Chapter 84

They strolled through the entrance to Richie’s home hand-in-hand, and he was filled with barely contained excitement when he asked, “So what do you think?”

The entry way was an extension of the Spanish-style exterior, with a multitude of earth tones lending their warmth to the floor tiling and textured walls.   Arched doorways sat on opposing sides of the spacious area, and a wide staircase was positioned at the far end.  She looked up to find that the second floor overlooked the entryway, surrounded by intricately fashioned wrought-iron railing adorned replicated leaves.  A burnished gold chandelier hung above her head.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured distractedly.  Despite the opulence of the chandelier and some of the accent pieces, it had a comfortably homey feel.  When the term ‘mansion’ was thrown around, you could almost feel yourself going cold and stiff in anticipation of the stuffiness – even Jon’s house left her feeling out of place with its French provincial furnishings.   In contrast, Richie’s home was as earthy and real as the man himself.

“Come on, I’ll show you around,” he offered, trailing her behind him to the right, through the maze of rooms.  He took her on a whirlwind trip through the first floor indicating each room’s designation as they wandered through:  game room, family room, studio, gym, utility room, garage, pool, dining room and kitchen.

It was in the kitchen that she was introduced to Carmen.

“Carmen, my sexy senorita!  I’m back to give you a reason to curse under your breath,” Richie greeted the petite Hispanic woman seated at the kitchen bar, who was busy making a list.  He wound a long arm around her shoulders, giving them a squeeze and dropping a quick kiss on her cheek.

“Aren’t I lucky?” she responded drily, with only a trace of accent, tucking her hair behind her ears.  The graying locks were in direct contrast with the youthfulness of her face and the obvious sparkle in her eyes.  Birkenstock sandals sat on the floor beneath her bare feet, and she wore jeans paired with a flouncy peasant blouse.  “I’m not sure how I’ve survived all these weeks without you.”

Allegra wasn’t familiar with protocol for household employees, having only Jon’s house as a point of reference, but his staff dressed more formally while they were on duty.  She was fairly certain that they’d never dare to speak to Jon like Carmen had just spoken to Richie, but he didn’t seem fazed in the least. 

“You pine away in a corner while I’m out of the house, and you know it.” 

Carmen pretended to gasp, placing her hand on her chest.  “How did you know?  It’s those horrible security cameras, isn’t it?  They give away my every secret.”  She pinned him with a distrustful look and lowered her voice.  “While you were watching, did you happen to discover the secret of how to put your dishes in the sink?”

His cackle echoed through the kitchen, and a cocky grin lit up his face.  “Job security, baby.”

“Oh, please!  We both know I have more job security than that, Messy Mookie.  Now introduce me to your lady friend.”    She diverted her attention to Allegra, affording her the same careful inspection she’d been on the receiving end of only moments before.   

Richie seized Allegra by the hand and brought her to his side, beaming proudly.  “Carmen, this beautiful woman is the love of my life, Allegra Castanelli.”

“For the moment anyway,” Allegra amended under his scowl of disapproval, extending her hand to the other woman with a smile. 

Carmen regarded her with interest, and grasped her hand warmly.  “I see you’re not impressed with his celebrity status.  You and I are going to be good friends.”

“Does that make me different than the rest?”

“Excuse us Carmen.  I want to show Allegra the upstairs,” Richie jumped in before anything else could be said.  Leading her to the back staircase, he pulled her behind until they stood on the second story landing.  He studied her with barely withheld displeasure, but, with a shake of his head, refrained from commenting on the scene in the kitchen.

“Ava’s room and the four guest rooms are down that hallway,” he gestured vaguely to the right before moving on with the tour and approaching the large teak door standing at their left.  Reaching for the handle, he announced, “And this is our room.”  He pushed the door wide so that she could take in the huge king-sized bed draped with a luxurious brown duvet that just matched his eyes.  It reminded her a little of the brown bedroom in Jon’s guesthouse.  Sadly, THAT was what she considered their room.

“Your room.”

“Technically, yes.  But while you’re here, it’s our room.”  He steered her to the center of the floor, coming to a halt beside the bed.  Strong arms prepared to encircle her waist at the same time she took a step backward. 

“Not as long as your daughter’s in the house, it isn’t.  I don’t think that’s a good example to set for an adolescent girl.” 

“We’re not having sex, we’re just sleeping,” Richie contended, falling to the bed with a huff.

“I’m painfully aware of that, but come on, Richie, think about it.  Do you want HER to think it’s okay to ‘sleep’ with a man she’s not married to?”

“If she loves him and envisions a future with him, I don’t see a problem.”

“Ava may be a mature young lady, but do you really believe she’s read to make that level of distinction?” 

“Baby, our sleeping arrangements aren’t going to register as a blip on her teen radar.  Trust me.”

“And why is that?”  Her nose wrinkled while she scanned the big bed with distaste.  “Because it’s already happened so many times in this bed?  With other women?  Because if that’s the case, then it’s all the more reason for me to stand my ground.”

Latching on to her hand, he commanded her attention with a sharp, but gentle tug.  “Okay, do you want to tell me what’s going on with you today?  I’ve never known you to consciously pick a fight with me, but right now it seems like you’re hell-bent on it.”

Allegra’s eyes widened with surprise and confusion.  It was quite possibly the last thing she’d expected him to say.  “What?”

“I understand you being upset with me over my behavior at Heather’s, but you took it to an entirely different level.  Then there was what you said to Carmen, and now the crack about women in my bed.  Since when are you jealous of the ghosts in my past?”

Her immediate first thought was that he was being ridiculous.  She was fully prepared to tell him how stupid that was, but stopped.  Each of the instances he referred to went skimming in rapid succession through her mind, and her anger ebbed.  Recalling them with as much objectivity as she could muster, reluctantly, Allegra admitted the truth in what he was saying.   She was being a pure bitch, and the shame swallowed her whole.  Silently counting up the days in her head, she knew she couldn’t even blame it on PMS.

“I’m sorry if that’s how it seemed.  Despite all the evidence, I have no desire to fight with you, so let me try this again.”  She clasped both of his hands in hers and spoke in a quiet, but direct, manner.  “Richie, I’d be more comfortable staying in the guest room while Ava’s here.  I know I haven’t spent much time with her, but I want to be a positive influence if at all possible, so I’m going to do what’s right instead of what’s tempting.”

His grin was open and endearing.  “When you put it that way, who am I to disagree?”  Twirling her around, his confident hands maneuvered her backside so that it was firmly positioned in his lap.  “Now why didn’t you say that in the first place, instead of looking at my bed like it had a nasty smell?”

