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Song for this chapter: Soap By Melanie Martinez
Isabella
My wool scarf scratches the side of my neck as I clutch the bouquet I got for Lorain in my sweaty palm. I believe the woman at the gift shop mentioned that they were called hydrangeas.
I wander through some hallways and up a flight of stairs before I reach Lorain's room. I barely make it through the door before I feel everyone's eyes on me. It is a full house. Lorain, Don Pereira, Paulo, ahis parents Martha and Luciano. They all went quiet as soon as they saw me. Martha gives me a mean stink eye and everyone else except Lorain is staring at Don Pereira, awaiting his word, probably waiting to hear if they should shoot me right here where I stand. I feel Don Pereira's burning gaze on the side of my face as I lower my eyes and head to the ground, like a dog tucking my tail between my legs.
Lorain is the one to break the silence after about what felt like an eternity. "Oh for Gods sake let her come in. Isabella come here."
My feet protest but I do as she says and walk to stand next to her bed. I am probably a fool to think that Lorain can protect me but I guess a part of me is clinging to that hope. That's probably why I don't protest as she places her new born son into my arms. I almost forgot how small and fragile he is.
Despite the deadly tone of the room I smile down at her, "He's beautiful"
She smiles back at me and for a moment it feels like just maybe things will be fine. Well until Paulo takes his son back and Don Pereira starts talking English in his gruff and broken Portuguese accent. He has always done this, talk to me as if I don't know his mother tongue. Its his way of showing me how lower than him I am . "Isabella, come we must talk in private."
My heart falls to my feet and my ears start ringing. Please God if he kills me let it be quick. I turn to leave but Lorain grabs my hand and protests. "No, she will not go and if you kill her or even just touch her I will never talk to you again. Ever."
My mouth is dry and it feels like the room is spinning. Please Lorain I know you think your helping but your not, your just making thing worse.
Lorain continues, digging me an even bigger hole, "Isabella, will you be my son, Francisco El Rodriquez's Godmother?"
Martha's shocked gasp fills the room and I suddenly forgot how to speak. What!
Don Pereira's face is without emotions but I know on the inside he's livid. Martha's frantic murmurs of objection plays in the background as I have, what feels like a heart attack. i try to hide my emotions but I'm sure my face says it all. Terrified, shocked, confused. I don't even know what to feel right now.
Every one goes quite again as Don Pereira crosses the room, walking closer to me and Lorain. His bulking figure makes me want to scurry away but he has me trapped between him and the side of the bed. With a stern voice he says only one word. "Fine"
Fine? What does he mean fine? As if Lorain read my mind she askes, "Papa?"
He looks me up and down then back at Lorain. Even after al these years I still shrink under his cold and emotionless stare. Like a dog who disappointed its master. I nearly jump as he suddenly starts talking again. "Fine Lorain, you get your way. But your way always have cost. You know yes? You want the orphan girl to be family so bad, she will be family."
Every person in the room is holding there breath as he turns back to me. I immediately look down at my feet even before he talks to me, "Look at me daughter" he grips my jaw and forces me to look him in the eyes, "you have family now" he spits the words in hidden disgust at me "You will pay just like your sister. You will marry the man I choose." He drops my face and pull his cellphone from his suit pocket. He pushes a few buttons and puts it away. He looks at me again this time with a look of victory in his eye. "Car is waiting down stairs, go. We see you at wedding tomorrow. Parabéns, filha"
I don't know when, but I must have blacked out because the next moment I'm being strongly helped into the back of a black car.
The effects of me forgetting to take my medication starts showing as a stabbing pain shoots through my brain. Cold shivers racked my body and I curl up into a ball on the heated leather seats.
A million things are running through my brain. Where am I going? Why is Don Pereira doing this? As my thoughts consume me I have nothing else to do but close my eyes and hope that when i wake up all this would be a bad dream.
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