Page 7 of Matteo

“How has she been today?” I ask quietly, skirting around him as I offload the final groceries and put them away.

“She's been okay.”

“And how are you?”

“I've been good.”

I see the exhaustion in his eyes and the way it edges out in the wrinkles lining his face. He's not young himself. He's seventy-eight, and he's looking after his wife.

Seeing the way Arthur cares for Irene, I realized something. Nobody has ever done that for me.

My parents did, but that was a long time ago. After I was moved into care, I was constantly shuffled around foster homes, and felt like I wasn't a part of anything. I never had a sense of belonging. What I have with Arthur and Irene is as close to permanence as I have.

Arthur waggles his finger at me. “You will have dinner with us today because of this. I won't have you going home after a busy day at work.”

“I'm not even going to say no. Of course I'd love to have dinner with you.”

I often have dinner with them a couple of times a week. It depends on how busy my workload is. This week is especially busy. I've got an interview tomorrow at Knight Enterprises. It's the third and final one, and it’s a big deal for me, but I'm also slightly conflicted. I’ve managed to get through to the final round of interviews and I’m surprised that I’ve gotten so far. Which means, they haven’t dug deep enough to know of my past.

I start taking out plates and cutlery. “What’s for dinner?”

“Roast chicken. It’s Irene’s favorite. With all the vegetables.”

I make an approving noise. “I’m starving. You cooked, so I’ll wash up.”

“No, you won’t, Lizzie.” Arthur starts to carve the chicken, and I start plating the veg. “I want you to eat. Then I need you to go and focus for your big interview tomorrow.”

“I’ve got it under control.” I start chopping Irene’s vegetables into little pieces, to save Arthur doing it.

“Sweetheart.” He gives me a pointed look. “This is important to you. I heard you howl with delight from here, you got the interview.”

That's true. I screamed with joy, then rushed over to tell them. To tell Arthur mostly. He was so happy for me.

Irene appears, looking agitated. “Artie, it’s not working! It’s still not working.” She wrings her hands together. Immediately, he stops, and takes her hands in his. “I’ll fix it. Lizzie’s here. We’ll do it after dinner.” His voice turns soft. He tells her to get ready to eat, and asks her to put out the tablemates. Then he turns to me. “Sorry to ask you, but—”

“I’ll fix it,” I say. “Won’t take long.” I fix all their problems. I've set up their tablet, fixed every tech issue they have, and I'm always on call for them. I've helped them with their online forms, too.

He smiles. “You're the daughter we never had.”

Those words, along with his smile, make me go all soft and gooey inside. Like I could burst into tears. I always smile back, because those words choke me.

“I love you both.”

“We know you do.”

This is a family I never had.

Arthur and Irene are old enough to be my grandparents, but they're really my parents and grandparents all rolled into one.

They're my family now and I love them with all my heart.

After dinner I head back to my apartment and start pulling out smart outfits I own. I’m so comfortable in my jeans, T-shirts and sweatshirts, but for Knight Enterprises I’ve had to take things to another level. I bought myself an expensive bottle of perfume because I was so freaked out when I found out that I had an interview there. I told myself I fit into that company, even though I didn’t look the part with my nose-ring and lilac streaked hair.

I managed to hide the streaks, after much trial and error, with the way I put my hair up into a bun. I never have my hair up in a bun. But it worked. I took off the nose-ring. I also bought a pair of high heels just so that I could fit in with the type of person that works there.

I suddenly realize that for this last interview, a presentation, I don’t want to have my hair up. I find it uncomfortable. I run a hand through my bangs and the rest of my hair, then groan. The lilac streaks are still visible. I was supposed to dye them over the weekend, but I got busy. There’s no way I’m walking into a corporate boardroom looking like this. I’ll have to deal with it tonight.

My insides sink with dismay. I’ve been busy preparing for the presentation tomorrow, and I was hoping to go over it a few more times so that it was perfectly polished.