Orange Blossom

Chapter 12

It was 9:45 in the morning my mom has left to work an hour and 45 minutes ago and it was now me and my uncle home alone. I ended up not sleeping the whole night ever since the argument because basically I've been living a lie and I can't really sleep when all these unanswered questions have been stabbing my brain out.

I was going to have a talk with my uncle. Today. Right now.

Unconsciously, I got off of my bed and headed to the living room. My uncle's loud snores echoed through my ears still as I tried covering them. I know my uncle gets cranky when he's waken up early so I decided to give him time, but now his time's ran out.

"Tio! Tio, wake up!" I whispered beginning to shake him.

Right when my skin contacted his, without blinking he puts a gun to my forehead.

"What the-! Blossom! Don't do that, shit," he said as he realized it was me and relaxed his body, putting the gun down at his side.

I stared at him wide eyes with shock. Not so much fear, because he was like a dad/big brother to me. One promise my Tio always made was: "Naranja, no matter what I will always protect you and never hurt you. You are my everything." He'd always say that when I was a little girl kissing my cheeks then afterwards throwing me over his shoulder, tickling me to death.

"Naranja, you okay?" He asked holding onto my wrist.

"Yea...why do you-"

"Protection, Mija. Anything can happen," he answered easily.

I nodded my head in understanding and slightly pushing him with my shoulder aside so I can sit down next to him. He sat up and gave me space as he wrapped a blanket around me.

"Tio, you already know I am never going to get anymore answers from Mom so that's out of the question. Tell me what you know. Be honest, please.. I feel like my whole life's a lie... Why would she keep that away from me? Why wouldn't-"

"Look, your mom has your reasons...but I understand how you feel. I just think that-"

"Tio, cut the crap and tell me!" I said a little more aggressively.

He gave me a blank look and I just sighed.

"I'm sorry..I just-" I said closing my eyes. I was not the type of person to cry about problems. I just accepted everything and moved on. But some things you can't move on from.

"Naranja.." Tio said giving me a 'don't-cry-look-because-it-shows-how-weak-you-are look'.

I breathed in and out deeply being the stubborn person I am. I knew I was a lot stronger than my mom in holding my emotions. Anything that had to deal with "sadness" wasn't my thing. My mom would cry over little things like sappy movies or a lost kitten on the side of the rode, but me I would be dispassionate and not feel anything at all most of the time. Yea, I think guys are cute which leads to some kind of "passionate feelings", but I would never obsess or cry or worry about them. That was overrated. I'm fine with being independent. Besides hanging out with my friends, that's how I rolled.

My Tio always told me to be strong, because the world's a cruel place. he said that he believed in me and knew that I'd beat anyone who messed with me or my mom with my superwoman punch! I remember we'd always mess around and spar each other. He'd always let me wear his gloves whenever we did. I used to be a little fighting machine, but I haven't done it in years. I decided since I went through that traumatic experience, I'm going to take some fighting/defense classes.

Pushing the thought aside, I looked straight into my Tio's eyes in all seriousness and said, "Tell me. Please, Tio. I need to know."

He stared back in to my eyes and nodded once.

"Okay," he said sighing, "but first let's go get some McDonald's you want pancakes?"

I laughed and shook my head, "Yea, sure."

After we ate, we went back home and sat back down on the couch.

"Wanna watch a movie?"

"Tio!!!" I said slapping him the arm, laughing, followed by a serious look.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," he said shaking his head looking down.

"How did they meet...?" I asked him.

He took a deep breath and faced me.

"Honestly, I don't know... Cause remember Abuela's and Abuelo were separated. Your mom moved to the U.S when she was 8 and I stayed with Abuelo back in Mexico till I was 18, but every summer they came to visit so your mom and I can be together. As much as we wanted to hang out during the summer...I'd be working and she'd disappear whenever I was off of work which was late. My mom and dad never knew about her disappearances, because Abuelo would be passed out from drinking and Abuela was at her mom's ranch in the next town.

But anyways, it started when she visited us one summer, she was your age and I was 20 at the time. I caught her just in time sneaking out of the house and I got my chance to follow her. She ran to a town not too far from us and there I saw her run into some guy's arms and they ran away somewhere. But before I could follow them it was too late, they drove off into a car together. After that I just gave up and ran back home, knowing she was gonna come back sooner or later, so I took that as my opportunity to look in her room and go thru her things. Of course under her mattress is a diary and I skimmed thru it. She was in love with a guy named Vincent and has been seeing him every summer at the same spot since she was fourteen. I couldn't even believe it but in the back of her diary was a Polaroid picture of your father and you mom laughing and on the bottom it read: Vincent & Maria "Il nostro amore durerà per sempre."

"What does that mean?" I said with an eyebrow raised, shocked by his perfect speaking.

"Our love will last forever," he said quietly.

"He's from Sicily, Italy right?" I asked.

"Yes."

"What was he doing in Mexico?"

"I didn't know either. I didn't know.." he said to almost as if he wa stalking to himself.

"Do you know now...?" I asked pushing him further.

"On vacation, just like your mother. Who doesn't party in Mexico?" He said smoothly, shrugging, "But yea, besides that.. That's all I know."

I laughed awkwardly. He wasn't telling me everything.

"Yea, you're right," I said looking down playing with my fingers.

Then I thought of the question that would make or break me.

"Is he really dead...?"

Tio looked up at me from his hands and nodded his head sadly.

"I'm sorry, Naranja," he said rubbing my back in circles.

I sighed, "It's okay, Tio."

Silence took over the room for a minute right after.

"Is his family alive? Do you know of he has any?"

"Maybe... I'm not sure," he said honestly.

I didn't know what else to ask him... He obviously didn't have all the answers, but I ended up with more than I bargained for. He told me the truth, but not the complete truth which made me even more mad on not knowing what or why he's trying to hide things from me.

"Sicily, Italy," I whispered to myself as my diabolical plan just hit me.

"What, Naranja?" he asked cluelessly.

"I'm just thirsty.. Do you want anything to drink?"

"No, thanks. Are you okay, Mija?" he asked to be sure.

"Yes, Tio. Thank you," I said hugging him, "I'm gonna go take a nap."

I kissed him on the cheek and headed out the room.

"Me too. I love you, Mija!" he called out.

"Love you too!" I said before shutting me bedroom door closed.

"Sicily, Italy... Please be good to me."