Page 6 of Betrayed By Sin
I pause, staring at myself as if seeing her for the first time.
And then I move to the vanity, my hands trembling slightly as I sit down. The array of beauty products in front of me feels strange, like I’ve never used them before. Bria is usually the one who does it for me. She has such an eye for that. I take a deep breath, calming my racing thoughts as I begin to apply my makeup. I start with foundation, blending it evenly, focusing on each stroke as if it will somehow make me morepresent in this life I’m trying to fit into.
The lipstick is a soft nude, just enough to highlight the fullness of my lips without feeling like I’m trying too hard. I brush some blush on my cheeks, trying to add color to the pale face that has seen too much heartache. And finally, I applymascara, the dark lashes adding a bit of contrast to the softness of my features.
I am Magnolia Rusco. I echo out loud to myself in the mirror.
I reach for the small jewelry box on the dresser that has my name engraved on it. Inside, I find a white gold necklace, its chain delicate and the pendant a small, intricate flower.
I quickly grab onto my magnolia necklace, the one Sin got for me, and rip it away from my neck, tossing it onto the floor.
I slip the new one on, a gift from my mother, feeling the cool metal against my skin, and I almost expect to feel her presence with me, like I’m close to something I never thought I’d have.
Just as I’m finishing up, there’s a soft knock at the door. I look over, startled.
"Magnolia?"It’s Cameron’s voice."Dinner’s about to start. Are you ready?"
I take a deep breath, turning away from the mirror one last time."I am.”
The dining room is grand, bigger than any room I’ve ever eaten in. A long mahogany table stretches nearly the length of the space, polished to a gleam beneath the chandelier’s golden glow. Crystal glasses reflect the flickering candlelight, and the scent of roasted meat, garlic, and fresh bread fills the air.
I hesitate in the doorway, my fingers gripping the trim as Cameron walks past me, nodding towards my mother. She stands, her crimson dress sweeping the floor as she walks to me. “You look beautiful.” She whispers, her eyes brimming with tears that she bats away.
“Thank you for the dress.” I say quietly, nerves settling in as I look around. The room is full, at least a dozen people, all seated, all waiting.
All waiting for me.
It’sa scene from a life I never had.
A meal with people I should know, in a house that should feel familiar, at a table that should have once been mine.But it’s all foreign.
My mother stands beside me, composed but unmistakably emotional as she scans the faces around the table. “Everyone,” she says, her voice firm but soft with something unspoken. “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Magnolia.”
The silence stretches for a breath. Then another.
A chair scrapes back, and a woman rises, pressing a hand to her mouth. She has silver hair swept into an elegant twist, striking green eyes that remind me of Maria’s, and a face lined with both age and beauty.
“Oh, cara mia,” she whispers. “Look at you.”
She steps toward me hesitantly, as if afraid I’ll vanish if she moves too quickly. Before I can react, she wraps me in a firm embrace, her perfume floral and familiar even though I don’t remember ever smelling it before.
“I’m your grandmother, Mariana, on your mother’s side” she murmurs into my hair, her voice thick. “And I have waited for this moment my entire life. To hold you again.”
Again? I hope my mother’s letter is correct, that the answers I need will happen soon. Hopefully it isn’t here, with all of these people who look like they’ve seen a ghost.
She pulls back, blinking rapidly, and cups my face like she’s trying to memorize every detail. “You look so much like your father,” she says, voice breaking.
A lump forms in my throat, too heavy to swallow down.
Before I can think of what to say, a tall, broad-shouldered man with salt-and-pepper hair and deep-set eyes steps forward. He claps a strong hand on my shoulder, his grip warm, grounding.
“I’m Luca,” he says, his voice deep but kind. “Your father was my brother. And you,” His jaw tightens. “You were never forgotten, Magnolia. Not for a single day.”
A wave of emotion crashes over me. It’s too much too fast, but at the same time, I don’t want them to stop. I don’t want this moment to end.
One by one, they introduce themselves. Cousins, uncles, aunts. Family. Family who, despite the years of separation, look at me with nothing but love.
I find my seat beside Cameron, who gives me a slight, reassuring nod. Across from me sits Mariana, my grandmother. “We made all your father’s favorites tonight,” she says. “He would have wanted that.”
