Page 6 of Nothing Even Matters
“She can go to L.A. if she wants but my babies are staying here.” He replied. “I will figure out child care and all of that later. I’ll make do.”
“You seem awfully confident Faith is going to choose L.A. over her children,” Nicola mentioned, “that doesn’t seem like Faith.”
“Well, it didn’t seem like Faith to put out a news story that I almost broke a vase near her head when we fought one time,” Eli chewed the inside of his cheeks, “she took a lot of pleasure in letting people think I was an Italian Ray Rice.”
The infamous rumor that started the two-year silence ban between the former couple. Nicola wasn’t entirely sure if it was Faith herself or her protective friends and family, but over a course of a week, horrible news story after another came out about the D’Amato family, specifically targeting Eli.
The family hired acclaimed PR firm, McCormick, Reed, and Sheppard. Advertising and PR wunderkind Scott Reed did an image overhaul of Madre’s. As soon as the allegations came out, news story after another about the good of Madre’s and Eli’s generosity topped it. The allegations were soon lost in all internet gossip.
Tension between the families were so bad, the remaining D’Amato Brothers – Nick, Kieran, Joey, and Tony – refused to have any contact with Faith or anyone associated with her, in solidarity with their brother. Tony, who was seeing Faith’s best friend, Krista, promptly broke up with her and banned her from his shop.
Eli demanded Faith revert her name back to Faith Sheppard and threatened severe financial consequences if she didn’t. Faith reluctantly agreed, if only she received more child support, which Eli was glad to fork over so he wouldn’t have to deal with her in person.
That was two years ago. While Faith made amends with the rest of the D’Amato family, Eli was the lone holdout. If Eli and Faith had to be at the same place, he avoided her as much as possible, including school events. He made sure any interviews he gave included absolutely no questions or references to his ex.
“Faith has apologized for that, Eliodoro.” Nicola stated. “She released a statement clearing everything up.”
“It shouldn’t have gotten out to begin with. I threw a vase, yes. Was it near her head? No. Was it near her? No. I did it out of frustration and anger when the affair happened. But that’s not the point of why I was angry at her for or whoever for leaking that story and the numerous other ones that followed,” Eli paused to take a sip of water to calm his rising anger. “That leak told me one thing I’ve known all along – she will never forgive me for the affair and whatever she can to hold it against me, she will. The very last time we spoke, she told me she wished I were dead. I told her wish granted. I’m not the bad guy here.”
“She’s the mother of your children, Eliodoro.” Nicola replied. “Regardless how you feel about her, you need to respect her on that level.”
“And I do. I don’t speak ill about her at all.” He defended.
“You don’t speak of Faith, period.” Nicola replied. “That’s disconcerting.”
“And as always, it’s my fault.” Eli conceded. “I can mind my own business and it’ll still be my fault in some way.” What Eli wanted to say – his mother was still punishing him for the sins of his father – was on the tip of his tongue. He decided it would be in his best interest to remain silent.
Nicola felt the coolness emitting from her son and reached over to grab his hand to soothe things over. “I’m not taking anyone’s side, Eliodoro, and you know this. Your children have two alive, physically, and mentally able parents who hate each other. What example are you both setting for them? Your three babies…”
“Three?” He repeated.
The paternity of their second child was still an issue that hadn’t been resolved, and reason for the divorce. “Humor me,” Nicola pressed on, “your three babies need their parents. Nathan asked me the other day why does Daddy hate Mommy so much?”
Eli shook his head. “He picked that up from his mother.”
“He picked that up fromyou,” Nicola sternly replied. “Eliodoro, what does the Bible say about forgiveness?”
“If I forgive someone for theirs, God will forgive me for all.” He meekly replied. He hated when his mother was right, which was often.
Nicola reached over and grabbed her son’s hand again. “It doesn’t have to be today or tomorrow, but you need to forgive her. You two need to co-parent in a healthy way. Your children need to see that despite problems in the past, you two are solid now. Do it for your babies, Eliodoro. Do it for them.”
