My Skater Boy // V.H.

28-Wonder

Silas and I walk out of the resort and down to the street where a black car is waiting for us. No wonder I couldn't find the fucking number. I forgot we are staying in a house. Silas opens the door for me and I slide in. Sam is sitting in the front with Harry driving and Aiden is looking at me.

I smile at him and slide in next to him with Silas right behind me. Harry begins to drive and I feel Aiden's hand nudge mine and I let him slide his fingers into mine. I rest my head on his shoulder and by this time the sun is fully set and the sky has turned a dark purple color.

The car ride is silent but very quick. As we get out of the car, I look up at the house and see a tower mansion. "Safe house?" I asked Sam.

"The Grimaldi way baby." He winks. Of course Sam would have picked this house out. Dad did that often. He would give us a budget and a location and let us pick wherever we wanted. Mine is sitting on an island in the Bahamas.

"Get some sleep. We have to be sharp for tomorrow." Harry says as Sam opens the door. We all nod our heads. I side eye Silas and see him wink at me twice. I nod my head once more and then we walk into the house.

"Tell me, hermano. Why was your choice Brazil?" I ask as I spin around while looking at the ceiling. A beautiful crystal chandelier hangs over us and as Sam flips a switch, it comes to life.

"It wasn't mine, hermana. This was Mama's." He explains. Of course. Our father and mother came to Brazil for their honeymoon. Dad probably bought this for her and then hasn't come back since the accident.

"Right." I answer.

"Your room is upstairs, three doors down to the right." Sam says and I don't listen to the ones he tells the other boys. I walk up the grand staircase that curves around. I walk down the hallway and count three doors and then I stop in front of a large dark oak door.

There is a piece of paper hanging from the handle and I unhook it. I open the paper and in fine handwriting it reads:

My dear Esty,

I made this room in your image. I included some things that remind me of you and who I want you to be.

I love you forever mi hija.

-Mama.

My index finger runs over the letters and a thin layer of dust comes off. She never got to show me this place. I remember vaguely that she was gone on what my father called a "surprise" for months. She must have been building this place.

I grip the gold handle and push the heavy door open and I look into the dark room. As I find the light switch, I nearly gasp at the sight my mother has created for me. I can tell a new bed has been installed because there are scuff marks on the floor. A piano and guitar set are sitting in one corner.

Beautiful floor to ceiling windows are on either side of my bed and a lounge chair is placed by the fireplace. Tall bookshelves line one of the walls and have familiar titles that my mother used to read to Sam and I. I set down my bag and I open one of the doors and it is a large suite bathroom.

I close it again and walk back over to my bed. I unzip my bag and see the portable battery operated cassette tape player that I had to buy at a thrift store before we left. I take it out and set it in front of me on the bed as I take out the large orange envelope that contains Vinnie's letters.

"Come on Estella. Rip off the band aid." I say to myself.

I dump out the envelope and pick up the one that says Day Two in Vinnie's handwriting. I slide the paper out and take a close look at the cassette tape cover. The title says Wonder. I see a pretty bird drawn on the cover as well and smile. Vinnie never liked to admit it but he had good artistic abilities. I opened the letter and read his words.