Free The Mimosa Tree by Antonella Preto Page A

moving forward now to hug her but her hands pause at Siena’s sides like she thinks she might break her. ‘I’ve been so worried.’
    Siena smiles, takes my mother’s hand reassuringly. ‘It’s not as bad as it looks. Actually, things are going really well.’
    â€˜You’re joking, right?’ says Via, gesturing as though all the evidence against it is clearly visible in the air around us.
    Siena raises her palms. ‘There have been some losses. But it’s for the best.’
    â€˜As long as you’re happy,’ says Mum. ‘That’s all that matters.’
    Via scoffs.
    â€˜You want coffee?’ says Siena motioning us into the house.
    â€˜Yeah!’ I say excited about getting a closer look at the mansion I will probably never see again.
    Mum looks hopeful, but Via shakes her head. ‘It’s getting late. Some of us still have husbands to cook for,’ she says.
    â€˜Of course,’ says Siena. ‘I want you to know, Via, that this is only for a few weeks.’
    â€˜You stay for as long as you need to,’ says Mum.
    â€˜I don’t intend to be a burden. I have plans. I am not going to outstay my welcome. I promise.’
    Via shrugs, unconvinced. She pulls out a cigarette, points at the boxes with it. ‘Which ones are yours?’
    â€˜Just this,’ says Siena, and she reaches for a small sports bag.
    â€˜That’s it? ’ says Via, cigarette jutting out unlit from the corner of her mouth. ‘Then where is all this stuff going?’
    â€˜I’m leaving it here. I don’t want any of it.’
    â€˜Don’t be crazy,’ says Mum looking nervously at all the boxes in the entrance hall. ‘If it’s yours to take, then take it.’
    Siena looks around the room, shakes her head sadly. ‘This stuff isn’t me anymore. I just want to leave it behind and start again.’
    â€˜Isn’t you? ’ says Via. ‘What the hell does that mean?’
    â€˜I think she means she doesn’t identify with these things anymore,’ I say and Via turns on me like an angry hippopotamus.
    â€˜Don’t give me any of your smart-arsed university talk, understand? You’re not too old to get a smack in the head.’
    â€˜I’m just trying to explain that Siena is saying she needs a fresh start.’
    Mum looks confused.
    Why is it so difficult for them to grasp a simple concept sometimes? ‘Siena is saying that she wants to...’
    â€˜It’s all right, Mira,’ says Siena, putting her hand up to stop me. She turns to her sisters, her face calm and charitable. ‘These things belong to Robert now. I don’t want to take anything that reminds me of how unhappy I have been.’
    â€˜That is very noble,’ says Via flicking ash into the pot plant. ‘But stupid. You think it’s going to be that easy to start again?’
    â€˜Maybe not. But I need to start over again, the right way. Robert took a lot from me, but I am taking back everything that’s important to me. My health. My heart. My family.’ Her hands grip tighter against the straps of her bag. ‘I’ve missed you,’ she says as two fat tears fall mutely down one gaunt cheek. ‘I’ve missed me.’
    â€˜Siena,’ says Mum, and you can hear the heartbreak in her voice. ‘We’ve missed you too.’ And she pulls Siena into a greedy, floor-shaking hug.
    Siena’s thin arms wrap around my mother’s neck and hertears fall more freely now. Mum begins to cry and cry and thank God and her mother’s soul in heaven for bringing her sister back to her. Via stands off to the side, trying to seem composed and indifferent but I see her wipe something from her eyes. She lights another cigarette and steps into the entrance hall. For a second I think she’s going to ignore Siena and start picking up some boxes, but instead she walks over to a portrait of