Chapter 14
Lily’s next birthday was approaching.
Sofia did not want a gala.
Neither did I.
Lily wanted dinosaurs.
Apparently organized crime loses every argument against dinosaurs.
We rented a small private garden room.
Twenty guests.
No capos unless they were actually friends.
No Delia.
No Marcus.
Sofia hesitated over that.
“Does that make us petty?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“No.”
She laughed.
“Helpful.”
I looked at her.
“Petty would be excluding them to hurt them.”
“And this?”
“Excluding them because you don’t feel safe celebrating around them.”
Different motive.
Different result.
That distinction mattered.
On the morning of the party, Sofia stood in our kitchen icing cupcakes.
By choice.
Lily sat on the counter stealing sprinkles.
I stopped in the doorway.
For a second, memory hit.
Grease.
Sink.
Red hands.
Delia’s voice.
Maid.
Sofia saw my face.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She followed my eyes to the mixing bowl.
Then understood.
She held up the spatula.
“This is different.”
“I know.”
“I’m allowed to stop.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“And you’re cleaning.”
I stared.
“That was not discussed.”
“Marriage.”
I laughed.
Good.
That was the word Bianca in another world might weaponize.
Here, it was a joke.
May you like
Because choice changed everything.
I cleaned.
