“Patience, daughter. You’ll get your turn.”
He wraps his other hand around the back of Penny’s neck, shoving her down on the floor.
“Now kneel like a good little girl and apologize to my daughter.”
Aunt Patty gasps and launches herself in front of Penny.
“I’m sorry, Vincent. She’s sorry. Please, please don’t do this. You promised!”
“Control your daughter then, Patricia.”
He sneers down at her, wrenching his gaze away from them.
“I’m your daughter too!” Penny cries out, her palms slamming into fists on the cement floor.
I stumble back at her words, unable to comprehend what the hell is going on right now.
Everything plays out in slow motion, like a movie I don’t want to watch but somehow can’t tear my eyes away from.
Tears blur my vision as I stare at Penny, crying and huffing on the floor. She’s a mess. Her usually perfectly styled hair is in disarray, her cheeks have dirt on them, and she has tears on her dress.
In all the years I have known her, I never saw a hair out of place. Even when we lived together, she always made sure she was the epitome of perfection.
The only emotion Penny had ever shown me was anger and I never even saw her cry. Not once.
Now, seeing her an emotional heap on the floor is tearing at my will to stay impassive.
“Penny? Are we--are we sisters?”
Penny’s head jerks up and she makes a move to get up as if to charge at me, but Aunt Patty physically grabs her from behind to keep her from lunging at me.
My heart drops to my feet and I’m at a loss, my mouth gaping open as she starts yelling obscenities at me.
Ever since we first met, my presence has been a contention between her and Aunt Patty. But knowing it’s because we’re related? I’m not sure how I’m supposed to process or even begin to understand any of this.
“Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”
I stomp my feet in frustration. I’m asking all these questions and no one––not a single person—has answered any of them.
My father remains silent and looks almostboredas he stares down at Penny.
The fact that he didn’t order anyone to get Penny after she tried attacking me speaks volumes. He cares about her, to some degree, but is feigning indifference.
“Aunt Patty? Why––why are you here? Did you know who I was this whole time?”
Santos snaps his finger again, his eyes still trained on Penny, who is now hunched over on the floor with her face buried in her hands as she cries. His forehead creases slightly, betraying his indifference.
Director Villegas grabs Aunt Patty’s arm and hauls her to her feet.
“My daughter asked you a question, Patricia. Know your place and answer her.”
My chest heaves with pressure.
The way he is speaking to them doesn’t sit right with me, but at the same time, I’m at such a loss.
I shut my eyes and take a few steps back until I’m once again within the safety of Noah’s chest.
My back rests on his front.