She leaned into him with a soft sound of disparaging humor.  “I don’t know, it just happened.”

“Ya know…  You’re acting like a jealous lover.  Are you feeling as though the ghosts of girlfriends past are haunting my house?”

She deliberated carefully before denying it with a shake of her head.  “No, I don’t think so.
Why should I be jealous of women whose relationships failed?  I don’t know what’s the matter with me, but I’m sorry.  Maybe it’s just a little insecurity?  I still have a serious lack of expertise with this relationship thing. ”

His arms were draped comfortably around her, hands resting on her thigh as he rocked slightly.  “Sunshine, what you think of as ‘lack of expertise’, I think of as honesty.  Expertise is comparable to manipulation, and I know that’s not you.”

“No, it isn’t,” she agreed.  “But neither is this snarky bitch that I’ve become since we touched down in LA.  Is there something in the air here?”

A knock came on the open door.  “Are you guys finished talking like rational adults yet?  I’m hungry.”  Ava shuffled in and promptly draped herself across the foot of the bed.  It was a comfortable gesture, one she’d evidently performed one multiple occasions. 

“We’ve been rational long enough, that’s for sure,” Allegra said, sliding from Richie’s lap with a smile.  “I’m hungry too.  What do you think?  Should we trust your dad to cook, or do takeout?”

Bright blue eyes darted to her father, grimacing.  “Sorry Dad, but takeout is faster.  Is Chinese okay?”

He stood and tousled her hair with a chuckle.  “Absolutely.  Go get the takeout menu from the kitchen and we’ll see what looks good.”

The evening went along smoothly after that, with the three of them surrounding the kitchen table and passing around a host of white paper cartons.  Talk was geared primarily toward catching up on Ava’s school activities and friends, but when that was accomplished all went quiet.

“You know what might be fun?”  Allegra asked to fill the silence.  “Do you have any board games?  It’s been ages since I did something like that, and I bet you guys don’t do it very often either.”

“God, I couldn’t tell you the last time we played a game.  It sounds like fun, though.”  He turned to Ava. 
 “What do we have, Baby Girl?  Anything?”

“Um, I think there’s Twilight Monopoly, Harry Potter Yahtzee and Trivial Pursuit.  Oh, and Uno.”

Allegra would have enjoyed Trivial Pursuit, but didn’t think it would be a fair game with two adults against a child.  “How about Yahtzee or Uno?”

“Good picks, Sunshine.  My beautiful daughter is a vicious real estate tycoon, and is especially brutal when you buy one of the Jacob properties before she does.”

Their time together sped by in a blur of laughter, fun and teasing.  It melted Allegra’s heart to see that Richie had a side of himself reserved just for Ava.  While he by no means made her feel excluded, he lavished a great deal of attention on his daughter and enjoyed her company – a sentiment which the girl unmistakably returned.  She felt a twinge of sadness that the two didn’t spend more time together.

A short while later, Ava was begging off to go call a friend, leaving the adults to themselves in the kitchen. 

“I can’t tell you when I’ve enjoyed such a relaxing evening at home.  Thank you, Sunshine.”

“Me too.  It’s so much nicer not being a bitch,” she admitted freely.  “And I love how much you love your daughter.  It’s sweet.”

He shrugged as he stood and removed the empty glasses from the table.  “She’s a good kid.  It would be hard not to love her.”  There was a clink of glassware as he set them in the sink, probably still remembering Carmen’s complaint from earlier in the day.  Richie turned to lean against the counter, arms folded across his chest.  “Don’t you think?”

Resting her elbows on the table in front of her, she regarded him with a smile.  “If that’s your way of asking how I feel about Ava, I like her very much.   She’s a pretty awesome young lady, and you’re doing a great job with her.”

“So you like me, and you like my kid?” 

“I do.” 

“Good, because we like you too.”  Richie smirked slightly, before offering his hand.  “Let’s go pick you out a room.  Remember not to get too comfortable, though.  It’s just for tonight.”

“I remember.”  Allegra’s fingers curled around his with an extra squeeze.  “That’s not the only thing that’s going to be just for tonight,” she warned him softly.  “We’re going to be doing more than sleeping in your bed.”

Eighty-Three

Ava bounced down the steps with an exuberant energy possessed only by the young, overnight bag slung over her shoulder.  Coming to a halt on the landing, she noticed Allegra standing near the front door and approached, scuffing her toes along the marble tile. 

“Hi Allegra.  How was your trip?” 

Allegra smiled inwardly at the young girl’s polite inquiry.  From everything she’d witnessed, Ava was a thoughtful and polite young lady, and Richie had every right to be proud of her.   “It was good, thank you.  I understand you’re going skiing tomorrow?  That sounds like fun!”

The teenager wanted to be blasé, but pleasure curled up the corners of her mouth.  “Yeah, it’ll be okay.  What are Mom and Dad doing?”  Her eyes darted curiously to the living room, from which their low voices could be heard.

“I’m not sure.”  Allegra fought to stuff down her temper at the reminder of what she’d just been subjected to.  “But I don’t want him to feel rushed, so would you let your dad know I’ll be waiting in the car?”

Ava looked hesitantly back and forth between the living room and Allegra, uncertainty pasted on her young features.  “Um, how about I come with you?  Just a second, and I’ll say bye to my mom.”

“Oh, no honey, that’s not necessary.  I need to call and check on my parents anyway,” she fibbed, “so I’ll just go out and do that now while I’m waiting.”

“Well, I think I’ll tag along anyway if you don’t care.  Mom and Dad are probably talking about my school or something boring that I don’t care about.  I’ll be right back.”

True to her word, she returned in a moment’s time, circling around Allegra to pull open the door. 

♫♥♫

The heavy thud of the front door, combined with Heather’s slight hand on his thigh, brought Richie out of his fog. 

What the hell have I done?  Allegra’s going to have my head on a platter, and I can’t say that I blame her.  I do, however, blame Heather.

Mentally surveying the situation, he noted that his ex-wife knelt on the sofa next to him, one hand on his shoulder, the other on his thigh.  It placed her face inches from his own, and he closed his eyes in self-loathing.  Richie couldn’t explain how he’d come to find himself in this position, but he was not pleased by it in the least.  Exasperation colored his voice when he asked, “What are you doing, Heather?”

