Roni did not give any more information after saying something like that. Instead, she walked away as if she did not leave me confused and wanting to know more. I had just to tag along until we were close enough to my father and the other random people he kept taking us around to meet. But once all of that was done, I pulled her aside, desperate to know more. “What do you mean by you have been there before?” I asked in a hushed tone“Tori, that’s all I am telling you, and that’s it. You will have to find out the rest on your own. Now, we have to go back home and prepare for the prayers.” she replied. ***The drive home was the most awkward thing. I was still in between Russo and my sister in the backseat, wondering why Roni could not sit in the middle or why my father could not sit in the backseat instead. I wondered why Russo was even driving around with us like he was my father’s brother or even my mother’s brother when my own blood relatives were seated at the back and entering t
I remained outside for a while, completely and absolutely shocked, while different people continued to gather at our house. Eventually, I found the courage to put one foot in front of the other and walk towards the house where everyone was in the living room and dining room, talking, sipping on tea and juice and others pretending to be crying as they stared at the family photos. But there was no Russo in sight. I knew he did not go home because I was outside all that time, and I had not seen him pass by. I headed straight for Roni’s room, I gently knocked on the door and then twisted the handle and opened the door. She was seated on the bed, flipping through a photo album as she gently brushed and touched my mother’s face as if she could feel her. “Where is your husband?” I asked the second I sat on her bed, right next to her.“He is somewhere there in the living room. I told him I needed to get away from all those people for some time. I just feel- I don’t know… I just feel like a
“What are you doing in here?!” I asked loudly “SHH!” he attempted to shush me, but I was more than shocked. “What are you doing in here!” I asked again, but a little softer“Close the damn door and come inside!” he replied. I slowly pushed my bedroom door shut, locked it and then stood and folded my arms. “What the heck are you doing in here? This is my bedroom.” I asked one more time“I wanted to come and talk to you.” he replied “I did not want to make it look suspicious with you walking right behind me, so I went ahead, and you only came in minutes later, but then you did not come to your bedroom, so I wondered if they had caught you and were grilling you,” he responded, still in a hushed tone.“Yeah, I went to Roni’s bedroom. I went to go and check on her.” “Yeah, I eventually heard you guys talking and laughing,” he said.Did he really hear what we were talking about? “You heard us?” I asked worriedly“Yes, but no. Well, yea, I heard you guys, but no, I didn’t,” he answered
“I am confused. Is your phone on?!” my father asked“Uhmm… yes,” I answered quickly, still lying “Well, please turn it off. It keeps ringing every time I try to call Alessandro,” he said “Okay,” I responded.I turned to look at Alessandro and hoped he would turn off his phone, but instead, he was in more panic about my father standing on the other side of the door. So, my father tried to call Alessandro again and his phone rang loudly once again. “Tori!” my father called out angrily. I wondered how my father had not figured out that Alessandro’s phone was inside the room. He automatically assumed it was mine. “I told you to switch off your phone.” my father said “I am sorry. I am turning off my phone now.” I replied slowly while looking at Alessandro, hoping he would get the hint. He eventually did and slowly pulled out his phone and turned off the volume, and then pushed it back into his pocket. I heard my father on the other end pressing a few buttons, and then the phone rang
“Anyway, ladies, I will check in on you two later.” my father said as he stood up. “Let’s go and shoo these people out of the house.” My father left the room with Alessandro, leaving me in Roni’s room with her. “So, he is a quick man,” Roni said “What do you mean?” I questioned back“He comes up with lies quickly,” she replied “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Tori, we all know he was not in the bathroom. I heard you guys talking as soon as you left my room. I knew you guys were definitely in your room. There was no way you were just standing in the corridor. And then, when Dad came to your room looking for you, he tried to call Alessandro, and we all heard his ringtone coming from your room. Dad probably heard it but is just praying and crossing his fingers that Alessandro was not in your room.” she answered. There was really no point in lying to Roni. She had managed to really catch us before. So, everything else she saw was just a confirmation of all that we had done
Oh, just how I knew we were definitely going to be seen by my father, and he was definitely going to leave the other dry conversation to attend to us. I was still in Alessandro’s arms. I could not break away because he gripped me tight, but then my father approached us long ago. I decided to let out a few tears and then start screaming like a kid. Alessandro caught that quick enough and slowly started rubbing my back to comfort me. “What’s wrong with Tori?” my father questioned again“I don’t know. I guess she is just feeling sad or something.” Alessandro responded. I continued to let out a few more fake tears, feeling also content that he got on the plan so quickly and was able to help me reply. “Tori, Tori… are you okay?” My father asked as he rubbed my back. I shook my head quickly. “What do you want? What do you need? Come on, talk to us.” my father asked, sounding really worried, which caused actual tears to roll out of my eyes because I had not seen him become that soft, e
“All set?” Alessandro asked me as soon as he saw me“Yep,” I replied“I feel underdressed. We were just going for a walk, and now you’re out here dressing up like it’s a fashion show.” he laughed.We walked out of the house after saying bye to my father, who looked like he did not want to be there in the living room but rather on the walk with me and Alessandro. “Hang on, you have something,” he said as he walked up to me and wiped my thigh. “Got it. You’re all good now.” He stared at his glove after wiping away whatever was on me. It was as if he had some weird obsession with keeping them clean. “What’s with the gloves?” I asked, finally breaking the silence“Oh, there was just a tiny stain on them. I thought they were ripped,” he replied.That was not what I was asking, but I nodded as if that was the response I was looking for. “Why do you always wear gloves?” I asked, hoping that time around, he would give me the answer I was looking for. “Why not?” he chuckled as he answered
Everyone else had gone home as well as Roni and her husband and Alessandro as well. It was just Dad and I alone in the house.He had spent the whole of the previous night playing his music and wailing away the whole night. I knocked on his bedroom door. “Come in,” he repliedI twisted the door handle and opened the door. I found my father seated my his radio player and photo albums scattered around him and a bottle of wine. “Come in, my cupcake,” he answered. I walked in and sat next to him. “Don't tell me that there are more people here. If there are, just tell them that I am asleep, and I will see them later,” he said“Oh no, there is no one else. It's just me.” I answered“I was meant to ask you, how was your walk with Alessandro?” He questioned. Just him bringing up the name sent chills down my spine. I thought of the kiss, the conversation, his scent and the hug. I hated that I thought of him at the mention of his name. “Tori?” my dad called out. “Oh, I am sorry. I zoned