Taking the chair next to where I placed the flowers, I slump into it and pull up the email app on my phone, finding the notice I received yesterday from Manhattan Presbyterian, the hospital my father works at. The wordacceptedsits in the first sentence, in bold lettering, congratulating me on being selected to join their residency.
Yesterday, that word felt like a weight on my shoulders, but now, as I look around the empty clinic I helped so many patients at, it almost feels like a beacon, lighting the way of the path I’m supposed to follow now.
Still, it’s difficult to determine which decision is right for me, and right now is not the time. Not with guests arriving this evening, and without speaking to my wife. So I darken the screen and push the phone back into my pocket, promising myself that I will circle back to the email later.
Leaning my head back against the wall behind me, I allow myself a few minutes to close my eyes and simply sit in the space that has brought me great happiness to think about the man I am, and the man I hope to become in the future.
Chapter 28
Vinnie
After hanging up with Sly, I’m about to toss the phone on my bed to continue packing my closet, when it begins to ring.
Seeing that it’s Luciano, I answer it quickly, propping the device between my shoulder and ear. “Hey!”
“Hey. I just wanted to give you the heads-up that Sullivan Rochester may end up hitting on Cecilia at some point tonight, and I know she’s been going through a lot on her end, so I figured I’d warn you. You can do what you want with that information.”
“Oh goodness. Okay, thanks. I’ll let her know to ignore his advances. She’s been in such a bad headspace lately, though. Maybe his humor will cheer her up.”
Cecilia has been exploring her options on becoming a mom and it hasn’t been an easy road so far. If it’s not the adoption agencies or the sperm banks giving her hoops to jump through, it’s her own guilt eating at her for finally deciding to do this alone.
“Maybe,” Luciano agrees. Through the phone, papers rustle as he multitasks at work.
“Have you spoken to Joseph since he stormed out last week?”
“Not one word. I guess he hasn’t been showing up to work this week either. No one’s heard from him.”
Feeling dizzy, I sit down on the edge of my bed. I want to give my brother the benefit of the doubt, but a nagging feeling in my stomach rolls around like a marble. “Maybe he’s grieving.”
“Mr. Paladino, you have a call on line two,” my brother’s secretary pages through his phone’s speaker system, and he groans.
“I have to go. I’ll see you tonight, although I’m still not sure how I ended up in this odd friend group situation.”
Laughing, I tell him, “That’s what happens when you decide to help the good guys.”
“Hmm, I’ll have to consider that for next time. Didn’t realize helping my sister not marry a psycho would result in me having the merry band of misfits blowing up my phone’s messages twenty-four-seven.”
His description of their group chat makes me laugh harder. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“See ya,” he says, and then hangs up the phone.
Before I set my phone down on my bureau, I send a quick message to Ross, letting him know I’ll be ready in five to go to the office, then I walk into the bathroom to see if I’ve left anything behind. Butterflies swirl in my stomach as I glance at the trash can, suppressing a small smile before I move back into my bedroom and set the last remaining bit of clothing into the open box.
I give a final glance to the room around me, feeling bittersweet about this transition. Tears start to line my bottom lashes and I quickly wipe them away, standing to go grab my purse. As I leave the room, I flip the switch down and shut the door behind me.
Where one door closes, another one opens, and this time the door opening is to my happily ever after.
When the elevator doors open to the parking garage, I’m not surprised to find the black town car waiting for me. What is unusual, though, is that Ross isn’t standing there to greet me, but instead, the back passenger door is wide open.
Walking around to the rear, I check the license plate—itismy car. I’m about to walk to the driver's side to look through the window when it rolls down and Ross’ hand pops out and waves.
Maybe he’s on the phone.
Feeling better, I go back to the passenger side and climb in, pulling the door closed behind me. Immediately, the car begins to move and I settle into the seat and think about the things I need to accomplish while at work.
We’re pulling onto the street before my seatbelt is even clicked into place.
Traffic is heavy, so I pull my purse into my lap to grab my phone so I can call Cecilia and warn her about what Luciano said, only to come up empty. Thinking back, I realize I sat my phone on the bureau and never grabbed it on my way out.
