Daughter of the Mafia

Part 5: Broken and Fragile

Amanda looked a lot better than she had the previous day.

"I didn't expect to see you right now," she said, making her way to the couch and collapsing on it.

"I couldn't do the school thing." Jaci fell in beside her and relaxed her head against the back of the cushion.

"Anything you want to talk about?"

Jaci rolled her head forward and focused on her friend. Amanda had showered, and her hair hung in perfect waves, albeit sans product. She'd skipped putting on makeup again, but the dark lashes framed her green eyes, highlighting her natural beauty.

"I'm done pretending I'm okay. I'm done trying to fit in and be a normal kid, put my past behind me."

"It'll get better," Amanda said. "I'll be able to go with you next week."

"And then what? We can field the questions together?"

Amanda's lip quirked upward. "We can even hold a Q&A."

Jaci laughed in spite of herself, and then she sighed. "What am I supposed to do? I've been a scholar student for years. I've worked hard to get here. Even after the—" She broke off and shook her head. "I'm sick of crying. I'm sick of being fragile and broken. I spent years putting myself back together and now I feel like I'm at square one. Useless."

"Let's go to Switzerland."

"Anytime," Jaci sighed.

"No, really." Amanda scooted forward, catching Jaci's eye. "I talked to my dad. He said we can go, and my mom said she'd fund it." Amanda rolled her eyes. "She didn't even fly out to see me in the hospital. Let's enjoy her guilt trip."

The thought left her delirous. "Get away from it all."

"Get away from here."

A renewed energy coursed through her veins, a spark of anticipation igniting in her gut. "When?"

"When is your flight?"

"In nine days." Her hope sank. No way could they pull this together that fast.

"Then I guess we better book mine." Amanda pushed off the couch and made her way to the computer at the desk next to the television. "Get over here and make sure I get the right one," she called over her shoulder.

Jaci pushed off the couch and came to her side. "Are you sure?"

"Yep. Just gotta find my passport . . . will you check that drawer?"

"So your mom's helping your dad pay for this? Is this really okay?" She found the little blue book and placed it on the desk.

"Yep." Amanda shot her a big grin. "I'll just let him know I couldn't wait. I found a good deal and booked the tickets."

Jaci watched Amanda maneuver the pointer over the airlines website. She should say something, stop Amanda from this insanity, but she didn't want to. Suddenly the flight couldn't come soon enough. She had to get out of Idaho. "That's it."

Amanda clicked the last button, and a moment later the confirmation screen popped up. "And it's done!" She turned around and hugged Jaci. "We're going to Switzerland!"

Jaci hugged her back. Then Amanda pulled away, her expression becoming more serious. "You might want to tell your mom."

***

To say her mom was upset was putting it mildly.

"You're not going," Mrs. Rivera said. She finished emptying the dryer and started up the stairs from the basement, a basket of laundry on her hip.