The Beginning

Tess

Form fitting ribbed material hung to my mid-shin. Its medium brown only slightly lighter than my skin. Thankful enough for the cover in the form of a burnt orange suede jacket, I hugged it tighter around myself. Mahogany boots protected my legs from the winter chill, the heel made me eye level with Nicky.

Though he'd come to me several times to whisper things that should've sent me to straight to church, I felt out of place.

Beyond those doors, his family awaited our arrival. They way my heart banged off my ribcage, I knew that I wasn't ready for this.

"You want to go home?" He offered, taking my hand over the center console. "We don't have to do this."

It was his hesitation that made me want to offer my presence and now it was mine that made him question the event all over again.

"No, let's go in. Maybe your uncle will be a little nicer this time." I replied in jest.

"Don't count on it." Nicky put the car in park but left it running. "I'm serious, we could go back at any time." His eyes flickered from my face to my breast and back again. "Or you could hop in the back—"

"Get out of the car, Nicky." I popped my door.

He kissed his teeth. The humming engine quieted before his door opened. Caught by the bitter wind, Nicky tucked me under his arm. His annoyance palatable.

Roni bolted toward us the minute we crossed through the threshold. "Where have you been?" The question hissed through her teeth. "And what are you doing here?" Her attention turned to me.

"That means we can go home." Nicky whispered in my ear.

"It's great to see you again, Veronica." I answered with a disingenuous smile. "I hope you're enjoying your stay at the hotel."

Her arms folded. "Nicky?" She looked at him to speak up.

"Don't look at me. I didn't even want to come." He admitted.

"Hey Tess." Marisol greeted from the host station. "You're not on tonight." She realized, furrowing her brow. It slowly smoothed before her mouth fell open. "In a dress?" Her eyes bounced between Roni and I. "Oh." She nodded. "Come with me."

Nicky threw his head back. A dramatized grunt shot toward the ceiling. "Do we have to?"

"Nicky." Veronica and I chastised in unison.

His face twisted as he reluctantly followed her to the table.

The table was packed with more bodies than their first visit to the restaurant. Nicky's mom sat opposite Uncle Dom, who had relinquished his place at the head of the table for her. His kids, six boys lined the right side of the table. A chair sat empty between Santi and Nicky's mother, down the left-hand side. Ava sat beside her mother, Jayda, and Tatiana sat comfortably in her lap. They both worked on the same coloring page.

Tatiana's green eyes, the same as her Uncle Nicky's, caught me. "Miss Bowen!" She scrambled from her seat to give me a hug.

"Hi Tati." I greeted. I would've dropped to a knee to hug her back, but my dress didn't allow for it. Instead, I settled for lifting her from her feet.

"Tess." Jayda also stood to greet me with a hug. "What are you doing here?" She looked from me to Nicky and back again. "Oh no." She shook her head. "You're too good for him. Run while you still can." She beckoned for Tatiana, who held tighter to me.

"She can come sit with me for a little bit." I offered.

"Are you sure?" Jayda had bags beneath her puffy eyes. Her cheeks had begun to sink. Her hands even shook as she tried to take her daughter back. It was clear that Rico's death had impacted her, though she been single a parent even while he was alive.