Adriana bolted for the stairs, pausing only to mutter a hasty response. “It’s nothing, Mamãe. I just want to lie down. I have a tummy ache.”
Her mother nodded. “This was a big day for you. Go and rest. We are all so proud.”
Adriana forced a grin and hurried up the stairs. Her family’s pride was the least of her concerns.
When she reached the safety of her bedroom, she shut the door and climbed onto her frilly pink bed, then crawled beneath a mountain of pillows and stuffed animals. She had been warned not to spy. Now she understood why. It hurt. It hurt so much her heart would explode with pain.
How could Mamãe hate Papai so much?
How could Adriana not have known?
Adriana tugged at those questions until her tears wet the nose of her beloved pink dolphin. The signs were all there, she just hadn’t been looking for them. Even if she had, she would not have understood what they meant. The way Avô Guilherme scolded Papai every time he made a mistake, as if he were a child instead of a manager in Avô Guilherme’s factory. The way Avó Jurema crinkled her nose whenever Papai came into the room and criticized the way he wore his clothes. Adriana had assumed her grandparents were strict with Papai because they cared; as they cared about her when they reminded her to practice the piano and do her school work. They always encouraged her and told her how smart and talented she was. Avô Guilherme and Avó Jurema never complimented Papai. Neither did Mamãe.
Adriana clutched the dolphin to her face, cried harder, then wiped her eyes with the dolphin’s fin. Someone was coming up the stairs. If they saw her crying, they would know she had more than a tummy ache.
A familiar rat-a-tat-tat told her it was Papai. Adriana sunk deeper beneath her protective mountain and listened as he entered and searched the room.
“Hmm. Where could she be?”
A door opened and closed. “Not in the closet.”
Knees thumped on the floor. “Not under the bed.”
The mattress sank and she quickly wiped her face.
“Could the sea creatures have eaten her?”
A big brown eye peeked between the stuffed animals and looked straight at her. “There you are.”
“Alô, Papai.”
He brushed away the pillowy mountain and tipped her chin so he could examine her face. “Hey, what’s this?”
She slid her chin out of his palm and shrugged.
“Talk to me, Adriana. Is it the concert? Because you played so good.”
She shook her head.
“Then what?”
“You aren’t coming with us.”
“To São Paulo?” His exhale of frustration heated her forehead. “I want to, believe me, but it’s not my choice.”
“Because of Mamãe?”
“Why do you ask that? Have you been spying again?”
“Not on purpose. Honest.” She sat up and grabbed his hand. She could not bear for him to be angry with her, not now. But he only seemed sad. She dropped her dolphin and hugged his hand. “Why does she hate you?”
“Your mamãe?” He grunted a laugh. “I wish I knew.”
“No. Never think that. She loves you. Everybody loves you. Especially me.”
Adriana slumped onto the pillows. What should have felt like the happiest day of her life had turned into the worst. Although she would have the opportunity to study and tour with the most famous pianist in all of Brazil, she would have to leave her father to do it. “I won’t go.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course you’ll go.”
“No. I’ll stay here with you. Mamãe will too. Everything will be fine. Everything will be just as it was before.”
Even as she said the words, she knew they were not true.