Four
1598 Words
You mean to tell me he knows your back in town?" Rosa asks, shock written all over her face. " Girl, that's not possible. It's not even been twenty four hours and you haven't stepped out of your house yet.”
" Well, unless gifting severed body parts has become a new tradition in Ortisei, there's no other explanation to it.”
Her face disappears from the camera for a while, and when it returns, she's taken off her bonnet and is brushing her hair. " It's been five f*****g years! What does he still want from you?”
I shrug. Probably the same thing he wanted then.
Five years. Five whole years of trying to get over my childhood nightmare and he shows up the very day I return to my hometown.
The heavens must really hate me.
" Anyways," she drawls. “How was your first night at your sister's place. Did you see Rowan ? Bet he's hotter now.”
I roll my eyes. " We live in the same house, Rosanna. Of course I saw him, and don't get me started on how hot he is.”
Images of his well structured biceps and his six pack tatted torso invade my mind like soldiers on a battlefield.
“Ouuu. I smell some forbidden romance brewing.”
" Then you should definitely get your senses checked.” I lean my phone against the mirror of my dresser and proceed with getting ready for the day. " Rowan doesn't like me that way.”
" Says who?” She asks, disbelief flooding her tone. “I saw the way he looked at you during high school prom. The way his eyes darken when he calls you, ‘Mia Cara.’ Dudes got something for you.”
For a moment there I believe Rosa. I believe that he feels something for me and doesn't just see me as his wife's sister. But no matter what scenario I make up in my head, reality still remains the same.
He is my sister's husband and only sees me as a little sister. He's been like a big brother to me long before he got engaged to Lara. I was just a stupid girl with silly dreams that are best left as dreams.
“Rowan doesn't feel anything for me, Rosa. Besides, I'm over him now." I tell her, the lie tasting like acid on my tongue.
" If you say so,” she says, giving up the topic, but obviously not convinced. " I saw Lettie last night and she's super excited to hear we are back in town."
“We just got here and you already toured the place"
“Of course, duh," she says, like it was the most usual thing to do. “Juliet Santiago, this is Christmas season. It's for enjoying the beauty of life and nature, not sulking in your room like a ninety year old granny.”
An involuntary laugh escapes me and her smile widens like she just solved world hunger.
We talk for a few more minutes before hanging up after deciding she'll pick me up in thirty minutes time. Just enough for me to get ready and have breakfast.
I take my time to dress up. We'll be presenting our documents at the company we are to intern at, and I want to make a good first impression. I dress up in a modest blue dress and black flats and step out of my bedroom.
The house is empty and the only thing I see is a note on the counter next to a plate of food. I open up the note and of course it's Rowan's impossibly neat handwriting.
“Good morning, Mia Cara. Lara made breakfast, it's in the fridge. You can heat it up and eat before stepping out. Take care of yourself."
My heart does that thing it usually did back then, when he'd reach over and clean up leftover food from the corner of my lips or tuck away stray strands of hair from my face.
I don't bother with breakfast. Rather, I make a quick cup of coffee and drink before Rosa horns outside.
The cold Ortisei air nips at my cheeks as I step outside, but it’s a refreshing kind of cold. The kind that wakes your senses and forces you to exist fully in the moment. Exactly what I need after last night.
Rosa waves wildly from her little red Fiat, her curls bouncing with every motion. “Good morning again, sunshine!” she calls as I slide into the passenger seat.
“Morning,” I mutter, adjusting the strap of my handbag.
But Rosa isn’t having it.
Her eyes narrow. “Nope, absolutely not young lady. You’re not giving me zombie energy today. Today is the first official day of Christmas season for us. We’re going to breathe in happiness, forget about all the trauma and sad events and go crazy.”
I give her a suspicious side-eye. “We’re supposed to be heading to the company, Rosa. ”
“Relax,” she says, driving off. “We’ll drop the documents, but first, we’re going Christmas shopping.”
I nearly choke on my coffee. “Rosa, we don’t have time for…”
“Oh, please, don't be a drag. We are supposed to meet with the CEO at eleven and it's barely nine. Besides, it’s literally on the same street as the market, so we have plenty of time.” She wiggles her brows. “And besides, you need it.”
“I do not.”
“You absolutely do. You received your first Christmas gift yesterday and they happened to be severed body parts. There’s only two acceptable responses to that; therapy and retail therapy. And since you don’t believe in the first one…”
“I believe in therapy!” I interrupt softly.
She shoots me a look. “Then why haven’t you booked a session since 2019?” I stay silent. " I thought as much.”
I sigh, defeated. “Fine. One shop. Just one, and then we go straight to the company.”
“Agreed,” she says sweetly. But I know she's lying, and I'll end up visiting the whole market.
~~~
Ortisei’s market during the festive season is buzzing with lots of positive energy. Twinkling lights, wooden stalls decorated with fir garlands, the smell of hot chocolate and cinnamon pastries wafting through the air. Children run around bundled in scarves twice their size, and couples stroll past holding hands like they’re starring in a holiday movie.
Rosa inhales deeply. “Ah. This is what life is about.”
“It’s cold,” I grumble, pulling my scarf tighter around my neck.
“It’s festive,” she corrects.
We wander through the stalls, and I have to admit… something in my chest loosens, even if just a little. The colors, the lights, the warmth of people chatting over steaming cups of tea, it’s the exact opposite of the darkness that showed up on my doorstep yesterday.
For a brief second, I feel… normal.
Rosa drags me to a stall full of Christmas sweaters. “Oh my god, look at this!” She holds up a hideous green sweater shaped like a tree.
I stare at it. “I’d rather wear the severed hands.”
She laughs so loudly a couple turns to look at us.
Then she finds another sweater. This one a soft cream color with delicate embroidery around the neckline. “This,” she says, holding it up to my chest, “is very Rowan sees you and forgets how to breathe.”
I shove it back at her. “Rosa!”
“What? I’m just saying. A little holiday makeover never hurt anybody.”
Before I can answer, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I pull it out.
A message from an unknown number.
I knew you'd come back.
My stomach drops, and the air leaves my lungs.
Rosa notices instantly. “Jules? What’s wrong?”
I swallow hard, forcing my hand not to shake. “Nothing. Just… spam. Let’s go. We should head to the company.”
She studies my face for a little too long, her brows pulling together. But she doesn’t push.
“Alright,” she says quietly. “Let’s go.”
I follow her through the crowd, but the festive atmosphere no longer reaches me. Not when the shadows of my past are already reminding me they haven’t forgotten.
Not when someone out there clearly isn’t done with me.
~~~
We arrive at CasaNova Corp a few minutes after ten because, of course, Rosa had to stop somewhere along the road to get Christmas bangles. Ridiculous looking trinkets with Christmas charms dangling from them.
Urgh.
We step into the office and head straight for the reception.
“We are here to see the CEO, we have an appointment with him,” Rosa says.
The girl nods. " He's expecting you.” She nods at an employee passing by. " Laura, take them to the CEO's office.”
We follow the girl into the elevator and it takes us to the top floor. She turns to us with a polite smile. “ The boss's office is the last door. He's expecting you."
We nod and she walks away.
" What do you think the CEO's like?” Rosa asks as we head down the corridor.
" Guess we're about to find out.” I place my hand on the doorknob and push it open.
My breath stops.
" You?”
- Writer
