La Famiglia (47 page)

“Carlo?” he wheezed and looked up. Lorenzo froze. Carlo stood with a small army of men holding a gun on him.

“Shit,” Lorenzo said.

13.

Catalina groaned awake. The knocking on the door persisted. She felt hung over with the need for sleep. “Okay! What is it?”

“
Buongiorno
,
telefono
,” Carmella said. She brought in the newspaper she told her to fetch for her before retiring for the evening.

“Oh, okay.
Grazie
,” Catalina took the paper and tossed it the side of her. She reached for the phone while rubbing her eyes. She hadn’t heard it ring.

“Pronto?”
she answered.

“You went to Belina yesterday!” Dominic shouted from the receiver.

Catalina shot straight up in bed. “Domi?” she gasped.

“Christo!”
he shouted. “Are you fucking insane?
Ammazza!
”

“Stop yelling at me,” Catalina said, with a nervous chuckle.

“You think this is funny?” Dominic asked.

“No. No, of course not,” she quickly added.

“Leonardo said you took Lorenzo’s wife to Belina and dined up in the private rooms with Armando Mancini’s men. Is that true? Is it?”

“Let me ask you a question? What business is it of yours? You don’t want anything to do with me remember? I can go where I please.” The answering silence in the phone made Catalina rethink her words. She knew Leonardo would tell Dominic before Giovanni. To tell Giovanni would bring her brother’s wrath down on her, and Leonardo. She wanted Dominic’s attention and now she had it. Catalina settled back into her pillow mildly satisfied.

“Calm down, sweetheart. I only had lunch there. The men looked at me, a few of them tried to flirt with me, but none of them dare approached. Besides Belina is a friend of Ma-Ma’s she wouldn’t let anything happen to me. Gio doesn’t even have to know,” Catalina said with a smile.

“You are not to leave Villa Mare Blu again until I return. Do you hear me?” Dominic said.

“You going to punish me if I do?” she teased.

“Che palle! Non comportarti da baggiana! Maledizione!”
Dominic shouted back.

“Stop cursing at me! Calm down!” Catalina said.

“Don’t you leave the fucking villa again!” he continued.

“You lost that right when you dumped me! You can’t tell me what to do!” Catalina said.

“Do you hear me? Say it! Say the words, Catalina,” he said in a voice as sharp as the edge of a blade. “Or I swear to Christ I’ll come back and—”

She rolled her eyes. “I won’t go back to Palermo until you return. When is that, Domi? When will you be—”

The phone line disconnected.

“Love you too.” Catalina kissed the phone and smiled. He’d be home soon. Her rebellion would eat at him until he returned to her. This time she’d make him beg her for forgiveness. One thing she could always count on was Dominic’s devotion to her. She hung up and reached for the paper. When she read the front-page byline she squealed. She jumped from bed and grinned happily, turning in circles and dancing around the room.

* B
*

The night had been a hard one on her. No matter how Mira slept she ached. And the spotting returned. She had to change herself twice. She woke Giovanni and told him the news. He called the doctor. Now she lay in bed waiting. She didn’t know if she’d be able to bear the next few weeks trapped this way.

“Buongiorno, Donna.”

The greeting caught her by surprise. Mira’s gaze flipped up. Marietta smiled at her. It was the warmest, friendliest smile she’d ever received from Marietta. A bit confused Mira smiled in return.

“Hi there, please come in,” Mira said.

Mira tried to fix the covers around her. She knew she looked a hot mess. Her hair hadn’t been combed from the root in two days. The tangles couldn’t be brushed into a ponytail. It was hopeless. So she wore it mostly under a scarf to keep it from her face.

Marietta however looked beautiful. She wore a cream summer dress with spaghetti straps. Her curvy figure was perfectly outlined in the thin material and the hem stopped mid thigh, inching higher when she walked. To be so petite she had curves like a dancer. She had thick thighs, a round shapely ass, flat stomach, and perfectly pert tits. She wondered if Marietta worked out.

