Chapter 6 - LUCA’S MOTHER
Luca’s story came out accidentally.
Emma had a fever.
Nothing severe.
But I panicked because three-year-old fevers make single mothers temporarily lose medical reasoning.
Luca drove us to urgent care.
I could have taken a rideshare.
He asked.
I said yes.
Progress on both sides.
Emma slept afterward in my arms.
We sat in the SUV outside my building.
Luca looked at her.
“My mother used to work nights.”
I remembered what he had said at the diner.
Hotel rooms.
“What happened to her?”
“She died when I was sixteen.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Cancer.”
His jaw tightened.
“Diagnosed late.”
“Why?”
“No insurance for years.”
There it was.
Money again.
“When my father finally had enough to pay for anything, it didn't matter.”
“Your father?”
“Construction.”
I had assumed mafia dynasty.
Apparently not.
Luca continued:
“He started with demolition crews. Then hauling. Then contracts.”
“And then?”
“Things got complicated.”
Good description for organized crime.
“My mother kept cleaning rooms even after he told her to stop.”
“Why?”
“She said his money wasn't clean enough for her to trust.”
I almost smiled.
“I would’ve liked her.”
“Yes.”
“Did she win?”
“What?”
“Did she stop working?”
“Two months before she died.”
That hurt.
Luca looked toward Emma.
“That’s why I reacted at the diner.”
“My ankle.”
“Yes.”
“You saw your mother.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
Good.
“I saw someone doing something familiar.”
Better.
“You don't get to turn me into her.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Then he said:
“I also knew you were targeted.”
“That helped.”
“Yes.”
“Would you have carried any injured waitress out of the diner?”
He considered.
“Probably not.”
I stared.
“At least lie.”
“I’m trying to become more honest.”
“Terrible timing.”
He laughed.
Then:
“I would have called an ambulance.”
“Better.”
“And argued with her.”
“Obviously.”
Emma woke.
Looked at Luca.
“Kevin hungry.”
Luca frowned.
“The dinosaur?”
“Yes.”
“What does Kevin eat?”
“Pancakes.”
He looked at me.
“That's biologically surprising.”
Emma did not appreciate skepticism.
That night, Luca bought pancakes.
Not for us.
For Kevin.
May you like
Emma ate them on his behalf.
An efficient arrangement.
