Chapter Six: Show up
1003 Words
Elena
I didn't realize how long I had slept until I heard voices waking me up. I turned to the other side of the bed, but Nera wasn't there. I got up and traced the voices to a gym in the house. I didn't know we had a gym here. How big is this house? Nera sat on a tiny stool beside Russo, who was doing push-ups. The bare back of this man made me gasp for air—strong bones, wide build, and packed hair dropping water down to his small ears.
“I don't have a daddy either. He left me and momma,” my little girl said.
“Well, it's his loss because you're one amazing kid,” Russo replied.
I thought I could fantasise and watch them a bit longer, until Nera turned and spotted me by the door.
“Momma!” She screamed and ran towards me.
“How's your head, baby?”
“It doesn't hurt anymore!”
“That's good. Come on, we don't want to disturb him.”
“I know Russo is my new daddy, momma. Right?” I looked down at her as she showed her wide smile. I looked back up to Russo, but he had his back to us.
“Yes. Baby, can you give me and daddy some time alone?”
“Sure!” She said and trotted off.
I breathed in and moved closer to Russo. He held the weight plates bar as he heaved it up. His veins looked like they were about to protrude from his body. His jaw was locked in focus on the weight bar, but I could tell he acknowledged my presence.
“I need to get decorations for the house.”
“What for?” he asked.
It's Christmas, and here it looks like a graveyard.”
“I thought you hated Christmas?” he asked as he cleaned his sweaty arms. How did he know that? I mean, I do hate Christmas, but Nera loves it, which means I need to decorate.
“Doesn't matter,” I said. Russo smiled and handed me a black platinum card from his pocket.
“Here you go, buy what you need. Oh, Elena, I expect your decorations to stop at your room, not mine.” He looked at me with his usual cold stare.
Yes sir.
I quietly left the room without any response.
Shopping for Christmas decorations wasn't easy. Nera helped with the shopping, and we decided to stop by my family's house. I didn't call my mother to inform her of my arrival; besides, I was still angry at her. She consented to my marriage without telling me—she lied straight to my face. After the driver dropped us off, Nera and I walked to the patio out back where Mother usually sits during the afternoons.
“Granny!” The excited scream from Nera drew her attention to us as we approached her.
“Figured you'd be out here,” I mentioned as I reached her side, Nera jumping into her arms.
“It's been so long,” she smiled as she continued kissing Nera's fingers.
“I've been married for five days mom, it hasn't been long.”
She nodded without a word and placed Nera down.
“How are you doing?”
“Glad you asked,” I sat on the chair.
“You should know I agreed to the marriage because it was what's best for you.”
“What's best for me? Marrying someone I do not know is what's best for me, mother?”
She stayed completely silent, unmoved.
“I trusted you and I thought you trusted me too.”
“Nera needed a father—”
“I was her father!”
She walked closer to me and placed a hand on my shoulder, “You know what I mean—a father figure. You needed companionship too.”
“I don't give a damn about companionship, mother. You told me you would stand by my side as I took care of Nera. You know what's worse? You acted like I wasn't the one getting engaged.”
“I know, your Uncle's advice was that you shouldn't know. We had your best interest at heart.”
“You know, you didn't make a bad decision. Looking at it from the bright side, I get to leave this f****d-up family in the first place.”
“Don't say that!”
“You can not tell me what to do and not to. I have to go, my ‘husband’ will be waiting. Merry Christmas mother,” I said as I stood up and left.
*****
Thanks to four hours at midnight, I set up the decorations. Nera is going to be so happy when she wakes up. I was completely drained and I needed to rest. Since it was still seven p.m., I had prepared toast and eggs for breakfast. My phone pinged with a notification while I cleaned the dishes. It had to be Angelo, my brother. Let me tell you a little something about my brother—he is protective. Too protective for that matter. He's been calling since I got married. Apparently, he was kept in the dark and the family didn't tell him. I knew they wouldn't, Angelo would never let them marry me off to someone.
I sighed, snoozing his notifications and refocusing on the dishes. I hadn't heard someone enter the house until I heard footsteps behind me in the kitchen.
“Who the f**k are you?” I turned my head towards the voice and met a teen girl with black khaki pants and a crop-top that exposed half of her tiny breasts. She had her hair dyed to red but I could definitely tell she was a natural brunette.
“Are you abnormal? I asked who the f**k you are and what you're doing here? Where's my dad?”
"Sorry?"
She rolled her eyes, "Where is my dad?!'
- Writer
