My Son's Father

My Son's Father Chapter 2

I sighed as I dreaded the words that might’ve come from Romano’s mouth. Would he send us away? Would he be repulsed? I had no idea. All I knew is that I was puzzled when those words didn’t come, but were instead replaced with laughter as Romano picked up Benny and set him on his waist.

“You’ve got quite the imagination, don’t you? Benny, I told you our little game of house ended that night when I was babysitting you,” Romano chuckled. I didn’t understand and I was almost afraid to know what was going on, but I persisted.

“What are you talking about? I’m still confused…” I trailed off, looking between Benny pouting and Romano smiling. What was going on?

“When I was watching him the other night we played a game where I was the father and he was the son in the family. We pretended the mother was at work, and we played house. I guess that was just his way of telling me he wants to play again,” Romano explained with a slight tint on his cheeks. I knew there was more to what he was saying, but I didn’t want to pry.

“No! We did play the game but he said you were the Mama! Now he can be my real Papa!” Benny protested. My face froze in shock and I looked to Romano’s face. He seemed frantic.

“Benny, we aren’t playing that game right now. We can play a different one in a little while, okay?” he offered. I knew Romano better than anyone, and even I could tell when he was forcing something. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

“But you said-!” He was abruptly cut off by a stern look from Romano. I’d never seen him so serious. What was he trying to hide?

“Forget what I said. It was just a game, Benjamin.” That really set me off. He used the dreaded weapon of all mothers in the world: the full name. Benny nodded in defeat as Romano carried him to what would be his room. He still liked to sleep with me, but Romano and I both figured Benny would have to learn sooner or later he couldn’t always sleep in my bed. While he was inside the room looking around, I pulled Romano outside and into the hallway.

“What was all that about back there?” I asked intensely.

“Oh, Benny just took the game too far. I guess we shouldn’t play it anymore.” He was obviously still keeping something from me.

“What aren’t you telling me? What did you tell him that made him take the game so seriously?” I begged. I wanted to know why my son was calling Romano his father when he knew that Romano wasn’t. The only explanation there could be was that somebody told him otherwise.

“I’m not keeping anything from you, Mil. I never have, never will.” I gasped at the old nickname. I remember constantly complaining to him in high school that every time somebody called my name five other people turned due to having the same name. Because of that people started calling me “Milly” or “Lee”, but Romano was the only one to ever call me Mil.

“That’s a lie. I know you better than anyone, Romano. Tell me,” I pleaded. I didn’t like it when he kept secrets from me.

“You wouldn’t understand…” He shook his head before heading down the hall and out the door. I felt bad so I decided I’d make dinner for him when he came home. I supposed he’d tell me eventually, so I’d let it go.

“Mama, did you and Papa fight?” Benny asked. I looked at him sadly. I didn’t want to tell him that Romano wasn’t his father, because in a way he kind of was. Romano played with Benny and took care of him like he really was his own kid.

“No, Romano and I weren’t fighting. We were just talking.” I walked down the hall and began dinner. I was going to make all his favorite foods just the way he liked it. For dessert I made cannoli. You have no idea how hard it is to keep a three-year old kid addicted to my cooking from sticking his hand in cannoli cream. However, I managed it, and I was sweating by the time I finished cooking it all. It was a lot of food for three people.