Page 59 of Wish I Were Here
He waves me off. “Gotta get my steps in.” He shuffles over to me. “So, how’s the identity search going? You figure out who you are yet?” Between the people at the DeGreco,the community center, and apparently the whole neighborhood, I’m surprised he doesn’t already know.
I hesitate before answering. I’ve always known who I am. It’s the useless bureaucratic government system that seems confused. But then I remember the forged birth certificate and all of Dad’s secrets. Maybe I’m not so sure who I am after all. “I hope I’m getting closer.”
“Good, good.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a butterscotch candy, presenting it to me on the palm of his hand.
“Thanks,” I say, sliding it into my pocket.
Sal gives me a wave and heads toward the front door. “See you later.”
“Do you want to stay and say hi to Luca? He should be back any minute.”
“Nah,” Sal says. “I’ll see him when I get back. I’ve got to get to Banjo Night.”
I saw a flyer for Banjo Night when I was at the community center earlier. Without a program like that, would Sal just be sitting home, alone? I hope Dad can get a good group of performers together to help out with the fundraiser. It’s clear how important that place is to so many people in the neighborhood.
“Okay, have fun.” I run over to the front door to open it for Sal.
“You and Luca have fun, too,” he says as he walks past. And then he gives me a wink.
I feel my cheeks heat up again. I’m not surprised that everyone in the building knows Luca and I are spending time together. They’re all talking about this identity mystery. Butwe only kissed for the first time twelve hours ago. I don’t know how word traveled so fast. “We’re just—” But Sal is already shuffling slowly down the block.
I hear the ding from the elevator and turn around just in time to see Luca step off.
“You ready?” He checks the time on his phone. “It’s after five o’clock, and I’m officially off duty.”
I glance down the sidewalk one more time to make sure Sal is okay, but he’s moving faster than I expected and must have already turned the corner. I guess climbing those stairs has kept him spry.
Back in the lobby, Luca yanks off his black button-up shirt, revealing a fitted white T-shirt beneath, but for once, I’m not distracted by the flash of colorful abs that’s revealed as the hem slides up. Or at least I’m not as distracted as usual. Because I have my own outfit to worry about.
“Do I look okay?” I run a hand through my hair. When I came home from seeing Dad this afternoon, I washed and blew it dry, and then I tried on every dress in my closet. I opted for the blue to match my eyes. And maybe my mom’s eyes.
A shiver runs through me.
Luca cocks his head at me. “You look beautiful. And also like you’re about to puke. Are you okay?”
I shake my head slowly. “I have a three-decade history of picturing who my mom might be, and of building her up in my head.” I take a heavy breath. “I can’t believe I might finally get some answers.”
I would never say this part out loud—I can barely eventhinkit because it’s so irrational—but I’m overwhelmed byhow much I want her to be all those things I imagined. How much I want this wild birth certificate quest to lead me to her. And how much I want her… to want me.
“Whatever happens, it will be okay.” Luca reaches out a hand to give mine a squeeze. “You’re not alone.”
My eyes burn and my throat aches. I swallow hard and tighten my grip on his hand.
“Come on,” Luca finally says. “Let’s go get you your answers.”
The house is so… big.” I stare up at the three-story stone structure. Calling it a house is really a stretch. This place is a mansion. I take in the wide front porch, its roof held aloft by imposing marble columns, the mahogany front door flanked by sidelights set into elaborate wooden moldings, and the perfectly pruned topiaries dotting the manicured lawn. “How is it possible my mom ever livedhere?”
We’re parked across the street from the address Luca punched into the GPS when we got in the car. He checks my stolen hospital file and then peers back at the house through the driver’s side window. “This is definitely the address listed for your mom thirty years ago. You said your dad was really young when you were born.” Luca gazes at the house again. “So she was probably young, too, and this was her parents’ house. Or…” He raises his eyebrows. “Your dad was getting it on with a rich older woman.”
I breathe out a laugh. “I’m pretty sure he and my mom were just two dumb kids who didn’t use protection. But I guess I imagined that maybe my mom gave me up because she was poor and couldn’t take care of me. That she was chasing something important, or a better life.” I wave myhand at the imposing structure casting a shadow over the car from all the way across the street. “But this is—not poor.”
“The good news, though, is that it’s not an apartment building, either, which would probably mean she or her family were more transient. It looks like someone owns this place, and maybe they’ve lived here for decades.”
This almost knocks me sideways. Is it possible my mom—or at least her family—lived right here the whole time? That maybe I even passed her on the street? Would I have recognized her if I had?
Luca pulls on his door handle. “I guess there’s only one way to find out who lives here.” He steps out of the car. “Be right back.”
My mouth drops open. “Wait. Luca! Where are you going?”
