Page 20 of Taking Adalisa

“No,” I grit out through clenched teeth. “No, I do not understand, and no I will not accept it.”

Silence fills the air around us as we stare at each other. Both of us are glaring at one another as we breathe heavily.

“Matthias, dear, let her go for now. You know where she lives and works. Give her some time to cool off and wrap her brain around it all. Not everyone is like me,” his mother gently says. “And Adalisa? If you need anything, you are more than welcome to come here and ask anything. I know this is strange, but we are here for you. It’s going to be okay.”

Matthias stands and holds his hand out, but I don’t take it as I leave the booth.

“Thanks for not feeding me breakfast.” I roll my eyes as I walk away from them and out of the restaurant.

CHAPTER 7

ADALISA

“You’ve got a package!” I yell when Margery walks through the door of the store.

“A package? Me? From who?” she asks as she makes her way toward me.

Her face turns pensive as if she’s thinking about something very serious. I’ve seen that look too many times on her. Margery is thinking about the day Ethan died and how she wasn’t there for him.

“Margery?” I call out. “Are you okay?”

Margery smiles at me and closes the distance between us. “So, does the package say who it’s from?” she asks, placing her handbag under the counter.

“It doesn’t,” I reply, looking down at the box.

Strange, but it wouldn’t be the first time a package has been dropped off by the courier with only a name on it. Normally, there is a dispatch note explaining the contents.

She looks at me, her eyebrows furrowed. “Then, how do you know it’s for me? It could be for you.”

“Silly! It has your name on it,” I reply sarcastically.

“Did somebody give it to you?” she asks, taking a step closer to me.

I hold the box out for her to grab. “Nope. It was sitting out front when I got here. Had your name on it. I figured they knew what time I got in and left it a couple of minutes before. Come on, open it!”

Margery tentatively grabs it from me and places it on the counter. “Today really isn’t the day. Maybe we can say it’s for you? I’m not expecting anything,” Margery gently says and sighs.

“Feeling unwell?” I worry.

“Thankfully, no, but I have no doubt I will at some point. It’s been a while since I was last ill. I hope I don’t get sick soon.” Margery looks down at the package in wonder.

“Just take some preventive medicine: multivitamin, vitamin C, zinc. Get ahead of it,” I list everything that I can think of to ward off a virus.

“I’m not going to do that. You know I don’t really like taking medicine. Not unless I absolutely have to.” She rolls her eyes.

“But it could help you.” I give her a knowing look.

I don’t like taking pills either, but I do if I’m feeling like I’m going to get sick. I can’t afford to get sick, not when I’m the only one to look after myself. I don’t have anyone else to rely on.

“Or I could just eat right, get enough sleep, exercise, and drink enough water,” Margery suggests.

I raise my hands in the air. “Okay. Okay. I’m not going to change your mind. That’s fine. Now, will you please open the package? It has your name in bold, and I want to know what it is.”

Margery exhales and turns the package around, her breathing stopping as she looks at her name.

“Well, are you going to open it?” I ask.

“Uh, yeah.”

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