Page 62 of Bones

BONES

Athena sits beside me at Manhattan’s, which is a seafood restaurant that my sister is obsessed with. Our table is right beside a massive saltwater fish tank my wife seems quite drawn to. The restaurant isn’t a fancy one like she probably expected, but it’s still nice. The ceiling has murals painted of the ocean, and the many creatures you find there. It’s likeFinding Nemoin real life. The tables are all square, dark wood, and covered with white tablecloths. We sit with wine and menus in front of us, but Athena clearly is in no hurry.

I place my arm around her and speak low into her ear, so nobody overhears me. If I can avoid her embarrassment, I will.

“You don’t need to worry about Penelope judging you because you can’t read. It’s not your fault, and my sister isn’t a bitch. If anything, she’d want to help you.”

Athena turns her head to me. “I know, but I don’t want anyone to know, Luca. It kills me that you know.”

I kiss her briefly on the lips. “Whatever you want. I’m going to find you a tutor tomorrow. I know this bothers you, and we’re going to rectify this.”

She smiles at me and surprises me. “I wish we had a pen and paper. I want to see the word butterfly.”

Holding up my hand, I motion for the waitress, and she comes over.

“Do you have a pen and paper we can use?”

She pulls a pen and paper from her black apron, and sets it on the table before she walks away. I’m not sure if she was inconvenienced but I don’t care.

I spell out the word she wants to see, and just below it, I separate the word for her; writing ‘but-ter-fly’. Of course, I have no idea how to teach someone how to read, but I remember as a kid having to sound things out.

She sits staring at the paper in awe, like the word is magical. It was never meant to be a nickname that stuck. Hell, I never planned to keep her. Now I know she’ll always be my Butterfly, but instead of destroying her, I’ll protect her. With my life, if necessary. Everyone who hurt my wife will die, her mother included. No one is safe. If I find out a million more people hurt her, then I’ll kill a million people. There’s no limit. Nothing will ever be too much.

I sound out the word, and point to the different letters as I sound it out, and she smiles softly. “I think that’s my favorite word.”

Stroking my fingers down her cheek, I ask, “Are you sure it isn’t words like pussy? Or fuck? Harder?”

Her cheeks turn bright red, as she glances around to see if anyone heard me, and then she glares at me. “Luca!”

I chuckle as I kiss her forehead. “And that’s my favorite word.”

“Teach me the food words before she comes back.”

I open the menu and point out the different sections. “These are appetizers. Soups, salads, breads, and things like that.”

Continuing to point, I say, “These are the entrees. The main item of your meal. Penelope’s favorite is the baked salmon. Lobster. Crab Legs. Fish of the Day. Today is Thursday, so it’s Trout. It shows underneath. When you come with my sister, it’ll probably be Sunday, so it’s going to be Pan Roasted Haddock.”

She blinks away unshed tears as she whispers. “This is impossible, Luca. I can’t do this.”

I take her chin in my hand and tilt her head back gently. “You can and you will. Let’s go through it again.”

I spend an hour helping her try to read the words, but I know it’s more about her memorizing it, than learning it. She’ll need to be taught the basics of reading by a professional. Hopefully, I’ve helpedenough so she can enjoy her day with my sister, rather than feeling bad about herself. I don’t love that she’s going to be out of the house for an entire day without me, but I have to let her live a life. She has been kept as a prisoner for long enough. I’m hoping that, as she gets to know my sister better, that she’ll open up to her and tell her the truth. It will be good for Athena to have a woman around that she can talk to.

After we order, she visibly relaxes beside me.

She giggles. “I hope I like lobster, because I’ll probably order that when I come again because it’ll be easier.”

“You’ve never had it then?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “No, Luca. Of course I haven’t.”

With anyone else, I’d give them a lecture about eating the bottom feeders of the ocean. They are disgusting. They’ll eat each other, for fuck’s sake. The time will likely come when I do tell her that, but not right now. I don’t want to make things more difficult for her.

After she finishes half a glass of wine, I decide it’s time to dig for information.

“How did you meet William?”

She takes another gulp of wine before she answers, “My father was friends with his mother, and she wanted a friend for her son. He had trouble socializing. Those were my first outings.”

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