Always Been You

~Dante’s POV~

When I heard my little girl scream, I was in my study; I immediately ran out of the study and went to the location from which she was screaming. When I entered Lola’s bedroom, I found her lying on the carpet. I picked her up and placed her on the bed before dialing Emily, our family physician, as quickly as I could. She didn’t squander a single second. Emily was not able to provide any information regarding Lola’s memory because that was not her area of expertise, but she did check on Lola and let us know that she was doing fine. I couldn’t leave her room because I wasn’t sure if she was going to be okay. The children were in the same state of anxiety as I was, and they refused to leave her room. Even though Lola doesn’t remember anything, I know that she has been trying her best for the children, and there have been times when I’ve gotten the impression that she’s being too hard on herself. Since we had our first passionate encounter in my study, Lola and I have been unable to keep our hands off of each other. Each and every night, she would visit me in my bedroom. Even though she couldn’t remember, she begged me to let us give it a shot, anyway. I had no choice but to comply with her request because, after all, she was my wife. Mason moved back to Ozark; June was six feet under; and Candice-I still have plans for her, but she will never come between me and my wife.

“Daddy, are you sure she’s going to be all right?” While I was giving my son Kai a peck on the forehead, he asked,

I reassured him, “Boy, Mommy is going to be all right.”

“Can I sleep with her?” I gave Kai the go-ahead to climb up on the bed, and he did so just as he was placing his head in Lola’s arms. Lola opened her eyes, took a few seconds to take in her surroundings, and then her gaze settled on Kai.

“Kai, what are you doing here? Are you okay, baby?”

What? Lola had a hard time telling the difference between Kai and Tyler. Does it mean she remembers?

When she looked at me, a single tear rolled down her cheek before falling to the floor. After that, she turned to look at Mia and Tyler and told them, “I’m okay, guys.” That was the last thing she said. Still looking at Lola, Kai couldn’t help but wonder how she had any idea who he was, given the fact that she had previously referred to him as Tyler. I really hope she remembers.

“Lola, are you okay?” When Mia questioned Lola, the latter arched a brow in response. After that, she responded,

“Yeah, I’m okay, Mia.”

“Would you like something to drink? Perhaps some water or fruit juice?” I inquired, and then she responded, shattering every one of my hopes and dreams.

“Naa, it’s okay, Mr. Monroe.”

I didn’t want to show how disappointed I was to my kids, so I walked out of the room and went straight to my study, poured myself some scotch, and started drinking.

It hurts, it’s hurts that she doesn’t remember me, us and our lives together, our children. I know I shouldn’t be complaining, but it hurts to sleep with a woman you love but who can’t remember anything about you. The door to my study suddenly flew open, revealing my irate mother, and I was still thinking about the situation Lola and I were in. She was with my uncle and grandpa.

“Ti ho detto di guardarlo da lontano!” She pointed a finger at my uncle and my grandpa.

Translation: I told you to watch him from afar.

“Have you seen me before? Or this grizzled old fellow?” My uncle inquired while rubbing his chest and directing our attention to my grandfather. I knew she was crazy, but never for once thought she would bring them back here after what happened.

“Um, mom, who are they?” When I asked her, she did not respond but instead looked at me, then at my uncle, and finally at my grandpa. The two men’s expressions were as icy as ice, but that was on purpose so they could demonstrate to my mother that we had never actually met. Her gaze eventually returned to mine, at which point she continued speaking.

“They are not important.” She said as she kicked up her heels and walked away. I turned my attention to the two men standing in front of me. I was concerned that someone might overhear our conversation, so I shut the door and started speaking in a low voice.

“The whole Antonio Guerra was caught by Martha; what happened?”

“Francesca Guerra, the ice queen, wants something. She gets it. Don’t underestimate her; she knows we’ve met, but if we all say otherwise, she has no proof of that.”

“In regard to the games that occur once a month, you can count on my participation. Let’s test the heir to the Guerra empire to see if he possesses the same shrewdness as his family.” I couldn’t help but smirk; these two are clearly at the top of their game and won’t stop fighting until I give in.

“Dante Monroe Guerra, you should be content now.” They smiled and left; they wouldn’t want the ice queen to come back and find us talking.

After I had spent some time drinking by myself, I went back to my room, took a shower, and then looked at the clock hanging on my wall. It read 21:30 p. m. I sighed as I was about to enter my bedsheets, and then I realized that Lola was the person who had knocked on my door. I invited Lola to come in, and then, Holy shit!

The night is going to be a very long one for us.