My Mother's Boyfriend

Tony Knows Now

Maya

“How come she gets to call you mama and I don’t?”

The question holds no trace of anger or hate but more curiosity coming from Tami, my sister-in-law, but not officially. The woman is always elegant-looking, no matter what she wears. Class is her middle name. Like now, she is wearing a simple dark-red and white striped long-sleeved shirt, with matching red, high-waisted pants and white flats, and she makes it look like a fashion shoot.

We are all dressed similarly to her, but she simply stands out.

“Because you and my son have not made me your mother, have you, my dear?” the woman I now refer to as Mama- forcefully, replies in a loving tone. “Giving me a grandchild should have been second to that- you work in reverse,” Viv comes back, muttering the last part in jest and making the woman smile broadly. Viv, is not her given name but one she chooses to use instead; I was informed by my husband.

When looking at the wedding photos, I noticed almost everyone had a change of clothing- the men. From blazers to tuxes- I had not noticed that on my wedding day, two weeks prior. Only the hired men remained in their regular uniforms- black suits and the guests.

Also, I noted that the first page of the album contained me in the white dress and not the one where I had the red shawl of the saree on, covering my head. It’s like the red sindoor on Alejandro and my forehead was demeaning to them.

Thomas, the youngest of the siblings, and Gabriella are standing, hovering over me while I sit on the sofa opposite their mother and Tami, who are waiting for me to hold the album up, as I do from time to time. It pleases them.

And I have to be in the good graces of these blood-suckers.

Looking up from the wedding album we had only just received this morning, I see my new mother-in-law's hand caressing Tami’s cheek, a wide grin on her lips. She loves Tami, all can see it and, somehow, I admire the old woman’s stand in her honour. She refuses to let the mother of her only grandchild refer to her as ‘mama’ all because her son and she were not legally married.

Meanwhile, here I am, not wanting to and being told by Alejandro that I must. Even taking the singular-seater, instead of the humongous nine-seater-sofa set, just to be alone. Nevertheless, these two never leave me alone... Thomas grabs the white-covered album, labelled in front- Mr and Mrs Noimichael from my hands and gushes while he speaks in a higher tone.

“Goodness, cuteness- tan bonito!”

“Qué mono,” comes from his sister who is to my right side, in a whispered tone. I can visualise her hand going to her chest by her tone.

It is a good photo. It’s one of me and my new niece, Alessandra- Tami and Angelo’s daughter. But I am not impressed. It was my wedding too and none of my family was there. How am I supposed to show enthusiasm when I feel nothing? It was not even a happy affair, to begin with. My cheeks already hurt from how much I have stretched it for the day as it is. For the past weeks, in fact, and even worse now since the wedding, because family members kept visiting.

My phone rings just as I hear Tami’s delightful squeak about the mini version of her. Blue eyes and curly blond hair.

It’s Tony. My chest hammers against my chest because it’s a school night and Dad usually has us leaving our phones in the living room until morning- his way of ensuring we are not up all night ‘doing whatever these kids do nowadays’ and getting our full night’s rest.

“Excuse me,” I mutter, getting up slowly and yet everyone turns their eyes on me as if I am being severely guarded. To say I am uncomfortable is an understatement.

“Who is it?” Viv, my mother-in-law, asks me, but the sternness is heard. At the same time, I pressed answer and turned to go out of the large luxurious room. I am in no mood to play the easily manipulated or intimidated daughter-in-law… it’s as if my brain wasn’t functioning properly and forgot who this family is. And that they deal with bullets if things don’t go their way.

“My brother, I reply almost shrilly, not caring much if she heard me or not, and the man who stands guard by the doorway gives me a pitying smile. “Tony?” I said into the mouthpiece.

I know Gabriella, who had a full view of my phone screen, must have given her mother some sort of indication that I was speaking the truth, for I heard nothing after as I walked out of the room with Peter, my guard, close behind me after, I indicated to him with my eyes to follow me.

One of Alejandro’s rules is that if I do step outside, Peter must accompany me at all times. Even if I am just in the gallery.

“Don’t worry, Dad isn’t home yet,” he says to me first and I chuckle. I am glad he did not sense my unease. “The old people are asleep,” he laughs before I can ask.

Eyeing Peter, I point to the gallery that I am heading off to and Peter halts his steps, giving me plenty of privacy as I take a seat on one of the chairs, taking in the cool fresh air.

It’s nearly six in the evening, so all around is quiet.

“Did you get married?”

His question comes out of nowhere, and I am rendered speechless for a few seconds. I did block him and all my family members from seeing the post I made on my social media where Alejandro made me post our after-wedding pictures.

Now, I wonder who else knew.

“Would you be mad at me if I was?” my tears well up inside my eyes. I wanted to tell him...I just couldn’t. I wanted him to believe I was away at school and happy.

“No.”

We both remain silent after. My tears fall hot and busy.

“Is he like Dad?” His tone is serious but quiet. Tony usually calls our father ‘papa’ so I am now aware this is a very serious inquiry he is making.

“No!” I am quick to deny it. Anthony does not like how my father has treated me in the past months and I do not want him to think I am in a similar situation. Though I cannot say the truth about the man I married. How do I say, “Oh yeah, it’s mama’s boyfriend?”

“Then you are happy?” his tiny voice is full of hope and I cannot deny him that.

“Yes, I lie. “So happy Tony.”

“Awesome! When will I meet him?” His excitement for me swells my heart.

Our conversation lasted a whole hour and fourteen minutes. He told me the results of his marks on a test. About the new transfer student who speaks barely any English but is the fastest swimmer he ever did see. “Faster than Phelps I am certain!” he bragged and got quiet when he admitted the new student was a girl.

I could not tell if he was disappointed or if my brother was crushing hard.

Then he told me that our grandmother was the one who told him about my marriage. She told him that I was selfish and ran away with a man- leaving them all behind. I am sure my brother cleaned up some of the choicer words she must have used.

I must have spaced out after, for I only became aware of the darkness when a hand touched my shoulder as I stared out from where I am standing, holding onto the bannister. “Are you okay, Maya?”

It’s Peter. The man who worked for the Noimichaels in whatever dark deals they did. Peter, Daniel and Henry. Peter is mostly home these days to accompany me if or whenever I will need to step out sometime. In the weeks I have been here, I have not, with the exception of Alejandro, when he took me out for coffee.

Daniel and Henry are out with the other brothers in whatever shadiness they are up to and, while Peter is polite, I can feel his growing resentment towards me, which has nothing to do with me personally, but he possibly is feeling like a babysitter.

When he is accustomed to harder things- like perhaps ending people’s lives.

So yeah, I gasped out of fright when I felt his touch and almost fell over when I jumped back at the same time, reaching for my phone that fell out of my hand.

With light speed, Peter catches my phone and me at the same time.

By just watching him alone, I can tell the guy is fit, but to have his grip around my waist is another thing. Slowly my head rises up to his handsome face and I swallow as I look into his dark-colored eyes, taking in his very masculine cologne.

My eyes drop to his lips. Full.

What in actual fcuk is happening right now with me?

When did I grow this sudden want to be shark-bait?