by Gina LaManna
“It’s your choice, Lacey,” Nora said gently, resting a hand on my back. “There’s no pressure either way. You can look through these and think about it.”
“Plus, you’re an adult, Lace. If you find him and he’s a turd, just move on.” Meg shrugged. “You and me, we’ve always been okay with just the two of us. Nothing’s gotta change that now. Plus, you’ve got the rest of the Family, Nora and Anthony and all them crazy Luzzis. This guy should enhance your life. You shouldn’t hinge your happiness on him.”
“You’re right.” I smiled. “But I still need some time to think about it. Maybe I can flip through these and decide on a couple of albums to take home with me?” I twisted to look at Nora. “I don’t think I can carry these all back.”
“Of course, dear.” Nora patted my head, as if I were her puppy. “Take all the time you need. And in the meantime, I have a little something to show Meg.”
“Me?” Meg squeaked. “No, you didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?” Nora looked confused.
“It’s a saying,” I offered. “What she means is that she’s thrilled.”
“Oh, you youngsters.” Nora shook her head in amusement. “Yes, I did. If you’ll come with me, Meg, it’s a follow-up to our discussion at the cabin.”
“About Halloween costumes?” Meg perked up.
Nora winked. “Come, I’ve been busy. I searched for old pictures for Lacey, but while turning my closets inside out looking for things, I found a lot of fun stuff I think you’ll like.”
“Wow, that’s great.” Meg popped up faster than a jack-in-the-box. “What do you think of this?”
Nora eyed the Jasmine outfit with a critical eye. “I have something that will match it perfectly.”
Chapter 2
THE FIRST ALBUM WAS the hardest.
One picture after another reminded me what my mother had left behind when she’d run away. There were photos of her surrounded by piles of cousins at a family picnic, stacks of Christmas cards with her face on them, snapshots of her blowing out candles in the shape of the number ten.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep turning the pages.
After some time, I blinked back the sting of tears. Shutting the largest album, I pushed it to the side and kneaded my temples. This was something to do on my own time, alone in my room so I didn’t spoil the festive holiday mood.
I took a break and peeked into the fridge, looking for some sort of coffee concoction. I found the espresso but no milk, so I decided to go with the coffee liqueur. Taking the little bottle back to the table, I focused instead on the less emotional things while I waited for “Jasmine” and my grandmother to return.
I pulled out stacks of paperwork – my mother’s old driver’s licenses, medical records, report cards – things certain to bore me to tears of the unemotional variety.
But unfortunately, that also didn’t work out as expected. I began thumbing through piles of paperwork when, all of a sudden, a spelling bee award popped up. First place.
I swallowed hard. My mom had also been a champ, just like me.
In other news, apparently I suffered from Overactive Tear Duct Syndrome. I blinked so hard that stars danced behind my eyelids as footsteps approached from behind me. I did my best to pretend that a stupid spelling bee award hadn’t drawn me to the brink of tears.
“You’re more like her than you know,” Nora said, laying a hand on my back.
I quickly flipped past the spelling bee certificate, my cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.
“Meg will be busy for a while. I thought you might want some time.” Nora took a seat next to me, looping her arm over my shoulders, and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I’m sorry,” I said, wiping my face as she dried her lips with the back of her hand.
“Salty.” Nora grinned. “All I need is some tequila.”
I laughed.
“Don’t apologize, dear. I know it’s difficult.” Nora pulled a book before her and began thumbing through the pages, her face calm. “I meant to have it ready the week we came back from the cabin, but it took me awhile to get up the guts to thumb through these.”
“Did you find anything in here?” I flipped the paperwork closed.
“About your father? No.” Nora shook her head. “But then again, you’re more skilled than I am at the whole sleuthing business.”
I smiled. “It took me awhile to find you guys.”
Nora’s eyes crinkled with fond memories as she turned page after page, but she didn’t respond.
