Chapter 6 Raphael It was funny how much hadnt changed in seven years .
Most of the houses on the street that I had grown up on looked exactly the same .
Most of the Christmas decorations adorning the neighbors lawns were the same ones that had been there when I left .
The light up manger scene at the Wrights house , the inflatable Grinch at the Nelsons I felt a happy tug in my heart when I saw the familiar Bernini replica statue , still standing proud in the center of the yard .
That silly statue had been my dads pride and joy , even ! en though it had caused a lot of ruckus back in the day .
Little old ladies complained that the life size almost nude figures of Apollo and Daphne were pornographic and obscene .
Gabe and I had spent the entire summer dressing the statues in bikinis , housedresses , bathrobes , beach towels , even an old prom dress we found at a lown sale .
Eventually the neighborhood got used to it , and the old biddies stopped complaining , and we stopped dressing them .
It was a good memory though .
A happy one , from the days when my little brother was still my best friend There was an old Honda parked in the driveway , which i assumed belonged to my mothers care provider .
My critical eye ran over the familiar lines of the house , noting the small things that needed to be addressed .
It needed a fresh coat of paint , the gutters hadnt been cleaned , and the hedges needed inmming It felt a bit odd to walk up and ring the doorbell on my own house , but I had been away for seven years .
I didnt want to startle or offend anyone , least of all my hot tempered Italian mother .
I was just about to ring the bell again when the door was pulled open by a super cute little kid with dark curly hair and amber eyes .
She stared up at me .
From inside the house I heard a voice call , is that Mrs.
Moston ? The womans voice was familiar , and all the hair on the back of my neck stood on end , No the kid called back .
Its that guy I heard a scuffle from the back of the house , and 1 ge , and that sa same voice , alarmed now , What guy ? The little girl didnt budge , but blocked the door with her small body and continued to stare at me like a little owl .
The one we saw on TV .
Daddys brother Okay Lucy , thank you The door was pulled open all the way , and Beth stood there , gripping the door .
Her hair seemed to have grown darker over the years , and it was now cut just below her shoulders .
Her skin was still as pale and white and creamy as milk , with just a few freckles across her cheeks .
Her eyes , like blue slate , looked at me with a cautious and guarded expression , Beth , I almost choked on her name , I didnt expect to see you here .
Her brows knit together .
No , I guess y you didnt .
Ive come to see Mom .
Is she around ? stepped back and held the door so that I could enter the foyer .
Yes , of course .
Shes just watching TV , she step Nothing had changed .
The same furniture was arranged in exactly the same way , the same paintings on the wall , the same old family Christmas decorations Some of the family photos had been taken down or rearranged , replaced with portraits of the dark haired little girl .
I wasnt surprised , my mother probably doted on her only grandchild .

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I stepped into the living room , and found a new recliner pulled up close to the TV My mother was asleep in the chair , her head lolled to one side , her mouth open .
A daytime soap opera was playing on the TV , with the volume way 100 loud petite woman , but somehow I stopped a few feet away and stated .
When had my mother become so old ? So frail looking ? She had always been a petite woman , strong , powerful , intimidating at the same time .
The old lady in the chair looked like she would blow away in a stiff wind .
Beth m moved quietly beside me .
She used a remote to mute the television , and then she gently nudged my mothers have a visitor Momjerked a little and closed her mouth before she lifted her head and opened her eyes .
Even her eyes sarm .
Nana Charlie ? Wake up .
You seemed dull compared to my memory of her sharp gaze .
But I saw the moment recognition clicked .
Tha Raph her speech was strange , slow , sluned .
And when she spoke , only one side of her mouth moved .
I shot an accusatory glance at Beth , but she just stood , her arms ms crossed over her chest , watching me with a closed , unreadable expression .
Chapter 6 ntown .
Hey Mom , I dragged over a footstool and sat beside her .
Tm back int She hummed , but I saw the emotions flicker through her eyes .
Hot anger , sadness , happiness all flashed through as tears brimmed on her eyelashes .
I reached for her hand , but her fingers were limp and unresponsive against mine .
Mom … I had so many things I wanted to tell her , so many apologies I needed to make , but the only words which would come out of my tight throat were , what happened to you ? Beth startled and took a step back with a perplexed look on her face .
Dont you know ? Know what ? I asked , sharper than I intended .
Beths expression was incredulous .
Charlie had a stroke a little more than a year ago .
A stroke ? I felt a chill run down my spine .
I turned to the red haired woman that had once been the love of my life .
Now s she was just a stranger with a familiar face .
Why wasnt I informed ? 1 she looked confused .
thought you were ? Gabriel said Gabriel .
Of course , he would keep something this important from me .
Our mother could have died , she had clearly suffered a debilitating health crisis that could have been fatal , and he had purposely kept me in the dark , still intent on punishing me for God only knows what Since my brother wasnt around , I turned my temper on the next best thing .
You two had no right to keep this information from me ! I shouted angrily .
You and Gabe have been sneaking around behind my back for the better part of seven years ! But it ends here and now ! I want you out of this house ! Her face , already pale , turned an almost waxy white .
But I cant just leave ! She protested softly You can , and you will ! I shouted .
A little dark haired whirlwind stormed into the room , Dont you yell at my mommy She put her small fists on her little hips and glared up at me with the all- too familiar Segretto fire .
My mother grabbed my wrist with her left hand , and squeezed it with surprising strength .
When I met her watery gaze , she shook her head at me vigorously , a clear and obvious , albeit silent reprimand .
Of course .
Of course , my mother would take their side .
His side .
After all , Gabe was the good son , the one who had stayed by moms side , taking care of her after I left .
He had married the girl she loved like a daughter , and he had carried on the family name .
Gabriel was still the golden boy I stood up abruptly , and pulled my arm away from my mother .
I pointed a threatening finger at Beth , This isnt over ! I glanced down at the angry little girl who was still glaring up at me with a very grown up sour expression .
I felt a quick stab of guilt for losing my cool in front of a kid .
So much for having a relationship with my niece .
Judging by the look on her face , she had already made up her mind that I was an ogre .
I walked around the girl , past Beth , who still looked practically translucent , and yanked open the door .
Now that Im back , things are going to change ! I promised .
And then I walked out and slammed the door shut behind me .