“Am I disturbing you?” Marietta asked.

“No. I’m waiting on the doctor. Sit. Please. Talk with me,” Mira said.

For a minute it looked as if Marietta wouldn’t accept her invite. But that moment passed. She walked to the edge of the bed and sat on it. “You look funny,” Marietta said.

“Funny?” Mira asked. She touched her face. “Funny how?”

“Tired. Under the eyes,” Marietta said. “Did you get any sleep?”

“Not much. I am tired. But I guess that comes with the territory.” Mira smiled. “How are you feeling? Catalina said you were sick after you had lunch together?”

Marietta waved off the concern. “She and I got off to a bad start. That’s my fault. I’ve never been good at making friends.” Marietta peeked up at her from under her dark lashes. “I didn’t have many friends when I grew up. I feel really bad about how I’ve treated you. Especially with your hospitality and everything. You really have been nice. I was hoping we could start over.”

“Oh, forget about that. I knew you’d like me eventually,” Mira winked. Marietta frowned and looked away.
Did she say something wrong,
Mira wondered? An awkward silence settled between them. Mira tried again. “So, did you have fun yesterday when you went to Paler—”

“Do you know much about your mother?” Marietta blurted.

Taken aback Mira couldn’t respond. Marietta was quick to explain her question. “I’m sorry. Forgive me. I’m curious. Yesterday when I was with Catalina I told her I was adopted and didn’t know my birth mother. She said your mother died when you were young. Is that true?”

“Yes, it is. She died I think when I was two,” Mira said.

“You think? Why don’t you know for sure?” Marietta asked.

Mira felt her smile waver, and a deep pang of regret stab her chest. “My mother had a complicated life. She ran off from home, returned with me as a baby, and then left me behind when I was only a toddler. All for… she died shortly after. She was… she was a drug addict.”

Marietta stood. She walked around the bed and began to pace. “Did she die from the drugs? Are you sure?”

Am I sure?
It was a very uncomfortable topic.
Who the hell does she think she is?
Mira watched her pace, uncertain of the point for the line of questioning. Part of her wanted to tell Marietta to mind her own damn business and stay out of hers. The other half of her truly did want to be friends with Lorenzo’s wife. Maybe the story of her mother would help Marietta cope with whatever seemed to have her agitated. Marietta stopped pacing and looked at her as if she expected a response.

“I believe so. It’s what my grandparents told me when I was old enough to understand her death. I never pressed for details.”

“But what was she like? Did they tell you that? Do you have any memories of her at all? A picture?” Marietta’s eyes stretched. “Do you have her picture?”

“I beg your pardon?” Mira frowned.

“Oh fuck this shit! You need to know the truth,” Marietta pointed an accusatory finger at Mira. “You walk around here clueless! You don’t know shit about her. About who I am. Who we are.”

Alarmed Mira pushed back into her pillows. Something wild and angry was now in Marietta’s eyes. She didn’t trust her. Not at that moment. The door opened and Giovanni walked in with her tall dark African doctor. Both men stopped at the sight of Marietta. The look she gave Giovanni was as lethal as the one she aimed at Mira. And without a word she stormed out of the room.

“What the hell was she doing in here?” Giovanni demanded.

“Oh stop it, Giovanni. We were just talking. She was upset,” Mira said. She then looked to the doctor. “
Ciao, dottore
Buhari
.
Good to see you.”

“I hear last night was uncomfortable?” the doctor asked.

“She left the bed. She went downstairs by herself,” Giovanni said with evident disapproval.

“I was fine. I got hungry and couldn’t sleep. The boys have been really active,” Mira reasoned.

“Let’s check your pressure. Do a quick pelvic exam and decide if we need to do more?” the doctor advised.

Mira nodded. She winked at her brooding husband as the doctor got out his equipment. And though her attention was focused on the condition of her pregnancy, she couldn’t help but wonder about the curious visit from Marietta.

* B
*

“Morning!” Catalina sang.

