Bruno's Daughter

Chapter 26

Kristi's POV:

It's been a week since the re-building of Casita. And things are so much better than they have been.....Sorta....We all have our gifts, Abuela has been so much better on us than she used to be, Isabella doesn't have to be perfect anymore, and, she can be with Francisco without feeling like she let the family down. And Delores and Mariano, well, she and Mariano are together and are very happy. They are taking things slow in their relationship, but Mariano doesn't mind. Luisa doesn't have a whole lot of stress on her shoulders anymore either. She doesn't feel bad about needing and taking a break once in a while. Andres and I have made our relationship public. Let's just say they were shocked. Well, everyone except Bruno and Delores, but yea. Everyone is ok with it too.

And now, you might be wondering how things are going between Bruno and I. Well, they're a little....tense. I just don't know what to say to him. But, I gotta say something some time. I can't keep avoiding it. He's my father after all.

I walked into the living room to see him sitting on a couch, holding a picture. I knew that picture like the back of my hand. It was the one I made for him when I was little. I walked over and sat across from him.

"I remember the day I gave you that drawing." I commented quietly.

Bruno looked up at me, shocked for a moment before smiling. "Yea...It's the best birthday gift you could've given me...It's honestly hard to explain what it's meant to me..."

"Try me." I responded, giving a small smile.

"Well, every morning when I woke up, I could look over and see the picture you made me out of love. When I went to hide behind the walls, it was one of the only things I brought with me...I couldn't leave it behind. It gave me hope I'd see you again...And, that I'd hold you in my arms once more. You always were so important to me, since the day you were born..." Bruno looked down, giving a sigh and a sad smile. "Your parents would be so proud of you, Kristi..."

I sat there, stunned. What did he just say?! "What do you mean, my 'parents'.......?" I asked hesitantly and slowly, my eyes wide, my tone serious.

He obviously hadn't meant to let that slip from the expression on his face. But, he just sighed and shook his head before looking at me. "Kristi, it's time you know the truth...."

"What are you talking about....? What truth....?"

"Years ago, before you were born, I had two best friends. My only friends. They made me feel really special. When I was 32, they had a daughter. She was born April 16." My eyes were wide as I sat there. That was my birthday! "I was there when she was born. I remember holding her in my arms, that tiny little angel..." He looked at me as he spoke the words, 'tiny little angel.' "I was there when she learned to crawl, walk, and, when she said her first word. Her first word was....Uno...." Uno?! He told me that was my first word! This....this all sounds like....it's me...."She loved to gently tug at my hair." he chuckled but I just sat there stunned. I liked doing that when I was little....He told me I liked doing that ever since I was a baby!

"This is sounding a lot like me...." I said quietly and slowly.

"That's because....it is you..." I stared at him as he lowered his gaze.

"W-what..?"

"I adopted you....Your real parents were killed in an accident I predicted...I tried to get to them in time to warn them and stop them, but I was too late....They were already gone....You were only a year old. You didn't understand what was going on....They took you to the orphanage...And six months later, I adopted you..."

I stood up quickly, running my hands through my hair, my eyes wide, my breathing heavy. I paced the living room. "I'm adopted...." I kept repeating under my breath.