“I told you.  They raised Ava’s school tuition for next year.  I think it’s just ridiculous how much they’re trying to gouge us for, when the school isn’t that good.  There are other schools that we should consider.”  Her guileless blue eyes and huff of indignation should’ve convinced him of her sincerity, but she wasn’t that good of an actress.

“That’s a load of crap.  You were trying to create some illusion of ownership in front of my girlfriend.”  Anger started to mount as the picture came in focus, and he sprang to his feet.  “You wore that… THAT.”  A sweep of his hand indicated her flowing black sundress.  “Knowing exactly how it would affect me.  Well, dammit Heather, I’m not your husband anymore,” he reminded her.  “YOU filed the divorce papers and moved on with your life, so let me move on with mine.”

The barest hint of a flush crept into her cheeks, and it was all the confirmation he needed.  The only thing in question now was her motive.  They’d been divorced for almost three years, and this was the first instance of this bitchy behavior.  On a normal, everyday basis, they got along quite well – casual, yet friendly, which suited him just fine.  There were fewer waves in the parenting pool that way. 

So why the big change?

“You didn’t pull this with Denise or Jen, so why now?  Why with Allegra?”

Her chin tilted upward and her back pressed into the sofa, defiance written all over her.  Richie knew that the next words out of her mouth weren’t worth the air she was going to waste.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

All those years together taught me at least a couple of things.

“You want me to tell you what I think?”  Richie pointed his finger at her with narrowed eyes.  “I think that you’re intimidated by her.”  He straightened his spine with a firm nod.  “She’s a real woman, not some LA prototype.  She has real ideals and beliefs, the likes of which Hollywood doesn’t want to be associated with.  You’re afraid she’s exactly what I’ve always needed.”

Her face contorted into a scowl, even as her eyes darted around the room, looking anywhere at him, and he knew he’d hit a nerve.  “Why in the world would I be intimidated by HER?” she spluttered.  “I don’t care what you sleep with, as long as you’re discreet around our daughter.”

WHAT I sleep with?

Calling on every last ounce of restraint that he possessed, Richie quietly bit out, “I can’t talk to you right now without absolutely going ballistic, but let me say just one thing...  Don’t you EVER disrespect her like that again!  Do you hear me?”

Heather’s gaze clashed with his.  A maelstrom was brewing in her eyes, but she didn’t offer any gesture of either confirmation or denial. 

“I mean it, Heather.”

Eyes dropped to her hands, and she developed a sudden interest in her manicure.  “I have no reason for wanting to talk about her at all,” she informed him disinterestedly.

With a growl of infuriation, he turned on his heel, heavy footfalls echoing loudly on the tile floor.  “We spent two years trying to get Ava into THIS school, because it was the best.  Send the damn tuition bill to my accountant – just like you always do,” he threw back before stalking out the door.

♫♥♫

Allegra pointedly ignored Richie when he got in the car, masking the fact by chatting with Ava about plans for the evening.  They were debating on whether to watch a movie at the house, or go to the mall when Richie interjected his two cents.

“How about I cook?”

The look of immediate confusion on Ava’s face drew a chuckle from Allegra.  Richie had no chance of pretending to be a culinary wizard with his daughter there to shatter the illusion.

“Stop that.  I can cook!”

“Um, okay Dad.  Whatever you say.  I was hoping for something besides scrambled eggs though – in case you were wondering.”  She rolled her eyes and stuffed her headphones in her ears, turning her attention to the passing traffic.

“CAN you cook?”  The question was light, and her line of vision followed Ava’s out the car window.

“I can grill.  I was thinking steaks or chicken.”  He scooted close and put his arm around her shoulders.  “How does that sound?”

“I’m not feeling very cuddly right now,” she informed him in low tones, squirming away from the embrace.  Ava appeared to be engrossed in the sounds emanating from her phone, but it was better to be safe than sorry.  Allegra pasted on a fake smile.

“Oh God, it’s Jon’s press smile,” he tried to tease, but there was no humor lighting her eyes.  As a matter of fact, they frosted over with an extra coat of ice.  With a deep sigh, he murmured, “Sunshine, I’m sorry.”

“Stop right there,” she hissed quietly.  “You have one day with your daughter and I expect you to spend every possible minute enjoying her to the fullest.  Tomorrow will be soon enough to … Well, whatever.”

His voice was just as soft and urgent, when he wrapped her hand up in his.  “There’s no way I can enjoy anything knowing that you’re upset.  We’ll clear the air while she’s putting her things away.”

“I said no.”

“And I said yes.”

She jerked her hand free with a contemptuous scowl and look of amazement.  “Do you really think you’re in a position to order me around at the moment?”

“So if my opinion matters any, can you two just fight and get it over with?”  Ava’s calm voice interrupted what they’d believed to be an inconspicuous disagreement. 

Allegra automatically reapplied her full megawatt smile.  “We’re not going to fight, sweetheart.”

“No, we’re not,” Richie agreed, caressing his daughter’s long blonde tresses affectionately.  “We’re going to talk long enough to clear up a bit of confusion, like two rational adults.  Thank you, Baby Girl, for understanding.”

Allegra’s lips had parted to contradict him, when the car door swung open, causing her to jump.  Unbeknownst to her, they’d arrived in Laguna Beach while she and Richie were engrossed in their ‘discussion’.

Her eyes instantly surveyed the Spanish mission style mansion and grounds in its entire Hollywood splendor.   Well, that wasn’t exactly a fair assessment, she realized as soon as the thought imprinted itself on her mind.  It was a beautiful home without being fussy or over-the-top, and the landscaping complemented it perfectly.   She admired the rich colors in the Spanish tile and roofing that enhanced the warmth she could feel from the house.  

“I’ll just be in my room,” Ava said, crawling out of the other door.  “Call me when you’ve finished talking like rational adults.”

“Okay, honey,” Richie told her, Allegra in tow when he exited the car.  “We’ll be right in.”

But Allegra refused to budge more than a step away from the vehicle, forcibly freeing herself from his grip and crossing her arms over her chest.  Belligerent Bongiovi attitude bounced off of her in waves, but she didn’t care.

“Come sit down and talk to me for a minute?” he beseeched, gesturing toward one of the slatted teak benches that flanked the front entrance. 

“I can talk just fine from here.”

Allegra watched the muscle in his jaw tick at least five times before he heaved a sigh.  “Okay, have it your way.  Will it make you feel better to blast me first, or would you like me to jump right to the explanation?”

