Dom's P.O.V.
Roberto is beginning to worry. He's asked me 47 times when Letty is coming over. It's a quarter past 6 and I've run out of excuses.
Since it's a Sunday, he expected her over by now.
"Are you sure she's not mad with me?" Roberto squirms as I fix his tie again.
He won't let me take it off. He wants to look handsome for her in the tie she bought him yesterday. "So she will want to be my mama," he whispers to me as if it was a secret.
I shake my head no. "She's not mad at you, I promise."
"Is she mad with you?" he asks with accusatory eyes.
"I don't know little man." I pull him onto my lap. "If she is, she didn't tell me."
Roberto takes my hand and pulls me to the phone. "I want to talk to her."
I sigh and pick up the phone. I dial the number and hand him the phone.
"Hello?" he says in a small voice. If she hurts him now, how will I make it better?
He smiles with relief at something she says and starts to nod his head.
"You have to tell her with words Roberto. She can't see you nod," I whisper to him.
"Yes," he says blushing. "We went to Mass. I wore the tie you bought for me. Papa tried to make quesadillas, but I like yours better."
He is quiet while she talks. I watch him with envy. I wish she'd let me call her on the phone.
"Are you mad with him? Papa says you aren't mad with me but- are you mad with Papa?"
He looks at me while she talks to him. He's using both hands to hold the phone to his head.
"If he buys you flowers, will it make it better?"
She laughs- I can hear her laughing from a mile a way. I always could.
"Because boys buy flowers for girls when girls are mad with them. I saw it on the television." He looks so hopeful. I'd hate to tell him I've tried flowers with Letty and they have never worked.
All this time he's been speaking half in English, half in Spanish. I think he was trying to show her how much he's learned so she'll love him more. Neat trick if it works.
Now he's speaking only in Spanish, talking swiftly in a low voice. He's not looking at me which makes me wonder if he's trying to hide something.
He makes a face and hands me the phone.
"Hello?"
"Did you put him up to that?" She's angry. Ah Letty. This is almost like old times.
"No. He said he wanted to talk to you so I dialed the phone for him." Even though I know better, I can't keep the laughter out of my voice.
In the background I hear traffic. "Listen, if you have time, come over for the kid's sake. He doesn't understand." How can he, I think to myself. I don't really get it either.
"I was afraid of this Dominic."
"You shouldn't talk on the phone while you drive."
She laughs. "Now you're giving me driving tips? Goddamn this day ust keeps getting better and better."
"Just come over before you go to your boyfriend's house alright?" The laughter is gone. I sound like a pouting bitch, but fuck it.