Page 65 of Remember When We
Like a river that continuously flowed the tears came and I wanted to cry off all of the devastation.
This however wasn’t like the pain that came with loss. It was the type of pain that came with feeling hopeless, desperate, and unable to come up with a resolution to a problem. It was exactly what this was.
It was a problem I needed to talk about with someone who could help me reason. Not Gio, because he wasn’t the type to reason. When I saw his face the other night looking at me and Frankie, I knew he was thinking we were together. I didn’t know if he knew I lied. He was far from stupid and far from the type to accept my answer easily, which I now saw screamed lies.
Pulling in a deep breath and taking a second to gather my thoughts I managed to tell Carla what was happening.
She shook her head when I was finished.
“Don’t do it. Don’t fucking do it.” She simply said, her face stern the expression completely formidable. “I know you. You’re a strong woman Lyssa. But you are human and as humans when backed into a corner under serious pressure we cave and crumble sometimes. You can’t always be strong. But right is right and wrong is wrong. He gave you that option, because he can see that you’re with Gio. It’s something he’ll use to play with you.”
“You think so?” I asked.
“Yes.” She gave me an incredulous stare. “Of course it’s a game. Lyssa if that was an option, and I’m not saying it’s a good one he would have given it to you well before now. I know you would have still continued to pay him and pay him and pay him until it killed you, but he gave this option to you now only because of Gio. He knows there’s a chance that he won’t get you. So he offered the simplest thing and made it all sound like he was doing you a fucking favor. It would be easier to do it than tell Gio.”
I sucked in a breath. “He’s backed me into a corner Carla. He won’t wait for the house to sell. What if I can’t sell the house in four months?”
Again, she shook her head. “Fuck it, Lyssa. Don’t let this guy get to you and stitch you up the wrong way. No. You sell the damn house and make him wait. You’re doing this legit. Sell the house and make him damn well wait. If he has a problem with it then he can speak to Gio. If it comes to it that you don’t even have to tell Gio about the whole sex stuff. You just tell him you’re trying to pay off a debt and Frankie’s making it difficult for you. By then you’ll be in Chicago and he won’t want to come for you there.”
“Could it really be that simple?”
“Yes, but guess what I’d do?” Carla straightened up.
“What?”
“I’d just tell Gio. I’d tell him what’s happening the same way you told me. Straight up.”
I had thought about it. I did. It would probably be the easiest thing, but telling him would open the door for all kinds of shit.
Matthew and Dad ... Frankie wouldn’t hesitate to kill them. I saw it in his eyes and he meant it. There was no compassion in his eyes.
I shook my head. “I’ll try and sell the house. I’ll put it up for sale and get the money and pay him. I’ll tell Gio everything when it’s done. This is something I have to figure out on my own. I know him Carla. He won’t just listen to me talk the way you are. I’m pretty certain he’ll go crazy and there’s not just Frankie I have to worry about. He’ll rip into Dad too for letting this happen to me. I know he will.”
She nodded understanding. “I’m here if you need me Lyssa. But please don’t do anything stupid. Sell the house and push the other option out of your mind forever.”
I absolutely would.
* * *
I got home to find Gio sitting in the kitchen. He was reading the newspaper.
It didn’t seem like Dad or Matthew were here.
Gio got up and came over to me when he saw me. He pulled me into his arms and held me close pressing his chin to the top of my head.
“Baby doll, I missed you.”
“I went to see Carla.” I answered gazing up at him. “Where’s Dad and Matthew?”
“Gone food shopping. Matthew wanted grape jelly. That kid is so much like me.” He chuckled.
“You can say that again.” I chuckled. To Gio there was no other flavor of jelly in the world besides grape. All the others were nonexistent.
“I can’t wait to get to know more about him. In just a few days it feels unreal. I became a parent overnight, but I was one for this whole time.” He looked so proud. I wished I could share the pride with him.
“You’re doing good. He adores you. I’m pretty sure you’re his new idol.” In just these past few days Gio had split his time up between me, Matthew, and this investigation of his. He’d spent more time with Matthew though playing video games, talking bikes and fast cars, and playing with him. It was nice to see them together. It felt like a dream I’d wanted for so long and never thought I could really have.
“I wish I could tell him who I am.” He added with a thoughtful stare.
