why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want you to think I was jealous.”
Olivia glanced up at her sister. “Listen, I’m sorry for being such a jerk … for not realizing sooner.” She reached out to touch Nina’s hand.
“All I’m saying is, it would have been nice to be invited from time to time.”
Olivia placed her menu on the table. “Do you think I’ve changed?”
“What?”
“Do you think I’m superficial?”
Nina observed her for a long moment, and the silence confirmed what Olivia suspected.
“Oh geez, thanks.” Olivia gave her a funny grin.
Nina laughed. “You want the honest truth? Dario had some hold on you. Like the time when he decided to go vegetarian and forced you to do the same.”
“He didn’t force me. I thought it was a healthier choice.”
Nina gave her the ‘I know you better’ face.
“Which reminds me, which combo has the most bacon and breakfast sausage?” Olivia glossed over her menu again.
“I don’t understand why you even put yourself through that. For God’s sake, Olivia, you’re Italian.”
“So is Dario.”
“No, Dario is a reptile.”
“Aren’t reptiles meat eaters?”
“Whatever, I don’t care. The point is I didn’t think you could live off seeds and tofu forever.”
“I didn’t only eat tofu … and where did you get seeds from?”
“Okay, you got my point. Shit, do you even know what you put Mom through? Or us on Sunday dinners? She thought you were starving yourself.”
“Yeah, she always thinks I’m starving myself.”
Olivia never talked to anyone about her relationship, how much shit Dario put her through, how he manipulated her into becoming this person she didn’t recognize anymore.
After some time, Nina said, “Mostly, what I saw was a repressed, empty shell of the Olivia I use to know. You just seemed so unhappy.”
Olivia sighed. “I was … unhappy … I mean, I am. There’s nothing to be happy about these days. Dario’s finding every excuse not to sell the condo and Dad … well, Dad is not doing well.” Olivia rubbed her eyes, wiping the tears away.
“I know, Olivia. I’m worried too, but they’re not going to put him in jail if he has Alzheimer’s.”
“They’re not going to put him in jail, Nina. Because he’s not guilty of anything.” She paused. “Why, do you think he’s guilty?”
“No.”
“Then why would you say something like that?”
Nina let out a long breath. “Well, if they are accusing him of something … that means they have some proof.”
Olivia’s shoulders dropped, and she slid further into her chair while her stomach tightened even more. As if things couldn’t get any worse, ever since she broke the news to her parents of her broken-off engagement, it resulted in a falling out with her father.
“Don’t get mad at me … Dad’s joining us this morning.”
“Oh, I’m not sure if I’m ready to face him,” Olivia grumbled.
Olivia had been avoiding going to her parents’ home for the past week, only because she couldn’t handle looking at her father’s disapproving eyes.
“Dad caught me leaving this morning. What did you want me to say? Don’t come because your daughter is pig headed … like you.”
Olivia gave her sister a cheesy grin. “You could have lied.”
“I’m not a good liar like some people,” Nina said.
“What are you implying? I’m not a liar.”
“Oh get over yourself, Liv.” Nina snapped her menu shut. “You can’t play the victim in all this. I knew something wasn’t right with you, but you deliberately pretended that everything was just peachy. Oh, life is just grand!” She threw her hands up in the air. “We all suspected you’ve been fraying at the seams,” Nina said more softly.
“Who’s we?”
“Me, Peter … Paul, almost everybody except for Dad. We knew Dario was a complete asshole … especially toward you.”
“If only you were straight with me … if you told me exactly what was going on I could have
“I didn’t want you to think I was jealous.”
Olivia glanced up at her sister. “Listen, I’m sorry for being such a jerk … for not realizing sooner.” She reached out to touch Nina’s hand.
“All I’m saying is, it would have been nice to be invited from time to time.”
Olivia placed her menu on the table. “Do you think I’ve changed?”
“What?”
“Do you think I’m superficial?”
Nina observed her for a long moment, and the silence confirmed what Olivia suspected.
“Oh geez, thanks.” Olivia gave her a funny grin.
Nina laughed. “You want the honest truth? Dario had some hold on you. Like the time when he decided to go vegetarian and forced you to do the same.”
“He didn’t force me. I thought it was a healthier choice.”
Nina gave her the ‘I know you better’ face.
“Which reminds me, which combo has the most bacon and breakfast sausage?” Olivia glossed over her menu again.
“I don’t understand why you even put yourself through that. For God’s sake, Olivia, you’re Italian.”
“So is Dario.”
“No, Dario is a reptile.”
“Aren’t reptiles meat eaters?”
“Whatever, I don’t care. The point is I didn’t think you could live off seeds and tofu forever.”
“I didn’t only eat tofu … and where did you get seeds from?”
“Okay, you got my point. Shit, do you even know what you put Mom through? Or us on Sunday dinners? She thought you were starving yourself.”
“Yeah, she always thinks I’m starving myself.”
Olivia never talked to anyone about her relationship, how much shit Dario put her through, how he manipulated her into becoming this person she didn’t recognize anymore.
After some time, Nina said, “Mostly, what I saw was a repressed, empty shell of the Olivia I use to know. You just seemed so unhappy.”
Olivia sighed. “I was … unhappy … I mean, I am. There’s nothing to be happy about these days. Dario’s finding every excuse not to sell the condo and Dad … well, Dad is not doing well.” Olivia rubbed her eyes, wiping the tears away.
“I know, Olivia. I’m worried too, but they’re not going to put him in jail if he has Alzheimer’s.”
“They’re not going to put him in jail, Nina. Because he’s not guilty of anything.” She paused. “Why, do you think he’s guilty?”
“No.”
“Then why would you say something like that?”
Nina let out a long breath. “Well, if they are accusing him of something … that means they have some proof.”
Olivia’s shoulders dropped, and she slid further into her chair while her stomach tightened even more. As if things couldn’t get any worse, ever since she broke the news to her parents of her broken-off engagement, it resulted in a falling out with her father.
“Don’t get mad at me … Dad’s joining us this morning.”
“Oh, I’m not sure if I’m ready to face him,” Olivia grumbled.
Olivia had been avoiding going to her parents’ home for the past week, only because she couldn’t handle looking at her father’s disapproving eyes.
“Dad caught me leaving this morning. What did you want me to say? Don’t come because your daughter is pig headed … like you.”
Olivia gave her sister a cheesy grin. “You could have lied.”
“I’m not a good liar like some people,” Nina said.
“What are you implying? I’m not a liar.”
“Oh get over yourself, Liv.” Nina snapped her menu shut. “You can’t play the victim in all this. I knew something wasn’t right with you, but you deliberately pretended that everything was just peachy. Oh, life is just grand!” She threw her hands up in the air. “We all suspected you’ve been fraying at the seams,” Nina said more softly.
“Who’s we?”
“Me, Peter … Paul, almost everybody except for Dad. We knew Dario was a complete asshole … especially toward you.”
“If only you were straight with me … if you told me exactly what was going on I could have
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