Bruno's Daughter

Chapter 30

Kristi's POV:

 I walked slowly over to the bed and sat down, putting my hand on his hand. He stopped tossing and turning. "Papa," I spoke softly. "Papa, wake up.." I gently shook him. He groaned and opened his eyes slowly. 

 "K-Kristi....?" he asked in a quiet voice.

 I smiled down at him, taking a piece of his hair in my hand and gently tugging at it. Just like I had when I was little. "Hola, papa..." 

 He stared at me. "Y-you...You're..." 

 "I know. I'm talking to you and calling you papa." I gave a small chuckle, as I continued to play with his hair gently. 

 "Kristi, I'm sorry..." he said softly, looking away. I turned his head to look at me as I frowned softly.

 "No, papa. You have nothing to be sorry about. I'm the one who should be sorry. And I am. I am so very sorry....I was just so angry and I couldn't see the truth staring me right in the face! It was staring at me right in the face for ten years..." he looked at me, his cheeks stained with tears. His hazel eyes had tears forming in them. I wiped them away with my thumb as tears of my own flowed down my cheeks. "Andres and Delores told me off. They told me the truth....And then, I followed Tia Julietta tonight when she went to give you your dinner..." 

 "Y-you...You didn't...?" he stuttered, looking at me with wide, worried eyes. He raised his head from the bed.

 I nodded slowly. He sighed heavily, leaning back on his pillow. "I heard your conversation. I also saw your vision. And then, tonight, I saw your dream..." I told him. He looked away from me. "Papa, were you dreaming of when you had the vision...?" He nodded slowly, a tear rolling down his cheek. I brought his face to look at me and wiped his tears away. "Papa, when I saw that dream, the truth just smacked me right in the face. I don't hate you, papa...I should have known, papa...You never really left me. You never broke your promise. And, when I couldn't see you or hug you, you were right there in my heart....Maybe you weren't by my side like I wanted, but you were still there for me day after day, night after night, as I grew up." Papa tried to blink back his tears, but more kept coming. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I smiled at him. "Oh, papa....I'm sorry I said you lied to me and you weren't my papa...You are my papa. You left me because you wanted me to have a better life...You never lied to me...I love you so very much, papa....More than you will ever know..."

 "Y-you...Do you mean that, Kristi...?"

 "Angel." I smiled down at him, moving his hair behind his ear. "I'm your little angel. Your daughter. Your little girl. I'm your princess....And I do love you...." Papa smiled at me, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. I looked away from him. "I don't expect you to love me or forgive me, papa, but I needed to let you know how sorry I am and how much I love you and how much you mean to me...."

 "Kristi.." papa took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Look at me." I slowly did as he told me. "I forgave you a long time ago....I have always loved you from the moment you were born. When your father placed you in my arms as a tiny, adorable little angel....I will never stop loving you..."

 I smiled, bursting into tears before leaning and hugging him tight. "I love you, papa!"

 "I love you too, my little angel..." he said, hugging me back and crying himself.

 Third Person POV:

 From outside the room, Delores smiled, having heard every word the father and daughter said. She had tears of joy flowing down her cheeks. "Yes!" she gave a quiet squeal. She smiled brightly, hurrying out of Casita and towards Mariano's house. She threw rocks at his window, hoping he'd hear her.

 Luckily for her, he did. He opened his window, yawning. He frowned curiously. "Delores? Is something wrong? What are you doing here?"

 "Nothing is wrong, Mariano! Everything is alright! Finally! Everything is going to be just fine!" she told him, tears of joy still in her eyes as she continued to smile. 

 Though he didn't quite understand, Mariano smiled. He knew something had been off. And he knew his girlfriend knew about it but wouldn't tell him what. "I'll be right down." he told her. He quickly but quietly hurried down the stairs and outside. He went over to Delores and hugged her. "I'm glad everything is ok now..." he said softly. 

 "So am I, Mariano....So am I..."