Hidden Truths (Truths and Lies 1)

I love you more, I mouth back.

My eyes land on my brother next. With his fingers between his lips, he’s whistling so loud, the sound overpowers the applause. My eyes roll of their own accord, but deep down, I’m happy to see him here. When I was ten, and he was fifteen, our parents divorced. I moved to Rome to live with my mom and her parents, but my brother, Phoenix, stayed with our father in Thessaloniki. I hate the distance between us, but there was no way of going around it. I wasn’t about to stay in Greece without our mom, and Phoenix couldn’t leave. Running the family business with our father was never not an option.

My eyes leave my brother’s and roam over to my stepdad, Stefano. Then, I smile when I see my grandfather and grandmother, Emilio and Vera, still affectionately referred to as Nonno and Nonna. They’re all clapping and beaming with pride.

The curtain closes once again and everyone cheers. “Magnifico!” Professor Marino exclaims. “What a wonderful way to end the semester. Go now and greet your families. I will see all of you in August. Enjoy your summer…but not too much.” She winks playfully, and we all laugh.

“Come,” I say, grabbing Alex’s hand. “I can’t wait for you to meet my family.” I already know his family isn’t here. His parents live in the States and weren’t able to fly over. Instead, Alex will be visiting them this summer, and he’s invited me to join him.

“Talia!” My mom wraps me in a hug and kisses my cheek. “There was no Juliet better than you.” She pulls her face back and frames my cheeks. “You did a marvelous job.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Talia, you did a wonderful job,” my grandfather says. “You both did.” His eyes flicker from me to Alex, and I take that as my cue to introduce Alex to everyone. “Alex, this is my family. My mom, Melody, my stepdad, Stefano. This is my brother, Phoenix, and my grandparents, Emilio and Vera.”

Alex gives my mom and grandmother a kiss on their cheeks and then shakes each of the guys’ hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”

“Oh, you are American,” my grandfather states when he hears Alex’s American accent, even though he already knows as much. I’ve spoken to my family several times about Alex since we met in our Performing Arts class this semester when he transferred here to study abroad for his last year and a half of college.

“I am, sir,” Alex says. “Italian-American. I came here to learn about my roots.”

My grandfather gives him a nod of approval. “Will you be joining my granddaughter this summer?”

Alex gives me a confused look. I haven’t told my family that I’ve decided to join Alex in the States instead of spending my entire summer at home like I usually do.

“Actually, I’m going to Chicago with Alex for the first half of the summer,” I admit.

Nonno’s lips turn down into a frown as I knew they would, but it’s my mom’s face I’m more concerned with. Her brows are knitted together, and her lips are pursed. I know I shouldn’t have sprung this on her, but it was last-minute. I only found out a few days ago and felt it would be best to tell her in person. Aside from my one week with my father at the end of every summer, my vacations are always spent with my mom. She’s my best friend, and moving to Florence to attend school was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. Living three hours from her hasn’t been easy.

“I’m sorry, cara mia, but that won’t be possible,” my mom says. “You’ve been summoned by your father.” She spits out the title like it’s a curse word. She doesn’t talk about why she and my father divorced, but whatever happened, I know it was bad because even after all these years, she still refuses to see or talk about him.

“What? No!” I shake my head in confusion. “I always visit him the last week of the summer. You know this.”

“Why am I just now hearing about this?” Nonno asks, his voice filled with concern.

“I only just found out last night,” Mom explains. “Your brother will be taking you back with him.”

“So, that’s why you came?” I hiss, choosing to hide my hurt with anger. “Not to see my final performance, but to drag me back to Thessaloniki?”

“I came here to watch you,” Phoenix says slowly, “but yes, I also came to escort you to Dad.”

“I’m not going.” My chin lifts in defiance and my arms cross over my chest. “I’ll see him at the end of the summer like I do every year. Besides, I already purchased my plane ticket to Chicago.”

“Cara mia, why don’t we discuss this in private?” my mom suggests. Her tone hints she’s trying to be polite in front of Alex, but the way she quirks one brow up tells me there will be no discussion.