Dr. Carter folded her hands neatly in her lap, her expression gentle but firm as she sat across from Marco, Carmen, and Matteo in the cozy therapy room inside the estate.
The air was tense.
Carmen’s hands curled into fists on her lap, and Marco sat with his arms crossed tightly, his jaw clenched.
Matteo, on the other hand, sat calmly, his small hands resting on his lap, his face unreadable.
Dr. Carter gave them a warm smile.
“I thought today, we could all sit together and talk.”
Matteo nodded eagerly, kicking his feet back and forth.
“Okay!” he chirped, his childlike enthusiasm contrasting the tension in the room.
Carmen felt her heart ache. Marco’s grip on his knee tightened. Dr. Carter leaned forward slightly, keeping her voice soft and patient. “Matteo, last time, you told me about your nanny, Ella.”
Matteo perked up at the name.
“Yes! Nanny was so nice.”
Carmen’s throat tightened.
“She took care of me,” Matteo continued. “She said she loved me.”
Carmen forced herself to breathe.
Dr. Carter nodded, keeping Matteo engaged.
“Can you tell Mama and Papa some of the things she told you?”
Matteo tilted his head, his small fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. “She told me secrets.”
Marco’s body stiffened. “What kind of secrets, sweetheart?” Dr. Carter coaxed.
Matteo smiled. “She told me my real name.”
Carmen blinked, confused. “Baby,” she said slowly, “your real name is Matteo.”
Matteo shook his head. “No, Mama. Nanny said my real name is Rafael.”
Carmen’s stomach dropped. Marco sat up straighter, his breath coming out in a sharp exhale. Dr. Carter remained calm, keeping her gaze steady on Matteo.
“Who told you that?” she asked gently.
“Nanny did,” Matteo said, swinging his legs casually. “She said that’s who I really am.”
Carmen’s voice wavered. “That’s not true, baby. Your name is Matteo. You’re our son.”
Matteo’s tiny brows furrowed. “But Nanny said she would never lie to me.”
Carmen felt like she was going to be sick.
Dr. Carter glanced at Marco and Carmen, then focused back on Matteo.
“Sweetheart, why do you think Nanny would tell you that?”
Matteo shrugged.
“Because she loves me. And because that’s my real name.”
Marco’s hand slammed onto the armrest of his chair.
“That’s NOT your name,” he snapped, his patience cracking.
Matteo flinched slightly.
Dr. Carter raised a calming hand.
“Marco, let’s stay calm.”
Marco inhaled sharply, trying to rein in his anger.
Carmen leaned forward, her voice soft but urgent.
“Baby, listen to me. Nanny lied to you. Your name is Matteo, and you belong with us.”
Matteo frowned deeply. “But she said I belong with her.”
Carmen felt her chest tighten.
“No, baby,” she whispered. “You belong here, with Mama and Papa.”
Matteo’s lips pursed together, his small hands clenching into fists.
“Then why did you leave me?” he mumbled.
Carmen’s heart shattered. Marco stilled. Dr. Carter leaned in, her voice calm but firm.
“Matteo, what do you mean?”
Matteo lifted his head, his dark brown eyes suddenly filled with something… deep and heavy.
“Nanny told me you didn’t want me anymore.”
Carmen felt her world tilt. Marco’s hands curled into fists. Dr. Carter gave Matteo an understanding look.
“That must have made you feel very sad.”
Matteo nodded slowly. “But Nanny said it’s okay, because she would always want me. That’s why she gave me my real name again. That’s why she told me my real family is with her.”
Carmen felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“Matteo, baby, that’s not true,” she said, her voice cracking.
Matteo tilted his head.
“But what if it is?”
Marco stood up abruptly, running a hand down his face.
“I can’t listen to this sht anymore.”*
Dr. Carter remained composed, keeping her attention on Matteo.
“Matteo, do you still think about Nanny a lot?”
Matteo hesitated. Then, he nodded.
“She talks to me sometimes.”
Carmen’s blood ran cold.
“Baby,” she said cautiously, “who talks to you?”
Matteo smiled.
“Nanny.”
A heavy silence filled the room.
Dr. Carter folded her hands in her lap.
“Matteo,” she said gently, “I think it would be good for you to have friends your own age.”
Matteo blinked.
“I have a friend,” he said.
Carmen swallowed hard. “Baby, we mean real friends,” she said softly.
Dr. Carter nodded.
“I think Matteo should start preschool,” she suggested. “Being around other children will help him feel normal again. It will help him move forward.”
Marco’s brows furrowed.
“You think that will fix this?” he asked.
Dr. Carter gave a small smile.
“It won’t fix everything. But it will help. Right now, Matteo is stuck between two realities. The one he lived with Ella and the one he has now. He needs something that is truly his own. A fresh start.”
Carmen wiped at her eyes, her emotions overwhelming her.
“But what if he doesn’t want to go?” she asked.
Dr. Carter smiled warmly.
“Then we make him want to.”
Matteo looked between them, his small hands still clinging to his stuffed bear.
“Will Nanny come with me?” he asked innocently.
Carmen’s heart stopped.
Dr. Carter’s smile faltered just slightly.
“No, sweetheart,” she said softly. “Nanny won’t be there.”
Matteo stared at her. Then, after a long pause, he smiled.
“She said she will.”
Carmen and Marco’s stomachs dropped.
Dr. Carter’s expression remained neutral, but the weight of Matteo’s words hung heavy in the room.
Matteo giggled softly.
“She’s always with me.”