There was a hibiscus tree just past his shoulder that was starting to bloom.  The orange blossom was going to be vibrant, and a beautiful contrast to the creamy hue of the house’s exterior, in a lighter shade of the terra cotta shingles that graced its roofline.  Allegra was still absorbed with the flower when she flatly told him, “No wonder it took you so long to say the words.  It’s hard to be in love with two people at one time.”

His hands moved to cup her shoulders, but she shrugged him off yet again, and Richie settled for pushing them into his pants pockets.  “I’m not in love with her.”

“You could’ve fooled me.  The rest of the world faded away as soon as you set eyes on her.  You were following her around like a lost puppy.  But you know what?  That’s fine.”  Her eyebrows rose slightly and she tipped her head to the side while she shrugged.  “You love who you love.  I can accept that.”  She pinned him with the frozen depths of her irises.  “The real issue is my being completely shoved to the side and ignored.  It’s rude and I don’t appreciate it.  You would – and have – treated strangers better than that.  I’ve seen you!”

He stepped closer, with every intention of wrapping his arms around her, but she was still having no part of it.  Placing her palms flat on his chest, she kept him at arm’s length.  “I’ll leave after Ava heads out tomorrow.  I’ll go join my parents in Florida.  It will be nice to spend some more time with them.”

“Allegra, I love YOU.”

“You love to fuck me.  Even I know there’s a difference.”  She stopped to consider.  “Well, I don’t think you even love that anymore, since you WON’T.”

“Hey!”  His thumb and forefinger captured her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.  “Don’t cheapen what we have!  I’ve tried my best to take care of you, including protecting you from something your body isn’t ready for.”

“Oh, God save me from self-righteous protection!  Yes, you’ve taken care of me, which I appreciate more than you’ll ever know, but being a decent human being doesn’t equate to being in love.   Romeo could brush my hair!”

Richie’s patience was waning quickly, and with a grumble of frustration, he pressed his fingers over her lips.  “Okay, just stop.  I don’t want to hear any more of that garbage.   It’s your turn to listen now.  Please.”

Snapping her head back to escape the restrictive touch, she grumbled right back at him.  “Don’t shush me like some yappy dog!  It may be garbage, but it’s true!   And as far as your friggin’ explanation goes, there’s no point.  I saw it with my own eyes.”

“You can be so damn frustrating!  What you SAW was me getting played,” he nearly shouted, his tolerance level having been reached and surpassed.  Fretful fingers raked through his hair in an attempt to lock down his annoyance.  Drawing quiet, steady breaths, hands settled at his waist and regarded her with the slow shake of his head.

“Back when Heather and I were married and things were going really well, she was so excited to get me back home after a stint on the road.  We’d talk from the time I left the airport until I pulled into the driveway, where she would be standing outside waiting for me.  Just like she was today.

“She would always make sure she was wearing something nice, but not fancy.  Enough to let me know she’d made the effort for me.  The dress she had on today was always one of my favorites, and she’s very much aware of that.

“I don’t have any excuse, but I’ll admit it; I got sucked into the memories.  It was an eerie feeling of déjà vu, and I didn’t like it.  I’m pissed as hell that she tried to manipulate me that way, and let her know it in no uncertain terms when you went out to the car. “   He bent his knees, silently pleading for her to look at him.  “You have to believe me when I say I am NOT in still in love with her.”

She considered him carefully, needing to ferret out any trace of insincerity or deception that he may be hiding, but his gaze held hers boldly, with firm resolve.  She wanted so badly to believe him.  To believe that she hadn’t been imagining everything they’d shared. 

No, there was no indication of dishonesty, but still she wondered…

“Who filed for divorce, you or her?”

“She did.”

“What if she decides she wants you back?  What then?  You just walk away from whatever relationship you’re in at the time?”

“She doesn’t want me back.”

“But what if she DID?”  Allegra was persistent.  After seeing Heather in action, she wouldn’t put it past the woman to decide that it was time to reclaim her man – if for no other reason than to cause a stir.

“Number one, we still have the same fundamental issues that led to the divorce in the first place.”

“WHAT issues?”

“It shouldn’t be a surprise that the biggest one is children.”

“Pretty soon you’ll be too old for children anyway.  What then?”

A pained grimace prefaced his dry response. “You know how to wound a guy, Sunshine.”

“Facts are facts.”  Allegra wasn’t being cute, or facetious.  There would be no ‘shoulda, coulda, wouldas’ after they finished this exchange.  All the cards were going down on the table.

“Okay, fine.  Then she’ll still be too self-involved to do anything but worry about her figure and the crow’s feet around her eyes.  Life is for living and I want someone to live it with me.”

“If that’s number one, then what’s number two?”

“Number two, I’ve already moved on to something bigger and better.  I can’t and won’t turn back.”

The words all sounded good.  Perfect, as a matter of fact, but she still needed something build a future on.  Heather’s presence in their lives couldn’t remain a constant source of contention.  Allegra needed to know his head, heart and mouth were all in the same place.

“Is that the truth?  You don’t have to appease me, Richie, but I need you to be man enough to tell me your true feelings, so that I’m not forced to make assumptions.  I won’t have a tragic, emotional breakdown if you can’t move past your marriage, but I need to know the truth.”

Abstract thoughts tumbled randomly through her consciousness as she braced herself for whatever he may say, and her eyes were drawn again to the hibiscus bloom behind his shoulder.  The need for a brief mental escape had her identifying with the little blossom.  It fought valiantly to open up and face the world, despite the obstacles that life relentlessly hurled at it.  Despite the rain, wind, insects and heat, the little orange bud was beginning to unfurl and show its delicate insides to the world.

She knew she could be as strong as a flower, for Heaven’s sake.  She’d come through too much already to allow this to be the end of her figurative world.  Her jaw was set, and her chin lifted in anticipation, encouraging him to do his worst.

He eased himself closer, afraid she would push him away again. 

“The truth?”  Strong fingers tentatively reached around and tangled themselves in the waves that hung down her back, and goose bumps rose at the slight pressure he exerted. 

Damn traitorous body.

“The truth is I’m head over heels in love with YOU.  I’ve never met anyone like you.  The truth is you make me think about the possibility of marriage with optimism instead of contempt.” 

Freeing itself from her hair, his hand slipped down to palm her tummy, and the muscles there clenched in reaction to his touch.  “The truth is that there was no turning back from the minute I realized that condom broke.  You already radiate an incredible inner beauty, but you’ll be magnificent with the glow of pregnancy.”  His lips hovered close to her ear when he murmured, “I want to be there for that.  I want it to be OUR baby that does that for you.”

