27. Griselda
Icouldn”t help but worry about Emilio. Even though Emilio held no affection toward him, the man was still his father—a complex connection that was difficult to untangle. It reminded me of my situation, the yearning to learn more about a father I never really knew.
One morning, with the sun gently illuminating our home, I woke up early, driven by the desire to bring some comfort into Emilio”s world. The thought of making him breakfast appealed to me.
Humming softly, I settled on a quick, light breakfast—scrambled eggs sprinkled with cheese and a side of toast. I moved around the kitchen, feeling the warmth of the morning sun on my skin.
As I plated the food, I heard familiar footsteps approaching. Emilio entered the room, looking weary.
”Good morning,” I greeted, trying to infuse warmth into my voice.
He managed a small smile, though his mind seemed far away. I could only imagine the burden of his thoughts. This was a difficult time for him.
”I made you some breakfast,” I offered gently, nodding toward the table.
He nodded appreciatively and sat down. The aroma of the food filled the air as I placed the plate in front of him. I watched as he picked at the food, his thoughts still elsewhere.
It pained me to see him like this.
”Are you okay, Emilio?” I asked gently, observing the whirlwind of emotions in his eyes as he sat at the table.
He sighed, his expression troubled.
”Not really,” he admitted, his voice heavy with the weight of his feelings.
Sensing his need to talk, I sat down across from him and listened intently as he poured his heart out. He struggled to put into words the complex array of emotions that had gripped him since his father”s passing.
”I don”t know how to act,” he began, his voice tinged with frustration. ”I”m happy he”s gone because, let”s face it, he was a monster. But at the same time, I”m sad. He passed away without even acknowledging or apologizing for the torment he put me through. And then there”s this anger... How could he look so peaceful in death when he left me feeling tortured in the land of the living?”
I empathized with the torment he was going through. It was an emotional rollercoaster I couldn’t even begin to imagine.
”Emilio,” I said softly, ”it”s okay to feel all these things. You”re human, and what you went through was unimaginably difficult. Your feelings are valid.”
He looked at me, his eyes grateful for the understanding.
”Thank you,” he murmured, taking a deep breath as if trying to clear the jumble of emotions.
”I”m here for you,” I reassured him, placing my hand over his. ”You don”t have to go through this alone.”
He nodded appreciatively, his hand finding a sense of comfort in mine. He continued to share, speaking of the surreal moment when he approached his father”s coffin during the funeral. His father looked peaceful, and that struck him deeply.
”How could he look so peaceful, as if he had done no wrong when he had tormented me for so long?” He mused, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger.
I met his gaze, offering a sympathetic look. ”It”s hard to understand sometimes how people can project a certain image to the world, even when their actions have been anything but peaceful. It”s not about you. It”s about him and his demons.”
Emilio nodded, absorbing my words. ”I just wish he had faced the consequences of his actions while he was alive. I wanted him to know the pain he had caused.”
”Closure is something we all seek,” I replied softly. ”But sometimes, it”s about finding our closure within ourselves, regardless of whether the other person realizes their wrongdoings.”
Emilio nodded, digesting my words. His eyes showed a glimmer of hope as if realizing that closure was something he could attain within himself.
”What”s your plan moving forward?” I asked gently, curious about how he intended to rebuild his life after this monumental event.
”I”m going to leave the mafia,” he stated, his voice resolute.
Surprised, even though he had mentioned it before, I felt a mixture of worry and admiration. It was a courageous decision, one that I knew wouldn”t come without challenges.
”And the mastermind behind the conflict between the Fiore and Mancini family?” I inquired, concerned about the safety and peace he sought.
He considered my question carefully. ”The leader of the Mancini family was after me, but now that he”s gone, I doubt anyone will come after me again. As for the mastermind, honestly, I don”t care anymore. I want to move forward, away from this darkness. I want to reach for something better.”
”I”m proud of you,” I said sincerely, a smile tugging at my lips.
He returned the smile, gratitude evident in his eyes. ”I wouldn”t have been able to do it without you. Your support has meant everything to me.”
Finishing our breakfast, the atmosphere between us had lightened considerably. I was genuinely happy for Emilio, proud of the courageous steps he was taking to carve out a new path.
However, my heart was burdened with a secret I carried. I couldn”t shake off the thought that amidst this newfound hope and change, there was another life growing within me. I felt a mix of emotions - joy, anxiety, and a profound sense of responsibility.
As Emilio stood, expressing his intention to head to his company, I understood it was his way of seeking distraction from the whirlwind of emotions. It was a moment for both of us to gather our thoughts.
My mind was in a mess, wrestling with the decision of whether or not to tell him about the pregnancy. The recent loss of his father made me hesitate. Would it be fair to tell him this news now?
Shaking off the uncertainty, I reminded myself that Emilio deserved to know. Yet, a nagging fear persisted - did he want children? Did he see a future that included a family?
As he left, I found myself in a quiet apartment, left to my thoughts.
I steeled myself for the difficult conversation I needed to have with Avery, my best friend. We were connected through a call, the distance acting as a shield but also leaving me wide open.
”Avery, there”s something I want to share,” I began, my voice laced with nervousness.
Avery”s response was immediate, her concern evident. ”Of course. You know you can tell me anything.”
Taking a deep breath, I confessed, ”Remember that trip I mentioned planning? I never actually went. I”ve been in the city this whole time.”
A brief pause, and then Avery asked, ”But why did you say you were going on a trip?”
I grappled with how to explain the complex situation. ”It”s... complicated. It involves Emilio, the man I”ve talked to you about before.”
Avery remembered, her tone cautious. ”Emilio? What about him?”
I delved into the story, explaining Emilio”s involvement with the mafia and his strong desire to escape that life. I bared my soul about my feelings, the conflicting attraction, and how we navigated our emotions despite the challenging circumstances.
Avery”s stunned silence echoed through the call, and I could almost feel the weight of her thoughts crashing down. The truth was a heavy burden, especially with the revelation of Emilio”s involvement with the mafia and my unexpected pregnancy. It was a lot to take in, a lot for anyone to process.
”Avery,” I finally said, my voice shaky with a mix of anxiety and vulnerability. ”I know it”s overwhelming. It was for me too.”
She took a deep breath, her exhale audible through the phone. ”Griselda, this is beyond anything I could have imagined. The mafia? And... you”re pregnant?”
I nodded, forgetting she couldn”t see me. ”Yes. It”s a lot to digest, and I didn”t expect any of this to happen.”
”I can”t even fathom how you”re feeling right now,” Avery admitted, “But I think you need to be honest with him.”
Avery”s advice settled like a weight on my chest, pushing me to confront a reality I wasn”t ready to face. I knew she was right—honesty was crucial, especially with something as significant as a pregnancy. But telling Emilio was a step I wasn”t sure I was prepared to take just yet.
”Avery,” I sighed, wrestling with the emotional tempest inside me. ”I know you”re right. It”s just... it”s so complicated.”
”I understand, but he has a right to know,” Avery gently reminded me.
”He does,” I acknowledged, biting my lip nervously. ”But what if he reacts negatively? What if this is too much for him to handle?”
Avery”s voice was soft but firm. ”Griselda, you can”t control how he reacts. All you can do is be honest and let him process it in his way.”
I knew she was right. Emilio deserved to know he was going to be a father. I shouldn”t keep it from him any longer. It wasn”t fair to him or the baby. My fear and anxiety could no longer hold me back from doing what was right.
”I”ll talk to him,” I said, feeling a sense of determination kindling inside. ”I”ll find the right time and place, and I”ll tell him.”
Avery”s encouragement was a beacon of strength. ”That”s the spirit. You”ve got this.”