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“Hi Love, how are you? Are you enjoying your holiday?”
“I’m great, Dad, yeah. Hey, you remember years ago when I met that boy on holiday with Mum?”
“Oh Yeah, Leo, was it? The one whose name you had all over your school books. You had me searching the internet for him at the library at one point.” He laughs. That’s true; I’d forgotten about that.
“Well, you’ll never guess who I’ve bumped into while here.”
“No! You’ve finally found him, have you?” More like he found me.
“Yes, I have.”
“Well, I’m pleased for you, love; I know you always wondered what happened to him; you were quite taken by him, weren’t you.”
“I was.” I agree.
“So, what is he like now? Is he still a teenage heartthrob, or is he fat and bald now?” Dad laughs at his own joke.
“He’s definitely not fat and bald, but he’s a bit different than I imagined also.”
“Oh yeah, how so?”
“Oh, you know, just different; he’s the boss of a big business now, a lot different from the teenage boy I remember.” That’s an understatement.
“I’m sure. Well, you just enjoy yourself, love. When do you come home? I don’t remember you saying when your flight was?”
“I’ve not booked one yet.”
“Oh it’s alright for some having long holiday’s. Well, don’t stay there too long; I miss that face of yours. Take care, love. Speak soon.”
“Yeah, speak soon, Dad; love you.”
“Love you too, Katie.”
I slump down in a chair and put my head in my hands. I miss my dad. I hated lying to him then, but if I have to go through with this wedding, I need him there. It will still be a shock with how quickly it is happening, but at least I have planted the seed now. Taking a deep breath, I get up and join the queue for the drinks. When we return to the room, I hand Marco a coffee, take mine from the tray, and leave Leo and Marias’ beside me.
“Leo, you don’t need to do this,” Maria calls after Leo.
“There’s no discussion. We will bring the wedding forward to this weekend.”
What? Wait, did I just hear him right?
I grab the coffee off the table and hand them out, trying to make sense of the situation. Maria takes hers with thanks, but Leo just stares at the cup, not taking it from my hand.
“What’s going on? How is your dad?”
The face of the man in front of me is not my Leo. It is the face of the leader of the Guerra’s. It is expressionless.
“The wedding is to be moved forward to this weekend.”
“No, please, Leo, that’s only days away.”
“My decision is final. Marco, make the necessary arrangements.”
“Katherine, we are going home.” Leo takes hold of my hand; holding tightly at my wrist, he pulls me out of the room and through the hospital. We get in the car and are soon joined by Marco, who climbs into the front seat, starting the engine.
“What is happening, Leo? Is your father dying?”
“Do not disrespect me, Katherine.” He shuts me down. I am furious. He is so used to people backing down and doing everything he says; well, not this time. I will not be his puppet. I ignore him all the way back to the house. As soon as we are stopped, I am out of the car, not waiting for anyone to open my door. Storming through the house, I get a few stares from the house workers. Leo is calling me in the distance, asking me to wait, but I disobey him. Getting to my room and locking the door behind me, I get my phone out and ring Damien. He answers on the first ring.
