Page 80 of Angel

“Oh,” Mrs. Salvatore sighed. “I forgot the box with the children’s ornaments.”

“What’s that?” Sophia asked. She’d wrapped some garland around herself, the shiny red and green stuff mimicking scarves. She looked like Liza Minelli about to ride a float in a Christmas parade.

“It’s full of ornaments the kids all made when they were little. It’s still in the back room.”

“I’ll get it,” I offered, standing up. My legs, sore and cramped from sitting on the floor for so long, were eager to move.

I went down the hallway, past the kitchen and the foyer, and into far part of the bottom floor. The very last room at the hall functioned as a storage unit. Though small, the boxes had been organized pretty well and I found the one marked ‘kids’ ornaments’ right away.

Lifting it, I hauled it back down the hall, going a bit slower thanks to the new weight.

Right before getting to the end of the hall, voices stopped me. They were coming from the foyer, and judging by the furious way words were whispered, the conversation being held was a heavy one.

I pressed my back against the wall, not quite sure what to do. I couldn’t very well walk across the foyer, but I also didn’t want to be caught looking like I was eavesdropping.

“I just don’t trust her,” came a harsh whisper. It unmistakably belonged to Lia.

“That’s your problem,” Dominic countered.

“Don’t turn this on me just because I’m looking out for Angelo.”

My chest constricted. They were talking aboutme.

Lia went on. “Just look at her situation.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Money.”

Dominic scoffed. “She has plenty of it. Do you not remember what Moretti left her?”

“Yeah, but before that she had none. Thing about how desperate that makes a person, how greedy.”

Heat filled my cheeks. Lia was insulting me on multiple levels, and she barely knew me.

“You’re being paranoid.” Heavy footsteps sounded as Dominic walked away.

I stayed where I was, almost not caring if Lia came down the hall and found me. Her attitude was beyond necessary. It was callous. I loved Angelo. The only thing I wanted from him was some of the love back.

Lia’s own footsteps sounded, gradually fading.

Still I stayed in the hall, my hands clutching the box.

There were a lot of things that could happen. I could confront her, demand to know why she had such a bias against me. I could try to let it go and just enjoy Christmas.

Neither one of those seemed doable. Not with the pain coursing through me.

I’d tried to be nice to her. I loved Angelo. Why couldn’t Lia see that?

I blinked hard, pushing the tears back, and headed for the living room.

My mood will not be ruined. My mood will not be ruined.

Except it already had been.