Page 38 of Trapped

“Please don’t let them take my baby.”

I let the tears fall free as I stare out the window. Thalia may be my niece, but the secrets shared between us create bonds deeper than tortured siblings share. The day she asked for my help was the day hope returned to me. I thought I’d be alone, trying to raise a child, and she came in and provided the extra support.

“If you two are going to do this, then there’s no going back, Thalia. We can’t confuse her,” Patricio says and Thalia nods. “Once you sign the baby over to Olivia, you can’t interfere with her life. It will only confuse her, and it will compromise her safety.”

We were right here in this same room the day I promised Thalia she wouldn’t lose her daughter. I never thought about what I would do if Lucia lost her mother—if I lost Thalia. I watch as Lucia lays curled next to Luca. His sister and his protector. Lucia has been in this rebellious phase, pushing Thalia and me away for Ariella. I know it hurts Thalia, but Lucia still adores her. We told her Thalia is on vacation, but she is still worried. Kids always read your actions, never your words.

I never wanted to use Lucia as a weapon against Thalia, but I’ve also become attached to her, as if she is my own daughter. When Luca was little, I noticed that he and Lucia were progressing at far different rates. When his words were not coming, I sought professional help. After several tests and consulting with multiple doctors, I accepted his autism diagnosis. I accepted the fact that parenting a child like him would look much different than parenting a child like Lucia. I had lived in that guilt and shame for months, blaming myself for the stressful pregnancy. I blamed his father for the physical and mental abuse.

Thalia was the only one to help me through all those feelings. She helped me to make sure Luca has all the support he needs. I worry about the quality of his life, but then I saw, as he grew, his attachment to Lucia is a motivating factor. They really are like twins, operating as if they can read each other’s very thoughts. Their relationship is a calm to me because I know, as long as he has Lucia, he will thrive. She is his eyes and ears at school. She is his advocate and his voice.

It is selfish, but I don’t want Thalia to take her away from us. I don’t want to lose Thalia, either. The words I said to her… What if she is really gone? How will I live knowing the last things I said to her?

“How long are we supposed to wait?” Adrian says. The room feels heavy as we all wait for the call. The call from the investigation team that is searching the area of the explosion. We have all spent days clinging to the hope that she is still alive.

Christmas Eve is tomorrow, and we haven't found Thalia’s body or any skeletal remains. The plane caught fire, so there is a chance we won’t find anything. I lock my hands together just to still them. I look up at Patricio’s tired face. A week has passed, and yet neither of us is willing to accept her fate as a reality. My brother and I have always been there to pick her up and protecther. He saw her as if she were his own daughter. He created the woman who would grow to protect herself and the rest of this family.

“She’s okay. I just know she’s okay,” Mireya cries into Adrian, and he rubs her back.

“She’s the toughest person in this family,” my father says to us.

“We’ve done nothing but fail her,” Patricio says, looking at all of us. He slides a hand over his weary face. He isn’t wrong. We saw her strength, and we took advantage of it. We overestimated how much she could take on. She was hurting, and instead of asking her what was wrong, we made her feel as if running away was her only option.

“I should have told her how much I loved her,” Enrique says. Gael, his partner, moves to comfort him. Everyone here has someone to comfort them. Even Ariella sits in the corner with Guapo curled up next to her.

“I owe you everything, Tia. I promise I will help you with both of them. I can live with you, and I won’t intervene with any of your decisions. I will support you.”

She told me that the day she asked to move in with us. The only person to ever comfort me is gone, and the pain in my heart is heavy. My father comes and wraps an arm around me. Everyone eventually clears out and goes to their own homes. I send the kids with Ariella and stay with Patricio. I lie on the office couch and exhaustion takes over.

Around nine a.m. on Christmas Eve, I open my eyes when I hear my phone ringing.Unknown Caller.

“Hello?”

“Olivia?” I hear the voice and sit up straight.

“Thalia? Thalia, oh my god. Where are you?” I cry into the phone, and Patricio wakes up and moves toward me. I put the phone on speaker.

“Mija, where are you? Are you hurt? What happened on the plane?” Patricio’s voice warbles. His eyes squeeze shut, and I grab his hand.

“I’m fine. I didn’t get on the plane, but I was set up,” she says.

“Set up?” Patricio asks.

“Yes. I think Los Bandoleros are working with that Claudia woman that Bryan mentioned last year. She’s been the one threatening me this entire time.”

“Thalia, where are you?” I say in a panic.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I don’t have much time, but there’s something you need to know.” She pauses and whispers into the phone.

“Silas is very much alive.” And then the phone goes silent. Patricio and I look at each other, both relieved to hear her voice, but both very aware that she might not be for long if Silas is hellbent on revenge. We won’t be safe either when he finds out his child is here.

I hand Silas the phone and crawl back into bed next to him. He looks at me with the same intensity that gives me goosebumps.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

“Yeah. I’m just sad I won’t be with my family for Christmas.” I curl up next to him and lay my head on his chest.

“They had you for twenty-three years. It’s your husband’s turn now.”

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