Bellissimo Angelo- Book Three

Chapter 21 - Left Out

I leave Dom's apartment the next day and drive over to Momma's house to visit with her and Chloe before I have to go to work.  I walk in the front door to find Georgia on the floor playing with her dolls. She jumps up to greet me with Chloe playfully bouncing around at her feet, "Aunt Maggie!"

I kneel down before her with my arms outstretched, "Aww! There's my little Gigi. How's my girl? Have you been good for Nana?"

She jumps into my arms and squeezes my neck, "Yep! I got to pway wif da puppy too!"

"Did you play with Miss Chloe? Do you love her? Isn't she so soft?" I ask as I stroke Chloe's fur. 

Georgia reaches out and gently pats Chloe's head, "Uh-huh!" 

Momma approaches us in the living room, "Hello darlin, would you mind coming in the kitchen with me for a moment. I need your help with something." She says as she flashes a side wink. 

That sparks my curiosity, "Okay, Gigi. You stay in here and play with your dolls and Aunt Maggie will be back. I need to help Nana with something." I tell her as I follow Momma into the kitchen. 

She spins around, peeking out at Georgia before she proceeds. I stand next to her anxiously waiting for her to speak. She leans in to whisper in my ear, "Well, I guess you are gonna be an Aunt again." 

My eyes grow wide, my mouth was slightly drawn, "Awww... really? That's so great!" I respond. 

"Yeah, I guess your brother invited Seth and Brie over for dinner to make the announcement a couple of nights ago that they were expecting and he told me that Brie knocked him across the floor. He said that girl has an arm on her." she blurted out, biting her lip to keep the laughter from escaping.

I reach out to grasp her arm, "Wait... Are you telling me that your son...my brother...asked you to watch the kids so he and his wife could make an announcement that they are expecting to his best friend and my best friend? He didn't think that maybe you and I would want to be let in on this big announcement?"

Momma pauses for a moment to contemplate, "Well, I didn't think of it that way. You have a point... He should have included his mother and sister in that. Well, anyway, I guess he has his reasons." 

I shake my head from side to side, "No, Momma. There really isn't a good enough reason that will make this any better. You are going to be a Nana again and I'm going to be an Aunt, the proper thing to do is to invite the whole family over to make the announcement. I'm not upset he invited Brie and Seth but I am upset that we weren't included. That is beyond messed up."

Momma and I are startled as we hear the front door open. Georgia squeals, "Mommy! Daddy!"

We can hear Dylan respond, "Hey baby girl! Did you have fun at Nana's?" he asks. 

I storm out into the living room with Momma following close behind me. She has her hand on my shoulder, she can tell I'm pissed. Mariah is holding Georgia as Dylan leans over to kiss her on the crown of her head. He smiles at us, "Hey Momma. Hey Maggie." he says casually. 

"Hey, son," Momma responds quietly. 

"Don't you hey Maggie me you big jerk!" I blurt out. My whole body is trembling, I'm so furious right now.

There's an awkward silence in the room. Dylan chuckles, "Whoa Maggs, what jumped up your butt?"

"How about the fact that you ask Momma to watch the kids while you make an announcement that you are expecting. You don't even think to include myself or Momma in the announcement. Instead, you only think to invite Seth and Brie over? What kind of s**t is that Dylan?!"

Dylan belts out in a maniacal laugh, "Aww... is Maggie upset that she wasn't invited to hang out with the cool kids?" He asks sarcastically. 

Mariah gasps, "Dylan! Stop!" she yells. 

He glances at her, "What baby? It's not our fault her best friend would rather hang out with us than with her?"

The room grows silent. Momma steps between us, poking her finger into Dylan's chest, "Son, you listen to me. Don't you ever let me hear you speak to your sister or anyone else like that again, do you hear me? Now you apologize to your sister right now!"

I begin to chuckle as I mask the tears that begin to well in my eyes, "You know what Dylan. Don't even waste your energy apologizing because I'm not even listening.  Do you see that Mariah? Is that the man you married? I pray he doesn't speak to you that way.  Mariah, do you think a woman deserves to be spoken to the way your husband just did? You guys want to know the real reason why Nate and I broke up? It's because he spoke to me the same way Dylan just did all the time. I really hope you guys don't need anything from me for a long time because I have lost the ability to give a f**k at this moment?!" I cry out. 

Mariah plants her lips on Georgia's forehead with tears streaming down her cheeks while Dylan remains silent. I turn to face Momma and her eyes are boring a hole through Dylan right now. Not one word is spoken so I spin around and run through the living room, into the kitchen, and out the back door. I begin sobbing uncontrollably as I plop down on the patio chair. 

What Dylan said really struck a nerve with me. I don't understand why he had to be so cruel. If I hurt someone I love the way he did, I'd do whatever I could to make things right again. The most important thing is what you do going forward in this case because you can't undo what has already been done. I wipe the tears from my cheeks as the patio door opens. I turn around to find Mariah standing at the door with her head down, "Maggie, may I speak to you please?"

I sit up straight and sniffle to collect myself, "Yeah, that's fine."

She slowly approaches me, having a seat in the patio chair next to mine, "Maggie, we are so sorry for what happened." she blurts out. 

