Chapter 48 Elisa
Elisa
If I’d been run over by a truck, I’d be better off. “I didn’t think it was necessary to use that many words to offend me, but congratulations, you’ve broken a record,” I say.
“I just told you that I love you,” he repeats, more convinced than ever.
“No, you just told me that you don’t understand a thing about me and, what’s worse, you don’t even care.
I’m not some beautiful figurine you can use to decorate your precious apartment in the center of London.
I’m not for sale, and I’d prefer a thousand times over to die of exhaustion after a day in the vineyard than live a life of comfort dependent on you or anyone else.
Everything has a price except dignity. How long will it take, Michael, for us to disagree on something and you to accuse me of costing you the air I breathe? ”
“I would never do that.”
“It’s not a risk I’m willing to take. I didn’t do it thirteen years ago. I won’t do it now.”
“What?” Michael looks at me, confused, and I realize that in my anger I’ve taken a step too far. “What would you have done thirteen years ago?”
“I had a daughter. With George.” There, the die has been cast. I finally said it.
“Say that again?” he hisses icily through his teeth.
“Your brother is Linda’s father,” I repeat. “He didn’t want to have anything to do with her, and I made do.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” Now he’s the one shouting, to the point that it echoes in the chimney flue.
“I’ve had a niece for thirteen years and didn’t know a thing about it?
! I would have given you a hand, I would have been part of her life, I would have taken care of her studies, I would have introduced her to different social circles, have her meet people who matter . . .”
“You just answered your own question: I didn’t want anyone to take away my freedom to make decisions as her mother. I didn’t want to have to ask permission from whoever was holding the purse strings,” I reply.
“You took away my right to have a family,” he growls, angrily. “Because, whether you like it or not, I am her uncle.”
I’m about to reply, but a thud in the room draws our attention.
It’s Linda, emerging from behind the cupboard, her face red and her eyes full of tears. She gives me a terrified look and runs out of the kitchen.
The hidden passage.
“Linda,” I call, ready to run after her, but Michael holds me by the wrist.
It’s not the firm and gentle grip I’m used to. It’s a grip of steel, which crushes my bones and stops my circulation.
“You know, Elisa, no one has ever made me feel as excluded as you have right now.”
“Then you must have had an easy life,” I reply.
“Maybe, but I’m your family too, and you took away my chance to be a part of it.”
“Part of my family? The family whose house you’re taking away? And Giada, whose relationship you ruined just to facilitate a transaction? You, Michael, don’t deserve to be part of my family, even if we don’t live with the comforts you’re used to. Now, excuse me, but I have to talk to my daughter.”
“Well done, it’s about time you started,” he replies sharply.
“I don’t accept lessons in courage from someone who until the day before yesterday didn’t even have the guts to tell the two women he fucked that he was using them.”
“Again with these women? You fucked my brother and didn’t even bother to mention it to me. Do you truly think you’re any better?”
“I didn’t fuck your brother. If anything he fucked me, and believe me, specifying who fucked who makes a big difference.”
“Really? Because the outcome seems the same to me.”
Enough, I can’t stand it any longer. “Perfect: You hid things from me. I hid things from you. It’s clear that neither of us trusts the other. We were both just hiding. Thank goodness this farce came to light.”
“Thank goodness.”
“I thank you for your kind offer, but you can keep your high-class life and continue to hang out with the people who matter without me and Linda.”
We’re facing each other, just inches apart, but it’s as if there are miles between us.
Where before there were burning embers, now there’s only ash. It will only be a matter of seconds before the wind blows away every trace.
We were friends.
We were enemies.
We were lovers.
Now we’re absolutely nothing.