Clear as Day
Robbie
Iuncorked an Angeline pinot noir and drank a glass. Today my parents would answer for what they’d done.
I jumped at the hard knock. “Coming!”
“Hey!” Mom kissed my cheek. “Are you all right?”
My pulse was so hard I could hardly articulate. I nodded. “Come in.”
Father entered after her and hugged me.
I flinched, wanting to push him away, but willed my body to stay still in his embrace.
He walked in, chin high, shoulders back. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
What the fuck did he mean by that? The canvases were in my room, and this part was still empty except for the furnishings, ones he had selected for me. I never did anything about it because from the moment I entered, I wanted to move out. It didn’t feel like a home.
When my parents helped me move to Guaynabo, they said I was still living with them before the accident. I believed them, but there was something off. Something I couldn’t remember until last night. My home.
I was trembling and so close to losing it that it was hard to breathe. But I’d be the mature one. We’d talk like adults.
I ignored Dad and moved toward the sofa. “Wine?”
Mom beamed as she sat. “Oh, yes, dear. You know I’ll never say no to that.”
I poured the pinot noir and passed her a glass. “Dad?”
“No. I’m good.” Dad took a seat and wrapped his arm around Mom’s shoulders.
“So…” I touched my ring finger, taking a deep, cleansing breath.
“You seem nervous, Roberto. Are you okay?” Dad asked.
I clenched my fists by my sides. “We need to talk.”
Mom opened her eyes wide, then looked at Dad. She put the glass down. Her hand shook.
Dad patted her thigh twice and leaned forward. “What is it, son? Do you remember something?”
I do.
I wanted to scream. To know why the fuck they had lied to my face. I wanted to wipe that smile off Dad’s face. But first, I wanted answers.
Last night, I finally put a face to the man who had dominated my dreams for the last six months. To the voice that whispered words of love. To the touch for which my blood burned with lust.
Esteban. It was him. I had no doubt. That was why my body melted into him when he kissed me. And when our tongues clashed, sparks detonated throughout my body, and memories came crashing in. Memories of us. Of our love.
Everything was coming back, and as the hours passed, I recalled our place. I remembered our apartment. Our moments together. Our friends.
But there was something that didn’t make sense. Something I needed to clear up with my parents.
My stomach shrank. “I have one question. Why wasn’t Esteban there when I woke up?”
Dad stood, his hands in front of him. “Roberto, please. We were only looking out for you. That man is no good for you.”
“I don’t understand.” My breathing grew heavier. I darted my eyes between them.
The pounding in my ears was unbearable as Dad raised an eyebrow with that smugness he always carried.
He cleared his throat. “Everything I did was to help you. Esteban became violent.”
The hit on my chest was almost physical. Esteban? Violent?
“I wonder why…” I grunted. “Esteban is not a violent man.” I closed the space between us. “What the fuck did you do to make him lose it?”
Dad shrugged. “He had a letter that said you’d authorized him over us to take care of you. Obviously, we fought for its authenticity and won. Because how could you?”
I dug my nails into my palms as violence threatened to burst out of me toward my father.
“How could I what? Entrust myself to the man I loved? To the man who showed me the life I was missing while you had me trapped in your own little world? I lived twenty-one years of my life believing there was something wrong with me. Wearing a mask in front of your friends, colleagues, the church…” A sinister chuckle escaped me.
“The question is how could I not do it? The only option you left me was to leave. To put my past behind me. To step into my new life.” I shook my head and smirked.
“And you know what’s funny? He always pushed me to fix things with you.
He’s the one who made me call you all those times.
The one who made me come to talk to you, Mom.
And you paid him back by taking away what was his right. By pushing him away from me…”
“You’re defending him?” Dad gritted his teeth. “He attacked me. He broke my fucking nose.”
I wished I could have seen that. “Probably what you deserved.” I raked my hair back. “That still doesn’t explain why he wasn’t at the hospital when I came out of the coma.”
“Your father got a restraining order after the attack.” Mom stared at her intertwined hands.
My blood went cold. “He what?”
Her glassy eyes met mine. “I told him not to do it. I’m so sorry.” She started crying.
My heart ached for her, but she didn’t stop him, so in my eyes, she was as guilty as him.
I faced my father. “How could you do this to me?” I grimaced. “How could you take him away from me?” Tears threatened to leave me, but I held them in. I had to be strong.
“You should have never met him.” Dad bared his teeth, holding his chin high. “I had to make things right.”
