Page 11 of Tito
I sucked in a breath and looked over at her. “Valen, you don’t have to—”
“I do have to.” Valencia shook her head. “I refuse to do this the wrong way, Tito.” She looked into my eyes and explained how she felt, “I allowed my hate for Jared to cloud my judgement and I just let Deacon’s men beat on him. It’s going to take a long time to forgive myself for that mistake. And what I did to Della was all wrong, why didn’t I see that at the time? I kept pushing away doubts about Deacon and Ophelia over the last several years because I was too afraid of the truth. I knew deep down something wasn’t right. But I never tried to find the truth, did I? If I lie to everyone now and involve you? I just know I will regret it. And I already have too many regrets as it is.”
“What are you talking about, mia cara?” my mother asked Valencia as she looked confused.
“You must know about how I got here, Zia,” Valen answered. “I was brought in while ziptied. I was lost, confused and angry.”
“I do not consider any of that to be your fault,” Mama said. “You were fooled and lied to for your entire life. You are not guilty of their crimes.” Shaking her head, she added, “If that was true? I would be guilty of the many sins committed by my brother. Dio mio! There are not enough Rosary beads in this world to make that right. I would never be able to repent enough.”
Romeo and I both chuckled.”
“Do not laugh,” my mother chided us. “I pray to Mother Mary every day for that man’s soul.” She looked over at Valencia again and gently coaxed her, “Tell us what has happened.”
“Deacon texted me,” Valencia admitted as she took her phone out of the pocket of her sundress and tapped the screen to get to her texts. Handing the phone to Julianna, she then went over and sat at the kitchen table.
My mother came over with a covered plate. “It’s still warm.” She set it down in front of her then turned to wave at me. “Mio caro, sit next to her.” She motioned to the chair next to Valencia.
Of course, I did what Mama told me to do. I sat down next to Valencia.
Romeo and Julianna were busy reading the texts. Then Julianna raised her troubled gaze to look at Valencia. “Do you believe him?”
Valencia shrugged as she looked up at her twin. “I’m not sure. But I really do want to know why Ophelia took me, don’t you?”
“She was insane,” Romeo reasoned. “Who knows why she did a lot of things in her life.”
“Maybe,” I spoke up as I poured some juice for Valencia. “But if it were me, I would want to know the reason too. Thewoman had two sons and yet, she killed their nanny then got her job, just to kidnap Valen?”
“It could be just like we believed,” Romeo argued. “She wanted Deacon to have a sibling.”
“Could be, might have been…” Valencia shook her head. “I need to know why I was yanked from my real family and placed into their lives.”
“So, you are actually going to meet him?” Julianna asked with a frightened edge to her voice.
Valencia took a sip of her juice and set her glass down. “I wanted to but I don’t think we can.”
I took my plate from my mother and placed it down onto the table. Looking over at Valencia again, I asked, “You changed your mind about this?”
Shaking her head, she replied, “It doesn't matter what I think or want, Tito.”
“The hell it doesn’t!” I exclaimed. “This is something a person can’t just up and forget. He can tell you why. Or give you whatever he has that explains it. Then you will know and can get on with your…ourlife together.”
The kitchen went silent as Romeo and Julianna stared at me and Valencia.
“Oh, wow!” Julianna smiled. “That’s wonderful, Valencia.”
She smiled back at her twin and said, “Call me Valen.”
I chuckled as I ate a forkful of scrambled eggs.
Romeo and Julianna looked over at me.
I shrugged as I swallowed a biteful. “Valen suits her better.”
Julianna came over and put an arm around Valencia’s shoulder. “I don’t care. I do love the name, but I’m just happyabout this news. You and him together.” She beamed at her twin. “I was hoping this would happen.”
Taking a sip of her juice Valencia stared at her. “What?”
Romeo laughed. “We could all see how Tito looked at you. I think that started the day you arrived. Then he followed you around like a puppy dog.”
