chapter Five
New Home, New Life
Victoria
I hate feeling like I am missing something. Boy, I was missing something. I still hadn’t figured out what made my father go nuts.
It couldn’t have just been my outfit, but I wasn’t about to find out if it meant speaking to him. Maria and I spent our whole Saturday shopping for new clothes and things for my room, as well as planning for my birthday party. It was like she was trying to fit the seventeen years she missed out on into one day.
Under normal circumstances, I would’ve been over the moon with joy. However, all I wanted to do was see my little brother. So, after Maria dragged me to the last stop on her agenda, we sent the last of our things back to the house for the staff to set up in my room.
We then headed to the restaurant for me to see Toni and pick up my school bag I had left behind yesterday. Maria refused to go inside the restaurant and told me she didn’t want me going in either. We made a deal, we would go see Toni if I stayed outside with her.
I was so excited when Toni came running out of the restaurant, after Uncle Sal went to get him. Toni’s only twelve. I know everything must be upsetting for him. I’d been so busy hugging and reassuring him that I was okay, I didn’t notice my father or the men he walked out of the restaurant with.
I heard my father telling someone so long. Then I heard that name from the day before in the mall, Lorenzo. My head popped up at its mention, but I was too late.
I couldn’t see the faces of the men that left the restaurant. They had gotten into a large Hummer and the windows were tinted too dark for me to see inside. I was a little annoyed by the fact that I’d missed who it was that left. Only to think to myself, there must be a hundred Lorenzos. It was stupid to think it might be him.
I was so tired by the time we reached my new home, my brain was hurting. We had started out so early in the morning. I just wanted to sleep.
Maria had more plans for Sunday. She said she needed every day she could get to plan a birthday gala at the last minute. We’d already met with a team of party planners this morning. Tomorrow she was having her personal designer come and fit me for a few dresses for the party.
I have to admit, I was a little excited about the party. My mother wanted to throw me a party, but my father was still giving her grief about it the last time she asked. Maria wasn’t having any of those problems.
I was in awe as I made it to my new room. The staff had done everything for me already. They’d been painting first thing before we left in the morning. The plan was for it to dry in time for the new furniture. I’d asked for a warm shade of lilac. It looked glamorous on the walls.
The new linens were on the bed, a white and purple set I had picked out that morning. The curtains were changed to the white sheer fabric I had picked out. The desk I had chosen was set up by the entry of the room, just like I had imagined it would be.
I had picked out an espresso colored desk and a cool, clear desk chair with a purple cushion. The espresso canopy bed, I fell in love with, sat centered against the largest wall between the entry and the bathroom.
Maria really pulled strings to make it all happen in one day. The bed was scheduled to ship to someone else on Monday. Maria made sure it was delivered to us instead.
Maria had the bed draped with sheer purple fabric that she and her interior designer picked out. The curtains were made of the same fabric only in white. I was surprised to see them hanging already.
Maria meant business. There was a new TV mounted to the wall across from the foot of my bed. Under it was a clear entertainment unit with a DVD player and a sleek new stereo.
Anchoring the foot of the bed was a medium size white couch, placed on a purple and white plush rug. The pillows on the couch had purple and white designs. There was a purple throw across the back of the couch.
The end tables at the sides of my bed looked better than I thought they would. They were wide in width and made of the same espresso wood as the bed with clear knobs. The lamps I picked out looked cool.
They were clear glass and the insides were purple. Maria had picked out sconces and a chandelier that she was going to have her electrician put in during the week. I loved the room already, I couldn’t wait to see it finished.
I walked over to the bathroom on the right side of the bed and went straight through to the huge closet inside. They’d already organized my new shoes, accessories, and clothes. I walked through the closet spinning around in joy. This was a whole new start in a whole new world. I was being pampered even more than usual.
I walked through the closet running my hands over the clothes. My face brightened as I noticed the large white chaise lounge in the middle of the closet across from a huge mirror.
I ran over and threw myself across the chaise. That’s when I noticed Maria had entered the closet, leaning against the wall with a big grin on her face. After yesterday, it was nice to see a smile there.
“So, do you like it?” She could bet her sweet candy. I loved the closet and the room.
“Oh, of course, thanks, Maria you really didn’t have to go so overboard. I could’ve waited for some of this stuff. The staff must be exhausted.”
She truly did go above and beyond. It was nice, she was making the effort. I could tell it was genuine.
“That’s what we pay them for. I thought I told you to call me mom.”
“Oh, right, working on that,” I said with a smile. Mom was a big change from Mad Maria.
Maria smiled even wider. “Are you hungry? I could have the kitchen bring you something?”
“No, I’m good, that sandwich Uncle Sal gave me was more than enough.” I was stuffed. Uncle Sal had given me a meatball sub, before we left the restaurant.
“Okay, well, I want to go online and see if I can find any more ideas for the party. Your new laptop is downstairs in the study and the new desktop computer will be set up on your desk tomorrow.”
“Okay, I did want to check my email, but I’m tired. I’ll do it tomorrow. Thanks again, Mar... I mean Mom.” It sounds so insane to call her that and it felt the same.
Maria’s face lit up, as she walked out of the closet. “Good night, Victoria, get some rest.”
I sure would. This woman was intent on getting what she wanted, and that meant she was going to run me ragged doing it. I found the location of my pajamas and headed for the shower. The warm water would be just what I needed to think.
I felt a little guilty that I was sort of enjoying this change. I mean, I did miss my mom, but I was in my father’s house. I felt like I belonged, even if I wasn’t speaking to him.
Maria thought of everything, my birthday, new school uniforms, —even though the school year is almost over, a new cell phone, we even talked about a car. She said that she would take me to get a permit later in the week. I never thought Maria capable of being so nice to me. She was even nice to Toni earlier, even though he wasn’t sure how to take it.
Toni said my mom was pretty upset about the whole thing. She had gone out with Aunt Joann to get away for a bit. I felt bad, a part of me wanted to see her.
Toni said she slept in my room last night. He could hear her crying. That really crushed me. I wasn’t sure if I should be so happy to be here with my mom in so much pain.
I tried to find something else to think about, to push the pained thoughts out. As a result, my mind found my questions from yesterday. What was with the mystery guy in the mall, Lorenzo?
It surprised me how excited I got to hear his name earlier. Even if it wasn’t him, hearing the name made me think of him. I want to know what happened.
I wondered his age, did he go to high school? I know I recognized some of his friends, Christopher Mc Clearen and Theodore Reigns. I know Theodore from the neighborhood around the restaurant. Theodore’s dad does business with my father sometimes.
I know he’s in college. He used to sit in the backroom with Toni and me, telling stories about his school and his friends. I never paid him much mind.
He used to act as if he was superior or something, like we had to listen to his stories. I think he thought I was impressed by him or something, because he was older. He once gave me his number and told me I should call him sometime. I chuckled to myself, to bad I didn’t keep it. I could have called him and asked for his friend’s number.
I got out of the shower and put my pajamas on, heading into my new room. Maria brought my new laptop up and placed it on my bed. She really is thoughtful.
I opened it and started to turn it on, but before it could load, I was done. I could hear myself snoring in my sleep. I wanted me to shut up.