Body of Trust - Jeannine Colette Page 0,87

okay with that? I mean, he has a hard enough time, looking me in the eyes, when I come around.”

She sways her head from side to side. “Yeah, probably not. He really hates your guts, but he totally respects you. I heard him say that once. He won’t tell you that though.”

“I have a feeling. He has a way with words, your father,” Jesse says.

I also know he’s considering how Uncle Frankie has welcomed him into the family over the past two years as a big step up.

Letting Jesse be in the room with the people he cares about the most and shaking his hand is acceptance enough for the two of them.

“All right, everybody, shut your mouths because he’s coming in!” Uncle Joey announces, and we look to the door.

My father walks in, and we all yell, “Surprise!” making him put his hands to his head in surprise.

Yesterday, he was released from prison. My mother was there to pick him up, and tonight, we are here to celebrate his return.

I saw him once a month while he was away. Sometimes, I brought Jesse, and other times, I went alone. I liked having my dad all to myself. The visits weren’t easy. I cried through the first two and ate my way through fifty dollars in vending machine snacks during the next two. But then it became our new normal. One I knew had a nearing end.

My father makes his way through everyone in the room, hugging and kissing and telling stories. I watch as he basks in the glory of seeing his family again.

While my father has done wrong, I respect him so much more now that he’s atoned for his crimes. He stood up for what was right and gave Jesse and me the future we deserved. I know not everyone in this room understands why he did it, but they value it.

As Dad sees me standing here by the bar, he comes up and places two big kisses on my cheeks.

“My Amelia,” he says with a crinkle to his eyes. “You know, I’m still so very proud of you. Don’t you ever forget that.”

I roll my eyes and give him a hug. “I’m so happy you’re home.”

He keeps his arm around me and then calls Gia in to get on the other side.

“Drinks! We need drinks all around!” he calls out, and the bartenders start pouring shots of Sambuca to be dispersed to whoever doesn’t have a cocktail in hand.

“You can put a man in a cell, and it can suck the life out of him.” Some people make sad groans in the room, and he motions toward them. “No, really. It’s a sad and ugly place, but I’ll tell you this. When a man has a family like this—a wonderful wife and two great daughters—to come home to, it opens up those walls tenfold. All I had to do was close my eyes and think about my girls or about having a cigar with my brothers or eating some of Joanne’s lasagna or dancing here at Villa Russo on New Year’s Eve, and I wasn’t there anymore. I might not have been with you, but you were with me. My family. All of you. Thank you for being here tonight. God bless, and salute!”

We raise our glasses and drink.

A waiter comes in with hors d’oeuvres, and a party ensues in the Oak Bar. When my father sees Jesse, he pulls him over to the side of the room for a discussion. They’re talking very close, and my father is using his hands in big gestures.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Gia asks as she sidles up next to me.

“I’m not sure, but Dad seems pretty mushy today, so I assume it’s all good.”

Gia laughs. “You have no idea. He spent the day looking through our family albums. I give it a week until he’s back to normal.”

I stare at my dad, dressed in his fine Italian suit and looking like anything but a man who just stepped out of prison. “Nah. I think he’ll be back to normal by morning.”

The two men hug, and I watch as Jesse turns toward me with his hands in his pockets, looking surprised by the affection.

“You okay there?” I ask him at the sight of his peculiar face.

He glances toward the door. “You wanna get some fresh air?”

I lift a shoulder. “Sure.”

He takes my hand and walks me through the dining room to a door that leads to a