I did a quick scan and knew from what I saw that Mom had a pitcher filled with margs, so I put in my order, biting back my real order, which was a tequila shooter with a valium chaser.
Then I did the rounds, greeting everybody.
Lee and Hank also seemed pissed but holding it back.
Sissy whispered in my ear, “Sorry.”
“It’s cool,” I whispered back. “How’s the baby?” I asked.
“Light of my life,” she said on a big smile.
He would have to be for her to smile that big during this disaster.
Dad brought me a marg. I took a healthy slug, trying not to appear like I was taking a healthy slug, and I was pleased when I was done and it seemed I accomplished this feat.
The door opened and Ren, Dom and Vito walked through.
The minute Vito hit the family room, he looked at Dad and announced, “Lorenzo just reminded me I have some business to see to tonight. Unfortunately, Angela and I can’t stay for dinner.”
“Holy crap,” Indy breathed beside me.
I just stared.
Vito was not a man to back down.
This was a mini-miracle.
“I’ll need Dom with me, so he and Sissy will also be leaving,” Vito went on.
I moved my stare to Ren, at this point wondering if I should contact the Pope to report this miracle.
Ren was scowling at his uncle.
“You’re more than welcome to stay,” Mom said courteously.
“It’s urgent,” Ren bit out.
Mom shut her mouth and nodded.
Vito glowered at his nephew.
The room grew tenser.
Sissy made a move to her husband.
“Again, Vito, it’s urgent,” Ren said when Vito made no move.
Vito kept scowling at his nephew for a few beats before he rearranged his face and looked at me in order to declare, “Just want to say before we go, you with my boy Lorenzo, it’s a good thing. I’ve always liked you and I see a happy future. Much love. Big family. And I know I speak for Amalea and Angela as well when I say we’re extremely pleased you’re turnin’ Catholic.”
Oh shit.
The room went wired, and even just with my family, this was bad. Add a bunch of Italian hotheads, this was very bad.
As for me, I avoided Mom and Dad’s eyes. It wasn’t like he was a deacon and she led a Sunday school class, but they went to church on Sundays (mostly). So me staying in the faith I was raised in was probably important to them.
Crap.
“Vito,” Ren gritted.
“What?” Vito asked him, fake innocently.
“What?” Ren asked back, not-fake sarcastically and turning fully to his uncle. “You think maybe Ally wanted to discuss that with her family? And furthermore, she’s not turning Catholic. She’s considering it. For me. Which is what I told you outside. But either way, it was not up to you to share it now since she hasn’t discussed it with her family.”
“Turning. Considering. Same thing,” Vito retorted.
“It isn’t,” Ren returned. “Reflecting and deciding are two different things. And my woman is gonna do her reflecting with no pressure, say, like the shit you just piled on her. And whatever she decides, she’ll have the backing of this family.”
“If she decides Catholic,” Vito stated.
“If she decides Scientology,” Ren shot back, and I heard Roxie and Connie giggle and Hank clear his throat to disguise a chuckle.
“I’m uncertain how the Pope feels about Scientology, Lorenzo,” Vito replied.
“The Pope doesn’t make my woman breakfast,” Ren countered.
God.
Seriously.
