My muscles all unclench at once. Mom lets out the heaviest sigh I’ve ever heard as she unlatches the chain and flips open the dead bolt. The voice behind the door belongs to Nonna.
“Jesus, Ma!” Mom says. “What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack? What happened to your key?”
“It must be in my other purse,” Nonna says. “It’s hotter than hell itself out there. I can’t tell if it’s April or August.” She throws a white pastry box on the counter and scans the apartment with her knife-sharp eyes. “Not for nothin’, but you two look like crap run over twice. What’s going on in here?”
“It should be on your keychain,” Mom says. “You come here enough, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Nonna struts over to me. “Joey. Your eyes are redder than a tomato. You still cryin’ over that stunad? Forget about him.”
“It’s not that,” Mom says before I can answer. “We’re in trouble.”
I shoot her a vigilant look, like, Don’t you dare tell Nonna we set a house on fire last night. It will absolutely ruin her day.
“What do you mean, trouble?” Nonna pours herself a cup of coffee and unties the string from the box. “Here. I brought some sfogliatelle from Mozzicato’s.” She takes one out and dips it in her coffee. I haven’t had a real appetite for more than a day at this point, but seeing that delicate chunk of flaky golden perfection is almost enough to make me drool. “They asked about you, Joey. I said you had a change of plans this week and might be able to pick up a shift or two.”
“Why would you do that?” I say. “I’m still on spring break. Just because I’m a single loser with no friends doesn’t mean I want to spend the whole week filling cannolis.”
“Don’t be a googootz,” she says. “You need the money. And it’s better than sitting around here sulking with your mother all day.” She turns to Mom. “What’s this trouble you’re talking about?”
“It’s nothing,” I proclaim before Mom can get a word in. “Just, uh, car problems. Mom’s car won’t start. Actually. We were gonna ask if we could borrow yours for a couple days.”
Mom was right — Jersey is a ticking bomb. It’s only a matter of time before the next series of bangs on our door aren’t coming from Nonna. And we obviously can’t be driving around in the car that every cop in the state is probably looking for right now.
“A couple days?” Nonna asks. “Gia, just call AAA and have it towed to Firestones.”
“It’s Firestone, Ma.” Mom rolls her eyes. For some reason she hates the way Nonna is always adding s’s to things that don’t actually have them. Ruby Tuesday is Ruby Tuesdays, Rite Aid is Rite Aids, and so on. I think it’s hilarious and definitely something I plan to put in my act one day. Eventually. After we get this whole arson situation sorted out. “And Joey.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Don’t be stupid. We don’t need Nonna’s car.”
“But what about our trip?” I ask. “We’re already running late. If we go to Firestone we’ll have to wait for, like, five hours. We gotta go now.”
“Trip?” Nonna says. “What trip? Gia, you gotta work.”
“Actually, Mom took the week off too.” I don’t even know where these words are coming from, but they feel necessary. I turn to Mom and try to give her a look that says please go along with this. Nonna will quickly call bullshit if Mom acts even a little surprised by what I’m saying. “She wanted to help me get my mind off the Luke thing.”
“Um…” Mom starts.
I hold my breath so hard it’s like I’m ten feet underwater.
“Yeah,” she continues. “I don’t think Joey should be alone this week. And I feel like a change of scenery will really help him… heal.”
And just like that, my head is above water again.
“Madonna mi,” Nonna exasperates. “Both of you. Just taking off of work like it’s nothing.” She gestures around at our run-down living space. “And you wonder why you don’t have a pot to piss in.”
“Please?” I plead. “I totally get what you’re saying, but this is my last spring break from high school ever! In just a few months I’ll be in college.”
Nonna smiles. “Well, I’m glad you came to your senses with that whole ‘maybe I won’t go’ nonsense.” She looks over at Mom. “Where do you two plan on taking my car? When are you gonna be back?”
“It’s a surprise,” Mom says. “I mean. I want Joey to be surprised. You know, give him some suspense.” I could almost laugh. Suspense is the last thing we need more of today. But I am loving that Mom is fully invested in my plan now. Thank God. “I’ll call you later and tell you. When Joey’s in the bathroom or something.”
“Ay yi yi,” Nonna says. “Just drive safely, please. Okay? Here.” She pulls her car key out of her purse and hands it to Mom. “You’re going to have to drop me off at Teresa’s. I guess I’ll just have her cart my ass around all week. Lord knows she owes me.” She takes a swig of her coffee. “Do you want me to take your car in to Firestones while you’re awa —”
“No!” Mom and I bark back in unison.