Chapter 23–Alice
“Get that rubbish out of my sight, Thea. I already said I won’t touch it.”
That phrase, coming from Massimo, was the first thing Alice heard when she and Millie entered the dining room hand in hand, still in their pajamas, finding Massimo sitting, there, with the room completely dark. Some fruit, a sandwich and a bowl of what looked like oatmeal were in front of him, while Thea remained standing by his side, observing his haggard and exhausted expression, with deep circles under his eyes…
At least, until he saw Alice there.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he growled, bis posture changing completely, like a porcupine bristling “Do you have any idea what time it is? Why did you get the girl out of bed so early?”
“Millie was hungry, so I came to make her something to eat so we could start our day early.” Alice said that half–truth, as Millie was no doubt excited at the prospect of having a family breakfast, or something like that “Are we not even allowed in the kitchen?”
“Don’t play with your luck.” He warned, his voice still low, as he seemed to do everything he could to avoid Millie’s expectant gaze “Since you two are going to eat at six in the morning, then I’ll leave. Clear the table, Thea. I do not want anything else…”
“Oh, are you going to have breakfast? So let me get something for Millie and you, Alice. There are still lots of sandwiches and fruits.” Thea spoke, moving away from Massimo as if she were running away from a bear, seeming to know the look of annoyance he was going to give her Come on, Massimo, keep eating and enjoy the company! Also, you haven’t taken your medicine yet and that’s important. Remember what Dr. Lewis said.”
“Thea…” he started to complain, but Alice interrupted him.
“Let me guess…” she mumbled, as she helped Millicent onto the chair “It’s dietary supplements, isn’t it?”
“That’s none of your business!” Massimo growled “Don’t make me lose my temper with you, Dawsey! Thea, come take this off the table right now! I already told you I don’t eat this shi…” His eyes quickly fell on Millie once again, and he was forced to bite his tongue “This thing.”
“Mommy, can Mr. Bianchi take my medicine?” Millie tugged on Alice’s shirt sleeve “He’ll like it. It’s not that bitter.”
“That’s very sweet, honey, but he can’t. Medicines for adults are a little different than medicines for children.” She kissed her daughter’s temple “But, why don’t you tell him a little more about how you manage to take your medicine every day and stay healthy and beautiful as you are?” Alice tickled Millie until she was laughing.
“What are you doing?” Massimo asked as Alice walked away to help Thea pour porridge into two more bowls, but she paid him no attention “Are you really going to use a child to…?”
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Chapter 23 ANGE
“You have to eat your medicine and your fruits.” Millie started to say, excited as if she was playing teacher with her dolls “So you’ll grow up big and strong, right mommy? Uh… But you’re already very tall…” she observed “Mommy, can Mr. Blanchi go without eating fruits and vegetables?”
“No dear. Everyone has to have a healthy diet.” Alice placed Millle’s sandwich in front of her while Thea brought the tray with fruit “And, even though after a certain age adults stop growing, they can become weak and sick if they haven’t eaten properly. Especially if they don’t take the medicine the doctors give them.” This time, she looked straight at Massimo, sustaining his angry glare.
“After Mr. Bianchi takes his medicine, can he eat the pudding you are going to make?” her daughter insisted, as if she was trying to get something for herself.
“Of course. But only if he also eats it all. We don’t want to waste the food Thea worked so hard to make for us.” Alice smiled, earning a grunt from Massimo.
“Come on, Mr. Bianchi!” Millie said, excitedly “Let’s eat, and at lunchtime we can have pudding! Mommy makes the best pudding in the world. And while we wait, we can play! I have a really cool puzzle that my Aunt Lucy gave me last Christmas…”
“I’m not hungry… Millicent.” He responded, hesitating as if he was afraid there would even be any closeness between the two when saying her name.
“But, Thea does good food, too. Don’t you get hungry after not eating? I do.”
“I… I’ll be fine, I promise.” Massimo shrugged his shoulders, and a part of Alice was even relieved that the presence of a child seemed to be curbing his temper almost completely “I just want to go back to my room and… Rest.”
“But if you are still injured, then you have to eat and get strong. The song my teacher sang about this at daycare talked about this. I can sing for you later.” Millie suggested “It was always fun.”
“You learned from your mother to be so hard to convince, didn’t you?” he muttered under his breath, before sighing “Very well. I can finish eating while you guys are here. But none of that stuff.” Massimo pushed the pill pack away, making Alice narrow her eyes.
“I don’t think so, Mr. Bianchi.” She dragged the meds back to him “You know you need this. And, if a child can take her medicine every day without complaining, then why couldn’t you?” “Are you pretending you don’t hear me?!” he growled under his breath “I already told you I’m not eating that shit!” Before Alice could stop him, Massimo threw the card over his shoulder, making it stop far away, on the floor near the cabinets.
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