Page 20 of Tito
“My buddy Luigi is an expert at old photographs,” Rocky told us. “Do you mind if I send him this? He could see if it was photoshopped.”
He and I looked over at Valencia.
Nodding her head, she shrugged. “Do whatever is needed.”
Rocky smiled at her. “Look, I know this is really hard,” he said. “But at least you have my dumbass brother here to help you through it.”
“Gee thanks, bro.” I chuckled. “I will remember to remind your wife about your dumbass mentality as well when I see her.”
Rocky snickered. “No need, bro. She is well aware of it.”
We both laughed together.
Looping her arm through mine, Valencia gazed up at Rocky. “I’m beginning to feel like, if this is true? I’m better off, maybe? I mean I know my twin won’t feel the same way, but—”
“You’re damned right I won’t feel the same way,” Julianna interrupted her as she stood beside Rocky now.
We looked up at her.
Julianna shook her head and sort of gave us a half shrug. “I don’t know how to feel right now.”
Valencia placed her hands into her lap and stated very quietly, “If we are Walkers, it means we have a huge family for one. I mean I realize Ophelia wasn’t…” She let out a breath. “Stable, but did you look at that photo? I did and there was such sadness in her eyes. I need to know why. We need to know all of it.”
Julianna looked red in the face as she snapped, “Stable? She was utterly and completely insane, Valencia! I watched those videos of her and of our supposed law abiding brother. This is all a damned lie! Another one of her made up fantasies!”
Valencia stood from her chair to face her and asked, “How do you know? Did you ask your…Ourparents?”
Julianna slowly shook her head. “I called them this morning and then remembered that they are on a flight and I couldn't get through to them.” Her voice sounded lower now.
Valencia looked curious. “A flight?” she asked. “To here?”
Shaking her head, Julianna replied, “To Italy. One of my mother’s relatives is ill.”
I paused and looked up at Rocky.
He stared at me then he looked a bit spooked as he realized what I must be thinking. Shaking his head, he said, “No way, man.”
Julianna and Valencia stared at him, then at me.
“No way what?” Romeo walked up. “What’s happening over here? It looks like an intense meeting and I wasn’t invited.” He smirked.
I was at a loss as this was something I’d never even considered. “It's a big, wide world and Italy has a lot of people in it.”
Julianna looked confused as did Romeo.
“What are you talking about?” Valencia asked.
“My little sister…” I paused to motion at Rocky. “Our sister…Francesca, she is also in Italy as our grandfather is ill.”
Valencia sat down hard in her chair. “You are not thinking that…” Her voice faded away as she slowly shook her head. “No, no, no.”
Julianna now understood too as she stared at me then at Rocky. “That is a leap, don’t you think?”
“Look, right now, you and Valencia are living through ahugeleap,” I argued. “Parentage and all that it might mean.”
Julianna kept her gaze on me and motioned to Valencia. “If you two are related, it would be—”
“What is the family name over there?” Valencia cut her off as she looked panicked and had lost at least two shades of color in her face.
