Round Here

Chapter Seven

December '68

I was getting real big. I was almost full term, and I was excited. Freddie has been keeping me company as Sonny and dad have been doing a lot of business. I wondered what, but I knew he wouldn't really tell me. This month also marks it being four months since Em died, C disappeared, and Mario and Slick's accidental deaths. With that being said you can know that business was taken care of. C didn't show up to their funerals, and I mean I wouldn't either since they were assholes, rest in peace. And since that day dad confirmed my suspicions, he has never uttered Sollozzo's name out of his mouth again. He's also let me in a bit on the business, but not to much now since I was getting ready to pop this bun out of my oven soon.

Today was like any other day. Freddie and I were laying on the sofa's with blankets wrapped around ourselves. Dad refused to put the heat on since he hated the feeling of being sweaty. I argued we'd freeze, but that's what blankets and bodies are for he said. Today was the seventh, and it was a pretty cold day. I had wished dad would let us use the heat, but even if we had turned it on he'd know. I'm not even lying, one day I went to turn it on and dad screamed at me from upstairs. It was like he knew I was putting it on. So I haven't bothered with it since. I sat up and looked at Freddie. "I'm going to go take a hot bath. I'm freezing as fuck." He laughed. "Alright I'll be down here. Be careful, and call me if you need anything." "I will Freddie. If I'm not out before dad gets home in an hour check up on me." I saw that cute grin of his. "Will do. Now go on before he comes home and you're here." I agreed as I went to the bathroom. I ran the water warm enough to satisfy my needs of obtaining warmth. 

~

"Santina we're home!" I heard dad yell. "Where are you?"  I was confused. I must have fallen asleep in the bathtub. The water had now gone cold. Someone then barged into the bathroom. It was Sonny. "Oh San, how long have you been in here? Your lips are blue." I looked at him. I looked at my watch. "I can't remember now. Help me out will ya?" He grabbed a hold of my arms and lifted me carefully out of the tub. I stepped out and he wrapped me in the large towel. I was freezing. I saw him pull the plug. "Jeez that water is almost as freezing as this place. Your father's nuts." I nodded as I redressed. "Oh San, you know what would make you less cold?" He came over to me. He then gave me a hug whispering in my ear. "Having sex." I rolled my eyes as he kissed my neck. I noticed dad standing in the doorway. I chose not to say anything. "Yous two really have sex everywhere don't you?" He chuckled as Santino pulled away. "Hi dad. How was work?" "Ah same old same old. Come here and give your old man a hug." Sonny let go of me so I could do so. "Jesus you're cold." I pulled back a bit. "You know what would make me not so cold?" "Falling asleep in the bathtub?" I smirked. "No. You turning this god damn heat on." "Now that I can't do. Cuddle up with Santino under the blanket." I rolled my eyes as he kissed my cheek. "Now that I can do." I winked at him as I left the bathroom. 

Sonny followed me back down to the living room. I saw Freddie listening to his favourite record. Sonny and I sat down on the couch. He pulled the blanket over top of us. "So why doesn't the old man like the heat on?" "Like I told Freddie, he doesn't like sweating or being hot." Dad scoffed. "Is there a problem with that?" I gave him a look. "Yeah since it's minus ten in here." He laughed. He knew it was cold, but like we've established. He hates the heat. We weren't going to win. Even on the coldest days he wouldn't turn the heat on. Even when we could see our breaths and every piece of furniture we owned was cold to the touch. He still didn't care. He never was like this a lot when mama was here cause she always had the heat on in the winter. Which I was very thankful for. But since she's been gone for almost four years now we've had to live in this ice age. 

I felt Sonny's hand go places he shouldn't go while in the company of others. "Santino!" He chuckled. His hands were ice cold too. "I was trying to warm my hands." I gave him this look. He took his hands and placed one around me and the other on his lap. "Santina, when are you having that baby? Connie and Kay want to know." "The fourteenth or fifteenth I think. Why?" "I can't tell you. But we're going over Monday afternoon." "Oh thank god, somewhere with heat." Dad shot me this look. "What's wrong with being a little cold?" "Everything since I can never seem to stay warm long enough." "Well that's what your husband is for." Both Sonny and Freddie laughed. I didn't find it funny at all. I just ignored their snickers. "Santina, what do you want for dinner?" "Something really hot." "So me?" Sonny said with a snicker. I rolled my eyes. "Seriously Santina." "I don't care. What were you thinking of?" He sighed as he pulled a blanket around him. "I was thinking of something, but now I can't remember." "Alright well I'm going to go cook it since it'll be the thing that keeps me warm. I'm telling you dad if you don't have the heat on when the baby comes I'm not entering the house." I got up and Sonny smacked my ass. It took me by surprise. I grabbed his hand for a moment, then let go as I had other things to tend to.