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I’d been sitting here for a few hours watching a house I thought my skipper would visit.

I’d discovered that he had a girl on the side.

One that he often visited. I had no idea what he told his main girlfriend to explain his absences, but he came here at least three times a week.

It was usually during the day, though occasionally at night.

I couldn’t turn off my phone since I was working, but I wanted to.

My family kept calling and texting me, but I didn’t bother to read or listen to their messages.

All I did was call Maria and tell her that if there were actual work-related communications, to tell the others to go through her, and she would pass them along.

I knew she was uncomfortable telling my family that, but I didn’t care.

Man, I needed a vacation. I couldn’t recall the last time I had taken one.

My brothers took time off, and even on a rare occasion, so did Papà , but I didn’t.

Maybe Rian and I should get away. Time alone would do us good, and it would give my family time to come to their senses.

I didn’t want to stick around and have them say anything to Rian to upset him.

Each day that passed, I became more and more certain I was making the right decision to be with him.

It was demoralizing to find that my whole family didn’t.

I was parked back in the lot of a park diagonally opposite the house I was watching when my phone rang. Checking the caller ID, I saw it was the office. I answered.

“Hey, Maria, what’s up?”

“Gia, you need to return to the office. This tantrum has gone on long enough. We need to talk,” Papà ordered.

“ Papà , I’m working, which is what the rest of you should be doing. I don’t have time to come back, nor do I have the desire. My personal life is personal. I got the message.”

“And what message was that?”

“You don’t want to be involved in my life. So I won’t include you.”

“Gia, that’s not true. Please, come back. We’ll talk. Your brothers will behave.”

“Why didn’t you say something when they were making all their comments this morning? You didn’t stand up for me, which tells me you feel the same. No, thank you. I’ve got to go.”

“Gia—” I did something I had never done. I hung up on my papà.

My chest hurts. I hated the division between my family and me.

We’d have disagreements and fights, like families did, but not like this.

If they wouldn’t accept Rian as my choice, would I give him up to keep my family?

Or keep him and lose them? I wanted to cry and vomit at the same time.

It was a no-win situation. A heavy, dark cloud descended over me.