Page 83 of When Our Stars Aligned
“This is so surreal,” Papa Chis says. “I know I’m looking at you, Aly, but I keep expecting to see a teenager sitting across from me.”
I nod in understanding. Papa Chris still looks the same, but time has aged him. His dark hair now has flecks of gray, and the creases around his eyes have become more defined. Somehow, Mamma Maria has aged backwards; her bright smile hasn’t left her face since we sat down.
“We’re sure you have so many questions for us,” Mamma Maria says.
“I’ve thought about this moment so many times. It was so hard when you first left. The letters helped, but then they eventually stopped coming. I stopped writing too because…well, I figured maybe I was being too much of a pest.”
“You were never a pest.” Mamma Maria reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “Your letters were quite the lifeline for me. I kept every one of them and read them multiple times. It was so hard to leave you. I felt like I left one of my daughters on the other side of the world.”
“I’m afraid I’m the cause of why communication ceased,” Papa Chris pipes up with remorse in his voice. “While we were in Japan, I was recruited for a job with Intelligence. I thought it was the right path to take for my career, but I regret it very much. My name got on a hitlist of sorts. As a precaution, we had to move several times. It kills me that I put my family in danger.”
“You didn’t mean to.” I know Papa Chris would never intentionally risk the safety of his family.
“I didn’t.” He looks down at his plate of food somberly. “Thankfully, nothing ever came of it, but we couldn’t risk you being associated with us. I never would’ve been able to forgive myself if someone had come after you.”
“So that’s why everyone stopped writing?” Fresh tears prickle behind my eyes. I understand and I don’t blame them for anything. But the disheartening memories of looking into an empty mailbox flash in my mind.
“We’re so sorry, Aly. It was horrible losing that connection to you, but we couldn’t risk your safety. To this day, we keep as much information about us private, just as a precaution.”
“I thought you didn’t want me anymore.” I sob.
Mamma Maria jumps out of her seat and blots my tears with a napkin. “Oh, Aly! We love you. We’ve always loved you. Tell her, Chris.”
“Tell me what?” I sniffle.
Mamma Maria and Papa Chris share a concerned look.
“What? What is it?” I sniffle again.
“I came back to Norfolk a few years later. It was just me on a temporary assignment. I don’t remember what year it was, but you were of college age by then. I stopped by your family home hoping that you would be there.”
“I went to college out of state,” I respond. “I never went back after I left.”
“I know that now and I wish I knew that then because I had a very unpleasant encounter with your parents.”
“I can only imagine how that went.”
“Your parents blamed us for your estrangement. They said we gave you unrealistic expectations of what families should be like. Then they said you were all working on building a better relationship and that we should stay away because we would interfere with the progress you made.”
“They were lying.” I gasp, although not surprised my parents would say that sort of thing. “My parents are responsible for my estrangement. There was never any progress. I tried several times to connect with them, but they showed no interest. The last time I talked to them was right before I graduated college. I called to let them know about my graduation. I thought that maybe they’d like to see me walk or at least hear about my accomplishments. My father thought I was asking for money in some roundabout way and hung up on me. That was the last I ever heard from them.”
“Oh, Aly!” Papa Chris says and two sets of arms wrap around me as I cry harder.
“I graduated with honors.” I cry into Mamma Maria’s shoulder. “I thought if I kept pushing myself…if I kept accomplishing things, maybe they would like me.”
“We love you,” Papa Chris says while wiping his eyes. “We love you so much and we’re so proud of you. I should’ve pressedharder with your parents. I didn’t think they were being truthful, but I didn’t want to ruin any relationship you might’ve had with them. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You did what you thought was right.”
“Ascoltami! Listen!” Mamma Maria says, trying to gain some composure. “We’re back in your life now and we will not leave you ever again, do you hear?”
I nod vigorously in agreement.
“Now, tell us, how in the world did you meet Jaxon?”
The subject change instantly puts a smile on my face. I tell Mamma Maria and Papa Chris my story, starting with how I got to Starboard Beach in the first place and ending with Jax and me reconciling in the airport. They listen with astonishment and intensity.
“Soprendente! Amazing!” Mamma Maria says once I finish my story.