“Is everything okay?” I frowned, resting a hand on my grandmother’s knee. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s not my place to say.” Nora exhaled with gusto. “See, I’ve been trying my best to meddle less in others’ business. After what happened at the cabin and all...I don’t like arguing with you, dear. Just feeding you. Hugging you, kissing your cheeks – the things a grandmother should be doing.”
“I still want to hear your advice.” I leaned my head on her shoulder. “It’s not meddling if I ask for it.”
Nora frowned. “I don’t know...”
“I didn’t tell you about Anthony and me right away because there wasn’t a good opportunity.” I scooched closer to her. “I would have, eventually. Plus, you’d better get used to me, since I promised I’m not going away. You’re stuck with me.”
Nora smiled. “You don’t mind a little advice from your Auntie?”
“As long as it doesn’t have anything to do with grandchildren, then bring it on.”
Nora’s eyes twinkled. “Since you asked for it, here goes nothing. Remember how I told you that it’s your choice if you want to find your father or not?”
I nodded.
“Well, I don’t know if your dad even knows about you. He could be completely unaware of your existence. I don’t know who he is or what he does, if he’s even alive.” Nora pulled a book towards her, and examined my mother in a picture titled First day of Kindergarten! “But I can tell you one thing from my perspective.”
I shifted in my seat, waiting impatiently for her to spit it out.
“I didn’t know of your existence for a long, long time,” she said.
I sat frozen in my seat while Nora paused for air.
“The day you showed up on our front steps, once we realized who you were...that’s the happiest I’d ever been since your mother ran away. I can see her shining in your eyes, I can hear her laugh when you smile. I see her goofiness when you get in trouble, her loyalty in your friendship with Meg. But most of all, I see her good heart in you.” Nora raised a hand and pressed it against my chest. “If your father – whoever he may be – cared about your mother, if he loved her, then I’d imagine he’d like to know you.”
I bit my lip, my throat constricting so I couldn’t speak.
“And if he doesn’t want to be involved in your life, well, that’s his loss.” Nora gave me a smile that started at her lips and traveled to her eyes, ending in a quick squeeze of my hand. “It’s been both a blessing and a joy to have you in our lives.”
“I don’t...” I cleared my throat. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just take a few books home with you and think about it.” Nora stood up. “And always remember, you have us. Me, Carlos, Meg, Clay, and Anthony, and that’s just for starters. So many people love you very much, and we’ll support you whatever you decide.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, the words somehow much too small to express the gratitude in my heart.
“Thank you, dear.” Nora poured a glass of wine, then meandered towards the doorway. “I’ll give you a few minutes alone. Meg seems to be occupied...er, never mind. Here she is.”
“Lace, your grandmother is one hot mama,” Meg appeared in the doorway dressed in an absurd combination of feathers, fabrics, and fake flowers. “Her costume closet is insane. No offense, but it’s better than your selection for TANGO.”
“I didn’t have much
of a selection, since I only worked there for one day.” I surveyed my friend’s outfit. “I thought you already had a costume.”
“Yah, but it needs adornments. I’m taking liberties, showing Jasmine A Whole New World, if you know what I’m saying.” Meg waved a pink feather boa in a circle, then tossed it over my shoulders like a lasso to yank me closer.
But the feathers got caught on my earrings, and my head jolted uncomfortably in her direction. “Ow!”
“Whoops!” Meg giggled. “Looks like I caught myself a Lacey.”
As I worked to unhook my earring, Meg helped herself to the rest of the wine in Nora’s glass.
“You look beautiful.” Nora beamed. “I love seeing you young folks re-energizing my tired old things. Please, take whatever you want.”
“Can I just take this box for now?” Meg gestured towards a packing crate the size of a U-Haul that she’d somehow dragged behind her. “I’ll bring everything back after Halloween, I promise.”
“Of course. Keep what you like, really. I love giving my things away. Makes me think I’ll still be around when I’m gone.” Nora looked longingly at the feather boa. “I’m sure you’ll put it all to good use.”
