An Unexpected Romance

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

When Gema received that letter four years ago from Vistos, she had been numb initially. She’d taken the week off from work and simply sat at home stuffing her face and unbelieving. It hadn’t been long before Lana came banging on her door, demanding to know what was going on, and Gema had simply explained that Vistos wanted nothing to do with her. True to her nature, Lana swore to cause serious harm to Vistos’ favorite appendage and find out what the truth of the matter was. Whether from fear of what could be a lie, or fear of what could be the truth, Gema made Lana swear never to talk to Vistos about it, or Gema would never forgive her or allow her around the baby once it was born. Lana agreed, all be it reluctantly, and she had been Gema’s support during her pregnancy. Hiding the truth from her husband and Vistos’ best friend, Christoff, hadn’t been easy, but Lana had done it for Gema. Now she flew to London for Gema and Kai’s birthday every year, and they talked on the phone at least twice a week, so when Gema hadn’t been able to get a hold of Lana for the past two weeks, she thought something may have been wrong. Getting that phone call from Viola confirmed it. 

“It’s Lana, you have to come to Italy now!” 

“Wh-what’s happened?! Is she okay?!” 

“She’s been in and out of the hospital for about a week now, the doctors don’t know what it is, but it’s…it’s not looking so good.” Viola’s voice was shaking and Gema’s hand gripped the phone so tightly her knuckles were white. 

“She’s asking for you.” Viola said, sniffling now. “She’s asking that you come to Italy. Please, Gem, I don’t know what else to do! And Vistos isn’t here yet, I can’t handle this by myself! I’m just the baby, I’m the baby-” She broke into sobs and Gema snapped into gear. 

“Viola, everything is going to be fine, okay? I’m on the next plane out, alright? Just keep it together until I get there, okay? You can’t let her see you break down, promise me! Promise me you’ll hold it together.” 

“Yes, I promise.” Viola whispered, and Gema hung up, froze for a second, trying to process everything. Lana? Sick? Impossible, she’s one of the most vivacious people I know! This isn’t happening. But she knew it really was, and that she had to act fast. Hurrying back upstairs, Gema threw clothes into a bag, not even paying attention to what she was packing, just hurrying along. After she’d packed her stuff, she grabbed a bunch of clothes for Kai and stuffed them into her suitcase as well, careful not to wake him from his nap as she picked him up and wheeled the suitcase down the stairs with him in her arms. Italy. Italy. Italy. It was a chant going through her head as she set the alarm in her apartment and locked the door, flagging down a taxi. On the ride to the airport, she left a message on Kate’s machine telling her she had a family emergency and was leaving the country. Kai slept peacefully on her shoulder as she rubbed soothing circles into his back and kissed his head, trying to reassure herself that everything would be okay. 

After calling Viola when she landed and getting the name of the hospital in Palerme, Gema grabbed a taxi and closed her eyes for a moment on the ride. Kai had his face pressed against the window, pointing out all the amazing sights, and eagerly bouncing in his seat. Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay. Will be okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. 

“Mami wake up, we’re here!” Kai shook Gema and she startled awake, wiping the sleep from her eyes and orienting herself. After paying the taxi driver, Gema hurried into the hospital with Kai in one hand and their suitcase in the other. Thankful that she’d never forgotten her Italian and had even taught Kai the basics of the language, Gema had no problem asking the nurses where to find Lana. When she got to the room, she didn’t see Viola, but Christof was sitting by Lana’s bed, holding her hand and kissing it gently. Hesitating, Gema didn’t want to interrupt them. Lana, usually so feisty, upbeat, always smiling and cracking jokes, to see her confined to a bed, her skin pale, tubes in her nose and IV’s in her arms, Gema was nearly sick.