Page 15 of Divine Obsession

“I’m afraid I have to. It’s already dark, and I need to get back to campus on the other side of the park.”

“Not fair.”

I crouched down to give Nico a hug. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

I was about to stand back up when suddenly Manny was there too, reaching for me – even though he hadn’t spoken a word the entire lunch. So, I hugged him too, with equal force, surprised that he was showing me such affection. Then, I of course turned to Kim and gave her a hug too.

“Please do.” Carmen smiled at me, hugging me close in the same way her mother did.

Before I knew what was happening, Kim joined the hug, and then so did the twins. My heart was so full, tears burned in my eyes for the millionth time that day.

“I’m going to miss, you guys, so much.” I smiled sadly after I pulled away from my brothers and sisters.

“I mean…There is an easy solution to that, of course.” Ines smiled at me, a secret message behind it which I couldn’t understand.

Turning back, I saw all four kids sharing it too. So I looked to Salvatore.

“Just like my Kimberly said, we have many years to make up for.” He stepped forward and rested a hand on my shoulder, leveling his eyes to mine. “How would you like to come live with us,cara?”

The record scratched, pressing pause.

“Wow. That– I uh… You’re serious?”

He squeezed my shoulder. “You’ve been separated from your family for almost two decades. I think it’s time you come home.”

I looked around at everyone else. “You just met me.”

“You’re family,” Ines explained simply.

“We don’t abandon family,” Manny spoke for the second time that afternoon.

“Plus, we’ve been looking forward to this day for what feels like forever!” Kim argued, a slightly whiny tone to her voice that made me smile.

“It’s true!” Carmen chimed in, matching her sister’s excitement, slipping away from her perfectly curated version of the young lady she usually stuck to.

“This is a lot,” I confessed, turning to the parents.

“I understand,” Salv– Myfatherreplied, though disappointment was obvious even when he tried to hide it.

“But…” Ines smiled hopefully, wrapping her arm around her husband’s. “Itisthe holidays. Christmas is five days away…”

“You said you don’t have plans. Or anyone to celebrate with,” Nico interjected, making me laugh yet again, and earning an elbow shove from his oldest sister.

“You can’t be alone on Christmas!” Kim threw her hands in the air.

“We forbid it,” Carmen backed up, her tone final.

“Yeah!” The twins joined their sisters.

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

I mean I couldn’t possibly…

This was crazy.

“Dai, Natalia.È Natale,” Ines smiled giving my hands a squeeze.

As I looked through their hopeful faces, I realized I didn’t know why I was holding back. This was what I’d been praying for, for years.

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