“You’ll be around forever,” I said emphatically. Nora usually used the threat of getting older as a bargaining tool for why I should be getting married and having grandbabies. Thankfully, she was healthy as a horse and stubborn as a mule.
“Oh, yes,” Nora sighed with a dramatic flourish. “I just hope I’ll get to meet my great-great grand...” She peeked out of the corner of her eyes at me, her cheeks turning pink at my look of don’t go there. She revised her statement in rapid fashion. “You know what? I hope you enjoy the costumes.”
I kept a skeptical gaze pointed in her direction.
“I didn’t say it.” Nora crossed her arms. “I’m still working on this whole not mentioning the big B.”
“What’s the big B?” It was my turn to be confused.
“Babies,” she hissed. “There. I only said it because you forced me to. Now, I have a few things I have to finish polishing for a few guests that will be arriving for Halloween. What are you ladies planning?”
“Polishing?” Meg grinned. “Silverware and stuff?”
“And stuff...” Nora trailed off. “I’ll show you on Halloween.”
Halloween was on Friday and, since it was Tuesday, we were cutting it a bit close with the costumes and lack of plans.
I shrugged. “Maybe we’ll go to Shotz. Meg usually hosts a theme party.”
“The theme party is still happening, but we’re doing it on Saturday this year. That way everyone can get two nights’ use out of their costumes. It’s such a shame, we spend all this money...” Meg looked sheepish. “Well Lacey, I borrowed your credit card, so technically you spent all this money on my Jasmine outfit. It’d be a shame if I only got to wear it once. Now I can wear it on Friday and Saturday.”
“You used my credit card?”
“Well, it’s sort of my fee for agreeing to make you an Aladdin costume.” She scrunched her nose as if I should know this.
“I didn’t agree to any of this,” I said. “Not Aladdin, not funding Halloween...”
“Well now’s your chance to agree to something!” Meg winked at Nora. “What do you think about a Haunted House here? On Friday?”
I glanced from one mischievous grin to the other, rolling my eyes. “Good luck convincing Carlos to let anyone in his house as is, let alone a haunted version.”
“Not anyone.” Meg pointed in my direction. “I sort of volunteered you for the job.”
“I still didn’t agree to any of this.”
“I’ll help you plan it,” Meg said. “Nora wants to do it, too.”
Nora bobbed her head alongside Meg. “Oh, of course. I’ve wanted to put something together for the holiday for many years, but nobody seemed interested. Now I have you and Meg on board...”
“Never said I was on board,” I interrupted.
Nora bulldozed ahead. “Marissa and Clarissa have been begging me non-stop. They’re just now at the age where they appreciate these things. If they ask Carlos, he can’t possibly say no.”
“I’m Carlos’s grandchild, too.” I raised a finger. “He doesn’t have a problem saying no to me.”
“You’re different, dear,” Nora said, giving me a quick smile. “Marissa and Clarissa still have that young, innocent, sweet thing going for them.”
“What does that say about me?” I raised my eyebrows.
“You’re an old fart who doesn’t like to have fun.” Meg crossed her arms. “But I’m willing to revise that statement if you agree to help me plan the Haunted House.”
I groaned. When it came to Halloween, I mostly liked it for the candy part. An excuse to eat sugar until I bounced off the walls? Sign me up. Getting scared out of my mind? Not so much. After all, being friends with Meg and a Luzzi by blood got me into enough frightening things during real, day to day life.
“It’ll be fun,” Meg said. “You and me, girl bonding time.”
“Wonderful.” I set my head face down on the table. “I can’t wait.”
Chapter 3
“THAT PERSON HAS BEEN following us for three miles.” Meg nodded at the side view mirror. “They joined us after that 7-11 stop.”
“You think they’re after our donuts?” I gestured towards the overfull bag on Meg’s lap. I had my typical sugar bomb coffee in the cupholder of my Lumina. We were ready and fueled for a high speed chase, no doubt about it.
Well, with the exception of a few things.
