Chapter 13 - THE FAMILY EMMA DID NOT ASK FOR
Living with the Romanos was terrible.
Emma had a tutor.
A therapist.
A doctor.
Security.
Rules.
Vincent loved rules.
Emma loved breaking Vincent's rules.
Isabella usually negotiated peace.
Tony taught Emma chess.
Emma cheated.
Tony pretended not to notice.
At night, things were harder.
Emma still woke screaming.
Sometimes she forgot where she was.
One night Vincent found her sitting in the kitchen at three in the morning.
“You're supposed to be asleep,” he said.
“So are you.”
He sat.
Emma pushed a cookie toward him.
Vincent looked at it.
“What is this?”
“A cookie.”
“I know what a cookie is.”
“Congratulations.”
Vincent ate it.
Emma smiled.
After a while, she asked, “Did you love your dad?”
“Yes.”
“Even after finding out he lied?”
Vincent thought.
“Yes.”
“Is that allowed?”
“I hope so.”
Emma looked at her hands.
“I miss my mother.”
“You never knew her.”
“I know.”
Vincent nodded.
“I miss her too.”
Emma looked up.
“You knew her?”
“A little.”
“Tell me.”
May you like
So he did.
Until sunrise.
