Page 39 of The Fractured

“I’m coping,” I said, adjusting the way the strap of my bag sat on my shoulder. I brought my eyes to the rest of the house, noting the sweet smell that drifted in from the kitchen in the back. “Something smells good.”

“That is the cannoli. I hope you are hungry.” She invited me in with a soft ushering of her hands before wheeling ahead to the kitchen.

I closed the front door behind me and followed, feeling as if the exhaustion from today was left on the porch. I felt better for being here. It was safe, despite my uncertainty on whether Dean had told his mother about his situation.

And the blackmail.

The subject of Sofia’s citizenship lingered in the corners of my mind as I helped her prepare the cannoli on a plate, poured two glasses of lemonade, and followed her back into the lounge room. She insisted on showing me a photo album full of memories of her home in Sicily as we ate.

“Would you ever want to visit again? Or move back?” My hands were wrapped firmly around the glass in my hand as I tried to gauge if she was aware of what was going on. Maybe if Sofia took an impromptu trip to Italy, the surprise ofdeportation wouldn’t come so harshly. She could go on her own terms.

“Sometimes. But I do like it here. I have many friends here,” she smiled sweetly. “And with how I am, I don’t think I could afford traveling back home with my chair.” Her eyes lit up. “Maybe you and Dean could go one day.”

She didn’t know. Not about her citizenship, and definitely not about her son’s future.

“A trip there would be nice.” I brought my drink to my lips, taking a sip as I eyed the cannoli on the coffee table.

It’s not my place to tell her. Change the subject.

“What’s in these?” I said, picking up one of the cannoli. “Is it cream cheese?”

Sofia reached over and gently squeezed my knee. When my eyes met hers, she smiled softly, creating faint wrinkles around the edges of her blue eyes. “There is something you are not saying, Lily. You can tell me.”

“A lot is going on right now.” My attempt to brush off the topic was lost on Sofia. She only watched me closer, waiting for a better response. I put the cannoli down and cleared my throat, dusting crumbs from my lap. “Well, I’ve only just started work again… My emotions are all over the place.” I tried for a laugh, to pretend it was all fine, but that somehow made it worse.

Sofia rested back in her chair with empathy in her eyes and her smile fading. “It took me some time to feel like myself again after my accident. I also lost a little one…”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring anything up.”

“Talking about it helped.”

I looked down as that all too familiar lump rose in my throat, causing my voice to come out small. “It doesn’t always feel like it works.”

Sofia took my hand in my lap, speaking gently with strength in her words. “It takes time to heal something so deep, but Ipromise you it will get better. You are so young. You will grow from this.”

Tears began to blur my vision. When I blinked, one ran quickly down my cheek before I wiped it away, huffing a sombre laugh.

Sofia wheeled herself closer and cupped my face in her soft, warm hands. Her own eyes were watery too as she wiped another tear from my cheek with her thumb.

“You will be okay. I promise.”

I wanted to believe her.

Chapter 13

Dean

Soft laughter floated through the house as I entered the back door after a long day at the garage, carrying loaded bags of groceries. Bella, like every other time I got home, came bounding through the small kitchen and dining space to greet me with her helicopter tail and chaotic excitement. But it was the sound of Lily’s voice and laugh that lifted my mood tenfold.

I ditched the bags on the counter and wandered into the living room, where Lily and Mom were looking through photo albums.

Lily’s golden-brown hair was swept up into a claw clip, but several strands had fallen from it, framing her features with a softness that caused my heart to surge within the milliseconds she saw me walk into the room.

She smiled easily. Her blue doe eyes took me in quickly before a subtle knowing smile crept onto her face. Her smile turned cheeky, and had something to do with the images of my childhood laid out in front of her.

“Should I be worried?” I said, pausing at the head of the coffee table.

Lily bit the corner of her bottom lip and turned the album in her lap for me to see.