Chapter 5 05

"There's a customer waiting for more than twenty minutes." Claus, the diner owner, gritted his teeth at Antonella. He was always in a bad mood. "If you would rather not get fired, hurry."

Antonella felt a chill run down her spine just imagining losing that job.

Three years had already passed, and she remembered when she arrived in that town with just a small bag on her back and a child growing in her womb. The future that awaited her was not promising, but she got the job. Claus believed Antonella was the perfect waitress he needed, young, beautiful, and attractive, and these qualities would attract many customers to his establishment.

In a way, he was right, but Antonella's beauty also caused her many headaches. Men began to compete for the attention of the beautiful redhead, and the fights became more frequent. When Claus found out that Antonella was pregnant, he considered firing her immediately, but she promptly promised that she would work until she couldn't anymore, and that's what she did.

When little Adam was born and Claus set his eyes on him, he knew he would rather not carry the guilt of firing Antonella with such a small child to support. He kept her employed, though he was irritating and impatient with her services. Antonella would be eternally grateful to him.

Right as she was about to serve the customer, her phone vibrated. She didn't recognize the number. She thought it could be the neighbor who looked after Adam, and that something might have happened to the boy, but when she heard the voice on the other end of the line, she knew the problem was much more serious.

"Antonella?" Dominique asked.

"Dominique?" Her eyes filled with tears.

After she fled the city, they talked only a few times. Then one night, someone stole Antonella's phone, and she lost contact with her best friend. On one occasion, Antonella sent her a photo of newborn Adam with her new number via social media, but she never managed to speak to Dominique again after that day. She thought something might have happened to her, but she didn't dwell on her worries. She continued living her life, forgetting the past, though she often missed the friend she left behind.

"I thought I'd never be able to talk to you again." Antonella's choked voice showed her happiness at speaking with Dominique.

She set the tray aside and waited for her to respond quickly, but that didn't happen. A cry was heard on the other end of the line, and it made Antonella's heart race uncontrollably.

"Are you still there, Antonella?" Dominique asked. "How's Adam?"

"Please, tell me that crying is just because you miss me." She felt her hands trembling as she held the phone. "You wouldn't call me after all these years just to ask how Adam is."

"I have terrible news, my friend," she sniffed, making the sound of someone who had cried a lot.

"You're scaring me," Antonella said, already feeling her cheeks burn with nerves.

"Your mother," Dominique paused for a long time, while Antonella felt her heart might stop beating at any moment. "Aunt Francesca passed away."

It was as if the world went silent. She dropped the phone, causing it to fall with a noise that caught Claus's attention. He had already heard the tenth complaint from the same customer about Antonella's delay in serving his order. Even though he found her in a state of shock, with her face flooded with tears and pale, he didn't seem to care.

"What's wrong with you, Antonella?" he asked, but got no response. "Why haven't you served the customer yet?"

A scream escaped Antonella's throat seconds later. A pain tore through her chest as she remembered the last moment she had with her mother. She spent three years away from her, without imagining the longing her mother must have felt for her daughter. Feeling consumed by guilt, she took off her apron and silently left the diner. Claus walked furiously behind her, constantly threatening to terminate her employment, but at that moment, Antonella wished for nothing more than to go home and say goodbye to her mother.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Antonella apologized deeply multiple times. "But if you want to let go of me, do it now. I need to go home."

She threw the apron she was still holding in his direction, looking Claus in the eyes for the last time, and left. He insisted she come back, but Antonella ran through the dimly lit streets, pain piercing her chest.

It barely dawned when she caught the first train at the southern station and left with Adam asleep in her arms. She was brave enough to restart her life as many times as necessary, though returning to her hometown wasn't in her plans. She looked at Adam, and a tear fell from her eyes. Francesca died without even knowing she had a grandson. Worse still, she is disappointed with her daughter.

She called Dominique, asking if they could meet at the train station. Her best friend could hardly believe she was back, even though Antonella said it would only be for a short time. She would rather not stay in that town, near her family, and the man-whose name she refused to say-who was Adam's father.

She arrived in town, hoping to make it in time for her mother's funeral. Dominique would recognize her anywhere. Antonella was unique, especially when the sun's rays reflected in her red hair.

They hugged for a long time. But Antonella immediately sensed something different about her best friend, though she couldn't tell if it was good or bad. There wasn't much time to talk, though she felt she needed to; they would have some time to do so. When Dominique turned her attention to little Adam, she fell in love with the boy. He was cute, and she grabbed him, not wanting to let go.

"Take him to your house and don't let anyone see him," Antonella requested.

"You can't hide such beauty from the world," Dominique said, pinching Adam's small cheeks. "But don't worry, I'll take good care of him until you return."

They got into the 1993 Chevette, which was still intact. Dominique drove Antonella to the entrance of the cemetery and wished her strength. Thereafter, she left with Adam and headed home.

The cemetery was silent. She walked for a few minutes, searching for people who could point out where her mother was being buried. When she saw a crowd ahead, she hurried anxiously. Antonella was so distraught that she hardly noticed where she was walking and didn't see the man coming towards her, immediately bumping into him.

She lost her balance and fell to her knees. Closing her eyes tightly and choking back the cry of pain and anger, she didn't see the man extend his hand to help her. When she noticed the gesture, the tense atmosphere prevented her from lifting her head to see who it was.

No matter who it was, Antonella was furious. Besides being distracted, the man was getting in the way of her saying goodbye to her mother.

"Welcome back, Antonella Bianchi." Her eyes widened, and she realized she recognized the voice. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Antonella raised her head and looked directly at the man. Of all the people she wanted to meet in that town, Benjamin Dylon was the last on her list.