Page 143 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“Yes. Hi. Is everything okay with Luca? I almost called him first.”

“He’s fine. I mean as fine as he can be. I talked to him this morning.”

Her heart that had been ready to burst out of her chest hit the brakes slightly.

It was still racing but not enough to make her feel like she was going to pass out.

“So you know what happened?”

“I do,” Martha said. “My heart breaks for him. I’m worried. He says he’s handling it, but I’m not so sure he is. Or knows how. And he’d be livid if he knew I called you. I hope the staff there won’t let him know.”

“No,” she said. “I’ll make sure of it. But they wouldn’t anyway.”

“I’m glad he called me, but I feel horrible. He’s playing it off like it’s just another patient.”

“It’s not,” she said. Her eyes filled, not surprised he’d do that to not worry his parents. “I don’t feel that way either, but I know it’s harder for him. I wanted to be with him last night, but he said he needed some space. It didn’t seem right to argue when I don’t know what he needs in a situation like this. It’s horrible to say, but most of our time is about fun.”

“He tells me. Or has told me. That you’ve never fought, and get along great.”

“We do. I know that’s odd. So this is a little hard for me to figure out. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had plenty of serious talks, but this... this is more than that.”

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you he locked himself away when Zoe died. Do I think this is on the same level? No. I don’t. But I’m still concerned.”

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried also. I had to work today. If I could have called in, I would have, but it’s not easy to get coverage last minute on the island unless it’s an emergency.”

Could she have called in sick? Sure. They would have pulled in a nurse practitioner or rescheduled appointments. They’d done it before.

But she wasn’t going to impose herself on Luca if he needed space. Not now. Not after everything.

It wasn’t a big ask—just a little time for him—but she also knew there was a limit to how much she could step back.

Still, she lingered in that quiet of her mind, fighting the urge to call him again, to text, to make sure he was hanging in there.

Some things couldn’t be rushed. Some things had to wait.

Even if waiting was the hardest part.

“You won’t let him know about this conversation?” Martha asked.

“No. It’s coming from a place of caring. A place of love on both of our parts.”

“Exactly. He said that you understood that he needed space.”

She couldn’t control the snort that escaped her lips. “No. Well, yes. Maybe. I don’t know. We were both exhausted. Physically and emotionally. I’m not sure I understood, but I wouldn’t fight him either.”

Though it was on the tip of her tongue to do it.

“I know my son. I’m worried he’s going to lose himself again like he’d done before. I’m repeating myself again too, I know.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t let that happen. I talk to him daily when I’m on shift. My plan was to call him when I was walking to the hospital like normal. It’d give me an idea of how he was doing.”

“He’s going to act like he’s fine,” Martha said.

“I can see through it. I think he knows that too. Don’t worry. He won’t be alone. I promise. He needs me and I’ll make sure he’s aware of it.”

“Thank you,” Martha said, her quiet sobs coming through. “I worried about him taking this step with the adoption. I worried Taylor would change her mind. That he’d get so excited and it’d fall through. I just never thought it’d bethisway.”

“I don’t think anyone thinks or plans it like this.” She was going to do as best as she could to relieve some of Martha’s stress. “I love your son. I see a future with him. I think he sees it too. But I can’t rush or push him either. I want children just asmuch as him. I told him I worried he was losing hope more than anything.”