Chapter 22 - Revelation

Subject is hyper-fixated on a topic, goal or task, placing the pursuit of it ahead of obligations and relationship, Mariah thought. Classic obsession. Madonna, I'm diagnosing myself.

Well, I'm not obsessed, she thought. I'm frustrated. How hard can it be to find one creepy old rich guy? Genie said Mr. Alto is one of her dad's supporters... but he's not listed. Could he be a corporate donor? Do I start digging into every listed corporation and action committee? Even then, I'd think he'd donate personally too, to get the most out of the campaign contribution limits.

Just searching for Alto, I keep getting swamped by Holly Alto. Win a couple of Starlight Accolades for graphic design and suddenly people can't stop talking about you. Puttana. If I see this woman's face one more time... Proco cane, it's not like Alto is that common a name. She's not the only person...

Wait. 

Holly Alto, bio. Family members. Father.

Merda!

---------------------------------

She just walked, her body moving while her mind raced. She didn't feel the cold bite of winter. It was nothing compared to the block of ice that had settled around her heart.

Mr. Alto. Nicholas Alto. Uncle Nick... how could she have forgotten? He'd always had a laugh and a smile for her, whenever he visited. Whenever he and dad had talked or gone out late to handle business.

Business.

Nick Alto, suspected head of the Alto Crime Family. Racketeering. Extortion. Smuggling. Gambling. Prostitution. Kidnapping. Murder. 

Business.

Mr. Alto. 

Uncle Nick.

What did that make her dad? 

What did that make her?

---------------------------------

"Hey," Miranda greeted her. "I hoped I'd see you. I was leaving you a note and... are you OK? You look frozen."

"Can we sit?' Mariah muttered. "I need to... sit."

"What's the matter?" Miranda asked gently.

"I'm sorry... I've been ignoring you," Mariah replied. "I got caught up in the past... a little obsessed I guess."

"It's OK," Miranda smiled. "It's important to you."

"You're important to me," Mariah answered. "I'm cold. I'm so cold... would you warm me up?"

"OK," Miranda said, taking her in her arms. "Whatever you need."

"Just make me warm," Mariah whispered against her lips. "Make me feel."

---------------------------------

"Thank you," Mariah sighed, afterward.

"Believe me, it was my pleasure," Miranda smiled. "A couple of times." 

"I love you," Mariah breathed.

"I love you, too," Miranda whispered back. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"Eventually," Mariah replied. "For now, just hold me and let me pretend everything is alright."

"OK," Miranda held her close. "Whatever you need."

Chapter 21 - Love Takes Many Forms

"Hey guys," Mariah took a seat wearily, "Gabbie and Anthony at it again?"

"I know," Aadi sighed theatrically, "all that shocking heterosexuality."

"Hey," Genie put in, "straight girl here."

"We love you anyway, girlfriend," Aadi grinned.

"So, what have you been up to today?" Miranda asked.

"I went to the library after class," Mariah said.

"You still looking into your dad's death?" Genie said gently.

"Well, kind of," Mariah said. "I was looking into the mysterious Mr. Alto. You said he's one of your dad's supporters but you know, I couldn't find him on his donor lists."

"I'm sorry I can't remember more about him," Genie said. "All those creepy old guys who grab my butt kind of blur together."

"Well, I'll smack him for that when I find him," Mariah said comfortably, "but I still haven't found him.  Did find something though."

"I was researching your dad a little, Genie," Mariah continued. "You know he went here, right? I found some pictures from the campus paper... campus couples sending pictures in for Love Day. Have a look."

"Oh my God," Genie gasped. "That's my dad and... is that... Miranda, is this your mom?!"

"Wait, there's more," Mariah said.

"That's my mom!" Genie said, shocked. "That's my mom and Gwen! And my mom has a nose piercing?! I need to sit down."

"So that's what mom meant," Miranda laughed.

"What? Meant what?' Genie blinked, confused.

"Sharesies!" Aadi crooned.

"Well, she said her best 'making out in the dorm' story wasn't with Gwen," Miranda said. "It must have been with your dad, Genie."

"Wow," Mariah said. "I always thought your mom and Gwen were together in college."

"They were," Miranda replied simply.

"But if she was with Mr. Elderberry and Gwen was with Genie's mom..." Mariah blinked, confused.

