Page 56 of Frayed Bonds

I frown the second I turn around, pretending that everything is okay is becoming more difficult as the time passes.

“How are you feeling about the surgery coming up?”

He stays silent for a while. “Honestly, Fiore Mio? I’m a little nervous, it’s taking a bit of a toll on me knowing how reliant I’ll become on you and Karyn. You two deserve to be young and out enjoying life, not looking after me,” he pauses again. “I’m supposed to be looking after you.”

I notice the way he avoids meeting my eyes, and it breaks my heart to know this is how he feels when he hasn't even been a burden in the slightest.

“Papá, I've told you a thousand times. Neither Karyn nor I mind helping you. You've moved mountains for the two of us and so many other people, you’re allowed to be taken care of for once in your life. Besides, you have no idea how much I needed the excuse to come home.”

His lips tilt into a small smile, but his eyes still hold some sadness in them. I reach across the table pull him into a hug and kiss the top of his head.

“On a more positive note, my run helped me realise I’m a genius,” I say, gesturing at myself.

He chuckles. “Oh? Did you have some sort of epiphany on this run?”

“Yes! Exactly that. I got an email for a new commission that I'm ecstatic about, and I think I've figured out how I’m going to go about it.”

“Oh, Fiore Mio! I knew it would all come with time. I told you to be patient, good things come to those who wait.” He beams as he says the anecdote that he’s recited to everyone on numerous occasions.

For once, I’m not irritated to hear it. For once, I’m feeling that deep down it may be true. With getting back to Tevici, with getting a commission and even dare I say, with Ambrose.

No, I dare not say it. I’m not thinking about it anymore.

I help my papá through his usual morning routine, then settle him in the living room to continue binge-watching his action movies and shows. Natalia gave him all the logins to the streaming sites she uses so he’s like a kid in a candy store with the amount of options he has to choose from.

“I’ll be in the studio, call me on my phone if you need anything,” I yell, as I slip up the stairs and head for the room I've been beyond excited to work in.

The morning sunlight streams in, in huge beams and I settle on the floor with my laptop, the first step in any great art piece is research. Page after page tossed around me until I’m surrounded by drafts, sketches and rough paragraphs filled with ideas for how I’m going to execute it all. A list in the notes on my laptop grows as I start jotting down more and more of the supplies I’ll need.

The main idea I have right now is that I want to mainly draw from him, in terms of how carefree and abstract his work is, but somehow I want it to convey passion. I want it to be both maddening, yet so put together that it gives the viewer a sense of sanity.

I start jotting down ideas again, mainly focusing on the emotions I want this art piece to convey. I also have to find a way to put my spin on it, so I've settled on wanting to sketch something into the canvas first before covering it almost completely with both oil and acrylic paints. The idea to throw in some watercolour and charcoal still dwells in my head.

My ringtone blares through the room and I start shifting papers out of the way looking for it. After moving every sheet, I finally find it on my lap.

“Hello, hi,” I say brightly.

“Glad to know you're this happy to take my calls,” Antonio's laugh rings throughout the speaker and my smile falls instantly. “Listen, I don't have much time to chat, but we're having family dinner this evening, I’ll be over to pick you up in about an hour.”

“Dinner in an hour?” I close the window on my laptop and check the time and it’s already 6 p.m. “Time completely got away from me today, I have to check if my papá is okay for dinner and if Karyn’s coming over in time.”

I also don't know if I'm ready to face Ambrose yet.

“I can pick up something from Giovanni's for both of them on my way over and I’m sure Karyn won't mind coming by a bit earlier if you say you have dinner plans?” He reasons.

Karyn will fly over in a spaceship if I mention dinner plans with the Vitales, but I’ll feel bad about taking away from the little time she has to relax.

“And before you start feeling bad, remember she’ll be off the entire time when your father goes in for his second surgery which is easily like a week,” he adds on, and I curse myself for giving him so many details about the situation.

“Okay fine, I’ll call her, but I make no promises.”

“I'll pick you up at seven, Val.” I can hear the smile in his voice before he hangs up.

I drop everything onto the floor, sprint downstairs and dial Karyn’s number. As I reach the bottom, I hear the ringtone echoing out from the living room. Only to find her and my father fully immersed in another Blaze Steele movie.

“When did you get here?”

“Shhh.” They say in unison.

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