I clenched my jaw. “So when you found out I had amnesia, that I’d forgotten him, you took the opportunity to keep him secret. Did you think I’d never remember?”
Dad scowled. “I certainly hoped you wouldn’t.”
Adrenaline rushed through my body, and the pain that had consumed me just moments ago became something else. Something dark.
My parents. The ones who should love me no matter what tried to erase the most beautiful thing that had ever happened to me. In their mission to make me “normal,” they found in my amnesia a chance to make me someone new. The son they always wanted.
Who in their right mind would think it possible to change who a person was? What made me who I was couldn’t be forgotten. It was rooted in my nature. If there was one thing Esteban taught me, it was to love myself for who I was, and my parents hated him for it. And that I would never forgive.
Before I knew it, I’d grabbed my father’s collar and yanked him to me. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Dad stiffened. He shuffled back to escape my grip, but I held him tight.
“I’m tired of your bullshit.” I shoved him away, and he fell on the sofa.
“Please, Robbie. Calm down. He’s your father!” Mom pleaded in vain.
“I won’t!” My voice cracked. “You’re supposed to be the two people who love me no matter what.
To be happy for me. But you left me. You abandoned me.
And for what?” My breathing was fast, and my chest was about to explode.
“You will tell me all that happened while I was out. And you will answer for all that you did. I’m done with your shit. ”
Dad fixed his collar. “You will show some respect. We’re still your parents.”
“Robbie?” Mom stood. “The restraining order was revoked two weeks ago. Esteban called right away.”
Father frowned at her.
I ignored him and approached her. “Do you know why he hasn’t told me who he is?”
Mom’s eyes were glazed. “Because he’s waiting for you to remember him.
” Her voice broke. “The doctor told us you needed to remember on your own. I guess she told him too.” She held my hand.
“I’m sorry. Before the order, he never left your side, nor did your friends. I should have never doubted your love.”
My heart melted at her words. I squeezed her hand.
“Viviana! What the fuck are you saying?” Dad flushed red. The veins popped at his temple.
Mom faced him. “I’m doing what’s right. He’s our son.”
“You’re freaking unbelievable!” Dad grunted and went to the door. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”
The apartment rumbled from the force as Dad flung the door closed.
“I’ll talk to him.” Mom gripped my hands. “Give him some time. Please forgive me.”
The tightness in my throat was hard to overcome, and all I could do was hug her. “We’ll find a way to work things out.” I held her at arm’s length. “I have one more question.”
Mom’s eyes brightened. “Anything.”
I touched my ring finger. “Where is it?”
Mom bit her lower lip. Her jaw trembled.
I leaned toward her. “Please, Mom.”
She brushed my cheek. “I’m sorry, Robbie. I told him not to, but he said we needed to root him out of your life.”
I tilted my head toward the door, then back at her. “What did he do?”
“He threw it away.” Fresh tears slid down her face.
“He what?” My pulse went crazy, and I had to fight the urge to run after him and beat him up. Fucker.
She touched my arm. “Robbie, please.”
I closed my eyes. “I need some time.” I rubbed the back of my neck, then led her to the door.
“I love you.” She kissed my cheek. “Please let me know how everything goes with Esteban. He’s a good man.”
I gave her a slow smile. “I will.”
Tomorrow I’ll get my life back.
It was Saturday at last.
I pushed away the memory of yesterday’s fight. As painful as it was, a great weight had been lifted from me.
“Robbie?” Gabrielle wiped my table and took my empty mug. “Are you all right?”
Gaby had a gentle soul and a good heart. She was a wonderful friend, and as much as I wanted to hug her and tell her I was back, I couldn’t. Not until I told Esteban. He should be the first to know.
“I am.” I rubbed my neck and cracked it. “I had a tough day.”
She frowned. “I don’t like it.” She punched her palm, pouting. “Tell me who did this to you, and I’ll put him in his place. Was it Esteban?”
I almost laughed, then held up my hands. “Never. He’s been nothing but good to me.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Oh.” She sat beside me. “Tell me everything.”
Esteban made his way to the table and ruffled Gaby’s hair. “Stop harassing Robbie.”
Her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets, and she stood. “Well, I’ll leave you guys to have fun.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
Esteban rolled his eyes. Once she headed into the break room, he took a step toward me. The café was empty, so I met him halfway and snaked my arms around his waist.
He hugged me tight, then slid his hands up my sides to frame my face. He kissed me sweetly. “I missed you.” He grabbed my hand. “Now, let’s put a smile on that face.”