anything. But she wins and she wins big. She doesn’t have to work anymore. She can fly to those countries she’s always wanted to visit. She can afford new and better quality clothing instead of re-sewing the torn and tattered ones she’s had for years. She can finally afford a nice pair of comfortable shoes—several of them, actually. She can finally afford to fix those holes in the walls and that leaking faucet that’s been driving up her water bill. And that same, unselfish mother,” Kieran’s voice cracked a little and he paused before he was overcome with emotion.
“That same, unselfish mother who took you in when you felt the world was against you and your luck had run out, gives you some money so you can go to school and start your own business. So yes, Tiana, my mother is rich but I am not.”
Tiana grabbed Kieran’s hand and squeezed it. He was her much-needed reality check. “Your mother is a great woman.”
“My mother has always been my biggest cheerleader,” Kieran squeezed Tiana’s hand back, “and now I have another one.”
****
Nicola D’Amato took out her homemade lasagna. A proud smile formed on her face once the aromas of basil, cheese, and tomato sauce tickled her nose. After her lottery win some ten years earlier, she quit her jobs to start the floral business, Madre’s, which she operated with her sons, Joey and Eli. She took pride in her flowers and was sought-after by celebrities, socialites, and event planners for their weddings and private parties. She also managed a non-profit for low-income women to acquire job skills and other classes for the workforce. She was recently named one of most influential people in New York.
She was of average height with ebony hair and sharp, hazel eyes that always told her sons what she really thought about them without ever having to say a word. “Perfect,” Nicola smiled at her lasagna. “Absolutely perfect!”
“Hey mom, when is Kieran coming in?” The oldest, Nicolas, commented to his mother. He didn’t look like a college professor and certainly didn’t act like one, either. He would constantly bring up pop culture references when instructing his students about Shakespeare to get them to understand what he was teaching them. He had a muscular build he kept hidden under sweater vests and slacks. He had his dark hair neatly trimmed and wore black hipster frames.
“Anytime now! He and Tiana should be arriving soon.” Nicola grabbed fresh pepper and sprinkled a little on the salad. She then approached her youngest son. “Tony, make sure the rooms are cleaned and there’s plenty of towels in the bathrooms. They’ll be staying here.”
“All right, mom,” Tony then left the living room.
“Kieran’s bringing home Ms. Fancy Pants,” The middle son, Joey, snickered as he set the table.
He was built just like his older brother and visited the gym on a daily basis. He drove an Escalade and entertained several girlfriends all over New York. “You never act like this with my girlfriends.”
“Well, if you didn’t bring home those tramps, I would give them the same treatment,” Nicola sneered.
“Owned!” Eli laughed as put out the food on the table.
“What’s funny, punk?” Joey commented. “Hey, at least I ain’t no lady-whipped punk like you are.”
“Oh, yes,” Eli nodded. He was tall with muscular tawny skin that seemed to be kissed by the sun.
He had intense hazel eyes and never met a stranger he didn’t like. He had been happily married to his high-school sweetheart, Faith, for three years. “Because I have a woman who will get on her knees and service me whenever I want while you have to go out and beg for it, I’m a punk?
Gotcha.”
“Madre, did you hear what he said about your innocent daughter-in-law?” Joey commented.
“Oh, you two are giving me a headache already!” Nicola yelled.
****
“Well, here we are,” Kieran stepped out of the cab with Tyson in the car seat. He looked up at the renovated house his mother lived in. When he was growing up, it was just two bedrooms and two bathrooms for all six of them. Now there were two additional bedrooms, a bathroom, and an added den. It was plenty of room for everyone and their families. We have come a long way.
Tiana stepped out of the cab and bundled up. New York in the fall was quite different from Southern California. In LA, she could still go out to work wearing a tank top. In Staten Island, she felt her teeth clack. It was something she would have to get used to. “So this is it, huh?”
Tiana looked at the home. “It’s a lovely home.”
“Now it is,” Kieran handed Tyson to Tiana while he gathered their belongings. “It wasn’t always like this.”
Suddenly, a small biracial child shot out from the door and ran to Kieran. “Crayon! Crayon!”
The little boy jumped up and down. “Daddy, Crayon is here!”
A big smile grew on Tiana’s face. “Crayon?”
“He’s still trying to pronounce Kieran. He almost got it,” he smiled back at her.
Eli walked out and gave his older brother a big hug. “Kieran! Man, it’s so good to see you!” Eli kissed both Kieran’s cheeks. “It’s about time you show your face around here again. You need to start coming home more often.”
“I come home every six months,” Kieran offered.
“Yeah, well, you need to do it every three. You know how mom gets,” Eli turned his attention to Tiana and Tyson. “And you must be the beautiful woman who has given my brother a life again.
Pleasure to meet you, Tiana, and hello to you, little Tyson.” He waved at him. “I’m Eli and this is my son, Nathan. Come on in before you catch a cold out here. I know how you Cali women are.”
Eli took the car seat away from Tiana and went into the house with Nathan. Tiana pulled Kieran aside before they went in. “You didn’t tell me you had a biracial nephew?” She was pleasantly surprised.
