Cheesecake, 15
Authors: sunsetsinthewes (Geena)
Challenge: Cheesecake, 15. It may come cannonballing down through the sky
Word Count: 589
Rating: PG
Story: Polyfaceted; the title of this story is Carton Containing.
Summary: Shortly after learning Isabella's trip to Montana coincides with a high-profile murder, Lilia confronts Stefano about his past.
Notes: This story takes place in 2028, tying in with this fic.
***
Lilia pauses in the doorway, one hand on the jam. Stefano’s seated before her, one hand wrapped around a mug of coffee while the other clutches the paper. Catching sight of the bags under his eyes and the rumpled look of his clothes, she nearly changes her mind.
“Your sister just returned from Montana. I wasn’t aware your family did business in Montana.” She slides into the chair across from Stefano, reaching for her own coffee.
He lowers the paper slightly, eyeing her over the edge. “You’re following my sister, now?”
“Not personally, no. But they inform me when something unusual pings the radar.” Lilia leans forward, hesitating. “The thing is, it seems that a man in Montana-a priest-- was found dead inside his home.”
“Was he?”
“Around the same time as your sister’s visit, funnily enough.” Reaching for a spoon, she begins to fidget. “It turns out that he was recently transferred to a new diocese after allegations of molestation came to light. After years of working at a church in your old neighborhood, at that. But you already knew that, didn’t you.”
Sighing, Stefano sets the paper aside, carefully and methodically folding it. Finally, he meets her eyes and it’s in that moment that her worst fears are confirmed. “What are you getting at?”
Careful, she thinks. “Your sister went to Montana. I don’t believe Isabella’s ever gone to Montana, Stefano. Are you implying it’s just a coincidence that a priest from your old diocese died on the same weekend? A priest accused of-“
“Don’t.” His voice is soft and low, barely above a whisper.
Lilia softens, one hand reaching across the table. “So it’s true? My god, sweetheart, why didn’t you tell me?”
Stefano twitches, leaning back in his chair. He won’t tear his eyes away from his mug, something that causes a flash through her chest. Finally, he speaks. “To be fair, I haven’t told anyone.”
“But Isabella-“ She stiffens. “You haven’t told anyone. In twenty-seven years, you haven’t said a word to anyone? Police?” He doesn’t respond. “The church?” Silence. “My god. Your sister? Your fam-“ It hits her suddenly, forcing her throat to close around the words. Tension hangs heavy between them as Lilia takes a moment to gather her thoughts. “Is that why? Is that why you moved? Why you don’t see them?”
“Lil,” he warns. “Can we not do this right now?”
“You’ve put it off for twenty-seven years. Isn’t it about time?” Sighing, she stands, stepping around the table to gently grasp his hand. Voice soft, she carefully continues. “Honey. If they didn’t know…”
His eyes flash as he jumps to his feet, pulling away. “Stop it. Don’t do this.”
She nods, looking away. “Okay. I won’t. I have to leave soon, anyway. Just-Stefano, for all that they are, they do love you. Anyone can see that.”
Stefano lets out a bitter laugh, spinning around to face her. “Love me? Love? Lilia, those people don’t love. They lie and cheat and steal and fuck and kill, but they don’t love.”
There’s a beat before she replies, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of that. Stefano-“
“Yeah, well, while you’re at it, just pretend you didn’t hear this whole conversation.” He turns, heading for hall. “Don’t you have to work?”
With that he’s gone, leaving her behind.
***
Challenge: Cheesecake, 15. It may come cannonballing down through the sky
Word Count: 589
Rating: PG
Story: Polyfaceted; the title of this story is Carton Containing.
Summary: Shortly after learning Isabella's trip to Montana coincides with a high-profile murder, Lilia confronts Stefano about his past.
Notes: This story takes place in 2028, tying in with this fic.
***
Lilia pauses in the doorway, one hand on the jam. Stefano’s seated before her, one hand wrapped around a mug of coffee while the other clutches the paper. Catching sight of the bags under his eyes and the rumpled look of his clothes, she nearly changes her mind.
“Your sister just returned from Montana. I wasn’t aware your family did business in Montana.” She slides into the chair across from Stefano, reaching for her own coffee.
He lowers the paper slightly, eyeing her over the edge. “You’re following my sister, now?”
“Not personally, no. But they inform me when something unusual pings the radar.” Lilia leans forward, hesitating. “The thing is, it seems that a man in Montana-a priest-- was found dead inside his home.”
“Was he?”
“Around the same time as your sister’s visit, funnily enough.” Reaching for a spoon, she begins to fidget. “It turns out that he was recently transferred to a new diocese after allegations of molestation came to light. After years of working at a church in your old neighborhood, at that. But you already knew that, didn’t you.”
Sighing, Stefano sets the paper aside, carefully and methodically folding it. Finally, he meets her eyes and it’s in that moment that her worst fears are confirmed. “What are you getting at?”
Careful, she thinks. “Your sister went to Montana. I don’t believe Isabella’s ever gone to Montana, Stefano. Are you implying it’s just a coincidence that a priest from your old diocese died on the same weekend? A priest accused of-“
“Don’t.” His voice is soft and low, barely above a whisper.
Lilia softens, one hand reaching across the table. “So it’s true? My god, sweetheart, why didn’t you tell me?”
Stefano twitches, leaning back in his chair. He won’t tear his eyes away from his mug, something that causes a flash through her chest. Finally, he speaks. “To be fair, I haven’t told anyone.”
“But Isabella-“ She stiffens. “You haven’t told anyone. In twenty-seven years, you haven’t said a word to anyone? Police?” He doesn’t respond. “The church?” Silence. “My god. Your sister? Your fam-“ It hits her suddenly, forcing her throat to close around the words. Tension hangs heavy between them as Lilia takes a moment to gather her thoughts. “Is that why? Is that why you moved? Why you don’t see them?”
“Lil,” he warns. “Can we not do this right now?”
“You’ve put it off for twenty-seven years. Isn’t it about time?” Sighing, she stands, stepping around the table to gently grasp his hand. Voice soft, she carefully continues. “Honey. If they didn’t know…”
His eyes flash as he jumps to his feet, pulling away. “Stop it. Don’t do this.”
She nods, looking away. “Okay. I won’t. I have to leave soon, anyway. Just-Stefano, for all that they are, they do love you. Anyone can see that.”
Stefano lets out a bitter laugh, spinning around to face her. “Love me? Love? Lilia, those people don’t love. They lie and cheat and steal and fuck and kill, but they don’t love.”
There’s a beat before she replies, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of that. Stefano-“
“Yeah, well, while you’re at it, just pretend you didn’t hear this whole conversation.” He turns, heading for hall. “Don’t you have to work?”
With that he’s gone, leaving her behind.
***