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“You made a decision for yourself and you did your best to stand by it,mia cara. And despite it all, I’m proud of you.”
Something warm trickles down my face and I wipe away the tear. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m really, really sorry.”
He’s the only person I haven’t apologized to. Because he shut me out for three weeks. I’m still slightly pissed about that, but at least he’s talking to me again.
“No, I’m sorry. I never should have called you a disappointment. You’re anything but. You are my greatest achievement.”
“Hey!” Tony calls out in indignation.
“Both of you,” my dad corrects with a smile.
My face splits into a grin. I get to my feet and throw my arms around his neck. My dad hugs me back and finally, for the first time in weeks, I can breathe easier. I feel whole.
“Well, this calls for a celebration,” Tony announces. “I’m gonna go get some champagne.”
Neither Dad nor I look as he trails out of the room. I pull away and look at my dad’s face.
“You’re going to love Cassie,” I assure him.
The expression on his face sours. “I never should have kept away from my granddaughter for so long.”
“That’s okay. You have all the time in the world with her from now on. Although you might have to share custody with Maria.”
We both laugh at that.
“I see so much of your mother in you,mi amor. It makes it hard sometimes. Because you remind me of what I’ve lost.”
“Well, you don’t have to ever worry about losing me. I’ll always be here because I know just how amazing you are.”
My dad’s expression lightens. “I know, sweetheart,” he tells me, heaving out a breath.”
I look behind me to ensure Tony’s nowhere in sight before turning back to him.
“Have you ever tried to look for her? I know we shouldn’t, but these days I find myself wondering where she is. If she’s even alive.”
My dad is the picture of heartbreak. He seems to fumble for words before saying, “The last I heard of your mother was five years ago. When she boarded a plane to Germany.”
My breaths falter. “Oh. I guess she really wanted to get away from us, huh?”
There’s concern etched into every inch of my father’s face.
“It’s okay,” I quickly reassure him, managing to plaster on a smile. “We have you. And you’re more than enough. And like I said, you’ll always have us.”
A part of me will always be curious about my mother. But I’m not who I used to be. I’ve grown up, matured. I managed to sort out my feelings in relation to her and I’ve let most of the resentment go. My mother might not be the person I desperately wished she was. But I know without a doubt that I’ll do better than her. No matter what.
Tony returns with the champagne and I spend the rest of the afternoon in their company. We talk and we laugh and all my worries melt away. My dad is telling us about his decision to retire as consigliere when my phone rings. I reach for it, prepared to ignore the caller, when Roman’s name flashes across the screen. I shoot my dad an apologetic glance as I answer.
“Hey.”
Roman pauses. His soft breath is the only thing I hear for about two seconds before his voice fills my ear.
“Baby, I need you to listen to me and not freak out,” he says softly.
“Okay,” I say, my pulse quickening.
“Someone took Cassie.”
I feel the floor sweep out from under me as I fall down into a bottomless pit of fear. Terror grips my whole entire being. Because those words are a nightmare come true.
