Now, what happened?

FOURTY

LYNETTE

I sneaked into the bathroom with my phone, and dialled mom’s number at once. Honestly Racquez would have given up on me by now. I was not trying to be the ideal daughter at all, and that wasn’t fair. But, there was so much on my plate now, and I honestly couldn’t ignore it.

Damn!

It’s been a while I knew what happiness meant, and that was not good one bit. I dialled mom’s number with a sigh as I thought about Leone lying on his bed, looking so morose. Would he ever smile again? I honestly hoped that he would.

“Hello, darling,” mother’s voice rang out, jarring me.

I took a deep breath. “I’m annoyed with you, mom.”

She groaned. “Now, what happened?” She asked calmly.

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “You didn’t even bother to call me all these days because you’re in your honeymoon phrase. Do I even matter to you at all?” I asked dramatically.

Mom laughed.

“It’s not funny, mom.”

She sighed. “I guess you’re right. But, can you blame me? Emilio is spoiling me silly over here, and I honestly believe that I’m in cloud nine. It’s so crazy how humble he can be, and how he always seems to do the right things. I don’t know, dear. Coming back is not something I want to do now. I wish to stay here for as long as ever, darling.”

I frowned. “Really?”

“Hmm…”

I looked at my reflection at the adjacent mirror, and noted that I looked worn-out. Everything that had happened this past week was thawing at me, and determined to take a pinch of my sweat. Well, that was how I saw it at the moment.

“Darling, please don’t start your horrible taunting right now. Be happy for your mom like I always tell you too. This is the beginning of our best lives, and we can’t afford to be ungrateful. Not so many people have the opportunity of starting off one more time,” she said briskly.

If only you knew that things were going to change around here, and there was nothing that we could be able to do about it. If you knew, then this wouldn’t be happening now. You wouldn’t be so ecstatic about your sham of a beginning. Well, it was what it was.

“Well,” I said slowly. “You’ve gotten what you wanted, so that should be enough. I have to go, mother,” I said stiffly.

“Lynnette,” mother called.

“What?”

“Try not to struggle with life so hard. Enjoy the moments you have now. Times have changed. Goodbye, darling,” she said softly, and the line went dead.

Why the hell did I even call her in the first place? I really should have stopped myself from calling her. Mother sometimes seemed out of touch with reality. Or, was it that I was too harsh on her? I mean, she had no idea what has been happening for the past few months, so it was kind of unfair of me to judge her the way I did.

Damn!

I was about to put my phone in my pocket when I thought of Isabella. It was just her in the mansion, excluding the servants, and we haven’t called to know how she was doing for once. That wasn’t right. I should call her.

Was it too late?

I checked my watch, and it was still 4 pm. With a sigh, I dialled the landline. One of the maids picked it up, saying, “Russo’s residence, what can I do for you?”

I took a deep breath. “This is Lynnette, and I would like to speak to Isabella,” I said calmly.

“Oh, please hold on a minute, ma’am,” she said calmly.

I waited patiently till I heard a tiny voice at the other end of the phone. For some reason, my chest constricted tightly. I had no idea that I would miss her this much, and I haven’t known her for so long a time. Well, she had definitely grown on me.

“Hi, baby,” I said softly.

“Sister Lynette,” Isabella shrieked.

I chuckled at how silly she could be. “How are you doing, dear?”

There was a dramatic sigh, which I knew came from her. “I’m not doing good at all. And, you know why,” she accused.

“I do?”

“Yes, you do. Both you and brother left me just by myself, and now, look at how I’m faring! You’re not here to see it, so I would tell you. I’ve barely had your awful pancakes, and no-one is taking me to the amusement parks or allowing me to go on kiddies parties. You know the one I went on the last time. My friends think the worst of me at this point,” she said dramatically.

I couldn’t help, but smile. I trust Isabella to draw the whole thing to be bigger than it was. It was too bad that I couldn’t indulge her this time. Leone wasn’t ready to go return home, and I had a feeling that he wouldn’t leave till he found his mom.

“I’m sorry about that, Isa,” I said softly. “But, we need to stay here for a few more days, so try to adjust over there, ok? We would be back before you know it, though,” she said softly.

Isabella groaned. “This is just sad. Well, there is nothing I can do. I would wait for you both to come home, and then, you wouldn’t be able to leave me again.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her adorable threat. Isabella was just too cute, and I wished she never had any form of sorrow in her life. I know she was surrounded by money and love, but still, I wanted her to be able to reach the sky and fly. I had full faith that she would be a wonder to behold in her later years. But, now, I just want to protect her from the world.

“I won’t. I and your brother misses you a lot,” I said softly.

She laughed softly. “I miss you both, too. But, where is brother? Can I talk to him, too?” She asked politely.

Oh, dear! The last time, Leone was down on the bed, and was acting so weird. Hopefully, I would be able to pester Leone to talk to his sister. I placed a hand on the speaker of the phone, hoping she wouldn’t be able to hear a word that I say.

I stepped out of the bathroom, and noted that Leone was still in the exact position I had left him. Oh, dear! What should I do now?

Slowly, I made a move towards him, and climbed on the bed. I leaned down, pecking him on the cheek. He turned, his eyes blood-red from crying. He was still crying, but it wasn’t so bad. I bit my lip as I looked at him, feeling my heart crack into a billion pieces.

“What?” He asked in a thick voice.

“Isabella,” I said simply.

He turned away from me and faced the wall, and I knew the answer to my unspoken question. He didn’t want to talk to her. I sighed a bit as I moved away from his bed, placing the phone back on my ear.

“Isabella?” I asked softly.

“Sister Lynnette, where is brother Leone?” She asked feverishly.

I gave a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry, darling. But, your brother is fast asleep, and he wouldn’t be able to come to the line right now. We would call you back soon,” I said softly.

She sighed. “Ok,” she said in a resigned voice.

I had a feeling that she wasn’t really convinced with the lie, but she didn’t say anything. Or, was I just projecting because I wasn’t a good liar? Damn! I needed to stop overthinking. I disconnected the line, and turned to Leone. His shoulders were moving in angst, but still I should leave him be for now.

I slowly turned to go to my room, and handle my things, when suddenly, I was pulled on a hard body. A gasp tore my lips.

“Leone?” I queried.

His lips slid to my ears and then, to my neck, and involuntarily closed my eyes at the sensations I was feeling. I leaned into him. If this was what he wanted, then, I would readily do this for him. Abruptly, I was turned, and my hands was tightly hooked behind me. I stared into Leone’s eyes, and felt my heartbeat skyrocket.

“I need your help, Lynn,” he said softly.

I nodded. “You know you don’t need to ask.”

The corner of his lips pulled in a smirk. “I know,” he said softly. “I would like you to come with me. I feel I would be able to get my mind to work right when I’m out there. Plus, it would be an opportunity to go to the asylum, and enquire. Though, I can’t do it on my own. I…” he licked his lips slightly. “I’m scared of that place.

I stood on tiptoe as I kissed his jaw slightly, enjoy the way his stubble pierced my lips. “I would come with you.”