“I didn’t think there was anything to tell,” Kieran raised an eyebrow, “we’re not in the 1950s.”
“I just didn’t think your family would be so open to me being here,” she replied.
“We weren’t raised like that,” Kieran’s voice was serious. “And most people in this neighborhood don’t care about that stuff.”
“I didn’t think you were. It’s just…it’s just…honestly, I don’t even know anymore.” Tiana said, exasperated. “Ever since I met you, it seems everything I ever known has been thrown out the window.”
Kieran captured Tiana’s lips with his in a searing kiss. “Good. I hope it stays that way.”
“Hey! Do you want to come in sometime for some food or should I get out the tent for you?”
Tony called from inside the house.
****
Tiana’s head was stuck in a game of tennis as she watched all the food pass back and forth at the table. A hearty helping of lasagna, fried eggplant, and plenty of bread and salad was passed throughout the large family table, big enough to hold ten people. Kieran fixed her plate, making sure she had plenty of food on it and Tiana wondered how she was going to be able to clean it off. Her stomach wasn’t that big.
She took stock of Kieran’s brothers. They were all attractive and easy on the eyes. They were all around the same height—some shorter or taller—and had muscular builds. Tiana thought about Nicola’s grocery bill when the boys were younger. It must’ve been through the roof.
“It’s okay to be intimidated at first,” Faith quietly said to Tiana as she sat next to her. She was a short Black female with natural light brown curls and a curvy body. She had a warm demeanor and a soft voice. “The first dinner is always the worst but after the second one, you’ll wonder why you were ever nervous to begin with.”
“It’s so much…” Tiana looked around and then back at the heaping portion on her plate. “I’m never going to be able to finish this.”
“Don’t worry about
it,” Faith passed the breadsticks. “They will finish it for you if you can’t.
Food doesn’t get wasted at this house.”
“Everyone, everyone!” Nicola finally sat down at the head chair. “Let’s grab hands and say grace. Time to give thanks.”
After everyone said grace, they all begin eating. “So, Tiana,” Tony took a bite of his lasagna, “do you have any other rich friends like yourself?”
Eli kicked his brother underneath the table and Tony howled. “Hey, what was that for?” Tony yelled.
“Chiudi il becco!” Eli snickered.
“Why in the hell you asking her about her private business like that?” Joey commented.
“What are you doing, man?” Nicolas asked Tony. “You act like you were raised by a pack of wolves.”
“No, I just grew up with them,” Tony rubbed his shin.
“It’s okay,” Tiana smiled at the men defending her honor. Kieran’s brothers reminded her of her guy friends. “All of my girlfriends are taken.”
“Except one,” Kieran mentioned.
Tiana knew Kieran was talking about Denise. “I’m not subjecting your brother to that,” she replied.
“It’s okay, Tiana,” Joey chimed in, “I’ll take her.”
“Fool, you’ll take a blow-up doll if it could walk,” Tony replied.
“No, that’s your last girlfriend,” Joey replied.
Faith looked over at Nicola. “How did you manage this for so long?”
“Easy,” Nicola tore off a piece of a breadstick and popped it in her mouth. “I was never here.”
****
After dinner and good-byes, Tiana walked upstairs and got Tyson ready for bed. She gave him a bath and changed him into his pajamas when Nicola appeared at her doorway. “May I come in?”
She asked.
“Sure, Nicola,” Tiana smiled. “I was getting little man ready for bed. He’s had a long day.”
Nicola sat on the bed and smiled down at Tyson, who smiled back at her. “How old is he now?”
“Nine months,” Tiana was amazed at the thought. It seemed time was slipping away from her.
“And before you know it, he’ll be in kindergarten, then high school, and then you’ll be watching him at his first dance at his wedding…” Nicola reminisced. “Enjoy the quiet moments as much as you can.”
Tiana smiled warmly at her son. “Tell me about it!”
“So about you and Kieran,” Nicola began, “how serious are you two?”
Tiana shrugged. “We just started dating not too long ago so we’re taking it slow.”
“You’re taking it slow?” Nicola asked. “But he’s been living with you for the past three months?”
“He has his own house he stays in…”
“And he watches over your son…”
“Well, I pay him to do so…”
“He has his own money so he’s not after yours…”
“Well, I never thought he wanted me for my money…”
“And he’s been teaching you how to cook. Plus, I know that smile on your face,” Nicola mentioned, “only a woman in love has that smile.”
Tiana finished dressing Tyson and Nicola picked him up. “I’m in the middle of going through a divorce, Nicola. I can’t promise anything to Kieran, at least not yet.”
“I understand that and so does he,” Nicola softly bounced Tyson on her hip.
A short silence stood between the pair before Tiana spoke again. “So why do I have the feeling that you don’t believe me?”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you, Tiana. I know you’re a good woman. I always follow your financial advice and read your articles,” Nicola replied to which Tiana gave a half-grin. “I’m a fan of yours. But I’m also a bigger fan of my son. He’ll wait as long as he needs to but he won’t wait around forever. If you’re not sure about how you want to proceed with your relationship, you need to let him know as soon as possible so he can find someone who is more suitable for him. It’s only fair to all three of you.”