A cold shiver raced down her spine and her heart beat like a hummingbird’s.  Feeling slightly light headed, she had a real concern that she was going to faint like a silly schoolgirl.  Knowing that she shouldn’t give in so easily, the thoughts formed for a stern self-lecture, but she abandoned them well before they’d been gathered and delivered.

He’d never lied to her before, and there was no reason to believe he was starting now. 

“I love you, Allegra – and THAT’S the truth.”

Her shoulder muscles slowly unraveled as the sentiment achieved the desired effect, turning her to a puddle of goo.  Slipping her arms around him, she loosened the stranglehold she’d put on her heart when this episode had begun, mentally returning it to its rightful place in his possession.  She hated herself for giving in so easily, and it was of little comfort to know that she wouldn’t have been such a pushover if she didn’t love him so much. 

Being a pushover was okay, but being walked over was not.

Pulling his head down, Allegra pressed a petal-soft kiss against his mouth, whispering, “I love you too.  But if you ever humiliate me like that again I’ll have Takumi string every single one of your guitars upside down.  Then YOU can explain to Jon why you screwed up his show.  Got it?”

Chapter 82

The California landscape was vastly different than that of New Jersey from what Allegra could see.  Instead of the leafy trees that were coming into bloom back home, there were palm trees and yucca bushes dotting the horizon.  The pervading feel of desert was enhanced by the brightly shining sun that created the illusion of heat, when it was actually quite cool outside the Los Angeles airport.

“Welcome to LA, baby,” Richie told her with a grin as they climbed into the hired car. 

“The land of fruits and nuts?”

He threw back his head and laughed.  “Jon’s poisoned your mind already, I see.  It’s different than Jersey, but it’s not bad.  I hope you’ll like it.”  The depth of solemnity in his eyes caused her to shiver.  It was  evident  that there was deeper meaning lurking behind his offhanded comment.

“I’m sure I will.”

Richie smiled silently, but it was clear he had something else on his mind.  He looked at her and would open his mouth, closing it again without speaking.  After the third such instance, she laughed and poked him in the ribs.  “What?   You obviously want to say something.”

His sheepish grin was her confirmation.  “I know we aren’t supposed to pick up Ava until tomorrow, but how would you feel about getting her today?”

“Sweetie, why would you even hesitate to ask?  I think that sounds like a great idea.”

“I wanted to give you time to settle in at the house first, but now that I’m here I can’t stop thinking about her.  Are you sure you don’t care?”

“Richie.”  She gave him a disapproving scowl.  “You haven’t seen her for almost a month, AND you had to miss her big modeling debut.  Of course I don’t care.  Can we swing by and pick her up on the way your house?”

He lit up with excitement and pulled her in for a quick kiss.  “Do you know how much I appreciate you?  I’ll call and let her know we’re coming.”

Placing the call, his voice faded to a dull murmur in her consciousness and a vague smile settled on her face.   Allegra was grateful that she finally felt healed and rested, allowing her to enjoy the time with Richie and his daughter. 

They had spent a long time talking with her parents on Sunday after everything was out in the open, surprisingly without animosity.  She understood where they were coming from, and they were trying to accept her choices – including Richie.  Her mother actually asked him a few questions, which he smiled and answered as though it was the most natural thing in the world.  Allegra couldn’t be any more pleased about the relationship between him and her parents at this point.  Her mother had even reluctantly hugged Richie before they left. 

As far as the whole adoption thing went, she was at peace with it – for the most part.  There wasn’t the emotional turmoil of being the castoff of her birth mother, and she’d gotten to stay with her biological family.  Considering how traumatized many adoptees were, her situation was a best case scenario, really.  The only loose end was the mystery of her father, but she wasn’t sure it even mattered.  It was obvious that she was her mother’s child, and he hadn’t wanted her.  She had enough on her mind without adding that to the top of the pile right now.

Jon had been brought up to speed soon after they returned, and while he was astonished at the secrecy, he accepted it easily enough.  Of course, he was feeding from Allegra’s reaction.  It was her life that had just been sliced open to reveal a secret center.  If she was okay with it, he had no reason NOT to be. 

At her request, Jon agreed not to involve the rest of the family just yet, even though he was more than a little curious at never hearing anything about another sibling.  He very badly wanted to ask his father about Frannie, but consented to hold his tongue until Allegra was ready to share.

Having missed so many recent shows, she coerced Richie to let her tag along to Washington, DC to see the guys in action last night.  Security had never left her side, and she stayed backstage, but it was surprisingly nice to take part in something normal for a change.  The performance was phenomenal and she truly enjoyed herself.

It also didn’t hurt to find out that Dot’s lessons had made a significant improvement in her trepidation with other people.  Of course, the security guy had orders to quite literally watch her back, so that was an extra source of comfort.

Tico, David and Hugh had greeted her like a long, lost family member, each bestowing a exuberant hug upon her – that is, after they’d made eye contact.  No musicians were harmed for their affection that night.

“Legs, I’ve missed ya like crazy,”  David had spoken into her ear.  “How are you?  Honestly.”

Clinging a little longer than was merited, she relinquished her hold with an embarrassed grin.  “Better,” she assured him.  It was the first time they’d been in the same place since she dropped him to his backside.  “David, I’m so sorry about freaking out on you.”

“Nope, we’re not going there,” he admonished with a firm shake of those unruly curls.  “You’re getting help now, and that’s all I care about.”  Their two pairs of blue eyes connected and he delved behind the faded denim of her irises, seeking the answer to some unspoken question. 

Allegra squirmed under his scrutiny.  Serious Dave was still something she didn’t quite know how to operate.  

Sensing her discomfort, he kicked up the corner of his Joker’s mouth in a half-hearted smile and offered, “I’m here if you need me, Allegra.  Anytime.  Day or night.”

“Sunshine?” 

She blinked her eyes several times and turned with a smile, Richie’s voice bringing her out of her reverie.  “Hmm?”

“I said that there’s been a slight change of plans.”  The hint of a frown in his features let her know that the change wasn’t one he favored.

“How so?”

“It’s a good thing that I wanted Ava today, because she just told me that she’s got a ski trip planned with her friend Kendall.  They’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Oh sweetie, I’m sorry.  How long will she be gone?”  Allegra tamped down aggravation with Ava and her mother.  He had been counting on spending this week with his little girl, and she thought it was mean to deny his time.

“They’ll be back on Saturday night.”  The sag of Richie’s shoulders bordered on pitiful, and it pulled at Allegra.  She just knew this was Heather’s doing.  Ava may have wanted to go with friends, but it was her prerogative – even obligation – as a mother to say no under the circumstances.  Mentioning it to Richie wasn’t going to solve anything, so she tried to shine a positive light on the situation.

