Broken Pieces

Untitled Episode 18

Sitting behind my desk, getting ready for my first meeting of the day. Eva walks in and sits down in front of me with my luggage from the Hamptons. You have some explaining do Reiley said Eva. Oliver is going to be taking over all the meetings today, because we are going to chat. Eva, you can’t push my work load on Oliver. Eva stands up and locks my door. Fine, we will talk here. If Oliver needs help, you are in the building. I take a long breath and pinch my nose. I know my best friend will not give up on this. I should have listened to Lorenzo and stayed out of work today. Eva snapped her fingers at my face, Hello Earth to Reiley. Leaning back at my desk, I put my feet up and got ready to fill my best friend everything. It is almost 1pm by the time I get done feeling Eva in on everything. Now we are heading down to my car. She would not take no for an answer on not tagging along to me my grandmother's. Eva, you know you don’t have to come with me, right? Yes, I do. I want to be here for my friend and help you deal with this. You don’t like to let people in, so I force myself along. "You are stuck with me till death do us part," says Eva. Eva, you are the greatest friend ever. You can handle the more default things out of all 3 of us. Why is Ava the one that doesn’t like dealing with the default things? She likes to help dig the stuff up and bail. She just likes to get the information and walk away. She is the kindest one of us 3 You know that is right, Reiley. Yes, Eva, I do know that, so we will keep some of the things we talked to ourselves. I told you everything because I needed to let someone in I truly trusted.

Arriving at Mrs. Masino’s house, Lorenzo, is waiting for me. He opens the door for me to get out, see you brought your friend with you. I did indeed bring my friend for moral support, Lorenzo. Come on ladies, let's have lunch, Mrs. Masino has a feast waiting for us. We follow Lorenzo into the house. He stops me and tells Eva to go ahead. Reiley, I just wanted to pull you aside to say if you need anything from me after that, I’m here for you. I have dark secrets I hide from my friends and family. No one knows of the secret life, now that is in danger of being found out Lorenzo. Now someone close to me knows about my secrets. I just told one of my best friends about everything, that is why she is here. She pushed the judgment aside to be here for me. I will deal with the outcome because I need my friend. "Glad she is here for you, Reiley, I’m here too if you want to count on me," said Lorenzo. That is the thing: I don’t trust you; I have no idea what your motive is here. You and I are the same in so many different ways. Trust is something we don’t give out easily, we stay guarded for protection. You have a lot to learn, Reiley, you will find out my true intentions very soon said Lorenzo.

Sitting around the table eating lunch waiting for the truth to come out. I feel like I’m about to throw up, my hands are sweaty, and my head is pounding. Eva reaches over and grabs my hand under the table. When I look at her, she gives a small smile for comfort to relax. Closing my eyes to rebalance myself. Mrs. Masino noticed my nervousness. Are you OK Reiley? Yes, just wanting to go ahead and rip the band-aid off so I know what is going on. I’m not the best person for waiting for information that affects my life in a big way. I understand Reiley. First thing is please call me Rose or Grams. After all, we are family. With time, we will become very close. Let’s go to my office and talk alone. I want you to feel more comfortable. We can get to know each other better as well. Rose, I think that is a wonderful idea. Thank you for your kindness. Let’s finish eating lunch and we can go have our chat. We start eating and everyone is having small talk about their lives. I sit here listening to everyone chat away. The whole family is there. Eva’s boyfriend, Nico, is sitting next to her chatting about how their weekend was with his father.

Reiley, are you ready to go talk in my office? Rose asked. Standing up I followed Rose to her office; I took a seat in the chair in front of the desk. Rose sits down and hands me a file. You can open it after I explain everything to you. Reiley, now that we know you are my granddaughter, I want to have a relationship with you. I understand that the information will make your life change. I believe it will change for the good. We finally have you in our lives with some of the questions answered that you have been searching for. Your father found out about you through your mother when you were 4 years old. Your mother knew who your father was and how to hide from him. Now here we are 20 years later. Before you ask yes, your father searched for you. He did find you when you were 12, living with the Blacks. He watched you for 6 months and had dinner with caseworker about the Blacks. She explained everything to your father about what they knew you went through. The hardest thing my son had to do was leave you there. He was afraid that if he took you, it would put you back into danger.

You see your father was The Don, head of the mob. His life was full of danger, and he was scared for you. If his enemies found out about you. You would be the biggest target for your father. They would have used it in any way to weaken or kill your father. He didn’t want you hurt anyway, especially after hearing everything you had already been through. I didn’t agree with his choice of leaving you with the foster family. My son was a stubborn man. He did not want to do the DNA test then to prove you were his. He wanted to keep you hidden away from everyone so you would be safe. He always watched your life from a distance, because in his heart you were his baby girl that he couldn’t hold close. The whole situation tore him up. He became the monster everyone feared. My son and I relationship was not the best after that. I fought him every day to bring you home. I tried for years to convince him, you would be safe. That we as a family could protect you from harm and bring peace to his heart by having you. Then my daughter was taken by one of our enemies. They used her to get to your father. He tried everything to get her home alive. They cut her up in pieces and delivered the pieces to every family member.

After that, your father stopped watching you. He was afraid someone would find out about you. So, as a family, we walked away from you. At that time of grief, we thought that was the best thing for you. We couldn’t lose you either. The revenge he took for his sister: He distorted everyone that was involved. In that war he lost his best friend and right-hand man. That is where Lorenzo comes into all this. He is 4 years older than you. He was 16 when his father died. He was already in training for the family business. Your father had to take him in as his own when Lorenzo’s father died. Your father trained Lorenzo to take over for him, so when your father died 2 years ago, Lorenzo took over as the Don. He has known about you since he was 16. Lorenzo took over watching you for your father, the pink roses you would get every year for your birthday. They came from your father; Lorenzo would deliver them to your parents. See your father assigned Lorenzo to be your keeper. He wanted someone very close to him to keep you safe. Lorenzo stayed hidden and reported back to your father about you. Every mild stone you completed was reported back to him. That is how much he loved you from a distance. He couldn’t be there for you like he wanted. He tried in his best to be there with you, the only way he thought he could. "I’m going to bring Lorenzo in here, because he can fill you in on all the rest," Rose said.

Rose walked around and hugged me;" I will give you some time before we come back in to explain the rest," Rose said. Thank you for giving me space, Rose. I’m broken over all that I found out. I can’t stop crying. Why does my life have to be like this? I can’t stay here and have a meltdown. I called Oscar to pick me and Eva up. I need some time. I stood up and walked out to the living room. Everyone looks at me, with a shaky voice. I told Eva that Oscar would be here soon. Reiley, do you really want to leave? Eva said. Yes, I need to leave! I need some time to process everything Rose just told me. I can’t handle any more information at the moment. Eva, if you do not want to come with me, that is completely fine. I looked at everyone else in the room. I’m sorry for leaving, I just need some time alone. Eva came to hug me," Reiley, I will stay here. ""I believe you need time alone too," Eva said. "I’m a phone call or text message away when you need me," said Eva. Oscar texted me he was here. Eva, can you watch the company for me for a week? I need some personal time; I need to get my life back on track. I’m sorry to dump everything on you, Eva. Reiley, that is what friends are for. "I will help you take care of everything. "Just promise me that you won’t shut me out anymore," Eva said. I promise you, Eva. I will not shut you out and thank you for being my best friend. Getting in the car, I told Oscar to drive to my cabin. The long road trip will calm me. I’m glad they let me leave without a fight. I pull out my laptop and start working some before I close the world out.