The unwanted sister

A U N T I E

Maria De Costa

"Where's Aunt Ellie?" I ask Mama. She looks down at me with sadden eyes. Almost as if she looks scared to say anything.

"She's gone away for a little." She answers, leaving a lingering kiss on my forehead as she tucks me closer to her side.

My eyes are droopy as I fight the sleep threatening to overcome my senses. Aunt Ellie and I never got to do our sleepover...

The clothes we ordered for buttercup arrived two days ago, yet it doesn't feel right to open them without her.

"Was dada and my uncles the reason again?" I think out loud.

Mama sighs. She sits up, dragging me with her. I tilt my head to the side, looking like a confused puppy.

"Maria?"

"Yes, mama?"

"You know when you're mad you'll leave Buttercup alone for hours?"

"Yeah..."

"Well Dada is buttercup in this situation and Aunt Ellie is you. And hours are weeks." Mama explains.

I nod my head slowly. "But Dada didnt do anything."

Mama freezes, not confirming or denying the sentence.

"Your dada... he did something that he shouldn't have."

"So it is his fault?"

She winces, "....well...yes."

"Why didn't auntie Ellie say goodbye" my eyes start tearing up. Is she leaving for a long time? Is she gonna leave me alone again?

"Oh baby, she was too heartbroken to say goodbye... she loves you so much." Mama pulls me in a hug, kissing my hair as she rubs circles on my back.

My body tenses when I think of a possibility. "Is it because she knows I'm not her real niece?" I whisper.

Mama pulls back, letting me see her sadden eyes. "No.... you are her real niece, what are you talking about?"

"Dada isn't my real dad...which means aunt Ellie isn't my real aunt..."

"Sweetheart, your dada is your real dad no matter what okay? He's the one that raised you and he's the one that will continue to do so with unconditional love and care. And your aunt loves you too much to even put into words, you know she fought over you with your dad once?"

"She left because of me?" My tears roll down my cheek.

"No... she would never, she left for her. Okay? She loves you so much and sees you as her real niece. And I don't ever want to hear anything different okay sweetheart?"

"Okay mama." She kisses my nose as I climb down the bed.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go talk to Dada!" I shout as I run away from the room. I hear Mama's groans but no footsteps or attempts to stop me.

I get to my Dada's office, noting the door being only a teensy bit open. I peek in, giggling when I see all of my uncles there too. They look scary but they're not.

"Will you just fucking apologize!" Matteo shouts at dada. Oh oh that's not a good word.

"I fucking can't! She's not talking to me! She's not answering my calls! She's not even letting me talk to her through grandfather!" Dada yells back.

"I wonder why." Uncle Dante mumbles, looking exhausted.

"At this point write her a letter before I move in with grandfather too." Luca says sternly. He's about to get out when he notices me. His stern scowl turns into a warm smile as he picks me up in his arms, attacking my face with kisses.