With a frown, I knock on her stall door. “Gianna. Are you ok?”
She immediately stops.
“Gianna?”
“I’m ok,” she says in a quiet voice that’s hard to hear.
“It doesn’t sound like you’re ok. It sounds like you’re throwing up. Did you eat something bad?”
She flushes the toilet and comes out, not meeting my eyes, as she washes her hands and rinses out her mouth. “Yes. I ate something bad.”
“I knew this place served bad food. I’ve always known it.” I offer her a smile and she gives me a tiny one in response but still, she doesn’t look me in the eye. I know Gianna is shy but my gut is telling me she didn’t throw up because of bad food.
“It’s ok, you know. If you’re unhappy. Your aunt is the worst.”
Gianna flushes. “I just ate something bad.”
“Ok. Fine.” I’m not going to push it though I know she’s lying to me. As someone who has lied many times, I can recognize it in another person. “Hey. Do you want to get out of here?”
“I have to return home with my aunt.”
“Sure. But have you ever had fun in New York? We could go out dancing.”
“It’s the middle of the day and it’s dangerous.”
“Well… we could go to Central Park. It’s beautiful this time of year. We could walk around. Talk. You could get a moment away from your annoying aunt. Especially if she’s the reason for your upset stomach.”
Gianna stares down at the counter for a long moment. Her soft brown hair and simple summer dress make her look like she stepped out of an old Hollywood movie. “I just…”
“It’s ok to want more, Gianna. Let’s just go. We can walk around the park and then you can come back and go home with Francesca. But don’t you want a little taste of freedom?” Heaven knows I need it right now.
Gianna hesitates before nodding. “I wouldn’t mind a walk in the park. I used to go to Central Park all the time with my parents.”
“What happened to them? Enzo only told me that they died.”
“A car accident. But he always suspected that someone… did that to them. He took it hard. I was a little girl when it happened so I don’t remember much.”
So, Enzo has his own pain. If only he would share it with me, then I could use it to get an advantage over him. Or I could use it to connect with him. I’m not sure which is more scary.
“I’m sorry for your loss. I lost my mom when I was a kid too. Also a car accident. But in her case, it was just an accident. Some kid ran into her because he was drunk and that was that.”
“So why do you drink then?”
Her question startles me. “What?”
“My aunt told me about your drinking habit. I guess a lot of people know about it. If your mom died from a drunk driver, why do you drink?”
“Because sometimes it’s easier to drink and have fun than feel the pressure of your father on you.” Gently, I touch her arm. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Gianna follows me out of the bathroom and we walk right past the tearoom without anyone noticing.
We take a cab to the park and begin our walk to the Bethesda Fountain.
“How does it feel?” I ask, waving my arms around to encompass the world.
Gianna tilts her head back and lets the sun soak down on her face. “It feels… amazing.”
Such a simple thing can make her happy. I wonder how terrible her life is that her response to the sunshine could make her smile like this. I don’t ask though. Today isn’t about bad memories.