For starters, my car weighed an extra thousand pounds thanks to the boxes, costumes, and photos we’d spent thirty minutes hauling from Nora’s kitchen to my trunk. As the vehicle was the size of a boat, we fit everything inside easily, but the weight of the additional load might slow us down in a car chase. Secondly, it had the turning radius of a yacht. Thirdly, driving wasn’t one of my top ten “life” skills. More than a few mailboxes had met their ends at the hands of Meg or me behind the wheel.
“Maybe, but if so, they’re gonna be disappointed in our loot. There’s only a sprinkled guy left, and it’s a bit squishy.” Meg peeked into the bag. “Do you want it?”
“You ate them all? I didn’t have any yet!”
“You have enough marshmallows in your coffee to make your teeth fall out without the help from a donut.”
I didn’t argue, since she was probably right. But I’d had a chocolate covered Krispy Kreme in the bag with my name on it, and I was more than a tiny bit sad that it now resided in Meg’s stomach.
I chose to be the bigger person – well, the skinnier person at least, until I could get my hands on a fresh pastry – and focused on the beat-up truck behind me.
The driver wore dark sunglasses and a fedora, so it was difficult to make out his features. It also appeared he’d never used a car before. The windshield wipers flashed back and forth despite the sunny fall day, and his brights were on, reflecting in my side view mirrors and blinding me so that stars danced permanently in my vision. In addition, the hazard lights blinked incessantly, and every other second the driver braked – hard. Then he accelerated until he nearly rammed into my rear end.
“You didn’t see who it was by chance, did you?” I asked.
“What, am I supposed to do everything in this relationship?” Meg looked exasperated. “At least I noticed the car. What did you contribute?”
“That was a great catch,” I admitted. “I was occupied.”
“By your coffee?”
“It’s a good coffee!” I said, a defensive edge to my voice.
“So how you gonna get rid of him?”
I shrugged. “Maybe he’ll just disappear.”
“It’s unhealthy to think that things just disappear.” Meg patted her stomach. “I always tend to think donuts just disappear, but that’s a lie. They appear again, except on my thighs.”
“Tell me about it.” I turned the car down a narro
w side street, a small detour to see if it might be easy as pie to shake our tail.
It wasn’t.
Then again, I didn’t think baking pies was all that easy, anyway. The saying was a myth, at least at Casa Luzzi.
“Bummer. What now?” I looked at Meg.
“Well, you could let me drive.” Meg’s eyes brightened at the thought. “Remember that one time in your Kia when we shot all around the city? That time we were running away from Carlos’s guys. Didn’t even know you were related yet.”
“Not a chance.”
“We got away, didn’t we?” Meg raised her eyebrows.
“Yes, but I barely had my life at the end of it.” My palms sweated just remembering the chase, Meg shooting from one alley to the next, nearly tipping the car on its side.
“It’s funny in retrospect.” She chuckled.
“Not really.” I almost gave myself heart palpitations from the anxiety, just thinking about it.
“You have no sense of adventure.” Meg shook her head. “Well, let’s look at the facts. This guy is an amateur. He’s clearly never followed someone before, and I’m doubtful he’s ever driven a vehicle. Normally a person leaves a little bit of room, but this guy is practically running you down.”
“What’s with the hazards and the windshield wipers?” I squinted in my rearview mirror. “He’s not what I would call inconspicuous. I’d notice this car whether he was following us or not.”
“Maybe he’s just an amateur human being. Or maybe he’s from a foreign country that doesn’t have modernized cars. Or he’s an alien life form. Or maybe – this is probably the most likely case – he’s been kept in a bubble all his life. A huge, literal bubble. Thoughts?”
“Oh, my gosh.” I slammed on the brakes, flicked on my blinker, and pulled onto the side of the road in a quaint, residential area somewhere between St. Paul and Minneapolis.
“What are you doing?” Meg tsked. “Save the fancy stuff for the pros. My stomach’s gurgling, so take things easy, please.”