Chapter Thirty Nine - Alzheimer's
Milo's P.O.V -
I finally reached Lincoln's room to find he was already dressed and sat on the bed waiting for me. He looked up at me expectantly but I didn't say anything until I was sat in the armchair in the corner of his room, my arms were aching from using the crutches all day.
"Well?" Lincoln ran a hand through his hair. "I know you have things you want to say."
I thought for a moment biting my lip. "What's wrong Lincoln?"
He gritted his teeth. "Nothing is wrong, why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Because something is wrong, it has been for a few weeks now." I swallowed.
"Can you not just believe me?" He glared.
"No." I insisted. "Because I wouldn't be believing the truth."
"Oh, fuck off." He snapped.
"You wouldn't raise your voice at me like that if there wasn't something wrong." I pointed out calmly.
He sighed. "I'm sorry but can you please just drop it."
"Fine." I begrudgingly responded. "I was talking to your sister."
"Yeah, I saw." He stared at me waiting for me to continue.
"She told me that your family hasn't seen you all week." I said. "Why's that?"
"I've been with you." He spoke as if that was the answer I wanted to hear.
"Then spend less time with me and more with your family." I told him in a serious tone.
"I don't want to do that." He responded. "I just want to be with you."
"No." I spoke bluntly.
"No?" He raised a brow in slight annoyance. "Why not?"
"You need to spend time with your family, and your friends too." I told him. "And so do I."
"But-" He cut himself off not knowing what to say.
"Maybe we shouldn't see each other for a few days." I suggested. "It'll give you time to spend some time with your family and it will give me some time alone."
He jumped up from the bed ready to protest. "You can't do that! I need to be able to see you."
"Lincoln we should be able to spend time apart." I told him. "I think it will do us both some good."
"No, I'm sorry please. I'll spend time with my family but please can I see you as well." He practically begged.
"Lincoln-"
"Milo." He stared at me with glassy eyes. "Please."
"It will only be until you come to Italy." I promised.
"That's almost a week away." He crouched down in front of where I was sat.
"Lincoln you have to talk to you're family." I said.
His eyes turned dark. "I don't care! I don't care if I see them or not all I need is you."
"Lincoln don't say things like that." I told him annoyed. "Your sister really wants to be closer to you, this situation is upsetting her. She was crying outside with me."
"I don't care about her." He growled.
My stomach dropped. "You disgust me." I mumbled. "You take your family for granted. Your mum is struggling so much with what happened to her, your sister is begging for you to talk to her and your dad is trying so hard to hold his family together. Your are being a dickhead and frankly if you weren't my mate I wouldn't put up with someone who treats their family like this."
He stared at me with wide eyes. "Don't say that."
"It's the truth. Maybe you'll listen now." I stood up grasping my crutches tightly. "I think I should go now."
"Milo." He stood up beside me but didn't stop me as I approached the door.
"Goodbye Lincoln, I'll see you soon." I kissed his cheek quickly. "I love you."
He nodded swallowing harshly but couldn't manage to say anything as a single tear slid down his cheek.
I closed the door behind me making my way down stairs. Wyatt stood in the living room watching me.
"I could hear you two." He said analyzing me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but I think you should go check on Lincoln." I suggested.
He nodded. "I'll drive you home first though."
"Thank you." I forced a smile.
***
"This is the longest you two have voluntarily been apart since you met." Lucy said as she rested her head on my shoulder.
"I don't think that's true." I mumbled staring out the window and at the Atlantic.
She shrugged. "What were you arguing about?"
I laughed. "Like Wyatt hasn't already told you."
"I mean he has." She smiled in amusement. "But I thought I should at least pretend I didn't know."
I hummed looking away from the window, there was only so long I could stare at the ocean for.
"I think you're right." Lucy told me. "I think he's become too clingy with you since what happened with your father."
"You should've seen how upset his sister was." I frowned at the memory. "He's really upset with me now."
She scoffed. "He will forgive you instantly, he can't stay mad so don't worry about it. Let's just hope that he actually spends some time with his family."
"Yeah." I agreed. "I kept myself occupied and tried not to think about him, I spent the last two days meeting up with Oliver."
"God, I haven't seen him in ages." She spoke thoughtfully. "I hope he's doing well."
We sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I'm surprised Wyatt didn't come with us to the airport to say goodbye." I said as she lifted her head from my shoulder.
"He slept over at my house last night so we said goodbye this morning." She smiled to herself. "And I gave him a present since I'm leaving him for a few days."
"Let me guess." I deadpanned. "The present was you."
"No." She blushed. "Although we did have sex last night."
"Guys." My mother poked her head between the two seats in front of us. "I can hear you."
"Sorry." I mumbled as she turned away.
"Let's sleep we've got a long flight." Lucy suggested.
I nodded in agreement leaning into her.
***
When we finally landed it was nine o'clock in Italy and one A.M. at home. The wedding was tomorrow which I was happy about considering how exhausted we all were.
"How is it nine in the morning?" Lucy whined. "We left at ten A.M. yesterday morning."
"There's a eight hour time difference." I told her with a yawn.
We climbed off the bus which drove us to the village and began the short walk to my grandparents house. I smiled looking around, I hadn't been here since before Ana died but not a single thing has changed. It was beautiful.
