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“What do you mean you were joking? Are you calling Carmela a liar or not?” Sandra demanded in a tone that didn’t sound good for Carmela’s future with the family.

Rhiannon stood as if finally out of her silent trance.

“She’s not lying, Mami,” she said as she slipped her trembling hand in Carmela’s steady one. “Ask her why she calls me Pup.”

“Isn’t it from some game you used to play as kids?” Luis asked, his face red and eyes bewildered.

“Since when is everyone so sensitive,” Terry replied in open irritation, like they were the ones spoiling her evening.

“What does the nickname mean, Teresita?” Sandra demanded.

“It’s just a little good-natured teasing. Like how we call Frankie Gordo because he was a chubby kid,” she explained.

“It means Pound Puppy, Mom. Because I’m like a dog you brought home from the—”

“Carmela, I am very sorry and embarrassed that you have witnessed such ugliness here,” Sandra interrupted, her voice shaking under the weight of her emotion. “This is not the family we are. Please, I hope you do not think badly of us. We apparently have a lot to work on.”

“Please don’t apologize. I’m sorry for getting involved, but—”

Sandra cut her o with a hug, then excused herself before the emotion overcame her.

After brief conversation, Carmela thanked Luis again for the lovely meal and waited for Rhiannon in the car to give them some space. Over an hour passed before Rhiannon finally emerged with eyes red and swollen from crying.

Carmela immediately pulled her into a hug.

“I’m really embarrassed you had to see that,” Rhiannon said when she finally broke the embrace. “My mom might never get over how mortified she is.”

“Oh please, don’t worry about that. Are you okay?”

Rhiannon nodded. “I said a lot of shit I should’ve said a long time ago. My parents always knew Terry was di cult, but they had no idea the next level crap she’d been tormenting me with. I feel kind of stupid I didn’t say anything sooner, but I just never wanted them to feel like they had to pick between us or something.”

Carmela rubbed the back of Rhiannon’s hand with her thumb. “I had no intention of forcing all this to come to light tonight. I just wanted your parents to like me,” she joked.

Rhiannon laughed. “They really do like you. My folks are just embarrassed some dirty laundry got aired, but that’s not your fault. You didn’t create that situation at all. All you did

was stand up for their kid. If you’re willing to do it under these crappy circumstances, they know you’ll do it anywhere else.”

Carmela didn’t say that she’d never seen Rhiannon need protection from anyone before. She was a feisty smart ass with a quick brain and a quicker tongue.

“You should stay at your parents’ house tonight,”

Carmela suggested. “I’m sure they’d like to have you close tonight.”

“I’m sure they would,” Rhiannon replied. “But I’d rather go home.”

Attempting to hide her smile, Carmela bit her lip. They hadn’t talked about moving in together, but it seemed to be happening naturally.

“Then let’s go home,” she replied.

EPILOGUE

IT WAS summer and unbearably hot when Carmela sat down at the desk in her home o ce. She’d never had much use for the room before, but since Rhiannon moved in, she found herself working from home more often.

She was in the middle of an email reply to Brandy when a loud crash followed by a series of curses broke her flow.

Despite Carmela and Sandra’s objections, Rhiannon and Luis had taken on the project of building an addition on Carmela’s house themselves, steam room included.

Can it still be called an addition if it’s bigger than the original house?