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I wanted to shout at my mom that I’m more capable than she thinks but, as usual, the words didn’t come.
Dad sighed, bowing his head. “You’re going to worry until I return home, correct?”
“Of course. So, come home, Ric.”
“Ok, Giulia. I’ll come home.” And just like that, I lost all my hope of having a nice day with my father. “Time to go home,” he said to me, pulling out of the parking garage. I could just see the Ferris wheel in the distance as we drove away.
Mom was livid when we got back home. “You can’t just go off on your own anymore, Ric. You could have gotten hurt.”
“I’m still moving.” He gently took her shoulders and kissed her on the head. “I’m not gone yet.”
Mom softened. “I know. And I need you here for as long as possible.” She helped him into the living room, not evening acknowledging me. I stood in the archway, unsure what to do.
Everything took a turn for the worse after that.
Dad passed away in the night. I’d never see him again, never hear his laugh or receive his praise. He was gone.
Mom was a wreck, crying and crying and crying. I kept my distance from her while Emilia did everything she could to comfort her. I figured Mom wouldn’t even notice I was alive since Dad was gone, but she found me in my bedroom and said something to me I’ve never forgotten.
“He shouldn’t have taken you out yesterday. Now he’s dead. He was too sick. Do you understand? He was too sick!”
Emilia came running and took Mom by the shoulders, leading her away from my room while giving me a sympathetic look. All I could do was sit there in shock.
Was I somehow responsible for my dad’s death? He wanted to have one last day with me, but that was probably too much strain on him, and he took a turn for the worse.
Nothing was ever quite the same between my mom and me after that.
* * *
I can’t getEmilia’s words out of my head.She can be a little weird …
When Emilia comes to check on me, it’s all I can think about.
Yesterday, after I came back inside soaking wet, Emilia saw me and rushed over to me. “Why are you wet? Are you ok?”
“I’m fine. I just want to change. I feel into the pool,” I admitted, feeling sheepish.
“Oh. How did that happen?”
“I was … startled. By, uh, Leo?”
Emilia frowned and looked around me as if was searching for the man in question. “Leo made you fall into the water?”
“No. He just startled me, and I fell in.” I don’t know why I was defending him. I didn’t like him after his gross comments.
“Mmm.” Emilia looked me over before nodding. “Ok. Well, just keep your distance from him. I’ll have Marco tell Leo to stay away from you. I don’t trust him when it comes to women.”
“Ok. Thanks.” I walked past her, desperate to get into a hot shower and wash the day away.
Now, Emilia waddles into the room, one hand on her low back, another on her stomach. “How are you feeling today?”
I stand up, feeling self-conscious as I set my book down on the nightstand. “Better.”She’s a little weird …
“So, I thought we could spend the day together. I haven’t had a good sister bonding day in a long time.”
“Thanks, Emilia, but … I think I’d prefer to be alone today.” My sister’s words hurt me, and I can’t stand to look at her all day and pretend as if they don’t. The thing is, I’m never going to tell her how I really feel. I don’t want to make things awkward between us.
“Oh.” She frowns. “Are you sure? I thought we could go get our nails done or something. I can’t really move around a whole ton.” She nods at her large belly, laughing.
