When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(93)

“Hard on Franny, but maybe best for Antonia. Her struggle reminds me to give Chloe room to educate herself and find work outside of what I have built. I never want to see my daughter struggle as Antonia is.”

“Please, Chloe has worked since she was Franny’s age. Antonia hasn’t worked a day.”

Mari found a smile. “Speaking of Chloe . . . when will Dante be coming home?”



Luca sat across from Antonia in the piazza up the street from his home with a calendar on the table.

“Four nights a month? That’s all you’re suggesting?”

“I asked Franny what she wanted, this is what she said. Maybe once you have your own place and she isn’t sleeping on a sofa, that will change.”

“Are you sure this isn’t your significant other talking?”

Luca was getting sick of that title. “Leave Brooke out of this.”

Antonia dismissed the calendar, sat back. “I’m starting to think that the only way I’m going to have any relationship with my daughter is to get in front of a judge. I came to this country with nothing, and you promised to take care of me.”

Luca shook his head. “You divorced me.”

“You didn’t fight. You offered a paltry amount of money and shooed me away.”

Luca watched as Antonia’s world crumbled around her. The unreasonable behavior was what he remembered from her first pregnancy. Only this time it seemed amplified. “Your memories of our past are twisted, Antonia. You might need to seek some help with that.”

She switched from English to Italian. “I’m tired of you and your significant other implying I’m crazy.”

“Those are your words.” If she wanted to speak in Italian, he’d reply in the same. “Take me to court. Bring a third party into the discussion. Be prepared for a long battle. Not only will I not give in so easily, but the courts themselves are backed up over a year.”

“It will be worth it.”

Luca didn’t let her words get to him because he didn’t see her following through.

“By the time we ever see a judge you’ll have your hands full.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He lowered his voice, kept speaking in Italian. “I was there the first time you were pregnant, Antonia. I remember the mood swings. The impossible ability to talk sense to you. The way your fingers swelled.”

She looked down at her hands and quickly pulled them off the table.

“The court may well grant you more time with our daughter. They may even suggest I pay you some kind of monthly amount for that effort. But they will not tell me I need to support a child that is not mine.”

Antonia was breathing hard now and not saying a word.

“And the day you think you’re going to exploit Franny to babysit your child I will pull it all back to court and make you fight again.”

She was seething.

“Now. One overnight a week is what Franny wants. She’s happy to spend time during the day, movies, trips to the zoo . . . whatever, so long as it is within the city limits.”

Every muscle visible on Antonia’s body sat in a tight coil ready to spring. “I’ll see Francesca on Tuesday.”

Luca smiled, offered a single nod. “Okay.”



Brooke and Luca walked Franny to her mother’s on Tuesday. It was only two blocks away, and yes, at nearly nine years old she could have gone by herself, but they wanted to see Antonia and make sure she was ready for the night.

According to Rosa, she’d had a big meltdown after her confrontation with Luca.

It was then that Luca shared what they knew about Antonia’s pregnancy with the rest of the family, except for Franny. Luca had called Antonia and asked how she wanted to handle that news. When she said she would be the one to tell their daughter, Luca let that stand.

Once Franny knew, the world would know.

Or at least their chunk of it in Little Italy.

As they approached Rosa’s house, Luca reminded his daughter of the rules. “Call if you need us. Anytime, day or night. Come home if you’re uncomfortable. Call to tell us you’re on your way, and if it’s after dark, wait for us to come and get you.”

“I know, Papa.”

“And if one of us doesn’t answer, just keep calling until someone picks up.”

“I know, Brooke.”

“I think we’re annoying her.”

“When I start third grade, I’m walking to school without you.”

“Excuse me?” Luca asked.

That was about the sassiest thing Brooke had heard come out of Franny’s mouth. “I’m not a baby.”

“It’s not about you,” Brooke said and pointed at a stranger walking by. “It’s about him.” She pointed to a homeless man on the corner. “Or him.”

“That’s Charlie, he’s harmless.”

Brooke rolled her eyes.

“It’s about the person who isn’t harmless, Franny.”

They passed Charlie, and Franny waved at him.

Brooke’s point was moot.

They arrived at Rosa’s and Franny turned to them. She hugged and kissed Luca first, then Brooke. “I’ll be good. I won’t eat candy late. And I’ll call if I need to come home. I’ll be fine!”