Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 670 -

*Caterina*

'We should go out to dinner tonight.'

The text on my phone was from Elio, and I smiled, a fluttery happy feeling inside.

I wondered where he would take me this time. Thai? Italian? Russian? It could be anybody's guess, but I knew it would be delicious. It always was. "Okay, almost done, Matilde."

I glanced up from my seat in the corner, watching as my mom kept a steady posture on her feet, with Lauren helping to guide her through the exercises as best as she could. There was a little bit of a wobble near her ankle, but nothing too major. Mom breathed out slowly as she switched the foot she was leaning her weight on.

"Rotate your hips a little more to the left," Lauren instructed kindly, hovering her hand over my mom's hip as she corrected her posture. Mom nodded in response, following the movement slowly and carefully. "There we go. That's perfect." Lauren smiled.

Mom shot me a tired grin at where I was tucked away in the corner. I gave her a thumbs up, encouraging her without being too distracting. I was here to observe, not to get in the way of her recovery.

But it was hard to hold back the pride beaming in my chest as I watched Mom get back on her feet, getting used to the movements of handling everything herself. Lauren had assured us that she would have no trouble getting back to normal but that the physical therapy would be slow-going.

She'd suffered a terrible shock to her system, and though the wound had healed up, leaving behind a jagged scar, it would take a while for her muscles and joints to get back to full strength again.

But despite how her hands trembled when she pushed herself, the little wince she gave every now and then as she uncomfortably twisted her body, she never gave up. She always kept a tired smile on her face, just happy to be up and moving again.

My heart lurched as Mom stumbled in the next stretch, barely managing to keep standing. I reached out on instinct, getting halfway out of my seat before Lauren gently sent me a little wave with her hand, signaling to keep seated. I gritted my teeth, not liking it but having agreed to listen to Lauren when I wanted to sit in. She was the expert here.

"That's okay, you're doing wonderful, Matilde. Here, have a seat and we'll take a break, okay?" Lauren guided her with a stable hand on her back to the wheelchair, and Mom sighed in relief once she sat down. "I'm sorry," Mom said frustratedly. "I lost my balance there"

"That's perfectly alright, Matilde," Lauren reassured her with a smile. "You have come leaps and bounds already, and you're surprising everyone with how quick you are at this. It'll take some time and no doubt you'll stumble again, but that's okay. Your perseverance is admirable, Matilde, and you'll be back to normal soon enough. Just take your time."

Lauren wasn't just telling her that either. Both Lauren and her doctors had been amazed at Mom's recovery speed, mostly attributing it to the wonderful care Lauren provided and Mom's "go-get-'em" attitude when it came to therapy. Her progress was twice what they had thought it would be, and that was amazing considering when she was in the hospital, they worried she would never be able to walk again. Now she had even started using crutches more and doing things on her own again.

I had no doubt she'd be running a marathon soon at the pace she was going. I got to my feet, leaning on the side of her wheelchair as I bent over to pull her into a side hug. "You're amazing, Mom," I told her. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, sweetheart," Mom beamed, holding me closer as she rested. "How's Elio and you? Did you finish your finals alright?"

"Of course, Mom." I smiled. "Whose daughter do you think I am? I aced them. And Elio's doing good. He's working a lot, but he's been taking the time to care for me because of the finals. He made me breakfast in bed yesterday my favorite crepes and bacon too. I'm a lot less stressed than usual because of him."

"I bet." Mom giggled. "Though I'm sure it's not just his breakfast that's making you so happy in bed."

"Mom!" I complained, blushing bright red as I gently pushed her shoulder.

She just laughed, sharing a look with Lauren, who pretended not to hear anything, though her lips were pursed like she was trying not to laugh.

"Oh, please. I'm your mother," Mom said firmly. "I've done a lot more embarrassing things than anything I tease you about."

I rolled my eyes as the two women laughed. Mom and Lauren had bonded very quickly, becoming closer to old friends like they'd known each other for a lifetime. It was especially annoying when they used it to tease me.

I checked my texts again, replying to Anna's message as she told me about her schedule for next semester. I sent her my own, excitedly comparing which classes we'd be taking together and which we took apart. Surprisingly, we shared quite a few of the same classes, which was a relief.

I was still getting lost on campus, so I needed her to guide me to most of my classes. I'd always been kind of directionally challenged. Thank God for the GPS app.

I sent a quick reply to Elio. 'That sounds lovely. Can't wait.' Then for good measure, I sent an excited emoji face.

"Alright, all done now," Lauren declared into the room, smiling as she picked up the therapy equipment. "I'll go put this stuff away and then I'll go make lunch. What would you like, Matilde?"

