Locked Hearts

Chapter Twenty Five

GRACE POV

The next morning when I woke up, it was to the knock on the door. I groggily got up to answer it. Behind the door stood Lena, dressed for the day.

"Hi, I uh...it's breakfast and I'm nervous so can I wait for you." She whispered, glancing over her shoulder.

"Sure, gimme a few minutes."

After hurriedly brushing my teeth and showering, I walked back to the room and into the closet.

"Are you scared?" She asked quietly from her place on the bed.

Looking through the closet that not so surprisingly had a variety of clothing, I picked out a casual shirt and jeans. I quickly dressed and tied my hair up in a bun, simultaneously thinking of an answer. Was I scared? Terrified. I think what made it worse, is that Rae refused to tell me the truth. Maybe if she could give me something, anything to ease my mind, I wouldn't feel so betrayed.

"I am but I'm sure it'll be fine." I walked out and sat next to her.

"Do you really believe that?" She looked at me and in that moment, she looked so much younger than she was.

"Rae wouldn't let anything happen to us. I believe that." I told her honestly.

"Okay." She smiled slightly.

Another knock came on the door. I opened it to see Rae standing there looking nervous. She had her hands stuck inside the pockets of her sweats, her eyes focused on the ground.

"Buongiorno. I know you asked for space, but there's something I needed to explain to you and Lena before breakfast. Is she here?"

I moved out of the doorway, taking my spot next to Lena again. Rae walked in but stayed by the door. We both sat waiting for her to speak.

"So my brother, he has aspergers and doesn't really take well to new people at first. He might be a little distant and on edge but don't take it to heart. He doesn't like loud noises, so we try to keep our voices low when we speak and he's gonna be blunt with you. Might even tell you straight up that he doesn't like you." She chuckled nervously in the end. "That's it, join us when you're ready." She turned and left.

"Did you know about her brother?" Lena asked.

"No." I answered simply.

There's a lot she never told me.

●●●

Breakfast was mostly quiet, only the sound of forks slightly hitting the plate could be heard. I sat next to Lena while Rae and Marcello sat on the opposite side, her mom at the head of the long table. Just then Marcello stood and moved away.

"I don't like it here." Was all he said and left.

I watched as Rae and her mom exchanged a look before Rae got up. She picked up her plate and his abandoned one, then left in the same direction he did.

"Don't take that personally."

"Is he okay, Mrs Clarke?" I asked a little worried.

At the name, I saw something flash in her eyes. She blinked away whatever is was and smiled.

"Please, call me Violetta. And he is, my baby knows how to handle his mood swings." She waved her hand dismissively.

"How rich are you?" Lena piped up. "I mean, I know Rae has money but shit this house."

"Language young lady. I am not afraid to teach you some manners." Violetta scolded. "And it's mostly my late husband's inheritance money."

"Yes, ma'am." Lena slouched down in her seat.

I bit my lip to stop the laugh that begged to escape at the look on her face. "It's a beautiful home." I told Violetta.

"Grazie. Now tell me, how did you meet my daughter." She smiled warmly at me.

Leaving out all the sexual parts of our first encounters, I gave a brief but honest story of how we met. I also left out the part about being 'friends with benefits' and just settled for saying friends. The rest of breakfast went smoothly with just us three. Lena was also asked to give her own story of meeting Rae. My heart ached for the young girl, going through that much at such a tender age. She mentioned having to live on the streets for a while and what it felt like.

"I made it through, saved up some money and still managed to stay in school." She shrugged like it was nothing.

"How?" I asked in disbelief yet in awe of her.

"I don't know. I just knew that my life couldn't end up that way. Then I met Rae and she took me in." She spoke quietly.

"Sei una ragazza coraggiosa." Violetta soft voice came.

"I don't know what that means but it sounds nice, so I'll take it." Lena grinned.

Violetta chuckled softly, watching Lena with the same smile I noticed her giving Rae.

"She said you are brave." I told her.

She only smiled bigger at that.

●●●

"Grace?"

I turned and looked down to the woman in the wheelchair. "Yeah?"

Her eyes scanned my face before speaking. "Don't condemn her just yet, there's more to her. I promise you, the answers to your questions, it's worth waiting for."

With that said, she rolled away. I silently watched until she disappeared to the next room. There was a beautiful view of a garden from my window, and I decided to go relax there. After getting lost twice in the maze of a house, I finally found the exit.

Stepping out, I was immediately hit with the warmth of the sun. My eyes took in the topiary trees and flowers. I smiled at the different shapes of animals and the flowers that littered around. Tulips, sunflowers, orchids, Jasmines, roses, any type of flower you could think of. The biggest of the topiary was an eagle, it's proud wings spread and somehow radiated power. My mind drifted to the eagle wings on Rae's back, and I searched my mind for the meaning behind it. Power, dominance, enemy of evil. Somehow it suited her.

I walked further in, relishing in the beauty that surrounded me. There was a fountain sat in the middle of everything and I perched myself on the edge. So many different scents engulfed me, wrapping me in a comforting cocoon.

Rae occupied a great portion of my thoughts. I didn't want to give up on her. For the first time in a long time, I felt something I never thought I'd feel again. Only this time, the intensity was far more fierce. The things she made me feel put what I thought about love to shame. I hoped beyond hope that she'd relief me of my doubts soon.

-E