"Well, Gwen's weird," Miranda mused. "I remember her being really confused about a love triangle story in a movie. She didn't understand why they couldn't just all be happy together. Mom and I tried to explain it to her... but she said one of her weird Gwen things that you can never argue with."

"What did she say?" Genie asked.

"She said 'If true love is absolute and unconditional, how can it be exclusive?'" Miranda said.

"Whoa," Aadi blinked.

"That's... that not..." Mariah stammered.

"Don't look at me," Genie shrugged. "I walked in on my dad messing around with an intern once. You should have heard him trying to explain why he was 'having a meeting' with his pants down."

"What did your mom say?" Mariah asked, shocked.

"Oh, I didn't tell her," Genie said, "besides, she's banging her personal trainer."

"Your family values candidate, folks," Aadi laughed.

"What about you," Genie asked, a little snippy.

"Oh, my folks are boring," Aadi said. "Mom would kill dad if he messed around."

"See," Mariah said.

"Honey, Love takes many forms," Aadi replied. "As long as it's safe, sane and consensual, I'm never gonna say one is better than another."

"I... I hear you, but," Mariah stammered, looking at Miranda, "I can't..."

"Hey," Miranda moved quickly to her girlfriend's side and pulled her gently to her feet. "I'm not asking you to."

"I'm selfish, OK," Mariah said softly. "I don't want to share you."

"I'm not asking you to," Miranda repeated.

"But you could... share?" Mariah breathed.

"I don't know," Miranda admitted. "Honestly, I don't and it doesn't matter. I love you. That's what matters."

"OK, you two," Aadi interrupted, "take this sappy display someplace private before you embarrass poor innocent Genie."

"Shush you," Genie snapped. "Also, not innocent here."

"OK, OK," Mariah laughed, adding to Miranda, "Come on. I think Aadi has some good advice, for once."

Chapter 20 - College Romances

"Hey there girlfriend," Aadi grinned as Miranda joined them and Genie on the couch. "Where is the rest of my little M&Ms?"

"In class," Miranda replied with a heavy sigh, "or maybe in the library. This term sucks. Why are we out here anyway?"

"Gabbie and Anthony are... studying," Genie flushed.

"Studying Bi-ol-oh-oh-Ooooh-Geee!" Aadi smirked. "Those two have been going At It for weeks."

"I know," Genie moaned. "I walked in on them once."

"Girlfriend? You're just telling us this now?" Aadi squealed. "Details."

"No!" Genie blushed.

Aadi and Miranda just stared at her.

"No!" Genie laughed, blushing  more. "Besides, I didn't... like... watch or anything. I left... like almost right away. They didn't even know I was there."

"Almost right away?" Miranda grinned.

"Anyway," Genie blushed, "what about you, Aadi? What's going on with you and a certain blond preppy guy."

"Oh, Sheldon and I are Going On," Aadi nodded.

"Really?" Miranda grinned.

"Well, kind of," Aadi admitted. "Shel-boy is... exploring his interests. We're having some F-U-N, but it's not serious."

"Oh," Miranda replied, feeling a little disappointed. 

"Don't feel bad, girlfriend," Aadi grinned. "Aadi doesn't mind a little fun. Not everything has to be True Love."

"Genie, make our little romantic feel better," they continued. "Tell her about you and your Carlos."

"I mean, he's... sweet," Genie smiled. "I don't know about true love, but I think... we're good."

"Girlfiend, your Latin lover is more than good," Aadi smirked.

"Oh, like you know?" Genie blushed.

"Honey, your bed is just the other side of a very thin wall from my bed," Aadi's smirk grew. "You naughty girl."

"Oh my God," Genie blushed. 

The three of them dissolved in laughter.

"So, yes, Carlos is charming, romantic, loving..." Genie said primly once she stopped laughing.

"Commanding," Aadi put in.

"... and I think we've got something good together," Genie ignored Aadi's interruption.

"That's good," Miranda smiled weakly.

"Oh no, you don't get to be sad, sugar," Aadi said. "You're the one who's got True Love... my little M&Ms are forever. Everyone knows that." 

"I know, it's dumb but... I miss her," Miranda said.

"Well, miss her no more," Aadi grinned, "'cause who do I spy with my little eye?"