Chapter ElevenCalista
Chapter Eleven
Calista
It’s a warm but breezy day when I roll my suitcase out of the airport. My father’s driver is standing at the curb, waiting for me. I smile and say, “Hello, Tony.”
“Hop right in, Ms. Vitale.” He opens the door, and I see my dad in the car, patting the spot beside him. I grin and climb inside, throwing my arms around him.
“Daddy,” I say, hugging him tightly, unexpected tears falling from my eyes.
“Princess, who do I need to kill?” he snarls.
“No one. I’m fine. I guess I just missed you so much,” I answer, wiping away the tears with the heels of my palms. He always makes me feel like a little girl again. There is just something about being with him that makes me feel safe.
“Well, your mother is over the moon that you’re here and has a dozen things prepared for your short visit.” I roll my eyes because I’m sure she does. After they married, they only had boys, three of them before she couldn’t have any more babies. Their marriage is a true love marriage, whereas I’m the product of an arranged one and yet she never saw me as anything other than her daughter.
“Don’t be like that,” he scolds me with a smile.
“I’m looking forward to it as long as she’s not trying to set me up with anyone.” I give him a warning look. It’s not like she wants me to be married off, but she wants me to have a happily ever after like she has with my father, so she tries to introduce me to eligible men.
“Why? Is it because you and that MacNamara fellow are more than just acquaintances?” he asked with his thick, Italian eyebrow raised.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I refuted.
“No? So that trip to the hotel with him wasn’t anything?”
The color drains from my face. “You know about that?”
“You think I’d let my daughter go around unprotected?” He shakes his head and chuckles. I should have known I was being watched like a hawk.
I sit there for a moment trying to process that my father knows what I did at the hotel and with who. With who…with who…Damn it. He set it up. “That’s why you sent me to the club. I knew it. You wanted me to meet them.”
“I hoped you would meet one of them, but I hadn’t expected you two to behave so inappropriately. I thought he would speak to me before taking you to a hotel.”
“He doesn’t know who I really am, or at least he didn’t. I’m sure he knows exactly who I am now.” I let out a deep sigh.
“Dearest daughter, you need not be so upset. I understand you hadn’t wanted to marry a man like me, but we can’t help who we’re meant to be with, Calista,” he says, cradling my hands in his. “I want you to be happy no matter who it’s with.”
“Thank you, Dad, but I’m happy to be alone for now.” That’s a boldface lie.
“I don’t want that for you. You’re too special not to share your love and to be loved, Princess.”
“Thank you, Daddy, but I believe you’re a bit biased.”
“Maybe, but I am the boss, so I’m pretty sure my opinion carries more weight.” I smirk and hug him, shaking my head.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too.” He kisses the top of my head. It takes another ten minutes before we’re there, and he tells me all about my brothers, who are getting older. My oldest little bro is now twenty. He’s already a lot to handle and ready to take up the mantle from my father when it’s time. It scares me because it’s dangerous, but it’s better to be a tiger than a deer.
We pull into my father’s estate, and my mother and oldest brother are waiting on the porch with grins. I climb out and return the grin before running up the stairs and landing in my brother’s arms. “I missed you both,” I say.
“Maybe you should move back here,” my mother says.
“I love Chicago.”
“Maybe we could branch off there,” Michael says, brows bobbing with a smirk.
“How about no,” I grumble, jabbing him in the gut with my fist.
“Fine, but you know it would be a way to protect you.”
My dad grunts and shakes his head. “No, it would be a way to start a war. It’s not like it’s unclaimed territory. It’s Chicago, for God’s sake. There are at least three families and as far as I’m aware, one is going to be disappearing.” My brows jump as I stare at my father.
“Which one?” I ask with a gasp.
“I thought you didn’t want to know anything, Princess?” he says with a bit of snark.
“That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be prepared, given I have to go back home.”
“The Espinoza Family.” A wave of relief washes over me.
“Come on—let’s have some lunch, and then we can talk about boys,” my mother says. I shake my head as my dad chuckles. “I’m never giving up,” she adds with a playful grin, hooking her arm around mine.
****
The next morning after a peaceful day with my family, I tuck my legs under my butt and then open my laptop. Once I connect to the internet, I check my email and find one from my school. Reading it, I see an official letter attached that states I’ve been expelled based on unbecoming conduct while at the hospital that reflected poorly on the school.
I can’t fight the tears. They’re silent as they fall because I don’t want my father to hear. I don’t know how long I sit there, feeling numb and broken. I did nothing wrong, and Dr. Fisher used his bias to get me tossed on my ass. I couldn’t believe how ridiculous he could be. As much as I want to blame Ian, I can’t. Patients talk out of their asses sometimes when they are on heavy painkillers. Besides, my ties are closer to the mafia than Ian and what would happen once Dr. Fisher or the hospital saw one of my father’s guards lurking or my father popping up for a visit?
My mother knocks on my bedroom door and says, “Breakfast is ready.”
“I’m not hungry right now.” I’m not ready to face anyone, so Iclose my laptop, set it aside, and then tuck myself under the covers. “Sorry, but I’m still tired.”
She opens the door and peeks inside. “Jet lag?” I nod, and she smiles. “Get some rest, and we’ll save the shopping for tomorrow.”
“I’d like that.”
“Can’t wait,” she squeals before closing my bedroom door.
I dodged that one just barely, but I’m not sure how long I can hold off on the news that I’ve been kicked out of medical school. Once my father finds out, I’m sure all hell is going to break loose. He’s not going to stand for it. Hell, I’m not sure I’m going to take it lying down. I just need a moment to grieve a bit. Goodness, I wonder how Ian’s doing?
I sent a text to Claudia, wondering if Ian’s recovering well. She shoots a message back with a smiley face emoji and I feel better. Then she sends another. Call any time you’d like.
I reply, Will do when I get over this jet lag and my mother’s shopping sprees.
Don’t let her wear you out. You promised me we’d go shopping too.
I sent her an eyeroll emoji and then tucked my phone away to visit with my siblings.