"Hm. Stew sounds good," Mom sighed, a dreamy look in her eyes. "How do you get it so delicious? You have to share the recipe with me."

"On my last day, I will, but only if you finish all of your therapy," Lauren responded, giving her a wink as she headed down the hall to the kitchen.

"You drive a hard bargain!" Mom playfully shouted back.

I grinned, happy to see her rosy cheeks and vibrant appearance. It was a huge contrast from the pale and waxy look she had in the hospital when the bruises under her eyes were so large, she looked like a raccoon.

I was so glad she had recovered, that she was still laughing and smiling here with me.

Once Lauren left, we could only really hear pots and pans being shuffled around before Mom turned to me, her smile sobering into a grave look. "So," Mom started.

I swallowed, feeling like I was a teenager again and she'd just caught me sneaking out of my window to head to a party she forbade me to go to.

"Are you still looking for the men that did this on your own?" she asked.

I glanced at my lap, turning my phone around in my hands as I debated with myself over this. I honestly didn't know what to say. I could lie and save her the worry, but that felt too hypocritical of me.

I'd just gotten angry at Elio for doing the same exact thing.

I didn't want to lie, either. I'd never lied to my mom about anything important before, and I didn't want to start now. After all the lies that came out about my father when I was kid, I'd learned that hiding things from the people you loved only brought misery to everyone around you.

I couldn't do that to my mom.

But I also didn't want to tell her the truth, to have her anxiously worry about me in the middle of the night or call me just to check if I'd gotten involved in anything dangerous. That too felt like doing exactly what my dad had done. Besides, no matter what my mom or Elio thought, I could take care of myself. I wasn't that helpless, empty little girl anymore.

On the two warring sides of myself, I weighed what was more important-honesty or peace of mind. And I chose honesty.

"I am actually." I looked her straight in the eyes. "But not by myself-Elio and all his friends and family are helping too, so I'm not alone."

Her eyes drooped, her lips forming a sad smile as she looked at me like she was seeing the ghost of someone she loved standing behind me. "You...."

She sighed, giving me a downcast look as her eyes swam with unshed tears. "You're so much like your father, sometimes it's painful to look at you." And whatever I had expected her to say, it wasn't that.

Her words were like the claws of a beast as they ripped into an open wound that I didn't even know I had, twisting it there until I felt a scream bubbling up in my throat. It ached, and maybe it was just a phantom pain, an emotional wound presenting itself physically, but I rubbed the spot over my heart in response, my lips opening in sheer hurt and shock.

She didn't mean it, my thoughts raced to soothe me, spreading comforting lies over the spot I gripped so tightly, unable to speak a single word. All the words my mother had praised into my ears over the years came back like a blaring alarm on a clock, swirling in my ears until they drowned out my heartbeat.

'He was a wonderful person who did the best he could.'

'He always fought for what was right.'

'Your father was a kind man who loved us very much.'

But the truth was a cold creature, one who loomed over us. I wasn't a child any longer. We both knew that though my father was a good man, but he was also a liar, one who did bad things because he was good at it-the same kind of man I now loved.

I had spent a lifetime trying to crawl out from under my father's mistakes, though I loved my father, all his flaws included.

So why did her words feel like she had just ripped my heart out?

Why did I feel like I could only hate the part of that man she saw within me?

Self-loathing erupted out of my every pore, and I leveled a fierce glare at my mother, ready to explode like a volcano as I lashed out with a harsh, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Mom looked alarmed at me. "I just meant I wish you would think about keeping yourself safe instead of going after some silly revenge plot. I begged your father to do the same thing, and I just don't want you to " "End up like him, right?" I snapped.

Her mouth snapped shut at a loss for words and there was a hint of regret in her eyes, but I couldn't stand looking at her at that moment, afraid I might say something I couldn't take back.

"I can't do this right now, Mom," I said instead. "It's my life and I'm doing what I think is right. Dad... I'm not him. I'm my own person, and I have the right to control my own life. I'll text you later." "Caterina, don't. I'm sorry." Mom pleaded with a soft look, but I just shook my head.

"I have to meet Elio anyway. See you later," I mumbled, walking away feeling like shit.

I nodded to Lauren in the kitchen as I passed and left the apartment. I breathed out, shutting my eyes for a moment once I was alone in the hallway, and then I made my way up to my own place.

I was still in a bad mood when I entered the apartment, nearly missing the note posted on the door. It was in Elio's handwriting with a simple request.

'Look in the closet.'

Confused but slightly excited, I headed straight for the closet in our bedroom, and right as I opened the door, I gasped in sheer awe.

Hanging there in a plastic sheeting was a gorgeous red dress, and pinned to the top was another note with familiar handwriting.

'I can't wait to see you in this tonight.'