Tiana lightly sighed. Maybe she was dragging her feet admitting her feelings. Kieran declared his love for her and she was still acting like a child who’s unsure about which toy she wanted to play with first. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem,” Nicola smiled, “I’ll take little Tyson with me tonight so you two can have some privacy and be alone. I have a bassinet in my room so he’ll be safe. “Buona notte e sogni d'oro, Tiana.” She walked out of the room.
“Buona notte, Nicola,” Tiana replied. She grabbed some clothing and headed to the bathroom for a nice, hot shower. She closed her eyes as she felt the hot water beat on her skin. Nicola was right. Rocio and Erin were right. Tiana needed to just admit to Kieran her feelings towards him.
It was clear he felt the same way. She couldn’t see anyone else other than Kieran in her life and the way he cared about Tyson…he showed more love for the little boy in just a few months than Christopher ever did and still hasn’t. What am I doing?
Tiana got out of the shower and dried off. She quickly changed into her pajamas and went to bed.
She was going to tell Kieran how much she was in love with him and then show him. There was no way that man was going to slip through her fingers.
ELEVEN
Kieran sat around at the card table with his brothers, sipping on his beer and looking at his poker cards. Growing up they never had much money so they would always wager clothing, shoes, or video games. When things were really lean, they would wager who would do chores.
As they grew older, whenever Kieran and his brothers got together for cards, they would still wager chores and insignificant items like a bouquet of flowers from the shop, a couple of tutoring sessions from Nicolas, a week of child care from Kieran’s business, or a haircut for a couple of months from Tony’s barber shop. The men knew how it was to be without money and never dared to wager a dime of it, despite all of them having their own.
“So how much longer do you plan on working for Tiana now that you’re a couple?” Eli asked as he looked at his cards.
“I don’t know,” Kieran folded his cards and sipped his beer. “I guess whenever she feels comfortable enough.”
“That’s the life, man,” Tony stroked his goatee, “being with a rich woman, living in her mansion, and all you have to do is watch her kid and give her the salami every so often.”
Nicolas studied his cards. “Can someone please…?”
Eli reached over and slapped the back of Tony’s head. “Thank you,” Joey shook his head.
“Hey!” Tony rubbed his head. “What did I say?”
“She’s a great woman, Kieran,” Nicolas picked up his cards again. “You picked a winner this time.”
“Better than the last one,” Joey sipped his beer.
“Oh much better than the last one,” Eli agreed, “I’m in.”
“What’s your wager?” Tony asked.
“A dozen roses,” Eli replied.
“Long-stemmed?” Joey asked.
Eli looked back at his cards. “Yeah, let’s go for long-stemmed. I’m confident.”
“Speaking of the last one,” Tony spoke to Kieran, “wanna know what your lovely ex has been up to lately?”
“Not really,” Kieran replied. His ex-wife, Jalara, still left a sour taste in his mouth.
“She’s working at the Lovely Kitten,” Tony replied, causing amused stares from his brothers, “or so I’ve heard.”
Kieran knew he shouldn’t entertain his brother but he was curious. “How long has she been working the pole?”
“I don’t know. I’m in with two free haircuts,” Tony placed his bet. “I heard it from one of my boys that’s what she does. Apparently she’s been asking about you.”
“I bet she has,” Kieran took another sip of beer, “Ten thousand dollars doesn’t go very far.”
“So what are your plans with Tiana?” Joey folded his cards. “Pretty serious for you to bring her and her kid along?”
&nbs
p; “I don’t know,” Kieran let out a soft sigh, “she’s in the process of going through a divorce and she admitted she’s not trying to get involved with anyone.”
“But she came with you?” Nicolas folded his cards. “I’m thinking what she said isn’t matching up with what she’s doing.”
“I stopped trying to figure out women a long time ago,” Kieran added, “every time I think I figured one out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.”
“Are you ready to walk away if she rejects you?” Eli asked.
“That’s the million-dollar question,” Kieran leaned back in his chair. “I’m going to have to if she does.”
“What about her kid?” Tony asked. “What about him?”
“That’s the problem of getting involved with women who have children,” Kieran took another sip of beer, “even if things don’t work out with the mom, you still want to see the child. But if things really don’t work out with Tiana, I will have to walk away from Tyson as well, and that really sucks.”
****
Hours later, Kieran went to bed. He saw Tiana was already sleeping so he walked over to his mother’s room to check on her and Tyson before he headed back to his bedroom.
He was in the middle of getting undressed when Tiana opened her eyes. “I’m sorry, bella. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay, baby,” Tiana yawned, “you didn’t disrupt me at all. Did you all have fun playing poker?”
“Yeah, Nick cleaned house,” Kieran removed his socks and climbed into bed. “Two months of haircuts and four dozen roses. Lucky bastard.”