Chapter Seven: Christmas Dinner
1123 Words
Elena
“Are you abnormal? I asked who the f**k you are and what you are doing here. Where's my dad?”
“Hi, I'm Elena,” I said.
“Don't care.” She walked back to the sitting room, and I followed. Russo was by the stairs when he spotted us coming out of the kitchen.
“Dad!” she screamed and ran to him for a hug. Russo smiled while she was in his embrace. He smiled, and he has a daughter?!
“You told me you would return tomorrow; I would have come and gotten you.”
“That's because I wanted to surprise you,” she said, turning back to look at me with resentment.
Oh, goody. I married a man I do not know, and I didn't know he has a teenage daughter.
“This is Elena,” Russo introduced me as he came down the stairs with her.
“Our new help?”
Help?! Pleaseeeee. Who mothered this kid?
“No, your new mom.”
She froze for a minute and looked at both of us like we had pots on our heads.
“You can't be serious, Dad.”
“Sienna—”
“You promised you wouldn't! You're cheating on Mom with this wretch!”
“Watch your words, Sienna. That's my wife you're referring to!”
“And I'm your daughter!” she yelled and hurriedly ran up the stairs.
“I'm sorry,” I said to him.
“You don't have to apologize. She has to learn; she could get angry for all I care.”
“Let me talk to her,” I offered, eliciting a shocked stare from him. Maybe if I politely talk to Sienna, she could like me.
“You're sure? She's not going to listen.”
“You don't know that,” I smiled.
“She's a teenager,” he said.
I smiled warmly. “We are both girls. She'll listen.”
I walked up to Sienna's room, breathing in and out before I knocked on the door. I waited a few seconds before knocking again. Sienna got the hint and opened the door at the second knock.
“What the f**k do you want?” With her hands on her hips, she asked.
“I want to talk to you; can you let me in?”
“No.”
“Why? I'm not invited?”
“Look, I'm not a kid that you can sweet-talk.”
I peered in. “I know you're a grown woman now. So, can we both talk like civilized adults?”
“No!” She said and slammed the door in my face.
Oh wow. I thought that would work. I really need to up my game then. I need her to like me. I'm likable, right?
“How did it go?” Russo asked behind me.
“What do you think? Bad.” I walked back down the stairs, Russo tailing behind.
“Just give her some time; she'll come out of it. She's usually this dramatic.”
“She’s a girl,” I clarified.
“Girls are a lot of work.”
“I made some toast for breakfast; let me get—”
“Don't bother. I won't eat; I'm running late—I have to go.”
“Okayyy…” This morning has been nothing but a high level of weirdness.
******
Russo
I shouldn't have told my brother about Sienna's return this morning. Rocco talks more than a woman would; I wonder how Kaya handles it. Kaya is his girlfriend.
“You are really bad at parenting,” he said.
“Do me the honors and have a child.”
“I'll make a great parent. You? Not so much. Why didn't you tell her you were getting married again?”
“It wasn't necessary,” I responded. I didn't tell Rocco about my revenge scheme, it wasn't a topic to bring up. My family knew how much I loved Claire before she died. They believed lesser discussions about her would help me forget.
“Sienna deserves to know; it's been so long since—you know.”
“She should be happy; I got her a mother—at least she's going to stop the drama.”
Rocco rolled his eyes. “With all that strong-headed demeanor, I know you love Sienna so much. She's going through a phase; you know those things teenagers pass through every once in their life.”
This time, I rolled my eyes.
“She’s just fourteen.”
“Well, it's a phase; give her some time and don't blame yourself for it because I know you.”
“How's our new bride doing?” he asked.
“I didn't come here to talk about…my…wife, Rocco.”
He dropped the cigar with a sly smile on his face. “You haven't touched her, have you?”
“I don't want to talk about it.”
“Dude, she's your wife!” Sometimes I feel bad about not telling Rocco about my revenge scheme—but it is for the best.
“Don't you find her attractive?”
I do find Elena attractive—to be honest, she's a really beautiful woman. But she's just a pawn in my story; I don't mess with pawns or puppets.
“At least a nice holiday or honeymoon dinner would be nice; think about it—you know how your wedding turned out. Take her out, buy her nice things—women love it. Plus, it's Christmas, it'll be fun.”
I thought about it; I do feel bad about Nera's kidnapping. This is not such a bad idea.
“It is a good plan.”
“It's a great plan,” he said as he laughed.
After my time with Rocco, I went back home. Elena was asleep; the house was quiet and I didn't want to wake her. I returned late, maybe because I was avoiding asking her something important, and right now I'm anxious as I stood by her room door, staring at the doorknob—waiting for the door to open itself.
Maybe this was bullshit; could buy her flowers as compensation, right? Women love flowers. God, I hope she's not one of those who loves roses. I don't get the hype around those flowers.
Yes! Roses would do.
As I considered getting flowers instead, Elena stepped out of the room.
“Oh! What are you doing here? Did you want to see me?”
I stood there for some seconds before clearing my throat.
“Get dressed tomorrow, we're going to dinner.”
She looked taken aback: “A date?”
“Goodnight Elena,” I said and walked away.
- Writer
