“Don’t worry about me—I’ve had my time. Your final track race is Friday, right?”
I nodded. “Coach said we can bring stuff for a party afterward.”
“I’ll make chocolate chip cookies for the team,” she said firmly. “You did so well, Allegra. You broke your own record from fall! Would you want to run on a scholarship?”
Pride shot through me. I hated tennis, but running gave me a sense of freedom, plus I could do it mostly alone. But the idea of owing a college all my extra time to run on a team, and dealing with my mother’s pressure, wasn’t a great incentive. Once again, the confusion of what was going to happen next year rushed through me. “I like running, but I don’t think enough to go after a scholarship.”
As if she sensed my frustration, she waved a hand in the air. “Then don’t. You’re a smart girl, and you’ll figure it out. Don’t pressure yourself by thinking you need to know everything before you turn eighteen.”
“Mom does,” I muttered. “You know she keeps a running spreadsheet of my grades so she always knows my current GPA? I wish she’d chill out.”
Sympathy glowed in her eyes. “Your mother’s worried about you. You’re at a difficult age, and she doesn’t want you to make any mistakes. I’m sure she’s doing the best she can.”
I thought of my decision to join my new friends this summer and how Mom would lose it. Somehow, I had to convince her I just wanted to have an experience on my own. God knows, she’d probably be MIA the entire time anyway, leaving me bored and stranded for two months. “If she was worried, she’d be home more. Or at my track meets if she’s so hot on me getting a scholarship. All she cares about is her job.”
I hated the worry etched in my grandmother’s frown, but I was tired of pretending. When I was with my mom, there was nothing left to say other than all the surface subjects a stranger would ask about. The worst part? I’d spent too much time mad at her, or sad, trying desperately to gain her attention. Now I kept telling myself I didn’t care and it was her loss. Soon I’d be in college and living my own life. I needed to concentrate on the future.
“She’s so much like your grandfather,” Nonni finally said. “I remember he used to believe working nonstop meant he was taking care of the family. That’s how he knew how to show love. It took a while for him to realize we wanted his attention and time more than nice things.”
I wish I’d known Pop Pop, but he died before I was born. I liked the way my grandmother spoke about him, with love still in her eyes and her voice soft. I dreamed of loving another person that deeply, for so long. I noticed Nonni rubbing her belly again, so I switched the subject. I hated upsetting her. “It’s okay, I’m just stressed and have a lot on my mind.”
Her face softened. She was beautiful, with her thick gray hair and almond-shaped brown eyes. It was cool she still loved wearing makeup and pink lipstick and a hint of perfume that always smelled like lilacs and not that yucky old-lady smell like mothballs. “I know, sweet girl. But I have a surprise I wanted to talk to you and Mom about on Sunday. Maybe it will help.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“I want to tell you together,” she said, folding her hands on the table. “I’m sure your mom’s big presentation will be over soon, and we’ll spend the afternoon together. Maybe even go see a movie.”
“Horror?”
She sighed, pretending to think about it. “No nudity. But some blood is okay.”
I laughed, wondering what the surprise was. “Okay, I can wait. But Mom will never come. She had to walk out on Toy Story 4 for a client, so I don’t invite her anymore. Want to play pinochle?”
Nonni pursed her lips as if she wanted to defend Mom but then fell silent.
Good. Maybe she’d finally run out of excuses.
Cards were revered with Nonni, and I’d learned young how to play lots of games, from poker and war to bridge, but pinochle was my favorite. I wished I could tell her my plans for the summer, but I suspected it would be better if I let them both know later on, after I nailed my Regents and proved I was responsible. Maybe then Nonni would back me up if I could help her understand.
She nodded. “Yes, I’ll get the ice cream.”
“I thought you had indigestion.”
She gave a big smile. “And what do I say is a cure for that?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Finocchio and ice cream.”
“Let’s go straight to the ice cream. I have bananas to make sundaes.” I helped her clean the table, and she spread out all the toppings so we could make our own. I grabbed sprinkles and crushed Oreos, and she heated up the caramel and fudge, and we stuffed them in the tall parfait glasses she kept just for sundaes. Michael Bublé crooned from Alexa’s speakers—I’d finally taught her how to use it—and we ate and played cards and chatted as it got dark. I savored the peaceful feeling being around my grandmother always brought, and for a little while, I was able to forget about everything else.
CHAPTER FIVE
Francesca
“What’s new in your schedule this week?” I asked, trying to break the awkward silence in the car. I was inundated with work, needed to go shopping to get Allegra new running sneakers, and craved a hot bubble bath rather than a quick shower, but I swore I wouldn’t break my promise for this Sunday dinner. Besides, I was looking forward to spending time with Allegra, but so far, all my questions had been met with one-word answers.
“Not much.”
I let out an annoyed breath. “Maybe you can give me a bit more than that?” I suggested, trying to keep my voice calm. “Is there something bothering you? You’ve been quiet.”
She turned from the window and shot me a look. “No. Everything’s fine. I’m just tired.”
“You slept till eleven,” I pointed out.
Her chin jerked and I knew I’d irritated her again. Breathing seemed to irritate her lately. “I stayed up late finishing my essay.”
“That’s great, honey, good for you.” I knew her honors class was difficult and she struggled for those As. “Hey, I was talking to Connie and she said they have an opening at her husband’s law firm for the summer. It’s part-time, but it would look fantastic on your applications. I told her to hold it until I spoke with you.”
“No, thanks. I’ll pass.”
I pressed my lips together and kept my tone bright. “Maybe you can think about it. You’ll still have plenty of time to yourself, and they offer decent pay. I know you mentioned law before, so this may be a good way to see if you like it. I found I loved advertising during my own internship.”