DINNER AT DE-ROSSI'S

Damian

"Orsetto!" mum said walking to me "welcome tesoro mio, come, la nonna ti stava aspettando" she said Ignoring Amaya's presence.

Mum knew about the reason for our marriage but I didn't expect her to be so cold, mum was feared in the elite society but she was bubbly at home, she was kind but stern to the outsiders.

"you look stressed, when did you get back?" mum asked

"Today" I answered without looking at her, I noticed Amaya follow behind quietly, she looked tired and stressed, why did she look like this when all she does is spend money and sit at home, I don't care anyways whatever is wrong with her she probably deserves it.

She was probably still drowsy from falling asleep earlier, I stopped for a brief moment and felt a soft thud. She bumped into me and was about to fall back, grabbing her hands and stabilizing her, taking a glance at her face which now showed shock, she had tired eyes, her lips in a pout, still in shock looking straight down not even glancing up at me, she pulled her hand back away from my hold

"thanks"

she said very briefly and quietly retracting back to her thoughts, what was she thinking about, why was she so quiet? she looked sad, no she's definitely plotting, I hope she doesn't think she can pull any tricks here.

AMAYA

A woman who I figured was his mum came to welcome us or rather him. She seemed cold but honestly, I didn’t expect much from his family. She said something in Italian that seemed to translate to ‘’Grandma has been waiting’’ referring to him with what I figured were a couple of pet names, yes I had Italian heritage but we barely ever went back to Italy or learnt the language but I understand a bit because of the not so often Vacation to Italy.

My head was spinning I didn’t and I was tired but here I was in a place where I was not wanted but still forced to be, lost in my train of thoughts, I didn’t notice Damian stop and bumped into him, my weak body falling straight back, accepting and getting ready for the fall I feel a hand grab me and stabilize me, immediately realizing whose hands it is I draw back ‘’thanks’’ I say mustering the strength in me.

I felt dizzy and hungry but we kept walking and now they were stairs, could this get any worse. In my state I hadn’t noticed how luxurious Damian’s house was, it was akin to a palace, servants lined up at every corridor. Finally, we got to a dining area. An elderly lady sat at the far end, she looked bubbly. " TESORO MIO!’’ she exclaimed almost screaming, her face lit up with so much joy, I don’t get it, how could someone be so happy to see Damian.

‘’NUORA!’’ she gasped now turning to me, looking at me with so much admiration

‘’oh, Mio Tesoro she’s so pretty’’ she said in a heavy Italian accent.

‘’Vieni a sederti accanto a me, amore mio’’ she said now looking at me, my brain was already clouded and now I had to figure out what she was saying to me, it felt like she was waiting for me to react or answer because she looked at me expectantly but what did she want.

‘’she said to sit next to her’’ Damian finally spoke, his voice was so low and deep it sent shivers down my spine, maybe it was how fuzzy my brain was.

I walked slowly towards the elderly lady who I now figured was somehow the matriarch of this family, slowly walking as to steady myself and carefully pulling out the chair next to her to sit.

‘’You not speak Italian dear’’ she said now figuring her English wasn’t so strong

‘’I only understand a bit’’ I replied

‘’oh dear don’t worry, me teach you Italiano, just stay with grandma okay’’ she said with a big smile

‘’Grandma’’ I said as more of a whisper but it seems her old ears were sharp

‘’yes dear, grandma’’

DAMIAN

Did she really not understand Italian, wasn’t she Italian, Grandma already visibly liked her.

Getting seated, business and political discussions took over, glancing over at Amaya, I noticed she wasn’t eating anything, she just sat quietly almost like she was lost in thought, she looked worse than before.

Was she protesting?

If this is what this was then she’s wasting her time, I don’t care anyways, she could starve for all I car

‘’Nuora dear Mangia’’ Grandma said

Even grandma noticed she wasn’t eating, this was definitely all part of her plan.

‘’No, grandma it’s fine I’m not hungry’’ she said in a weak voice

‘’Eat please, you sound weak, Mio Tesoro tell her’’ grandma said now sounding worried

Now she was getting on my nerves, stressing grandma was the one thing I wouldn’t tolerate.

‘’Amaya eat’’ I said glaring at her

Without raising her head she ate without saying even a word, she only turned to give grandma a smile.

She still looked really weak and it felt like she was getting worse every second but now she was eating.

After about thirty minutes of back and forth discussions in Italian, we finally set out and said bye, Mum and Dad keeping a visible distance from Amaya, Grandma made me promise to bring her back, which I agreed to.

Amaya hugged grandma and we set out to go back.

She was quiet through the drive back.She didn’t sleep this time, she hung her head low and shut her eyes periodically but still awake.

Entering the house "what was that drama in front of grandma?’’

She kept walking like I wasn’t speaking to her, trying to make her way towards the stairs, yanking her back ‘’I’m talking to you’’ I said impatiently

Her hands were hot her eyes were tired and her cheeks red, still not looking at me

‘’I’m tired Damian’’ she says

Almost immediately she passes out

‘’Amaya’’ I say trying to wake her but she’s too warm and not responding, taking her upstairs, Doris followed suit.