This time he’s not being evasive. He’s being candid about the limitations to the information he’s received. That’s the best that I can ask for, all things considered. My mom, Heidi, Friedrich, and I watch TV. It’s just ambient noise for us while we’re all lost in our thoughts. None of us are really paying attention to the movie while Jorge returns to his work. He admits he has to get some things done while he waits to hear from his uncle.
As the morning creeps closer to noon, I haven’t heard the door open to the suite I’m sharing with the others. My mom looks over at me and raises her eyebrows.
“I know. I’ll invite him to join us.Mutti, he’s not usually like that.”
My mom didn’t ask any questions aloud, but I’m certain she’s thinking them. I call him, and he answers on the first ring, barely greeting me.
“I’m headed back to work.”
“Bastian, I’d really like you to join us for lunch instead.”
I slip into the bedroom Heidi and I used, realizing it’s now Jorge’s. He continued to let my mom have the bigger of the two bedrooms. I sense another argument coming, and I don’t want to do it in front of the others.
“No, I feel useless here. There’s no point in my staying when I could be helping people who want it.”
That stings. I can’t believe he just said that. It’s like an alien possessed him. This isn’t the man I thought I knew.
“Bastian, if you leave, I won’t forgive you for this. I need you right now. If you choose work over me when you’re already off, then we’re done.”
“Anneliese, don’t issue me ultimatums.”
“Then don’t abandon me when I need you.”
“You have Jorge.”
“What I need is my boyfriend. What I need is the man I’m supposed to rely on and know is at my side no matter what.”
“Well, I think you’re putting all your faith in the wrong man. You got one photo yesterday and have heard nothing else to prove your father’s alive. How do you know Jorge’s not lying? He probably caused all of this.”
My head might explode because my temper’s about to.
“Then all the more reason to stay with me and make sure I’m safe. How can you walk out on me if you think I’m relying on a man who could order my father’s hand be amputated?”
“Fine, I’m coming.”
When we hang up, I hardly feel reassured knowing he’s coming back. Is he doing it because I’ve guilted him into it? Is he doing it because he truly wants to help? Is he doing it because he believes I’ll end the relationship if he doesn’t?
As I consider that, I realize I truly will break up with him if he doesn’t support me when I need him most. There’s a light knock on the door as I head back into the main living room. A guard lets Bastian in. It’s clear he doesn’t want to be here as he reluctantly enters the suite.
He’s scowling and bad-tempered, which makes the rest of us uncomfortable. My mom shifts on the sofa restlessly, and I can tell his attitude’s upsetting her. I shoot Bastian a look I hope he understands means he needs to change his attitude. It just earns me a deeper scowl.
“Bastian, if you’re going to be like this, then leave. You’re not doing Anneliese any good by being foul-tempered, and it’s just going to put the rest of us in an even worse mood. We asked Jorge for you and Friedrich to join us because we want to keep you both safe. But if you think you can do better on your own, then by all means, leave.”
My mom’s words shock me. They’re a blessing in disguise, so it’s not just me saying the same thing. It makes me feel a lot less guilty for sharing those sentiments. It doesn’t entirely surpriseme when he leaves in a huff, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. We hear the door next to ours slam again.
So much for lunch. Once Friedrich goes next door to check on Bastian and get some work done, my mom, sister, and I sit together again. My mother turns off the television, and I brace myself for what comes next. I’m certain it’s nothing I want to hear, but it’s something I should.
“Anne, you know we care about Bastian. We’ve welcomed him into our family. We’ve been happy that you found somebody you love and who loves you back, but he’s proven today what I’ve always known about him. He’s an inherently selfish man. He always put you first because he wanted something in return, like your time, attention, love, or to be praised by others. He’ll do that if he gets something in return.”
I swallow back tears, since this is painful to hear, and I know Jorge’s listening. He appears preoccupied with work, but he’s sitting too close not to hear. She takes my hand and squeezes it as she continues.
“I hate that it’s something like this that proves who he really is. I pray we never go through another crisis like this, but better to know now than five years—ten years—twenty years down the road, and you’ve had to live with this.”
I look at my mother, and I don’t want to agree with her. I don’t want to admit the last two years may have been a mistake, that the future I planned isn’t the person I’ll really get.
It’s difficult to face my mom and sister, especially when I know my sister and Friedrich’s relationship isn’t perfect. However, it’s a hell of a lot better than mine is right now. Friedrich’s been the model boyfriend through this, and not because he has eyes on him. That’s just who he is.
I’d love to make an excuse and say Bastian’s not great in a crisis. However, he goes to war-torn places and helps children who are on their deathbeds. He faces crises all the time. Whilethose aren’t necessarily personal like this is, he keeps his head on his shoulders and leads his medical teams. He does it without throwing hissy fits like he did today.
