She couldn’t begrudge him his worries. He was head of the family now and he only had one role model to work off of. And her father had been much worse. Instead of inviting her to a nice restaurant, her father would order her to dinner in their house, then yell and scream until they were both furious with each other. Eventually, Antonia would give in, concerned about his health and loving him too much to cause him worry.
It was the same with Sal. He had so much responsibility. He didn’t need an irritating little sister. So she relented.
Putting a hand on his arm, she said, “I’m eating well. Thank you for your concern. Thanks to grandmother and grandfather, I don’t have to worry about anything like starving,” she said. It wasn’t completely inaccurate. She had an extremely large trust fund at her disposal from her grandparents. Antonia just preferred to live on her own income instead of her inheritance.
Sal sighed and shook his head. “I want you to move back into the house. Its only me now so you won’t have mom and dad looking over your shoulder, which is what I suspect you didn’t like, not all the reasons you gave us at the time.”
Antonia panicked. “Why? I don’t want to move back into the house. My reasons back then were relevant then as well as now.” Trying to calm down because she knew she could argue more effectively when she wasn’t emotional, she said, “I’m not moving back into the house with you, Sal,” she said, taking a deep breath. Coming right to the real issue, she said, “I’m not Sophia. It won’t happen to me.”
A flash of pain streaked across his face, but he didn’t respond to her reference to their sister. “I think you should consider it,” he said softly, then pulled out a piece of paper from his inside, suit pocket. “You aren’t using the money grandmother and grandfather left to you. So please explain how you are paying the rent and buying food. Where are you working?” he demanded, his anger and disappointment evident on his face.
Antonia took the piece of paper with shaking fingers, dreading what it might say. But she already knew what it would show.
Slowly unfolding it, she read the first line. Sure enough, it was a letter from the bank asking what Sal wanted them to do with all the interest the account was earning. The bank manager had tried to contact Antonia, but she hadn’t responded. So, as the executor of their parents’ will and their grandparents’ trust, Sal was being asked to make a decision.
Antonia looked up at Sal, licking her suddenly dry lips. “I can explain,” she said, hiding her shaking hands in her lap. But they wouldn’t stay still.
“Please do,” Sal replied, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.
But Antonia couldn’t explain. Nervously, she fiddled with her pearls, trying to come up with some explanation that wouldn’t be a complete lie. She hated lying to Sal. She hated lying to all her brothers but she would if push came to shove.
“Antonia?” he prompted.
Antonia pushed her hair back from her face, trying to come up with some explanation for the letter. “Sal…” she started, only to be interrupted by her brother. “How about the truth this time,” he said quietly, and Antonia could tell that he was furious.
Breaking down, she told him a most of the truth. “I’m working as a waitress. I make enough money to pay my rent, put food in the refrigerator and do the things I want to do as well as put some money aside for the future,” she said defensively, her chin going up a notch as she saw the look in Sal’s eyes.
“You’re working where?” he asked, livid. “As a what?” Sal never shouted, he never even raised his voice. But when he was angry, his fury was almost palpable.
Her chin went up another notch. “I didn’t tell you where. I just said I was a waitress,” she said.
Sighing, he pushed his hands through his hair, messing it slightly. Antonia knew how furious he was with her if he was messing up his hair. Placing his hands flat on the table as if he had to work to gain some patience, he turned to her and said, “Antonia, please tell me where you work. I just want to check it out so I can assure myself that you’re going to be safe. I don’t want you traveling home at night at who knows what time if the area isn’t safe.”
Antonia shook her head. “No. I’ve been working there for four years now. It isn’t safe anywhere in the city, so why worry about it?” After a moment, she said, “Besides, if I tell you where I work, you’ll arrange to have me fired. I’m not going to allow that. Dad did that to me as his way of protecting me. But I have my own life to live and I’m not going to let you interfere.”
He stared at her defiant eyes, shaking his head at her challenge. Deciding to move on to another subject, he asked, “Where are you living?” he asked, changing the subject.
“You know my address,” she said, looking away. him in the eye when she lied to him.
She wasn’t able to look
“No, I don’t. I went to the address you gave me. you. You don’t live in the building you showed me.” They’ve never heard of
He’d been a busy boy, she thought. Unfortunately, she was caught in another trap. She’d always knew he’d find out about her sooner or later. She just wished it had been later, once she was established with her own source of income.
“Well, then, I guess you have two mysteries on your hands. Have you seen the new exhibit at the National Gallery? It sounds wonderful,” she said, trying to change the subject and fight back the tears that were brimming on her eyes.
“No, I haven’t seen it. And don’t change the subject,” he demanded harshly.
Antonia had never seen him so angry. Actually, she’d never seen him show any emotion other than mild irritation. But she wasn’t backing down. Putting her napkin on the table, she stood up. “Sal, I love you. You’re a wonderful brother. But I have my own life now. I wish you could be a part of it, but you worry too much. So the less you know, the better.”
She was turning around when Sal spoke softly. “You don’t want to challenge me, Antonia. I’m responsible for your welfare. I will worry about you. We all do. I need you to move back into the house with me where I know you’re safe.”
Turning back, she smiled at him, refusing to let the tears fall. “No. That’s not possible.”
“Antonia!” he said as she started walking away.