Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
T ime for Change
Symphony
I look in the mirror at my new hairdo. I think I like it. After looking at hundreds of videos and pictures on my tablet, I decided to go with locs.
It will be easy for me to maintain. I like the idea of that. Annabella has tried to help me with maintenance, but she doesn’t know much more than I do about keeping up with my texture and hair type.
My mother was Latina, but my father was Black. I got a mix of their hair types I believe. I only have one really old picture of my parents that Nonno gave me.
“You look so pretty,” Annabella says from the doorway.
I turn to smile at her as I smooth my hands over the front of my blouse. I went with a gray top and light blue jeans. My shoes are sparkly silver flats I bought while shopping with Annabella.
“Thank you. Is he here?” I ask excitedly.
“Uri sent me a text. They will be here in the next twenty minutes.”
I clasp my hands together and take a calming breath. I haven’t seen Michael in fifty-three days. We talk on the phone, but I haven’t seen his face in almost two months.
I’m excited for this visit. I have so much I want to share with him. I hope he likes my new look.
I did my best to look pretty for him. Before I go to leave the room with Annabella, I glance over at my jewelry box. I chew on my tongue as I think about putting on my wedding rings.
I don’t like the way they feel on my finger, so I don’t wear them often. It’s not like Michael expects me to. People would probably question me if I did.
I shake the thought off and turn to leave my room to go await Michael’s arrival. Annabella takes my hand and gives it a tight squeeze as we walk.
This estate is much larger than the house in Chicago. I like it much better. I have made it home since I’ve been here.
Uri and Annabella have helped me to make sure everything is just right. I love having Annabella here, but I know she will be leaving soon. She has to return to her studies and whatever it is she does for Uri and Michael.
I am not her assignment. I’m okay with that. I also feel safer here.
I think it’s because of the full-time military-trained staff who live with me. I don’t see everyone much, but I know they’re here. Uri says they are not here to make me feel like I’m in prison, but they are here to help me anytime I need.
“Don’t be so nervous. He has come all this way just for you.”
“I don’t want to disappoint him. I’m also afraid I will start my old tics because I’m nervous. I want Michael to see I have grown,” I explain.
“He will see it. We all do. I’m so proud of you, Sim. Don’t worry. You will be fine.”
“I hope you are right,” I murmur.
“Here, take this,” she says and hands me her gray hair tie.
“What is this for? My hair hasn’t grown long enough to pull it up yet. Does it look bad?” I ask as I start to panic.
“No, it’s not for your hair. Relax, I love your hair. It complements your face. The band is to be placed on your wrist. If you feel like you’re overwhelmed, try snapping it. It might help.”
“How do you always know how to help me?”
Annabella laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulders. She gives me a tight squeeze that helps settle me a bit. I lean my head against her and inhale her calming scent.
“I volunteered in the children’s ward of the hospital when I was eighteen. There was a little girl there with cancer. She was also on the spectrum.
“I learned a lot of things as we tried to help her. The pain and treatments made things extremely challenging for her,” she says.
“What was her prognosis? Did she beat the cancer?”
“That she did. She and her mother still write me letters.”
“This is good. I am happy to hear that. Are you sure you’re not going to practice medicine when you complete your studies? You will make such a good doctor. Your bedside manner will be so comforting to your patients.”
“I never entered medicine to become a doctor. Not in the conventional way. I always knew my brothers would need me. I wanted to be there if something like what happened to my father ever happened to one of them,” she says.
“Like you helped Adriano? He wouldn’t be here if not for you. Thank you again for saving him. If you and Uri?—”
“Sim. You have to stop blaming yourself for that. You saved both of your lives. No one can blame you for going into shock after what you did.
“I think you’re pretty badass. I know Michael is proud of you. And Adriano is grateful. I think you earned a friend for life with him.”
I go to answer her, but the front door opens as we get to the front of the house. Michael comes through the door with Uri. He drops his bags and steps forward to open his arms. I look to Annabella, thinking the gesture is for her.
She smiles and gestures with her head for me to go to him. I turn back to Michael and find him smiling at me. I gasp and run into his arms.
He wraps me in his embrace and holds me tight. I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze him back. When he places a kiss on my forehead, I can’t help but melt into him.
“I am happy to see you,” I blurt out.
“It is good to see you too, little one. I want to hear all about your new school and what you have learned,” he says in his deep voice.
“Is it okay for you to come to my room? I would like to show you what I have done with it.”
I pull away to look up at his handsome face. He cups the side of my face and searches with his gaze. I drop my eyes to the floor.
“Yes, bella . Show me this room. Then you can tell me everything.”
We turn and head for the stairs so I can lead him back to my room. I am talking a mile a minute as we go. I tell him about my classes and how much I love to play at school. It’s nothing like the school I went to with the mean girls.
I haven’t made friends yet, but no one has been mean to me. I’m talking so much; I don’t realize I haven’t given Michael a chance to get a word in. I pause as he stands looking around my room.
“Oh. I am sorry. I will be quiet so you can talk,” I murmur.
“You are fine, Sim. I’m happy to listen to how happy you are. I can almost find it in my heart to be okay with not hearing you play every day.”
I gasp. “Wait, that reminds me. I have a gift for you,” I say and rush to get the box with the gift I have for him.
I retrieve the box from my bedside table and turn to hand it to him. He takes the box with an amused smile on his lips. I watch with bated breath as he opens it.
He pulls the lid off the box and pulls the pocket watch from inside. I smile as he brushes his thumb across the design on the outside. It’s his initials, MD. He clicks the button to open the watch, and “Für Elise” begins to play, bringing a smile to his lips. My heart swells.
I will forever think of him whenever I hear this song. It makes me think of the time when he gave me my first piano and sat to play with me. He lifts his blue gaze to look at me and smiles.
“Thank you, Sim. I have something for you too.”
I reach for the band on my wrist and begin to pop it. Michael places the watch in his pocket and turns to my vanity, where my jewelry box sits. I watch him closely.
He opens the jewelry box and reaches in for my rings. He then pulls a box from his other pocket and turns to hold it out to me. Confused, I step forward slowly.
“Wh … what is it?” I ask as I take the box with shaky hands.
“Open it.”
I open the box and find a pretty necklace resting inside. I pull it out and hold it up. It’s a white gold wheat chain.
Michael takes it from my fingertips and opens it. He then slides my rings onto the chain. He holds the chain up and motions me to him.
I turn and he places it around my neck. I reach to cover the rings as they rest against my skin. Looking over my shoulder, I stare up at him.
“How does it feel? Does it bother you?” he asks with concern.
“No. Thank you. I will not take it off. Thank you, Michael.”
He holds my gaze as he reaches for one of my locs. “This is gorgeous on you. What made you change it?”
I turn away and take a step away from him. I love his touch, but I feel like I’m about to lose control. I begin to pop the band on my wrist and try not to start chewing on my tongue.
I’m afraid to do something to mess the moment up. The butterflies in my belly are taking over. I never told him why I don’t wear my rings, but I feel as if he knows.
Michael seems to know me better than I know myself sometimes. It’s in the way he watches and studies me. I get the feeling he wants to know what makes me tick.
It takes me a moment to get it together. I still don’t know how to tell him my feelings. A part of me feels like it’s better not to.
“I wanted to do something different. Something I would be able to maintain without a lot of fuss,” I say to answer his question.
He nods. “Come, let’s go get something to eat.”