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“I’m not finished. I recently came across some very interesting information,” I snarl. “I went to our lawyer to add my children to our family trust.”
Her eyes widen.
“You can imagine my disbelief when I found out it was already under review, that somebody had recently tried to amend it.” “I had to do it,” she splutters.
Fire flickers in my eyes, I feel it deep in my soul. “You cut your own daughter from our family trust?”
She tilts her chin to the sky in defiance. “I warned her.”
“To what….to toe the line, to do things your way. To not marry Helena?” “Helena is no good for Carina.” “Because she’s a woman?” I yell.
“Because she’s American. I have told you all again and again, I will not tolerate this behavior,” she yells at the top of her voice.
“You do not get to dictate who we love. You racist bigot!” I bellow. “Carina is the backbone of Ferrara Media; she has worked her guts out for years and you had the audacity to cut her from her inheritance without telling any of us?”
“I stand by it.”
“What have you ever done for Ferrara Media other than to drive our father away?” I scream.
“He left of his own free will,” she spits more of her venom. “If he loved any of you, he would have stayed.”
“Let me make something crystal clear, Mother. I have blocked the amendment; I’ve told Dad what you tried to do and he’s fucking furious. I will spend every last fucking penny I have to protect Carina and fight
this…and you…” I whisper, “…will get nothing.”
She stares at me, guilt written all over her face.
I had hoped I was wrong; I’d hoped it was an error.
The truth hurts.
“How does it feel to betray your own children?” I whisper. “To cut your only daughter out of her inheritance because you don’t like her husbande?”
Her eyes well with tears. “I’m protecting her, I’m protecting you all.”
“The only person we have ever needed protection from…was you.”
Her silhouette blurs. I can’t do this. I can’t be here; I can’t fight for her to be a good person any longer.
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I turn and stumble out of her apartment.
That’s it, I’m done.
She’s broken my trust for the last time.
Sarah
I hear the front door click and I rush to the foyer. Gabriel is standing there; his tie is off and his hair is messed.
Pain is written all over his face.
“Babe,” I whisper as I take him into my arms, he drops his head into my neck and I hold him.
I don’t know what just happened, but it’s upset him deeply, I can feel it oozing out of his soul. We stand in each other’s arms for a long time, and
eventually he whispers, “I’m sorry I yelled at you.” “It’s okay.” He needs a soft place to fall.
He hugs me tighter.
“Your children want ice cream for dinner.”
I feel him smile into my hair. “Me too.”
I take his hand and lead him out into the back garden, where the children are painting on easels. “Daddy,” they call
in excitement. “We’re painting pictures for you with our new paints.”
“Great.” He smiles softly, and with his arm around me, he kisses my temple. “I’m so grateful that you’re here.”
Suddenly, the world is right again.
We lie in the darkness in the cocoon of our bed.
Gabriel’s head is on my chest, and I aimlessly run my fingers through his hair. Tonight we’ve hit a new level of intimacy. It’s not sexual or romantic, it’s a closeness that only family can provide.
He’s quiet.
And as much as I want to know what went on tonight, I’m not asking. He will tell me when he’s good and ready.
“I don’t know why she’s like this…” he whispers.
I keep my fingers running through his hair, I’m enjoying it as much as he is.
“She changed when he left.” Who left?
“And the worst part is, I knew he was going to leave and I never told her.”
I frown as I try to keep up with the conversation.
“I started working at Ferrara straight out of school, and there was no training period. I went straight to the top floor,
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straight into management.” I smile as I listen, he’s so good at his job, I’m not surprised.
“At the time, I thought it was because he believed in me…but now I know he was just…” He pauses. “He was training me to take over from him when he left. He had planned what was going to happen long before it ever did.”
