Lies We Tell

Chapter 2

Aurora

"Just clean the living room before heading to the kitchen," I told the cleaning lady that came here twice a week to help me. The house wasn't that big but Ignazio had insisted that she came twice a week to keep things clean to make sure nothing was left uncleaned. He would bring guests at short notice and he hated the house being a mess.

"I surely will," she told me before she got busy vacuuming the floor. I was going to my room when the ringing of my phone made me forget what I was doing. I smiled when my sister's name flashed on the screen.

"Eleanor," I couldn't hide the happiness I felt hearing from her.

"Hey sis," she chirped. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing good. How are you and mom? Forgive me I couldn't call in the last few days." I always made sure to talk to her thrice a week but sometimes I got so busy dealing with Ignazio and his guests that I truly forgot all about myself sometimes.

"Gosh, being so formal, Aurora. I'm your sister." I chuckled at her words. "And we both are good and doing well. Just stop worrying you aren't the parent you know." I felt like one I wanted to tell because the only thing I had worried about was her and mother. Somehow I didn't feel like a twenty-three-year-old.

"Okay, chill down. How is college treating you?" Letting her words slide I sat down on the stairs hearing her out.

"It is good but it's damn tiring. So much work but the good thing today was that I got a free hour so I decided to talk to you." Her going to college was a big relief for me but the bigger was when mom went with her.

"I have something to tell you though just promise not to get mad." The right thing to say to someone is not to worry I wanted to point out but just kept quiet.

"Dad came last night," my eyes widened at her words deep worry setting inside of me.

'Why was he there? Are you both alright?" The question came out laced with fear. "and why didn't you call me right then?"

"We both are alright, Aurora. I promise," she assured me. "It was late at night you know I didn't think it was right to disturb then."

"What did he want?" He knew it well he shouldn't come near both of them.

"Nothing actually. He just told me that missed Mom and me," I heard her sigh. "He stayed for a while and left in the morning."

"And you let him stay?" I asked in disbelief and anger at her.

"I couldn't do anything you know how mom gets when she sees him. She says he is the only man she has ever loved and he is our father, her husband." Nothing she said could justify him going there or him letting her stay there.

"Yeah, tell her to say the same thing when her face and body are black and blue with bruises. A father doesn't sell her daughters to save himself, tell her that especially," the bitterness I held in me reflected in the voice.

"Next time he shows up on your door shut the door on his face call me and then the police. You remember he has a restraining order." I had been able to get it for both of them and this was how they played right into his hands. "I will talk to Ignazio about this," I added.

"Please don't, Aurora. For god's sake just don't," she pleaded. "I promise to shut the door on his face next time then call the police and then you but please don't tell Ignazio. He really has done a lot for us and really saying I don't want him coming down here. He still scares the shit out of me," her words somewhere pinched me.

"Eleanor," I scolded.

"Sorry, sis." She apologized.

"He isn't scary once you get to know him. He is a really nice person and he treats me so well." I will always be in debt to him. I still remember that when we had ridden towards our reception in the car I tried to talk to him scared out of my wits.

He had looked at me with a bored expression when I had asked him to protect my sister and mother from my father. I pleaded with tears to send them away from my father or my father away from them. I didn't know him that well but I had still begged without knowing the outcome. When I was done all, he had told me was to be composed and clean myself up. A few months later Eleanor had gone to college with help from his family.

Ignazio had rented an apartment for her and, mom. He had protected them when he didn't need to or had an obligation to.

"Really, sis? You remember what happened right," she retorted. "Because I do." Her voice filled with bitterness.

"Just stop it, Eleanor. Let's not scratch the past," I said haughtily. "Be careful when Dad comes around next time." There was no ending to this discussion. It always came down to this what Dad did, what Ignazio did, and what we did. None of us were saints.

"I'm really sorry Aurora. I didn't mean to," she apologized.

"I'm sorry I have to go," my voice broke a little. "I have to prepare for a.... party tonight. I will talk to you later."

"Aurora," I could hear the worry mixed with an apology in her voice.

"It's alright." I paused. "I will see you at my wedding anniversary party." I didn't wait to hear more from her and ended the call. Keeping a hand over my lips I stared right ahead. Tears welled in my eyes with a lump in my throat forming. I didn't want to cry. I didn't want to shed tears over this.

I closed my eyes trying to control my emotions but sometimes I just couldn't. Keeping my phone aside putting my head over my knees I sobbed silently.

I wept for the girl I left behind. I wept for growing into a woman this early.

I wept for all I had done only for not them able to understand because they didn't know what I had left behind to be here.

They didn't know how much I have sacrificed to keep us all safe.

I cried for the love left behind.

Sometimes it was just hard to keep it all bottled in even how hard you tried.

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Love is hard.

And I mean all kinds of love.

But sometimes we get so lost in love we forgot the boundaries.

Sometimes our emotions get out of control.

Sometimes it hurts to always say you are fine.

Life is filled with struggle and everyone is living through their own.

Don't judge them to be happy just because they smile and seem happy.

Look past the faces of happiness we all wear.

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