“Oh, that’s great!”  She grinned through the annoyance.  “She’ll be home for Easter dinner then.  You’ll still get your family time.”  Her hand rested on his arm with a light squeeze.  “Is your mother going to come out for Easter?”

They hadn’t discussed any specific plans for the holiday, waiting to decide the particulars until after they’d settled in at his house.

His eyes lightened as the idea took root.  “We haven’t really talked about it, but I bet she would.  How do you feel about Easter with Ma and Ava?  Would you want to invite your folks out too?”

Allegra tangled her fingers in his hair as she cupped his jaw.  “I don’t know if we’ve QUITE reached that level of happy harmony between our families yet.”  Her lips lit lightly across his.  “But you’re really sweet for the suggestion.”

His head bobbed in acknowledgement, but his eyes were trained on a spot outside the vehicle, just past her shoulder.  She turned to see what had captured his attention as the driver expertly brought the car to a halt.

Heather’s home was exactly what she’d expected.  No, that wasn’t true.  She hadn’t EXPECTED anything, because she hadn’t taken the time to wonder.  It was a large, lovely home befitting a Hollywood actress, and Allegra really didn’t care to notice anything beyond that.

The surprise was in the fact that Heather was waiting by the front door.  It was her presence that had commanded Richie’s attention.

“I see we’ve arrived,” Allegra commented, watching him interestedly.  She’d never seen or heard him interact with his ex-wife, but this puppy-eyed fascination was not the scenario she would have envisioned.  It was a little off-putting, truth be told.

“Yeah.”  The invisible tether between his eyes and Heather snapped and he quickly zeroed in on Allegra’s face.  “Sunshine, you can stay in the car if you’d like.  I won’t be a minute.”

“I can stay in the car if I’d like, or you’d like me to stay in the car?”  There was a clear and definite distinction between the two, and after what she’d just witnessed either was possible

“Whatever YOU would like.”

Her one accidental interaction with Heather hadn’t gone well, and she’d rather steer completely clear of her, but that wasn’t a reasonable expectation.   This woman was Ava’s mother.  If Allegra was going to be part of Richie’s life, she would have to learn to deal with her. 

“I’ll be right behind you, sweetie.”

He nodded, and put his foot out on the driveway.  Once he had extracted himself from the car, he waited for her to follow suit before approaching his ex-wife with a guarded smile.

“Heather.”  Richie dropped the requisite Hollywood kiss on her cheek.

“So this is her.”  Heather didn’t bother to return his greeting, instead directing her attention to his side.

Allegra extended her hand and smiled politely, channeling her inner Jon.  He managed to be personable and completely detached in the same moment, and she’d never realized what a useful skill it was until that moment.

“Hi, I’m Allegra.  It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

She stood firmly under the head-to-toe scrutiny she was subjected to, refusing to be intimidated.  Inspection complete, the barest ghost of a smug smile touched Heather’s lips, and her fingertips clasped Allegra’s hand briefly before turning away in dismissal.

What a bitch.

“How’s the tour, babe?”  She sidled up to Richie, snaking her arm around his waist and smirking with satisfaction when he automatically curled his arm around her shoulders.  Slow calculated movements had him escorting her into the house without a backward glance for Allegra.   

“It’s going good,” he returned eagerly, affection evident on his features and in his tone.  “You know how we always…” his voice faded as the couple crossed the threshold and Allegra was left standing alone on the driveway, her temper starting to boil.

She couldn’t decide which one of them she was angrier with.  Heather had effectively manipulated situation, making herself seem like a catty shrew in the process, but Richie… 

Allegra had been apprehensive enough about her first encounter with this woman, and then Richie completely left her hanging.  She didn’t think it was unreasonable of her to expect him to ease the meeting.  But no, Richie had gone into another world the minute he’d laid sights on the well-manicured actress – a world in which SHE had faded to the background.  

“Are you coming, Sunshine?” he called over his shoulder, his soft brown gaze never leaving the blonde pressed against his side.

She pushed back the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as the truth dawned on her.

Richie was still in love with Heather.

Eighty-One

 “Allegra Therese Bongiovi, born to Francis Sophia Bongiovi and Unknown Father on February 19, 1971,” Richie read aloud from the second certificate.  He didn’t have on his reading glasses, but wasn’t having any trouble making out the faded print.

“So what does this mean?  You’re… adopted?”  His eyes flickered back and forth between Allegra’s face and the two birth certificates he held in his hand, silently asking her to confirm his interpretation.

“That’s what all the rest of those papers say, yeah,” she told him in a subdued tone, gesturing toward the disarray behind her.  The hours she’d spent scouring the documents had removed the emotional edge.  It had become someone else’s life shortly after she’d flipped the first pages in the file.

Richie replaced the certificates on top of the nearest pile and pulled her close, with a compassionate murmur.  His arms curled protectively around her torso, and his chin came to rest atop her head.  “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry you found out like this,” he sympathized, rocking her gently.  “Did you have any idea?”

She leaned into him, touched that his first reaction had been to comfort her, rather than ask the glaringly obvious question.   It was just one more stellar example of his character.

“Not a clue.  Never in thirty-nine years did I have any inkling that my parents were anything but that.”  His hands rubbed tenderly across her shoulders, and she glanced up to meet his eyes with incredulity.  “Who could possibly doubt that I’m a blood member of this family?”

“Nobody IS doubting that, and the second birth certificate doesn’t do anything but confirm it.”   He stroked her cheek , asking quietly, “Do you know who Francis Sophia is?”

“Was, actually.  She evidently died during or shortly after my birth, according to this stuff.  No, I don’t know who she is/was, but…” She extracted herself from his embrace momentarily, moving to withdraw the picture from the file on the sofa cushion.  With a rueful smirk, she presented it to him saying, “I have a feeling the story should be interesting.”

Allegra watched the astonishment wash across his features, followed by incredulity.  “My God, this is her?  She looks just like you!  And she was a NUN?”

“Ironic, isn’t it?  I can only assume that’s her since the inscription on the back says ‘Frannie’.”

“Damn.  You know how to make a rock star’s life seem boring, Sunshine.”  He gave her a wink before turning serious again.  “So what are you going to do?  Confront your mother with what you’ve found?”

