Page 121 of La Dolce Vita

***

Lorenzo had another headache. And he couldn't find his wife. He checked her bags and found her aspirin and prayed two or three would work. He went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. And then he heard voices. In particular, he heard Giovanni's voice. His cousin sounded his usual irritated self.

After filling his glass with water from the pitcher in the refrigerator, Lorenzo walked over to the window. He tossed back three pills and looked out of the window. And then he choked.

The glass dropped from his hand into the sink and splintered into large shards. He coughed up the pills and spit them into the sink.

"Fabiana," Lorenzo said. He stepped back from the sink as if the basin he gripped was hot. He struggled to capture his breath. "Fuck, what the fuck?"

He took a step forward. His brows creased and his vision narrowed on her. She wore a white blouse and dark slacks. Her legs were crossed. Her long scarlet red hair fell about her face in the same way Fabiana's did. She tossed it behind her left shoulder, and he could see more of her lovely face. It was her. It couldn't be her. Lorenzo’s chest felt as if someone set an anvil on it. It took him years to forget how deeply it hurt to have lost Fabiana. And even longer to keep her out of his dreams.

***

Marietta grew tired of waiting for Catalina to return from Rocco and Zia's villa. She marched out into the sun and down the hill. She would drag Catalina out of the villa if she had to. Zia, who told her Catalina was sleeping, stopped Marietta. How could she object? The old woman was fiercely protective of anyone in the family she sensed needed it. With no other choice, Marietta had to return home. If Catalina didn't see their plan through, they were doomed. Marietta had no influence with Armando after she cut him off. There was no other way.

When she returned to her villa, she found Lorenzo standing near a kitchen window. He stared out at something, transfixed. She watched him for a minute. Marietta approached, and his head turned. He saw her. The look in his eyes hurt her feelings. It was the same look she saw in his eyes when she busted him in the whore house.Why would he be looking so guilty?

She marched toward the window, and Lorenzo caught her arm.

"Wait a second. We need to talk," he said.

"Who's out there?" she demanded.

"No one. The doctor that came to visit Mirabella." He pulled her away from the window and put his arm around her waist. "Carlo called. We think that we need to pay Alek Baldamenti a visit. Might be the best way to track down Isabella."

"Cancel that. We have to go to America," she said.

"Just this morning you said..."

"Forget what I said. We need to do this, together. It'll give me a chance to see the family I don't know, and take a breather from all of this stress. Gio and Mira want to go. It'll be good for all of us."

Lorenzo sighed. "I know what's best for us. And it’s finding Isabella."

"Then make Carlo do it. You know he can. I need you with me, Lo. First, you promise me Bellagio, and we both know we aren't going. Now my sister finally wants to take me back home to see where my mother is from. I need your support. Please!"

"I don't understand you, Marie. It changes by the hour with you. To hell with this." Lorenzo walked off. Marietta reached to stop him, but he kept going. She could barely think straight. She had to find Catalina and convince her to stick to the plan.

***

"Your husband loves you very much," Sera said.

"He does, maybe more than he should," Mirabella smiled.

"Strange for you to say that."

"Not really. My husband is a good man, but it takes a while for him to warm up to people. Don't get me wrong; my marriage is solid; I don't need any advice on how to manage it. But Giovanni has a blind spot when it comes to me, and everyone knows it. He puts me on a pedestal, and that's not healthy for either of us."

"Then why do you let him do it?" Sera asked.

Mirabella smiled. "Because it's addictive. I have never been so in love with a man. Never felt so safe and happy with a man like him. To me his irrational protective nature is normal."

"So you keep your imperfections hidden?" Sera asked.

Mirabella glanced back at the villa and then to the doctor. She nodded her answer, unable to confess.

"Is that why you never told him how your grandfather died?" the doctor asked.

"The only person I ever told about how my grandfather died was Fabiana. But my ex-lover knew. Kei."

---