Mother

Chapter 23

I poked at my food, my mind drifting to the conversations I'd overheard at home. Dad had been talking to Lorenzo about a new shipment, something big coming in soon. The kind of business that could make or break alliances. even if Dad hadn't yet pulled us fully into it. We knew it was only a matter of time before Julio and I would be expected to step up, just like Enrique had, just like Lorenzo had before him. 

I glanced up at Julio again. He looked so unbothered, so detached from everything. But I knew better. He wasn't just bored or disinterested; he was avoiding it. All of it.

 swirling the fork around the plate, but my appetite was long gone. The thought of what Dad had said yesterday kept nagging at me. the twins, Juan and Paul, coming back home. After years of being shipped off to boarding school, why now? And more importantly, what did it mean for us?

Glancing up at Julio again. He was still scrolling through his phone. I cleared my throat. "What do you think about the twins coming back?"

Julio didn't  flinch, his finger still sliding up the screen. "What about them?"

I sighed. I should've expected that. "I mean, why now? After all this time, Dad suddenly wants them back. Doesn't it seem weird to you?"

Julio shrugged, still not looking up. "He probably wants them close now that he has decided to man up again. The family is now his priority, Ivan. He's probably trying to pull everyone in."

I frowned. "So you think it's about business? Not family?"

Julio's lips twitched, but he still didn't look up. "When has it ever not been about business with him?"

He had a point. Dad had always been focused on the business, building his empire, maintaining alliances, keeping the family's name untouchable in the city. But still, something about the timing didn't sit right with me. Maybe it was because, for the first time in years, he was actually trying to be present. He'd promised, hadn't he?

"He said he's trying to be more... present," I muttered, though even I didn't believe it as I said the words.

This time, Julio lifted his head looking at me, his eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Present? You mean like how he was 'present' when Mom left? Or 'present' when he sent Juan and Paul away without so much as a goodbye?"

"I winced, knowing he was right. Julio's words cut deep because they echoed exactly what I'd been thinking. "Yeah, I know... But maybe......."

"Maybe what?" Julio interrupted, his tone sharp. "Maybe this time he'll actually follow through? Come on, Ivan. We've seen this before. He promises to be there, to make things right, and then he gets pulled back into the business and we're left with nothing."

I didn't have a response to that. Julio wasn't wrong. Our dad's promises were always coated with good intentions, but they rarely translated into action. Still, there was a part of me that wanted to believe this time might be different.

I opened my mouth to say something else, but the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Julio shoved his phone into his pocket and stood up, stretching lazily. "Come on, we've got gym next."

I sighed, pushing away from the table and following him out of the cafeteria. The walk to gym class was silent, Julio's casual stride in stark contrast to the heavy thoughts weighing on my mind. 

We entered the locker room and changed quickly, both of us settling into our usual routine. Gym class passed in a blur, with Julio doing the bare minimum to stay out of trouble while I threw myself into the activities, trying to shake off the tension.

By the time the class was over, we were both drenched in sweat, but it didn't feel like enough. There was too much on my mind, and I knew Julio was feeling the same way, even if he refused to show it. As we left the gym, heading back to the locker rooms to change, Julio glanced over at me. "Look, don't get your hopes up. The twins coming back might change things, but don't expect Dad to suddenly become some perfect father. He's still who he is."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I wanted to believe that things could get better, that our family could finally be whole again. But deep down, I knew Julio was right.

Dad might be trying to change, but we couldn't count on him. Not yet.

After gym, the drive home was just as silent as the one to school had been that morning. Julio drove with one hand on the wheel, the other lazily draped over his lap. His sunglasses masked his eyes, but I knew he wasn't in the mood to talk. Not that we had much to say anyway. 

I glanced out the window, my mind still turning over the conversation from lunch, thinking about what Julio had said. He was right, of course. Dad might be trying to change, but after all the years of broken promises, could we really trust that?

When we finally pulled into the driveway, the house felt different. There was something about seeing Dad's car parked out front that immediately made my stomach twist. 

"He's home," I muttered, more to myself than to Julio. 

Julio just grunted in response, already stepping out of the car. I followed him up the steps, knowing that whatever was about to happen, Julio wasn't going to make it easy.

When we stepped inside, the sound of the TV hummed from the living room. Sure enough, Dad was sitting on the couch, flipping through channels like he had all the time in the world. It was weird seeing him like this, so casual, like he wasn't the capo of one of the most powerful mafia families in the city.

He looked up as we walked in, a small, uncertain smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Boys," he greeted, his voice warmer than I was used to.

Julio didn't even glance his way. He just kept walking, heading straight for the stairs without a word. I hesitated, glancing between them, feeling the familiar tension rise in the air.

"Julio," Dad called after him, his voice firm but not harsh. "We need to talk."

Julio's response was a nonchalant wave, not even bothering to turn around. "Maybe later," he muttered, disappearing up the stairs.

Dad's face tightened, his eyes flickering with frustration, but he didn't push it. Instead, he turned his attention to me. "Ivan," he said, softer this time. "How was school?"

I shifted awkwardly, feeling the weight of his gaze. "It was... fine," I answered, my voice quiet.

 He nodded, looking like he wanted me to say more, but I wasn't sure what to add. The awkwardness of the situation made me uncomfortable. neither of us knowing how to bridge the gap between us.

Without waiting for him to ask his anymore questions, I followed Julio's path up the stairs, retreating to the safety of my room. As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, I let out a long breath.

 It was always the same. Dad would try, we'd respond in half-hearted ways, and nothing would ever really change. I didn't know how long we could keep doing this, circling around each other, pretending like we weren't all carrying the weight of what our family had become.

I dropped onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Julio had the right idea. Keeping his distance, staying detached, it was probably the only way, to keep from getting disappointed.But me? 

I wasn't sure I could keep doing that. I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away, but they lingered like a heavy fog. For now, all I could do was wait and see how long Dad's promises would last this time.