A Lily Amongst Roses

Seventeen

Friday

I was pacing up and down the foyer with Basil -the tabby kitten- curled up in my arms. Ralph kept trying to stop me from pacing down, to which I pushed him away, telling him to leave me alone.

Giovanni walked into the foyer from the kitchen, a confused look on his face as he gazed at his siblings who shrugged their shoulders in response.

Bruno tried giving me my minecraft bee but it didn't work. I threw it to the ground and began walking in circles. He seemed surprised my action, but just held his hands up in defeat.I focused on Basil, that was until we heard loud male Italian voices outside.

My uncle and father were here.

I glanced at my brothers, all of them seeming nervous in their own way as well. I took a deep sigh.

I had been stressing out for the last hour and a half since Giovanni mentioned that our father and uncle were on the way.

I wasn't expecting them to come here so quickly and had quickened my pace, Giovanni had to step over Rome and Arlo, who were staring and whispering to each other whilst sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

Martina had left to go home to her Grandmother, making sure to give us the kitten before leaving so we could get it checked out properly. Ralph seemed happy when she smiled brightly at him and waved goodbye.

"What if he hates me? God. He left me and my mother on our own. Not even leaving my mother money to help out. No birthday cards. No Christmas cards. Not even a 'hello, I'm your father.' Well... he isn't Nellie's father. God, I miss Nellie. She would've loved this place." I rambled on, as I paced up and down.

Maximus, sighed, taking Basil from my hands, passing the kitten to Ralph, who carefully took the kitten, placing it into the box.

Maximus wrapped his arms around me, "Il Mio Giglio." (My Lily), "Do not stress. He'll love you. He just needs to get used to you."

The doors opened. And in walked two men.

One was slightly taller than the other, he had dark brown hair up in a messy bun, he was stood proudly next to the smaller one (by a few inches) who was the man in the portrait. My father.

He had short black hair with a few streaks of grey. Upon seeing his sons, his face lit up, he winced pushing away from the tall one.

"Maximus!" He pulled Maximus into a small hug, doing a two pat release, pulling away as he glanced down to me, he paused for a moment, his Adam's apple bopping slightly.

"Rue."

His eyes held mine, and within the lighting, it felt emotional. A weight heaving down at my stomach. I bit my lip, "Dad."

Before he could introduce himself, Giovanni stepped in, gesturing towards the living room, inviting us all in there. Rome and Arlo stood from the stairs, making their way towards us, we wasted no time finding a place for us to sit in the large living room, everyone having a place to sit.

The living room had a massive Flatscreen TV, and when I mean massive, I mean massive. Almost as if we were in a cinema.

As we entered the living room, to the left there was a large double L shaped sofa, meeting eachother at the middle, there was also two large dark oak coffee tables which was positioned on top of a black large rug, complimenting the white marble floor.

I sat next to Arlo, who, this time, didn't hold hands with Rome. In fact, they were sat apart from each other. Rome was sitting next to the very intimaditing Maximus, who leaned in whispering something into Rome's ear. To which Rome's Adam's apple bopped as he gulped.