I begin to chuckle, "Mariah, you don't need to apologize for my brother. He's not sorry I already know he's not."

"No, he really is. Actually, he wanted to come out here and apologize to you but I asked him to let me go first. Maggie, I promise we didn't mean to hurt you guys. The reason why we didn't invite you or Nova is because we thought it was best to wait a bit longer to tell you since it's so close to Norma's funeral. We know now that wasn't the best decision. We should have included everyone and we didn't go about it the way should have. I'm so sorry."

"I see... it's okay then. I understand." I tell her as I continue to look down at my lap as I pick the lint from my shorts.

She reaches out and pat's my arm, "As for what Dylan said, I am totally taken back by how he spoke to you. I will make sure to let him know that it's not okay to speak to anyone like that. I agree with your Mom one hundred percent. I think he's just stressed out right now. Not that I'm making excuses for him. Anyway, he will hear it when I get home." 

I shrug my shoulders, "I'm sure he's worried. You have a way with him like nobody I've ever seen before. Anyhow, we are siblings. That's how siblings are with each other. We are usually pretty content with getting a rise out of each other on occasion."  

"I do know how siblings are. I have a little brother who is a little shithead that made me bat s**t crazy most days but he never made a personal attack on me as Dylan did to you. He'd poke fun at me, yes, but not like that. You didn't deserve that; I am so sorry. I'm also sorry that Nate treated you that way. We had no idea what went on in that relationship. You are a very private girl, you know, so Dylan and I never really knew what all went down with you two, but you don't need to suffer in silence. You can always talk to me about anything if you feel up to it. I won't say anything to anyone." 

"Thanks, Mariah, I'm okay. I've moved on from Nate and I'm seeing someone else." I tell her. 

"You are seeing the hunky Italian guy, aren't you?" she asks as she playfully elbows me. 

I cover my face to hide my embarrassment, "Yes, I am. He's so good to me, Mariah. I am in love with him. You and Momma are the only ones that know so don't say anything."  

She gazes at me curiously, "You haven't told Brie yet?"

I begin to snicker, "Seriously? Have you met Brie? Do you think I could get a word in with her right now? She's so self-absorbed with everything going on in her life, I doubt she'd care about mine." 

"Ahh... that's not true. She cares about you," she replies. 

I roll my eyes, "Come on Mariah, do I have to spell it out for you? She came over here the other day to catch up. Do you think she asked me how I was? Nope, she sure didn't. She kept talking so much, I could barely get a word in." 

She snickers, "Well that's definitely her personality. Maybe that's why she and Seth are perfect for each other. She's so type A and he's so laid back. It's a match made in heaven."

I shrug my shoulders, "True."

"You should really call her. I'm sure she'd be happy to hear that you are happy." Mariah suggests.

I cross my arms in front of my chest, "Nahh.. I'll pass. I'll wait for her to ask me. Let's see how long it takes her to figure it out. A good friend would know something right away." 

Mariah attempts to change the subject, "Well, I will say that I did notice that you were taking more time to fix your hair and wear makeup. I thought it was just a rebound thing. "

"Nate broke me, he's so toxic. Mariah, I wake up every day next to the man I love more than anything but I want to shout it from the rooftops but I feel as though the people around me could care less." 

She reaches out to pat my hand, "That's not true, Maggie. I'm so happy for you. I love that you have found someone. He's a handsome guy. You are a beautiful girl."

"Well now you know, please don't tell anyone. I'll say something when the time is right." 

The back door opens and Mariah and I turn around to find Dylan standing there, " Can I come out please?" he asks. 

"Only if you promise not to be a d**k," I respond.

He nods his head, grinning ear to ear, "I promise." He replies as he steps outside. 

I glance up at him and playfully punch him in the bicep, "So my little sister is in love?" He asks. 

My body tenses, I glance up at him, "Oh so you overheard?"

He nods, "Yes, I heard."

"Well, keep it to yourself okay?"

He snickers, "So there's no going back to Nate this time, huh?"

"God no! f**k Nate! He was awful to me. I mean he would speak to me all the time just like you did while we were inside just now."

He hangs his head, "Aww... f**k. Maggie I'm so sorry." he responds.

I wipe the tear that escapes my eyes, "Well don't make a habit of it."

He reaches out his arms to pull me in for an embrace, "Come on, give me a hug. Bubby needs a hug."

I lean in and give him a half-hearted hug.

He chuckles, "I think you can do better than that. Come on Maggs."

I jump up from the seat and stand in front of him before he picks me up off the ground before setting me down, "Alright, so seriously. Can I meet this guy officially? I promise I will be on my best behavior." He says.

"Good because he threw mean ass, Charlie Vance and Suzy, out of the bar a while ago with one hand. He may do the same to you if you start your shit."

Mariah gasps before Dylan clears his throat, "Just let us meet him, okay? We will invite you guys over for dinner. You give us a day when you are off, and we will check our schedule and make sure it works and we will go from there." He offers.

I smirk at him, "Fine. I guess."

Mariah and Dylan leave moments later with Georgia. I stay for a bit to spend some time with Momma and Chloe before I head to work later that evening.