Lucy pulled out her phone and called someone, who I could only assume was Wyatt.
"Did I wake you?" She couldn't stop the smile spreading on her face as she heard Wyatt's voice.
"Well I was just calling to say that we've landed." She spoke to Wyatt for a few more moments before saying goodbye and ending the call.
"I should probably call my mum too." She said tapping at her phone.
I pulled out my phone looking at Lincoln's contact for a moment debating if I should talk to him or not. I said I wouldn't until he got here but one quick phone call won't hurt.
I sighed calling him as my mother watched me curiously. She knew that I hadn't seen Lincoln in a few days but I hadn't told her why. I held my phone to my ear watching as my mother walked ahead pulling her suitcase along while Lucy carried both mine and her's.
I listened to the phone ringing for a few moments but there was no answer. I stuffed my phone into my pocket and carried on walking with Lucy.
"He didn't answer?" Lucy asked once he got off the phone with her mum.
"No." I shook my head. "He's probably asleep and didn't hear it, or maybe his phone is on silent."
Lucy nodded. "That's probably it."
We soon reached my grandparents house to see my mum waiting for us. She smiled at the two of us before knocking on the door.
The door swung open to reveal a small four year old boy staring at us with a toothy grin.
"Ciao." He spoke politely. "Tu chi sei?" (Who are you?)
I faintly recognized this boy as Louis, I hadn't seen him since he was two. He's one of Roberto's many children. He has adopted seven children from the orphanage he works at all of which where under eight years old so this house was chaotic. Three of the children I haven't met yet.
"Sono Gianna, sorella di tuo padre." My mother spoke to him. (I'm Gianna, your fathers sister.)
He stared at us for a moment cautiously. "Papà !" He called before walking away from the door.
Soon Roberto appeared in the doorway staring at us with a grin. "Come in, come in." He gestured to us.
We stepped into the familiar home and I looked around with nostalgia. There was some yelling and screams upstairs from Roberto's children.
He glanced up the stairs with a sigh. "Dovrei andare a vedere cosa stanno facendo." (I should go see what they are doing.)
He left going up the stairs quickly.
My mum turned to us. "I'll go help him and put my stuff in my room."
"Okay." I said watching as she followed after Roberto.
"Roberto." A voice called. "Chi era alla porta?" (Who was at the door?)
My grandmother entered and looked around confused until her eyes landed on me.
"Nonna." I smiled at her.
"Alfie." She looked at me warmly.
I frowned glancing at Lucy for a moment. "No, sono Milo." (No, I'm Milo)
"Milo?" She stared at me with a blank expression.
"Figlio di Giannas." I told her forcing a smile. (Gianna's son.)
Her eyes widened in realization. "Milo." She pulled me into a hug and kissed both my cheeks.
I felt uneasy, why did she not recognize me?
"Chi è questo?" She looked at Lucy. (Who is this?)
"Questa è Lucy, mia amica." I explained. (This is Lucy, my friend.)
She smiled at Lucy and opened her mouth to talk when her face went void and she looked around. She turned to me with a polite smile.
"Ciao tu chi sei?" She tilted her head waiting for me to reply. (Hello, who are you?)
I furrowed my eyes brows noticing the concerned look on Lucy's face.
"What's happening?" She asked me. "Why does she look so confused?"
"Um." I didn't know what to do. "Stay here for a moment."
I ran upstairs to find my mum but instead found my grandad sat in an armchair on the landing. He stared straight ahead not even noticing me.
"Nonno." I spoke to him.
Something that I hadn't mentioned to Lucy was that my Grandad had Alzheimer's but the last time I saw him it wasn't too bad he would just walk into a room or do something and forget why. However, my Grandmother seemed to be showing the same symptoms.
He slowly moved his head to look at me releasing a grumble but he couldn't manage to say any words.
"Ciao, è Milo tuo nipote." I smiled at him. (Hello, it's Milo your Grandson.)
"Milo?" Roberto's fiancé, Zola, smiled at me. "When did you get here?"
"Not long ago." I smiled. "What's wrong with Nonna?"
"Milo." She frowned. "Has your mother not told you?"
"She sick like Nonno, isn't she?" I met her eye.
She slowly nodded. "It's still early."
I bit my lip before walking past her to find my mother. She was stood in an empty bedroom, I stepped in closing the door behind me.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I gritted out.
She turned to me with confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Nonna." I hissed. "She has Alzheimer's."
Her face fell and her eyes watered. "Milo, I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Why would you let me find out this way, if you told me a week or more ago at least I would be prepared." I kept my voice low so no one would hear me.
"You've had so much going on, I didn't want to add to it." She explained looking at my crutches.
"How long have you known?" I crossed my arms.
"Four months." She admitted.
"Four months!" I exclaimed. "You've had so many chances to tell me."
"Something always got in the way." She insisted. "Whether it was you coming out, or the werewolf thing, or you being taken, or your father. It never seemed right."
I shook my head walking towards the door. "I'm so mad at you."
I left before she could apologize anymore and went back downstairs to find Lucy alone.
"Where my grandmother?" I asked looking around.
"Roberto came and took her somewhere." She explained. She noticed my distressed state but didn't say anything. "Why don't we take these to our room?"
"Good idea." I mumbled picking up my suitcase.