Love Me Anyway

Chapter Ten

Maya

Cat and I walked into the station hand in hand. She had asked that I was the one to take her, once Carina and I explained who our 'friend' was. We told her that she was someone to talk about her feelings with, other than family. I told her how I had talked to Diane too, and having someone to talk to is a good thing.

"Caterina Josephine DeLuca! I've missed you!" Andy held her arms open and Cat ran into her hug.
"She specifically asked for Tìa Andy and Auntie Vic."
"Someone say my name?" Vic came from around the corner eating an apple.
"Hey there munchkin!" Vic ruffled Cat hair.

I heard the door open and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Hey, Diane."
"Diane? What are you doing here?" Vic asked.
"I came to meet someone. I heard I was getting a new friend." Diane smiled down at Cat.
"Hi, I'm Diane." She squatted down to her level.
"I'm Caterina. But Maya and my Aunties call me Cat."
"It's very nice to meet you Cat. I brought some coloring books, do you like to color?"
"Sì!" Her eyes lit up, and I made a mental note to go buy her some crayons and coloring books later.
"Why don't you ask Maya if we can go color."
"Please Maya?"
"Of course kiddo. Go have fun."

Diane held out her hand and Cat took it, both of them walking off.

"So, you have Cat in therapy?" Andy asked.
"She had a meltdown last night. And I know meltdowns with kids are normal, but Carina and I feel like she has a lot of pent up issues about her Mom. So we wanted to go ahead and get them addressed so we can help the best we can."
"Look at you. Mommy Maya." Vic joked.
"I'm not trying to replace her Mom. I want her to know that. I mean, if she wanted to call me Mom I wouldn't say no. It wouldn't bother me. But I'm not here to replace her. I'm just... filling in?"
"You're doing a lot more than that Maya. You're giving her a chance to do things she wouldn't be able to do if she wasn't with you and Carina."

"How do you think it'll go?" Carina asked through the phone.
"She hasn't come out of the room yet, so I'm assuming it's going good so far."
"I'm so proud of her for doing this."
"Me too."

Cat came out of the room with Diane, talking animatedly about something.
"They're out. We'll see you at home amore."
I hung up the phone and met them in the middle with a smile.
"Hey kiddo! Did you have fun?" I asked.
"Sì. I drew you something." She handed me a piece of paper shyly.

I looked down and smiled when I saw a blonde and brunette stick figure, standing on either side of a smaller brunette stick figure.
"Would you like to tell Maya what you drew?" Diane asked.
I squatted down next to her as she began to explain what the picture was.
"That's me, that's Carina, and that's you. And my Mamma is waayyy up there in the sun and the clouds."
"I love it kiddo. I'm gonna frame it and put it in my office." I held my arms out and she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"I'm sorry I yelled Maya." Cat whispered.
"It's okay Cat. I understand. You were just overwhelmed."
"Sì. Diane said I can be upset about Mamma. And that I have family to help me."
"That's right. You do have a family to help you. You have me, and Carina, and all your Aunts and Uncles." I held back my tears as I pushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"Can I color with Diane again? Please?" Cat asked.
"I think we can arrange that." Diane smiled at us. "Maya, can I talk to you for a moment? Vic volunteered to stay with Caterina."
"Uh, sure. Auntie Vic is upstairs kiddo."

Cat run up the stairs to join her Aunt.

"What's going on?" I stood up straight and crossed my arms over my chest.
"How are you feeling?" Diane asked.
"I'm okay. I'm taking it day by day. I mean, I don't know how to raise a kid. Neither of us do. But we're trying. I guess that's all we can do."
"And you're okay with all this? You're accepting taking on the role of a mother?"
"I am. Believe it or not, I'm the one who convinced Carina." I chuckled.
"She was having second thoughts?"
"More like first thoughts. I mean, I understand why she was feeling that way. To find out you have a long lost sibling, who you need to raise as your own child because her Mother is dying? Or dead? We don't even know how to get in contact with this woman. It's a lot. But Carina is doing great. Cat and I... we just connect more than her and Carina do. We build things together, we have the fire station, we just clicked."
"Maybe Carina can take her to look around the hospital? Find a common ground with Caterina?" Diane suggested.
"I'll bring that up to her."
"I'd like to see all three of you next week. I think it will be good for Cat."
"Sounds good. Thanks again Diane. I really, really appreciate you."