My Big Fat Demons [Revised]

The Gala (24)

Chapter 24: The Gala

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Nessuno's POV

It didn't take long for us to get home after leaving the library. During the entire ride home I chewed over the information Mr. Bortoli gave me. From the love letters I read between Helda and Mr. Alsworth, I always thought Helda lived a horrible life. Yet, her life wasn't horrible. Helda was just unhappy and looking for an escape. Mr. Alsworth provided that escape for her. At first, I was skeptical when Mr. Bortoli told me this information. But when he told me he was her brother, I laughed in his face. Not something I meant to do, it was just hard to believe. He then went on to explain that Helda was rescued from Germany years ago. His family took her in and gave her a new life. He then gave me her diary to read. It is written in German but I'm sure if I really cared I could translate it.

I asked him what I should do with her belongings. He said besides his own family, Helda didn't have anyone left. Therefore, he told me to just donate it or sell it. I haven't gone through their belongings yet to know what it all consists of. According to Mr. Bortoli, Helda was kind of a disgrace. He speculated that she was a traitor and helped kill the jews during the holocaust. He expressed that her getting cancer and dying was God's work. In all honesty, I didn't know what to believe. I never knew her, only stories from Mr. Alsworth. But hearing Mr. Bortoli talk, it crushed the romantic fantasy I had built in my head.

"We're going to a gala tonight. I've already picked out your dress." Ruben said as we stepped through the front door. I nodded but didn't say anything. As we entered the living room, I noticed a bunch of boxes everywhere.

"I, um, got you some things from the gift shop while I waited for you." Ruben rubbed the back of his neck and eyed me, waiting for my reaction.

"The entire store?" I chuckled in shock.

"I couldn't decide." He grimaced.

"You can't decide so you buy everything. Hmm, acceptable move." I half-smiled. There's a box to my left on the floor. I bent down and removed the tape, then opened the box.

"Books!" I gasped. So many books. Were the other boxes also filled with books?

"Do you like them?" He asked.

"I love them. Thank you." I stood up and hugged him.

"Oh wow." He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me. I buried my head in his neck and took a deep breath. Helda's love story may have been a lie, but I know that this right here was real. Or at least I hoped it was.

"May I ask what's wrong? You haven't spoken a word the entire ride home. Plus, your mood was different after meeting with that man." Ruben squeezed me.

"If he hurt you I'll kill him myself." He added with a hint of rage in his voice.

"He didn't hurt me, calm down." I pulled back and chuckled.

"Then what did he do? And what can I do to make it better?" He pulled me back in.

"You've already made it better. I can't wait to go through all of these boxes. And I can add them to the bookstore at home!" I suddenly got excited at the thought. Books straight from Italy. I'll probably read them first, then sell them.

"Oh thank god. You always get mean when I buy you stuff." He grinned down at me.

"I am not mean!" I pouted. He kissed the crease between my brow.

"Let's not live in denial, my love. Now tell me, what was wrong?" He caressed my face gently. Closing my eyes I leaned into his touch and tried to savor the moment.