Lucia
The door opens, and I push to my feet, eager for any news of my father.
Alejandro walks in looking the way he did yesterday. Like the man of my dreams. The man who will stay exactly there, in my dreams.
God knows how I slept after he left me. I had that gaping hollow in my heart and the worry of what would happen if his people didn’t get to Dad.
I worried something would go wrong because something is always going wrong.
Alejandro nods, and his face brightens. Both are good signs. When he holds up a phone, my chest tightens then loosens.
“We got your father. He wants to talk to you,” he tells me.
Relief sags my shoulders, and all the tension leaves my body. I want to be strong and not break down, but the reprieve of knowing Dad is safe means so much to me.
“Oh my gosh. Thank you so much, Alejandro.”
I know I shouldn’t, I know getting closer than I am will hurt more, but my body moves me into his arms and I’m grateful when he holds me.
No one could possibly know the worry I’ve experienced over the last weeks. Today marks six weeks for me.
He releases me and steps back, handing me the phone.
“He’s eager to talk to you. When you’re finished, come and see me. I’ll be downstairs in the kitchen.”
“Okay.”
He backs away, leaving the room, and I press the phone to my ear.
“Dad,” I say.
“Lucia, is that really you?”
Hearing his voice fills me with more relief. I never thought I was going to hear it again.
“It’s me, Dad.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m safe.”
“My darling daughter, I’m so sorry for what I put you through. I can’t believe what you went through to save me.” He starts crying. “Your mother would be so ashamed of me. And so would your brother. I was trying to fix things, but it got out of hand. Everything I did just made it worse. So much worse. Please forgive me.”
“Oh, Dad, there’s no need to ask me that, especially not when because this started with you trying to help me.”
“I would do anything for you.”
“Me too for you.”
“I’m going to get us out of this. I am. I don’t know what shape today will take, but I promise you I’ll be doing everything to get you back to me.”
“Okay. I can’t wait to see you.” I say that, but my heart is here in Brazil.
“I love you, Lucia. Please be safe.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”
When we hang up, I wait for a few minutes to compose myself before I open the door and make my way downstairs.