“But papá?—”
“No, mija. You’ll be on that plane, don’t fight me on this.”
I stare at my phone after my papá hangs up on me. I can’t believe he won’t listen to me. He’s never dismissed me this way. I tried to call my mamá, but she didn’t answer. I can’t believe this is happening. I thought they would understand that I want to be with Gianluca. But they don’t. And I don’t know what they’ll do if I don’t get on the plane in two days.
I hear the bedroom door open and feel Gianluca sit down next to me.
“Talk to me, amore. What happened?” he asks as he wipes the tears from my eyes.
I tell him what my papá said to me and how I can’t get my mamá to answer the phone.
“We can ask my papà and mamá to talk to your parents if you want. I know they would fight for us.”
In our world, even though we’re adults, some things are still handled by our parents. I don’t think it’ll be any different when Carlo grows up. My only option is to defy my parents and stay here. But that could bring trouble to the Mancini’s and I can’t do that to them. They’ve done so much for me.
“I don’t think that will help. They’ve never dismissed me like this before, I just don’t understand what’s going on. My parents always told me that I would be free to choose who I wanted to be with. And now that I have, they’re fighting me.”
“I don’t think it’s my family. It feels like there’s more to this. I think we should send some of our guys with you. I wish I could go with you. But I can’t, if it was off-season, I could. But we’re right in the middle of our season and we’re in world series position.”
Gianluca looks so torn and I hate it. I don’t ever want him to feel like he has to choose between me and baseball.
“Please don’t be sad. I’ll find a way to come back to you. No one, not even my family will keep us apart. And now that I think about it, maybe we should talk to your family. I’m worried that mine will try to keep me from coming back.”
I lean on Luca as I do my best to hold back my tears. I can’t lose him, I know he’s my soulmate.
“You know I’ll wait as long as I have to for you.” He murmurs in my ear.
I bury my face in his chest.
“I love you, Luca.” I sniffle.
“I love you. Let’s go and talk to my parents. They’ll know what to do.”
Gianluca
From what we’re hearing, things are starting to settle down for Gabriela’s family. Her papà has asked her to come back to Valencia. We’ve talked about her staying and I’m certain that she wants to. But her loyalty to her family is as strong as mine. I hate that she might have to go back. I don’t know what that will mean for us. At the same time, I’m also not willing to give her up.
Gianluca: Hey Gia, would you be able to keep Carlo with you for a while? Gabriela and I need to talk to my parents. Which means we need to grab my mamá and then head into the city to talk to papà
Giovanna: Of course. Is everything okay?
Gianluca: Gabriela’s parents want her to come home…
Giovanna: …
Gianluca: Exactly
Giovanna: I’d make sure my papà’s in on the conversation
Gianluca: I plan on that. I just don’t want this to turn into something bad. Because she loves her family, I don’t want to take that away from her
Giovanna: That’s not really your decision. If she chooses to be with you, then that could happen. Drive safe. I love you both and don’t worry about Carlo. We’re all headed to see the otters
Gianluca: Grazie, Cugina. We love you
We drive to the bakery to talk to my mamá first. Gabriela looks so nervous.
“Don’t worry, we’re going to figure this out.”
