Chapter 31 #2
“He doesn’t believe me, but I swear I didn’t throw myself from anywhere,” I sobbed, my throat aching from so much crying. “I would never hurt Lucca to prove anything to that idiot.”
Martha sat beside me, held my good hand, and stroked my face.
“We know that, bambina. Pietra is right. You shouldn’t take what he said to heart. Heithor is out of his mind because he’s blind. He loves that baby so much…”
“I love him too,” I pointed out, offended.
“I know, I know. And that’s why you need to calm down. Don’t lose your mind, and don’t let anyone make you lose it.”
“How do you expect me to calm down when he’s accusing me unjustly?
He doesn’t want me near the baby. He won’t let me…
He didn’t even want me here, Auntie.” I looked at Pietra.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell me the situation was much worse than you painted it?
Why did you hide from me that Norah was coming to the house? ”
She knelt in front of me.
“I didn’t want to hurt your recovery, babe. You already had so much to worry about without me throwing more at you… and I thought, well, I thought that when you saw each other, he would… the situation would improve. After all, he loves you…”
“Loves me? He gave me one hell of a demonstration of his love. He only didn’t kick me out because…” I cried harder.
“Dear, he’s very angry, hurt…”
“And what do you think I am? Setting off fireworks? I was accused of something I didn’t do by the man I love and believed loved me back.
I didn’t even get to properly meet my baby.
I spent hellish days in that hospital, and when I arrive, Heithor lashes me without mercy…
How the hell do you think I’m feeling? Have you ever been through something like this?
Been unjustly accused and, on top of that, had your son ripped away from you with nothing you could do about it?
Because that’s how I feel. That’s exactly what Heithor did without thinking twice…
ripped Lucca away from me without thinking about me, about how I would feel. ”
“I’ve never been through anything similar, but believe me when I say I understand your pain,” she said sweetly, her voice filled with feminine compassion.
“I never had children of my own, born from me, but I had two I raised as if they were mine. And as hard as it is, and I know I’m asking a lot of you, you need to calm down… ”
“No, Auntie, I need to talk to him now. Heithor has to hear me. He can’t simply decide whether I can or can’t get close to my baby and think I have to swallow his decision. I’m the mother. I have as many rights as he does.”
“You do. However, right now, going after him won’t solve anything. You’re both worked up, and you’ll only end up hurting each other even more.”
“Are you on his side? Is that it?”
She took my face between her hands.
“I’m on Lucca’s side, cara mia. I don’t want him to end up hurt in the process of this impasse because you and Heithor can’t understand each other.
You don’t want that either, do you? Listen, bambina, what you need now is to rest and try to calm down.
Va bene? You won’t solve anything by talking to him at this moment.
Heithor isn’t well with this situation either…
it’s true. I know right now it sounds doubtful because of the way he behaved in the living room, but try to understand his side too. ”
I pulled back, incredulous.
“The unfair side, you mean?”
“No. The side where he loves you and believes he was deceived by you when he believed everything was fine and that, finally, you would be a family. The side where he, in his injustice, is trying to protect Lucca from someone he believes is a danger. He’s devastated…
I thought I would never see him suffer more than he did when he left here, but he is, and he’s still standing, although I feel he is also on the verge of breaking.
Do you think it’s easy for me to see that?
Heithor is my son, Antonella. He didn’t come from me, but he is as much my son as Lucca is yours. ”
“Then you know I won’t give up my son,” I murmured resentfully, not knowing if she was trying to help me or make it clear she would stand by Heithor’s side if he didn’t come to his senses. “And even if I could, I wouldn’t.”
“I always knew that.” Her soft, very tender tone brought me a little comfort.
“I’m not saying these things to hurt you.
You’re a mother now. If you want to have your son, you’ll need to be strong and act with reason instead of arguing with Heithor.
That won’t take you anywhere. It will only hurt you. ”
I breathed deeply, forcing myself to swallow the sob, and lowered my eyes.
“I don’t believe you committed such an atrocity.
I truly don’t. I saw you overflowing with love when you still had him here.
” Her hand settled on my deflated belly.
“You cared for this belly the way any mother in love with her child would. And do you know why I’m sure of that?
There’s no way you can lie or pretend that kind of love. ”
“Tell him that, Auntie. Heithor believes you. He… he’ll listen to you… I can’t stay away from my baby.”
“I’ve already said it. I say it every time. But, sweetheart, I can’t force that into his head, especially when he vehemently believes that…”
“It was her! It was that woman who pushed me.”
“All right, all right… Now pay attention… You were discharged, but you’re fully recovered.
You’re not in any condition to get into a fight or try anything at all.
You need to recover, and for that, you’ll have to hold on tight.
Make a sacrifice so that when you’re completely well, you can go after the truth and show it to Heithor. ”
I stood, my whole body hurting as I went around the bed and lay down, sinking my head into the soft pillow and letting out a tired sigh. “I understand,” I said more so they would leave me alone.