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He lifted his head and released the hold he’d instigated from around my waist and within seconds, he was back up on his feet. I lifted my head to look at him but found he had turned his back to me to protect himself. Standing tall, and thinking he was showing me his strength, he put back the mask he’d been forced to wear for nearly the whole of his life.
‘What happened?’
‘It was a nightmare, nothing more.’
‘Salvatore, it was far more,’ I insisted.
His body turned abruptly to face me.
‘It was NOTHING!’ The force with which he shouted back his answer had him bending at his waist and leaning over, as he made sure I not only heard his words but also felt them.
A small tremble swept through me as the vehemence in his voice incarcerated me. Briefly, I closed my eyes. I refused to allow the feeling of being scared, and exposed, sway me from the path I was determined to take. Then I opened my eyes again to find him walking around the large room like a caged tiger as he pulled on his gym shorts and collected up his trainers.
I knew exactly what he was up to.
He was hoping to scare me into asking no more. He’d then go out for a run and to work. He’d return later when he’d thought I’d moved on to something else.
‘I heard you call for me and your mama,’ I informed him. ‘Do you often dream of us at the same time?
‘Serafina.’ He spoke my name on a warning as he reached out to open our bedroom door.
‘I know what you’re doing, Salvatore…’
He paused, before pulling the door fully open.
‘We need to talk. I want to talk to you…’
‘I need to go straight to work,’ he interrupted. ‘I didn’t say before… but I’ll be away for a couple of days. I’ll leave Aldo with you.’ I watched him nod at the conversation he was having with himself. ‘I’ll be back by Wednesday.’
‘I won’t be here,’ I spoke, having no idea if what I was saying was true or not. But I knew that if I had to, I’d even stay the day at my parents’ house.
As my last statement filtered home, I observed every muscle in his back stiffen. His hand that was still holding the door handle moved quickly to close the open portion of the double doors with a resounding click.
And I knew I’d got his attention.
‘What are you saying, little bird?’ Slowly, he turned back to face me. His shower wet hair had fallen over his eyes and I couldn’t see them between the thick strands.
‘I made dinner last night because I wanted to talk to you, and it never happened.’
‘We were otherwise engaged.’ Salvatore gave a smile that I knew wouldn’t have reached his eyes.
‘I agree, we were, but that’s not the point.’
‘I’m not much of a talker.’
I ignored his excuse and carried on.
‘I have somewhere I hope to be on Wednesday.’
‘Where?’ His question came out on a half growl.
‘And now you want to talk?’ I shrugged my answer at him and stopped myself from biting into the side of my cheek.
‘I want to talk about you, not me.’
I let a small laugh leave me, understanding when he started cracking his knuckles and pushed his hair off his face to focus his eyes completely on me, that he’d heard the sarcasm I’d laced it with.
‘I’ll make you a deal. I’ll tell you what you want to know in exchange for you opening up to me.’
