Page 19 of In My Blood
Rafe took a gentle hold of my wrist and pulled my still bleeding arm to where he could see the wound. I had ripped the needle upwards and caused a deep gash in my skin.
“This may need stitches,” he told me as he had a quick look at it, then turned to grab some tissues from a box that sat onthe nightstand beside him. He folded them quickly then pressed them firmly over the cut.
“It doesn’t. Just a band aid,” I informed him.
“It’s deep.”
“I’ve had worse without stitches.”
“Worse?” he repeated. His head lifted fast, his eyes meeting mine, and searching for answers I didn’t want to give.
“Mermaids,” I whispered instead.
“Mermaids?”
“The band aids….I…I mean plasters, that you used to buy for me and Gia. They h-had mermaids. I remember them.”
“That’s right. Gia refused to change to anything else after we lost you. I think we still have mermaid plasters in the first aid supplies even to this day,” he laughed, a small smile finally touching his face. I saw a snippet of the Rafe I used to know.
“How is she?” I asked.
“Good. She misses you. She always has. She’s doing great in school and she just made the school netball team. She hangs out with me and the guys a lot, which worries me sometimes, but she insists she prefers all of us to any of her friends.”
“What about Louise….a-and Terza?”
“Louise left us last year. We decided Gia was old enough to manage without her, and Louise was ready for a new adventure. She moved to France to live with her sister, but she rings usoften, and she plans to visit us this Christmas. Terza is still our house keeper, still keeping us all alive and in line,” he chuckled.
I rested my head back against the wall again and closed my eyes. It was so strange to think of all of the people I had loved and been forced to leave behind. While my life changed completely, theirs all went on much the same, and that was a relief to know for sure. I never wanted anyone I cared for to suffer the way I had, but it also made me feel bitter inside. Just because of my mother’s poor decision making and Marcello’s psycho temper, my whole life had been ripped from me and replaced with a battle I had no choice but to wage for the last eleven years.
“I didn’t love her, Rafe,” I uttered shakily.
“Who, sweetheart?”
“Mum. I…I stayed with her and I tr-tried to take care of her, but I…I never loved her. I d-don’t think I even liked her. How terrible is that?”
“It’s not terrible. She took you from me, and everyone who loved you because of a situation she created. She never showed you any love, or even kindness from the day you were born, and I’m assuming that didn’t change when it was just the two of you?” Rafe prodded.
“She hated me,” I admitted. “Then she….I don’t know. I just….I think she lost it eventually. I don’t think the drugs and th-the drinking helped, but she…it got worse. I should have got her help, but I w-was scared. She told me….said so many times that you a-and Marcello….that you’d kill us if you f-found us. Somewhere along the way I believed her and then I….I think I lost my mind a little too, trapped in fear right with her.”
“Everything she said about me was bullshit, Cara. Please believe that. Dad was another matter entirely, but he died not long after you were gone. Ever since then all we’ve ever done was search so we could bring you home.”
“It’s not home now, Rafe. There is no home….hasn’t been since the day I left you,” I admitted tearfully.
“You have a home, Cara. It’s in my house in Kensington. I have a room all ready for you on the top floor. Gia’s room is on that floor, and mine too. I painted your room in shades of lilac and cream, because they were always your favourite. Gia helped me pick out the furniture, and every Christmas we took a photo and framed it, for your room, so you would be able to see Gia grow up over those years you were gone. I filled the shelves with books, because you used to love to read so much. It’s been there since we all moved in, and it’s just waiting for you, just like Gia is too.”
“You m-made a room for me?” I asked emotionally.
“Of course we did. I’d never make a new home that you weren’t a part of. I knew I would be able to bring you home one day. I would never have stopped looking for you, if that’s what it took. I love you Cara. I always have and I always will.”
“I don’t…” I didn’t even know how to respond.
“Sshh. It’s alright. I don’t expect you to say it to me, You haven’t seen or known me for a very long time. I know you need time for me to prove myself to you again, and for you to get to know me as I am now, but just try to give me a chance, please? I’m not perfect, but I try to be the best man I can be for my family. I need to be allowed to take care of you, Cara. I need to protect you and know you’re safe. I’ve been out of my mind with worry for you for so many years, I think I lost my own mind a little too.”
“But I…I’m n-not your sister…not properly.”
“Don’t ever say that again, Cara,” Rafe bit back ferociously. “I don’t care if we share one parent, two, or even none. You have been my sister since the day you were put into my arms hours after you were born, and you will be my sister until I take my dying breath, and beyond. We share blood, but I’ve come to learn that blood isn’t all that makes a family.”
“Sorry. I ran down to reception for some first aid supplies. How are we doing in here?” Dio asked as he came stalking into the room with a green first aid box in one hand and my backpack in the other.
