Chapter 38
“Amos, am I bothering you?” I ask my newly discovered brother as soon as he picks up.
I’m at the airport with a ticket to Boston, and boarding will start in a few minutes. I bought a new phone right here at the airport. The one Gianni gave me is out of battery, which is a good thing, because I’m not ready to talk to him yet.
Although I know we’ll have to talk at some point, I don’t want to do it today.
Right now, I hate him with the same strength that I love him.
I waited more than three hours for him to come after me, and he didn’t. And then I finally broke. After years of letting only stray tears slip here and there, because I’ve always refused to feel sorry for myself, I collapsed into inconsolable sobbing.
When there was nothing left to cry, I showered, grabbed jeans and a sweater from the closet, and came to the airport.
I vaguely remember hearing the landline ring while I was in the shower, but I’m not sure.
“Elodie, what’s wrong?”
“Um. . .nothing,” I say, puzzled by the question, until I remember there’s a six-hour time difference between Paris and Boston.
It’s eleven at night in the United States! And even if the time zone were the same, it would still be too early to call someone.
“Oh my God! I’m sorry. I forgot the time. Did I wake your family?”
“No. Are you all right? Talk to me.”
“I’m flying back to the United States today, and before seeing Amber in Louisiana, I decided to meet you, like you asked. Was it wrong to call? I swear I wouldn’t have phoned if I’d remembered how late it is there.”
It’s only the third time we’ve spoken, but after the shock of the first call, I feel more comfortable with him. I think the reverse is true as well.
Amos doesn’t mince words, and I like that. He told me that before calling me, he had me investigated. He even uncovered our mother’s name: Estrella De León. He brought me news not even Mom knew for sure, that she’d been born in Spain.
With her family’s constant moving around, the birth certificate she’d carried wasn’t reliable, according to Mom herself, but Amos managed to dig deep into our history.
He also told me what he found about the cult into which we were born. We talked about Amber, and now he knows our sister is in New Orleans and expecting a baby. I told him about the accident that made her lose her memory.
“No problem. I’m a night owl. But why the sudden change of plans? You’d said you wouldn’t leave Europe until the middle of next week.”
“I just. . .wanted to come back right away,” I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “I’m calling to see if you still want to have lunch with me.”
“Yes, I’ll meet you. As soon as you land in Boston, let me know.”
Right after we hang up, a voice over the loudspeaker announces boarding. I stand, carrying only a practically empty carry-on, since I just grabbed the essentials, and a small crossbody bag.
I glance back before heading to the gate, and I hate myself a little for hoping that at the last minute, like in a romance movie, Gianni will appear.
Not going to happen, you fool.
I wait my turn to board, and when I finally sit down after stowing my bag in the overhead bin, I fasten my seat belt and close my eyes.
If someone asked me, I wouldn’t be able to say how I left the event.
I vaguely remember that Abaddon was with me. He asked me questions. I didn’t say anything.
He rode up with me in the elevator, and once he was sure I was safe, he left.
He wasn’t the one I needed to talk to. It was Gianni, and I already had.
I told him I didn’t hurt that woman, and even so, he told Abaddon to get me out of there and stayed by her side.
Capria said she’s carrying their child. Is she really? From the little I saw of that witch, I’m not sure.
Everything that happened left me this close to breaking down in tears in front of those people, and I hated everyone for making me feel so fragile.
Now I understand why he was acting strange at the apartment. They met to talk about the pregnancy.
Based on what he told me that day we had sex without a condom, and on the kind of relationship they have, of course they’ll get married.
But if Gianni wants to end things with me, why all those theatrics earlier today?
I shake my head, confused. I need to try to rest.
I reach up to turn down the air vent above me because I’m freezing. Then I open my bag and look at the phone Gianni gave me, tempted to charge it on the plane just to see if there are any missed calls, but I give up right away.
Capria wasn’t badly hurt. It looked more like a scratch, and even so, he spent the night with her.
I wish I were a better person and could say that, since she might be pregnant, what he did was the right thing.
I can’t, though. All that keeps flashing through my head is the image of her and the redheaded snake lying, claiming I attacked her.
Again, my eyes fill with tears, and I have to squeeze them shut so I don’t make a scene in front of the other passengers.
As if God is finally taking pity on me, within seconds, I’m out cold.
I wake about an hour and a half later, when the flight attendant starts the meal service. I watch what she’s doing, more determined than ever to try this career.
I need to get my life on track. Italy was a dream. Getting a job and moving forward is my reality.
“Would you like a beverage before dinner, miss?”
“What could I have?”
“We have water or juice.”
I bought an economy-class ticket. I had to dip again into the account Gianni opened for me, but as soon as I’m back in the States, I’ll make a transfer and pay back everything I spent, both on the investigator and on the flight.
Amber and I have always kept a reserve fund because we were constantly on the run. We never knew how long we’d stay in one city. We learned to spend little and live with the essentials. Money has never dazzled me.
“Water, please.” I wait while she serves me and, even with my heart bleeding, I force myself to hold on to reality. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, of course.”
“Actually, it’s not just one, it’s several.” I wait while she hands a drink to the gentleman beside me and continue. “It’s just that I want to start a career as a flight attendant.”
“Oh!” She smiles, looking surprised. “Tell you what—I’ll finish serving dinner and then, if you’d like, come to the galley and we can talk.”
I nod, smiling, and watch as she and another flight attendant serve the meals.
I refuse the chicken, fish, or pasta. I can’t tell which one it is, but the smell of one of the dishes makes me very nauseous, which is strange, because I usually eat like a dockworker after a weeklong shift.
Hours later, I go back to my seat with more hope for the future.
The woman, Brenda, was extremely kind and helpful. She gave me her number and lots of tips on how to put together a résumé that catches a future employer’s eye.
Talking to her also calmed my troubled mind.
I decide to charge the phone Gianni gave me. I don’t know if it will work in the United States, but at least I can use the airport internet to send him a message.
I left a note saying I was going to my sister, but I didn’t mention I’d stop in Boston first to see Amos.
Even though I’m hurting, I’m not just going to run. Enough of leaving half-finished situations in my life.