I turned to Dora. “Did you ask to see me, sweetheart? Did you really want me here?”
Fiona stepped in fast. “No need to talk about that now. It’s a party. Come on, cheers!”
After dinner, Fiona pulled me aside.
She handed me a small box; inside was a necklace, just like the one she gave Maria.
Only she didn’t put it on me.
She smiled and said, “Catrina… I know things haven’t been easy for you. Being part of this family… it’s not for everyone. But thank you. For bringing Dora into our lives.”
Then she walked away like nothing happened.
Like she hadn’t spent years making things difficult for me.
Later, Maria and her mother went out. Finally, Dora was alone with me.
I sat beside her on the couch. She tensed up, but not like before. At least she didn’t flinch away.
I whispered, “Happy birthday, Dora.”
She turned to look at me, and honestly, that alone almost made my heart melt.
I reached into my pocket for the little gift I’d been carrying around just for her… but then she spoke.
Her voice was cold. Way too cold for a six-year-old.
“Did you hide Maria from me?”
I froze.
“What? No, of course not—”
“You’re bothering me,” she snapped. “I’m watching TV.”
That hit harder than I thought it would.
I gave everything to bring her into this world, nearly died doing it.
And now she’s calling me a bother?
I knew then this wasn’t the moment to patch things up. Maybe one day I’d fix whatever lies they’ve fed her. But not today.
I looked at her little face in profile, still glued to the screen, and said quietly, “Alright, Dora. See you around. Maybe next time you’ll remember who your real mom is.”
She didn’t even blink.
I slipped the gift behind the couch cushion, didn’t want to leave empty-handed, but I couldn’t bear taking it with me either, and walked straight to the door.
This time, nothing was gonna stop me.
I’d taken care of everything. Paperwork, tickets, the car was already waiting.
If Maria was the one they all truly wanted…
Then fine. I’d disappear from their world.
I was done with the Morettis.
