The Broken One (Corisi Billionaires, #1)(3)

Alethea stood and moved beside Judy so she could see the paper. Her expression revealed her displeasure as she looked it over. “What did your teacher say when she circled some of the names?”

Judy lowered her gaze. She didn’t want to say it, because she didn’t want to hurt Alethea’s feelings, but the truth was there for her to see. “Mrs. Chase said my family tree should only include people who are biologically related to me.” An emotional lump clogged Judy’s throat. “No Andrades, no Katers . . . no Stones.”

“What a bitch,” Alethea growled. “I’m sure she’ll explain family to you differently after I speak with her—if she’s even employed at your school when I’m done. Your family tree is perfect just the way it is.”

Judy rose to her feet. “You can’t have Mrs. Chase fired.”

Fire spit from Alethea’s eyes, but she smiled. “I believe I can.”

Judy knew that look. She put her hands on her hips. “Auntie Alethea, you promised.”

Alethea held her gaze for a moment, then sighed. “Did I?”

“Yes, you did. And Mrs. Chase is a very good teacher.”

“That’s a point we’ll have to agree to disagree on.”

Maybe this was a bad idea. Judy sat back down. She looked down at the highlighted names again. “This isn’t about my teacher; it’s about Dad. Ever since I told him about the project, he’s been different.”

“Different?”

“He looks—sad. I asked him to help me with it, and he said no. He never says no. Look at the circled names—just me, Mom and Dad, Nona, Auntie Nicole and Auntie Lil, their husbands and kids. That’s not a lot. I can keep Uncle Stephan because he’s married to Nicole, but not his father—Uncle Alessandro . . .” Judy stopped herself. “Should I just call him Alessandro? He’s not actually my uncle, is he?”

Alethea’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “He is in every way that matters.”

“I know.” She looked down at the diagram again. “But Dad’s biological family can’t end with his sister and his mother. He has to have more family out there. So I was thinking . . . what if I find them and surprise him with a family tree that has more of his relatives on it? One of my friends has a new half brother because her father had a DNA test done.”

Her aunt’s eyebrows rose and fell. “How did your friend’s mother take the news?”

Judy frowned. “She was happy, I think.”

“I’ll take your word for that.” Leaning forward, Alethea said, “Let’s focus on your family. If your father wanted to find someone, they would already be found.”

Judy shook her head as she remembered her father’s expression. “I don’t think so. I think he wants a big family like Uncle Alessandro has, but he’s afraid.”

“Your father? Afraid?”

Remembering the look in her father’s eyes confirmed Judy’s resolve. After scanning the room again, she said, “I’m going to do this with or without you.”

“Have you run your idea by your mother?” Alethea sat on the corner of the desk.

Judy shrugged. No reason to ask when one already knew the answer. “Her favorite word is no.”

“That’s true.” Alethea laid a hand on her stomach again. “Judy, there was a time when I would have been all over this. I thought the truth mattered more than how anyone felt about it. I hurt a lot of people with that philosophy.”

“Mom told me you’ve saved as many people as you’ve annoyed.”

Alethea averted her eyes. “That’s . . . one way to put it, I guess.”

There was something different about Alethea in that moment, and it was unsettling. She seemed—unsure of herself? No, that couldn’t be. “Are you afraid you’ll botch this too?”

“No. Of course not. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” Alethea tapped her forehead lightly with her index finger. “Okay, yes. I’m scared. I can’t fuck up right now. I’m going to be a mother. I don’t want my baby to ever be on the outside of the family looking in.” “Auntie Alethea?”

“Yes?”

“You just said the f-word.”

“Oh. Sorry. Don’t tell your mom.”

“I won’t.” Judy stood up and hugged Alethea tightly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you. I just thought if anyone could find my father’s family it would be you.”

“And I appreciate your faith in me.” Hugging her back, Alethea asked, “It’s never that simple, though. If we did find them . . . then what? They might be horrible people. Opening any door is always a gamble.”

“Yes, but . . .” Judy stepped back and studied Alethea’s expression. “We could watch them for a while . . . Then, if they aren’t nice, we just don’t tell him about them.”

“Why am I considering this?”

“Because family is important, highlighted or not”—Judy shot her most persuasive smile up at Alethea—“and you love me.”

“I do love you.” With a reluctant answering smile, Alethea said, “I’m in, but we end this if I come across anything shady. Deal?” She held out her hand.