Michael catches up with Victor and me.
"Hey, Walt" He puts his hand on my shoulder, "Man, don't leave because of Bobby. He's such an asshole."
"It's not that. I gotta get back to the house."
"Pop, what's going on, why the hurry?"
I stop and look at Michael then back at Victor not wanting to have this discussion in the middle the street in the middle of Philadelphia. Victor knows I am upset with his accusations but he may not know that I am more concerned about Vic and if she is, in fact, pregnant why she didn't tell me or maybe she just found out. I don't know what is going on but I need to make sure she is ok both physically and emotionally.
I was short and to the point. "I just need to see your sister."
"You need to see my sister?" He draws his face back contemplating mine.
"Yup."
"What the fuck is going on here?" He turns to Victor, "Pop?"
"Nothing for you to be worried about Michael."
He wasn't taking it for an answer and I actually think Michael wants to kick my ass.
I turn to Michael and face up to him, "I need to square some things away with your folks and with Vic." I look into the eyes of a protective brother and what I see back, makes me like him even more, as Michael says, "Good, because if you hurt my sister I will kick your fuckin' ass. I don't care how big you are."
I can't help but smile. Smile big. "Ok"
Victor points out his car and I fold my legs into the white Cadillac coupe. It's silent in the car. I don't have anything to say to Victor about his accusations because they are just that accusations. Victor hits the garage door opener, backs in, and I before we get out of the car I turn to Victor, "I know you love your daughter, I have a daughter and I know what that means but if Vic is hurt by any of this then me and you are going to deal with this man to man."
Victor doesn't say anything, he gets out of the car, and as we converge at the exit of the garage he turns and says, "Let's clear this up."
"That's my intent"
Lena is in the kitchen with Vic and her cousins, Julie and Marissa, sitting at the table laughing and drinking tea.
Vic is beautiful, her skin is glowing and it is a relief to my heart seeing her happy surrounded by her family.
"Hey!" She shouts as I make my way over to her. I lean down and brush her ear with my lips; "I need to see you in private." I speak to everyone and Vic excuses herself from the table. I take her hand, lead her to her old bedroom, doubling as my bedroom for this trip, and close the door behind us.
"Ok, Walt I'm sufficiently freaked out. What the hell is going on?"
"Vic, we need to talk."
"Ok, about what?"
I sit down on the bed because this is maybe the most serious conversation we have had as a couple and I need to relax.
"Your dad met up with me and Michael at the bar and well we sorta got into it."
She laughs and snorts a little, "I'm sorry but duh welcome to the Moretti family."
"Well, this is pretty serious."
I hold my arms out and Vic steps between my legs. My hands rest on her hips as her hands fall to my shoulders.
She smirks, "Spill it, then."
I look up at her seeking truth in her eyes, "Do you have anything you need to tell me?"
"Besides the fact that I love you. No."
"Ok, well your parents seem to think we are getting married because you are pregnant."
"What!"
"Are you?"
"What if I was?"
I can't tell if she is serious or sarcastic but either way my reaction would be the same, "Vic, you know I am desperately in love with you and having your baby would be…ah… be pretty amazing." I let my hands drift over to Vic's stomach and I rest them there, "but I would think we are close enough that you would tell me first."
Her hands cover mine. "Walt, for the very first time ever in my life, I wish I could say yes at this moment but I'm not pregnant. You would be the first to know if I was."
"Why would your parents think you were?"
"My mom asked me if I wanted to have kids and I told her that I have been thinking about it but I never told her I was pregnant. I don't understand why they would come to you with this?"
"We need to talk to your parents. Now."
We head downstairs and Vic's cousins are gone. We all sit at the kitchen table and I can feel my lips quiver and thin out because I'm pissed.
Vic doesn't give me a chance, "Mom, what the hell. Why would you and Dad think we're getting married because I'm pregnant?"
"Listen, Victoria don't you take that tone with me."
"You have got to be fucking kidding."
"Hey! Watch your mouth. This is still my house." Victor yells.
"Why are you insinuating I'm pregnant dad?" Vic matches his volume.
Lena chimes in, "You act pregnant, Victoria."
"What are you talking about?"
"You haven't touched a drink since you have been here, you had trouble with breakfast this morning and let's face it your skin is glowing like the sun. You have all the signs of a woman who is pregnant. Not to mention you have been uncharacteristically pleasant!"
"You have got to be shitting me."
"Hey, I'm not gonna tell you again, young lady."
"You know what. Why couldn't you just ask me? Why all this. This isn't fair to us. It really isn't."
"Don't you think I love your daughter?"
Lena sits down at the kitchen table opposite me, "Yes, I think you love our daughter but," she pauses and looks at her husband and then at Vic, "I'm sorry Victoria for being so suspicious."
"Let me put it plainly. I'm suspicious of you being too good to be true there Walt. My daughter, is my daughter, we know her better than anyone and it's not that I don't think you love her but I wonder what the hurry is about and I also wonder about the timing of your relationship. It's concerning, Walt because I don't want her to be divorced twice. I want her to be happy. I really do but there she is in Wyoming in the middle of nowhere and now she is engaged to her boss. Come on. Look at it from our point of view. Besides, Victoria," he looks at her and talks to her directly, "You do act and look like a woman with child."
"Do you think I would marry Walt just because I was pregnant? In case you haven't noticed it's the 21st fucking century. He doesn't need to make me an honest woman."
My fingers drum the kitchen table, my leg shakes underneath the chair and I can't hold my tongue any longer, "You know, if Vic is pregnant it would be one of the happiest days of my life. I told her once, that if we had a baby, our baby would be made out of love and not lust. For a moment there, I was hoping you were right Victor.
Vic turns to me with her hand over her mouth, "I think I'm going to be sick."
Lena and Victor exchange glances and I follow Vic to the downstairs half-bathroom.
