Page 152 of La Dolce Vita

Raffaele, one of the guards, helped Rosetta stand, but the girl’s legs were like jelly. He made the mistake of scooping her up into his strong arms. Rosetta seized the moment and kissed him. Catalina’s eyes stretched, and so did the guard’s. He didn't refuse the kiss, however.

"Bring her to my room. I'll take care of her tonight."

Catalina stopped to pick up Rosetta’s shoes and then followed them to her room door. She opened the door so Rosetta could be carried in. Her cousin whispered in his ear and kissed his face before the guard put her down on the chaise. Catalina dropped her things at the door and bid the men goodnight. She knew that they would take shifts. Which meant there would always be one posted outside of the door at all hours.

"Catalina?" Rosetta said between giggles.

"Sleep it off. You stay in my suite tonight." Catalina said.

"I want to talk." Rosetta sat up. Catalina began to remove her earrings. "Tonight was so much fun. Like the best time I've ever had."

Catalina looked back at her cousin.

"You have no idea what it’s like. Never going anywhere. Never seeing anything or meeting new people. Like that man-woman. What's her name?"

"Jamie, and don't call her that. She won't like it. She's a woman."

"I've never seen one before. I heard that Mario's cousin was one. It lives in Spain. I heard it wears dresses and high heels, but never seen one before."

"Jamie is not some animal in the zoo. She's a person. And she had surgery to make her a woman. She is all woman." Catalina said.

"Oh? Okay, so he doesn't have a... a thing? You know. Cock?"

"A dick? No. Stop it. Is everything a joke?”

“No. I’m sorry. I’m just happy we aren’t fighting again.”

“We are fighting. You’re too drunk to notice.”

Rosetta grinned. "Do you remember when you were eight, and you had a party in Mondello?"

"I had several parties in Mondello."

"You got a pink three-wheel motorbike. All you had to do was press the pedal and drive it around. Remember? It was made for the beach. So pretty."

"I remember.Mia madrewas nervous about letting us ride the thing. Domi had to ride me on it so she could see it was safe." Catalina sat down on the sofa across from her cousin.

"That was the first time I felt it. Jealous. I never had a party as big as yours. And the gifts. Everyone just loved you so much."

"Vito loves you," Catalina said.

"Oh yes. I know Papa does. It's not what I mean. You were special. Different from the rest of us. We all could see it."

Catalina stared at her. "Want to know what I remember the most about that birthday?"

Rosetta nodded that she did.

"I remember when you and our cousin Adeline put dirt in the tank of the bike. I saw you do it. You put dirt in the tank, and it wouldn't start. The motorbike never worked right again after that."

"You saw us?" Rosetta frowned.

Catalina nodded.

"Why didn't you tell on us?" Rosetta asked.

"Because you were my cousins and I wanted you to like me. If I told on you, I knew you would stop pretending that you did. I let you ride the bike. I tried to share everything with you guys, but you never let me in. You never gave me a chance." Catalina rolled her eyes. "I was spoiled, but I had no friends. Just family. And you were my family."

"I'm sorry," Rosetta said.

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