Marietta buried her face in her hands.

“I said morning!” Catalina chirped.

Marietta looked up at the perky Catalina who breezed into the room in a bright pink summer dress that was strapless. Her thick brown hair cascading about her shoulders made her even more beautiful. The spoiled princess sat at the table with a cup of cappuccino and tossed her bangs from her eyes. She stared at Marietta with an arched brow for a response.

“What has you so happy?” Marietta asked.

“Let me show you!” Catalina rose from her chair and walked down the table. She put the newspaper in front of Marietta. She tapped her magenta red nail on the article. The headline in Italian announced the successful fashion show for Mirabella’s company
Fabiana’s
. Marietta stared down at the image of the models posed in a store window. Each garment they wore was more stunning than the other. 

“That, my dear is me! I did this. See right there. My name is mentioned. As soon as the doctor finishes with the
Donna
I will deliver the good news,” Catalina said.

“What good news?” Rosetta entered the room and paused.

“None of your business,” Catalina answered.

Marietta ignored them both. The article talked of Mirabella’s accomplishments. Her sister was fierce to have done so much at a young age. Marietta once had dreams of turning her furniture business into something grand and profitable. But she could never focus long enough to make those dreams a reality. And her management of funds was always off. She ended up owing too much money in taxes and went bankrupt.

“Buongiorno,”
Cecilia walked in with little Eve. Marietta’s gaze shifted from the article to the little girl. It was as if she were seeing people with a new perspective. The little brown toddler with blue eyes sucked on a red pacifier. She walked on bowed legs toward the table. The baby looked up at Marietta and blinked. She never liked kids. And kids never liked her. But if she were to have a little girl Marietta had to wonder if the child would be as beautiful as baby Eve.

The baby must have been a mind reader. She snatched her hand free of Cecilia and walked over to Marietta. She stopped at her chair and raised her arms as if demanding to be picked up.

“Look at Eve, she never goes to anybody,” Rosetta said, who had been at the table eating silently. Catalina glanced up. Everyone looked to Marietta expecting her to respond. Eve sucked her pacifier and waited. Marietta gave an awkward smile and reached to lift the kid. Eve was placed on her lap. She rested against her breast and sucked her pacifier in a way she’d seen the toddler do with Mira. Marietta stroked her arm. “She’s a special little girl,” said Marietta.

“She likes you. That must mean you’re part of the family now,” Catalina chuckled. “Little Evie is a hard one to impress.”

The other women agreed. Holding Eve in her arms felt natural. Being an auntie felt natural, she could really get into it. Marietta smiled. She needed to talk to Mirabella. Tell her everything. Her first attempt had been a disaster. Mira must think she’s nuts.

Marietta needed to learn more about the family she never knew existed. Maybe see an image of her dead mother. But to do so meant she had to reveal the truth to Mira and she had no way of knowing what the truth would mean for all of them. Whatever she decided she must do so quick. Lorenzo would return soon, and she didn’t trust herself with him.

Carmella, the servant girl, carried in a tray of food and a few men came in and sat at the table. Marietta was given a plate for Eve. The toddler spat out her pacifier and started to reach into the plate to grab the fruit she liked. Marietta laughed. She helped Eve and felt a little of the weight of sadness lift from her heart.

* B
*

“How is she, Doctor?” Giovanni paced. The way he glared at the man and watched him closely had to have made the doctor nervous. Mira wished Giovanni would relax and trust the doctor to do his job.

“Her pressure is still elevated,” Dr. Buhari said.

“It is?” Mira gasped. “But I have been doing everything you said.”

“No you haven’t! You got out of bed, Bella,” Giovanni pointed an accusatory finger at her. “You got out of bed after I explicitly told you not to.”

“Oh stop saying that. You’re my husband not my jailor. I walked around a little bit. Not a lot.” She looked from Giovanni’s frustrated face to the doctor’s concerned one. Mira felt such guilt her voice cracked with emotion. “Is he right, Doctor? Am I the cause?”