“I know I should call my parents demanding answers, but I want to find out as much of the truth as I can beforehand.  That’s why I want to talk to Jon.  He was almost nine years old when I was born, so he may have some memory of who Frannie is.”  She shivered.  “Jeez, it’s creepy to call someone else by my name.”

“So you think your mom won’t be completely honest with you?”

“I don’t have any reason to think so, once she realizes I know, but they’ve kept this from me my entire life.  I’d like to make sure I get the WHOLE story now.  No more surprises.”

With a nod of resolution, Richie twined his fingers through hers and pulled her along behind him toward the front door.  “Let’s go do this then.   You can catch him before he crashes, because I know you’re not gonna rest until you have some answers.”

“Whoa, whoa!”  Allegra resisted by planting her feet firmly on the floor.  Her bare feet.  “I need shoes first.”  She laughed as he took in her wiggling toes.  “And…”  Those same toes buried themselves in the carpet as she rose to press a sweet kiss against his lips.  “In case I haven’t told you lately…  I love you.”

A slow, affectionate grin spread across his face and his voice was just as affectionate when he told her,  “I love you too, Sunshine.  Like I said before, you sure keep things interesting.”

Laughing, she dove under the coffee table for her shoes, quickly stuffing her feet into them.  “A little more interesting than I would like!”  Allegra stood and approached him with an extended arm, curling her fingers around his masculine hand and bringing it to her lips for a kiss.  “Richie, I promise this relationship will stop being all about me very soon.  You’ve been incredibly patient with this insanity, but I’m looking forward to taking care of YOU for a change.” 

♫♥♫

Richie squeezed her hand in silent encouragement as the driver expertly guided them from the Tampa airport to the hotel, and she gave him an appreciative smile for his effort.  The smudges under her eyes were physical evidence that she hadn’t slept at all after talking to Jon last night.  This morning.  Whatever.

He hadn’t been all that happy to have them appear on his doorstep at three in the morning, but Jon had tolerated it with a minimum of grumbling.  The grumbling quickly faded to astonishment as Allegra revealed her evening’s activities.  His stunned silence made Richie believe that he truly knew nothing about the adoption.   If he HAD, Jon would’ve been putting some type of spin on it for his cousin, minimizing it as much as possible.  Instead, he just stared at Allegra as though seeing her for the very first time. 

Adoption or no, Jon was in wholehearted agreement that there was no doubt as to her bloodline, even though he wasn’t able to shed any light on the mystery of the elder Frannie. 

Seeing how dejected Allegra became at the lack of information, he had immediately offered the Jovi Jet up for service.  He may not be able to provide the answers she was looking for , but he could provide the means to get them.  Within hours, she would have the opportunity to look her parents in the eye when she received her explanation. 

He was anxious to find out the big family secret as well, but refrained from inviting himself along.  This was something that should be sorted out between Allegra and her parents before the rest of the family started jumping in.  Jon was willing to wait until she was ready to share – or at least until he could pry the information out of Richie.

The car glided to a stop before the hotel her parents were staying, and the driver exited the vehicle.  Richie tipped her chin up and looked directly into her eyes.  “Are you ready for this?”

The rear door opened at the hand of the driver, and she offered up a brave smile.  “Ready or not, here I come.”

They stepped from the car and, her hand held firmly in Richie’s, Allegra strode through the door with far more confidence than she felt inside.  Her life had changed last night, but having confirmation and a full account of all the events would seal the deal.  There was no putting the blinders back on after this.

Not wanting to completely blindside them, Allegra had called to warn Michael and Therese that they were coming this morning.  She hadn’t wanted to corner them in their hotel room unexpectedly, so she’d asked to meet with them in the hotel restaurant.  Just as she hoped, it was that quietly awkward time between breakfast and lunch.  This meant that they should be afforded a fair amount of privacy, even though it was a public place.

Seeking out her parents in the sparse crowd, she could see that Michael & Therese had already established themselves at a table in the far corner.  Upon seeing their daughter, both rose wearing matching looks of concern.  

“Mama.  Daddy,” she greeted them both with a nod before sliding into the chair Richie held for her.  The warmth of his hands seeped through her cotton top when he squeezed her shoulders encouragingly.  When he was settled in the space next to her, his arm snaked around the back of her chair, resting across her shoulders. 

“Allegra, what’s the matter?  Why are you here?” her mother quizzed as she and her husband resumed their respective seats.

“Yes, sweetheart.  What is it that you couldn’t tell us over the phone?”

She studied them both with eyes opened by her newfound knowledge, but was unable to see anything except the same man and woman she’d always known.  Shouldn’t they look different to her now?

“I’m very sorry to disrupt your vacation, but I came across something a little disturbing – and confusing – last night.  Could you please explain this?”  She deposited both birth certificates, the adoption certificate and the photograph in the center of the table.

All of the color drained from Therese’s face more quickly than you could say ‘skeletons in the closet’, and Michael’s eyes cut accusingly to his wife.  A twinge of guilt engulfed Allegra before forcibly steeling her spine.  They didn’t get the luxury of being distraught.  That was reserved for her at the moment.

“How did you get those?” her father asked conversationally, averting his eyes from Therese.

“Richie’s going to Europe soon and asked me to go along, so I’m applying for a passport.  I needed my birth certificate, and found all this.”

“Of course it would be because of HIM.”  It hadn’t taken Therese long to regain her bearings, but Michael quickly threw up a roadblock before she traveled any further down that path.

“Therese, stop it.  We were going to tell her anyway.”  Michael turned to his daughter and reached for her hand, clasping it tightly in his.  “Frannie, you don’t know how sorry I am that it happened this way, but I’ll be glad to have it out in the open.” 

“Have WHAT out in the open, Daddy?  All I’ve been able to figure out is that I’m adopted.  What else is there?”

“Let me start with just that for now.”  Blowing out a pent up breath, he met her eyes with the utmost sincerity as he confessed, “Your mother had always hoped to have a house full of children.  We began trying to fulfill that dream as soon as we were married, but, unfortunately, it turned out to be nothing more than a long road of hope and heartbreak.   I have medical issues that prevented us from making that dream a reality.   Needless to say, we were devastated.  After several long months, we had just begun to consider the possibility of adoption when a blessing in disguise brought you to us – our answered prayer.”

It was consistent to the reason most people chose adoption, and aligned closely with the assumptions Allegra had made.  She didn’t need them to fill in that particular blank.  That wasn’t the information she sought right now. “Who was she, Daddy?  The woman in the photo?  My mother.”

Michael nodded to his wife, effectively passing the torch of accountability for the duration of the story.

