Page 20 of Feared

“Allora,” Mary’s mother said under her breath, and Mary knew her mother wasn’t happy.Alloracould meanarg, sheesh,orwe’ll see about that, and in this case, it meant all of the above.

“MARE, I HATE TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT BUT I GOTTA ASK. I HEARD SOME CRAZY NEWS FROM CAMARR ANNIE. SHE HEARD IT FROM CHICKEN JIMMY WHO HEARD IT FROM HIS SISTER DENISE WHO HEARD IT ON THE TV. FROM DENISE NAKANO, THE ONE YOU SAID IS JAPANESE NOT CHINESE.”

“What?” Mary asked, worrying that dinner was about to go from bad to worse. Nobody in South Philly needed the Internet because they already had the Neighborhood.

“I HEARD THAT YOUR LAW FIRM IS GETTING SUED. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT CAN’T BE RIGHT, CAN IT?”

Mary cringed inwardly. “Yes, that’s true. We got the papers today.”

“HOLY GOD, WHAT THE HELL FOR?”

Mary picked at her ravioli. “We’re being sued for reverse sex discrimination.”

“HUH? WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT?” Her father’s eyes flew open, cataracts edging his brown eyes like advancing stormclouds. “YOU CAN’T DO THAT, CAN YOU? THAT’S NOT LEGAL!”

“Mare, for real, some guy is suin’ you because you’re all girls?” Tony-From-Down-The-Block wiped his chin.

“Remember, we’re not an all-women firm anymore. We have John Foxman, a male lawyer, and we also have Lou Jacobs, a male investigator.”

Feet recoiled, blinking. “I can’t get over this! That’s not gentlemanly! What kinda man sues women? That’s like hitting a woman! Who does such a thing?”

“Disgrazia!” Pigeon Tony frowned deeply, speaking Italian so quickly that Mary couldn’t translate fast enough, though she got the gist again, which wasI will kill anybody who hurts you, Mary.

“WHAT COURT WILL LET YOU GET SUED FOR THAT, MARE? THE JUDGE WILL THROW THE CASE OUT, WON’T HE?”

“Matty, stop askin’ her questions.” El Virus moved Mary’s plate closer to her. “Mare, don’t talk, eat!”

Her mother looked worried behind her glasses. “Maria, whatsa matter? You no like? You wan’ some soup? Some crackers?”

“No, thanks, I’m fine, Ma,” Mary said, stabbing a ravioli. “Pop, it’s a ridiculous lawsuit, but we’ll win. Don’t worry. Nick Machiavelli’s on the other side, so you know the whole thing’s a sham.”

“YOU’LL GET IT THROWN OUT. MACHIAVELLI IS ACAVONE.”

Feet nodded. “Sure she will. Mary’s a great lawyer!”

Tony-From-Down-The-Block nodded, chewing. “You’ll win, Mary. You always do. That phony’s got nothin’ on you.”

“RIGHT.” Her father’s gaze, full of love, found Mary’s across the table. “EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT, HONEY.”

“I know, Pop,” Mary said, and for a second, she almost believed it was true.

CHAPTER NINE

After dinner was finally over, Mary and Anthony cruised in their Prius through the warren of streets that was South Philly. Mary began to relax, the fatigue of the day catching up with her. The car interior was dark and cool, she rested her head back on the headrest, content to let herself be driven. She always loved that Anthony knew the neighborhood as well as she did, and he could navigate the crazy matrix of one-way streets. Luckily there was almost no traffic, and the motion of the car lulled her into drowsiness.

“That went well,” Anthony said after a moment, and Mary opened her eyes, realizing that she’d almost fallen asleep.

“What did?”

“You know, breaking the news that I’m going to be staying home with the baby.”

“I was surprised that you did that,” Mary said, realizing that it wasn’t the best thing to say after the words left her lips.

“Somebody had to.” Anthony looked over in the darkness, and Mary couldn’t make out his features, but she knew from his tone of voice he was hurt.

“I didn’t mean it to be critical.”

“It sounded critical.”