Page 91 of Saved By A God
While I search her face, her parents hug her, and the instant her eyes touch on mine, I see the shadows.
She’s pretending to be okay so she won’t cause her parents worry.
Uncle Dario and Aunt Eden take a seat on the one couch, but Rosie waits for me before she sits down beside me. Her side presses hard into mine, and I lift my arm to place it around her shoulders.
“I brought you a bag of candy,” Uncle Dario tells her, which makes Rosie glance around like a starved person. “I’ll get it.” He chuckles and hurries to the kitchen before returning with the massive stash.
When he places the bag beside Rosie, I notice how she keeps her face hidden behind her hair while she digs through all the candy and sodas. Feeling her tremble, I press a kiss to her shoulder.
“Oh, my God.” Her voice is strained, and she clears her throat. “You have no idea how much I missed chocolate.”
She pulls a mini Snickers bar out of the bag, and when she unwraps it, her fingers tremble.
“Thanks, Daddy,” she whispers before she takes a bite.
Suddenly she turns into me, and I place my other arm around her as she hides against my chest when she can’t keep a sob back anymore.
I glance at her parents, and seeing the worry on their faces, I say, “Dr. Milazzo said it will be normal for Rosie to be emotional for a while. She’s okay, though.”
My explanation doesn’t ease the concern in their eyes.
Rosie composes herself, and pulling back, she gives her parents a watery smile. “Please don’t worry. I’m so happy to be home and finally get a sugar rush that it overwhelms me.”
She convinces them she’s okay while I still feel her trembling.
Christ, I’m fucking lucky that Rosie has chosen me as her confidant, and she’s not trying to hide how she’s struggling from me as well.
Keeping her close to my side, I drop kisses on her hair and temple every couple of minutes.
“Do you need anything, baby?” Aunt Eden asks.
Rosie shakes her head. “Nothing I can think of at the moment. Thanks, Mom.”
Uncle Dario leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “Do you want to talk about what you’ve been through?”
Rosie tenses beside me, then lets out a chuckle. “There’s not much to tell. It was like living in a shitty motel while working. Nothing bad happened. I just missed you all so much, but I’ll get over it real fast.” She lifts the half-eaten mini bar, then chuckles again. “And boy, did I miss these. Enzo will have to pace me, or I’ll eat them all in one go.”
“Yes, please watch her,” Aunt Eden says to me. “Don’t let her get sick.”
“I’ll make sure she takes it slow.”
Rosie continues to hold the half-eaten chocolate in her hand while she visits with her parents, and as Uncle Dario tells her that her grandparents got two puppies, Rosie’s body relaxes against mine.
I look down, and noticing she’s drifted to sleep, I say, “She’s lights out.”
Uncle Dario climbs to his feet and comes closer. He takes the chocolate out of Rosie’s hand and places it on the coffee table before he leans over her and presses a kiss to her forehead.
Crouching in front of us, he brushes his thumb over her bitten nails before his eyes flick to mine. “I hate that she’s putting up an act, pretending it wasn’t bad.”
“Rosie has always been like that,” Aunt Eden whispers. “She’s always so careful not to inconvenience anyone, but I feel she needs to see a therapist. She can’t just bottle it all up.”
Wanting to give them some peace of mind, I say, “She’s talking to me. If she wants to get help, I’ll find someone for her, but knowing Rosie, that won’t happen.”
“How bad was it?” Uncle Dario asks me.
“I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “I can’t share anything she tells me in confidence.”
He lets out a sigh as he rises to his feet, and staring at his daughter, he replies, “I don’t like it one bit, but I understand.”