“She was my sister.  OUR sister,” she corrected quietly.  ”John’s and mine.  Frannie was the baby in the family – the good child.  A perfect child, really.  Like you, she pursued her calling at an early age.  She was only twenty-two years old when she took the solemn vows to become a nun.”  She inclined her head toward the image staring up from the table.  “That’s when the photograph was taken.”

Therese stared blankly at the picture as she spoke, her voice devoid of emotion.  “She was such a sweet girl.  I loved her very much.  Of course, we were all proud of her, but it was different for me.  She wasn’t just my sister, she was my best friend.”  The pause was poignant, as she was obviously feeling the loss anew.

“When she was eighteen, Frannie left home to serve in an upstate New York convent.  Because of the distance between there and New Jersey, we didn’t see her often, but she and I exchanged letters every week.  She was so happy to have a purpose and feel as though she were part of a bigger picture.”

Allegra watched her mother succumb to the melancholy as she lost herself in the memories.  Her eyes swam with unshed tears while her mind time-traveled into the past.

With a sigh and quiet sniffle, Therese transported herself back to the present and the situation at hand.  “Soon after she took her vows, Frannie began writing to me about a young priest that had been assigned to the parish, whom she was obviously smitten with.  Her letters never spoke of him as anything but Joey.  I could see over the course of just a few weeks, he had turned her head so much that she fancied herself in love with him.  Naturally, I was concerned, considering her innocent nature.  Rightfully so, it turned out.

“It seemed to be no more than a moment after I heard Joey’s name when she called me in tears, having discovered that she was pregnant.”  She flipped her hand in the air with a sniff.  “I was heartbroken, but she was ecstatic.  I thought she had ruined her life and she thought it was just beginning.  Frannie had such big plans for them to be a happy little family.  Unfortunately for her, Joey wanted nothing to do with the child.  He had aspirations within the Church which would only be hampered by the scandal, and encouraged her to get rid of the baby.  Frannie absolutely refused.  She was determined to have the child and raise it.”

Richie and Allegra exchanged a subtle glance.   That kind of determination apparently was a hereditary trait.

“Anyway, he was assigned to another parish not long afterward and just disappeared.  Not knowing what else to do, she kept the pregnancy hidden and stayed in the convent.”  She met Allegra’s eye.  “Back in those days, it was easy to keep a multitude of sins hidden under a nun’s robes, and Frannie never got very big anyway.  Or so she said.  I wouldn’t know since I never saw her.”

“What do you mean you didn’t see her?”  The questions were building inside her and Allegra couldn’t help but interrupt.  

“Frannie asked me to come be with her when you were born, and I’d made plans for the first week of March.  God didn’t quite see it the same way we did, and you made your arrival a couple of weeks prematurely.  There were… complications during delivery, and I wasn’t able to get there in time.”  Her eyes were watery when she said, “She was gone by the time I arrived at the hospital.”

Michael gripped his wife’s hand and put an arm around her in comfort.

“What about the family?  Jonny said he didn’t know I was adopted OR remember a Frannie.  Does anyone else know about the adoption?”

There had to be some rational explanation as to how this had been kept secret for almost forty years.

In deference to his wife’s emotional state, Michael provided the reply.  “Frannie left for the convent when Jonny was very small, maybe four years old.  I doubt that he WOULD remember her.  And as far as the family goes, they knew we went to New York to adopt a baby, but they never knew who your mother was.” 

Allegra’s eyes grew round with surprise.  “How is that possible?  Why wouldn’t you tell them you were raising your sister’s child?”   Her grandparents and uncle weren’t stupid.  Surely they had to have suspected something.

“They knew we had been trying to have a baby and looking at adoption,” Therese explained.  “The timing was just coincidental as far as the family was concerned.  They believed I was as shocked as everyone else about Frannie’s death.  And I was.”  Her blue eyes were remorseful.  “I couldn’t let her memory be tarnished.  She was perfect in my eyes, and she deserved to be remembered that way.”

Allegra’s need for details still had not been fully sated, and she couldn’t rest until it was.  She leaned forward in her seat, pressing herself into the table.  In her absorption, Richie’s warm caress on her back barely pierced her consciousness.

“But how was her death explained?  Surely they didn’t just accept that a perfectly healthy twenty-two year old woman suddenly dropped dead for no reason.”

“I convinced the good Catholic doctor to attribute the official cause of death to a ruptured appendix.  He appreciated the need for discretion, and back in those days, autopsies were rare.”

Complete insanity.   This was a bad made-for-television movie that aired on an opposing channel during the Superbowl.  No one would watch it, because it was totally preposterous.  These things didn’t really happen.

“What about the birth certificates?  Why do I have two different names?”  Her middle name had been changed from Therese to Francis when the adoption had been completed.

“Frannie named you almost the moment she found out she was pregnant.  She said all along she knew you were a girl, and Allegra sounded so beautifully feminine to her.  Your middle name was a tribute to her love for me, she said.”  Therese smiled wistfully.

“After her death, the nurses asked if you had a name, or if they should just put Baby Girl on the birth certificate.  I promptly advised them that your name was Allegra Therese.  Well, when we began the adoption proceedings afterward, I couldn’t leave you with my name.  You deserved your mother’s name.  The strong, courageous woman who determinedly brought you into this world.  Her name deserved to live on, so you became Frannie.  My parents knew how close we had been.  It didn’t strike them as unusual that I’d chosen to name you after her.”

Therese appeared to have been drained of all life at this point.  Her mother was not her usual vibrant, outspoken self, but a frail and fragile woman and her voice reflected it.

“When she died, I promised my sister and God that you would walk in her footsteps – without making the same mistakes that she did.  I wouldn’t allow it to happen a second time.  Couldn’t allow it.”  She closed her eyes with a soft sigh.  “And yet here we are.”

Allegra’s heart went out to her mother.  Because, yes, Francis gave her life, but Therese had preserved it.  She found it much easier to overlook her mother’s idiosyncrasies now that she realized the source of them.  Guilt and absolution for her sister’s death had caused her seemingly irrational behavior.  Allegra was well aware that love could make you do some strange things.

She rose from her chair and circled to her mother’s side and knelt.  Placing a reassuring palm on her forearm, she assured her, “Mama, it’s okay.  I’M okay.  I’m following the footsteps she WANTED to leave.  She wanted love and a family of her own,  just like I’ve discovered that I do.”  Planting both knees on the floor, she engulfed her mother in a tight hug.  “From what I’ve heard, Frannie would be pleased with how you’ve raised me.  Very pleased.”