Page 14 of La Dolce Vita

"Are you okay?" Catalina asked.

"I'm fine. I am. Look." Mirabella showed Catalina her hand. "See? No more tremors."

"Wonderful," Catalina said. "When is the next doctor's appointment?"

"Soon. Please don't tell your brother. I don't want him to worry."

"Doesn't he already know? I thought Giovanni went to all of your doctor's visits?"

"He's been busy lately. It's okay. Leo is taking me," she said. "I don't want to stress Giovanni any further."

"But we are all worried. Mira, you know we love you. I'll cancel my meetings and go with you. If Gio can't go and Marietta is with Lorenzo, you will need me..."

"No! Stop it. You cancelled your wedding, Catalina. My kids are in constant fear that I will be back in the hospital and away from them. No, you aren't worried. You're scared. And so am I. So am I." Mirabella shook her head. Catalina hurried around the desk to comfort her. She put an arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. Mirabella sighed deeply with her face buried in her hands.

"It's only been a few months. The doctors said it could take a year before this is over. Your body has to heal," said Catalina.

"What did Kei do to me? That's what I want to know. What did he do?" Mirabella slammed her fist down on the desk.

"Giovanni says things will be fine. Then they'll be fine."

"I was poisoned. He put poison in me. That poison was like a scalpel digging out parts of my brain. I can;t remember what he did! But do you know what I can remember. I can remember feeling so helpless and insignificant. I can still remember how it felt when the needle... I feel it. Some days I think I'm dying, Catalina. Other days I think I'm an addict. But an addict to what? I heard Giovanni and Dominic whispering about the toxin the doctors found in my system. It was a drug. I have a craving and I don't even know what the hell it is I need! It's just a sick ache in my stomach all the time."

"That's fear talking. You're strong. You're fine." It was all Catalina could say.

"I need to talk to you about something," Mirabella said. She wiped away her tears. "Something I need you to do."

"Yes. Anything you need. Tell me." Catalina said. Mirabella pushed up from her seat and took Catalina's hand. She walked her over to the sofa. They both sat. "We are going to plan you a winter wedding. Right after Fashion Week we start planning. It's time to pick a date."

"Domi and I both agreed that we should wait."

"No more waiting. Pick a date. I want to start working on your dress," Mirabella smiled. Catalina gave her an uncertain smile. Mirabella rushed through her explanation, desperate to convince her. "While you're in Paris killing them with our Fabulous Fabiana line, I will be here making the dress of your dreams. Better than the one you wore for Franco. Even prettier than the one I wore for Giovanni. You know I always feel better when I'm designing. It's the best prescription. Catalina? I'm not going to let this beat me. My hand tremors happen less and less each day. I haven't had a seizure in three weeks. I'm better."

Catalina looked down at their clasped hands. "You just said you thought you were dying,"

"No. I said I thought I was poisoned. And like you said, I'm strong, I will beat this. I already have."

"What about the doctors' orders? Giovanni’s orders? They all agree that stress is something you should avoid," Catalina said.

"And I intend to avoid stress. That's why we should choose November or early December. Think about it! It's a beautiful time of the year. It's the perfect season for a wedding, and plenty of time for us to plan the entire event without stress. Okay?"

Catalina began to warm to the idea. A slow smile lifted the top corners of her mouth. Mirabella could see the joy of her engagement return to her eyes. She felt so guilty over the past few months because of the stress the family was under. Giovanni told her that when the Donna of the family fell sick everyone suffered. She thought that was just her possessive husband's complaint. But she could see the stress in everyone. Gianni would not leave her arms unless forcibly taken from her. Gino clung to her legs whenever she entered a room. Eve called her name in the middle of the night, and several times she had to lay in her little princess bed with her to calm her to sleep. Marietta was paranoid. So much so Lorenzo was spending more time with her. In Marietta's eyes something terminal was wrong with Mirabella and it would snatch her away from them all. And her husband. He was the worst--moody, distant, absent.

"Okay. November 29th!" Catalina shouted. "That's my wedding date!"

The two embraced. Mirabella let go of her first. She patted Catalina's knee. "So glad that's settled. I feel so relieved."

"Me too!" Catalina wiped the tears of happiness from her eyes.

"I have something else to say. Something you won't like, so hear me out. Okay?"

"What?" Catalina asked.

"Rosetta," Mirabella said.

"Huh?" Catalina frowned.

"I've asked her to return to Melanzana. Come work with you," Mirabella said.

---