Page 201 of Vita Mia

“YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTESand then we must go!” Sera warned.

Marietta nodded. “Lo. This is it. Are you sure? Really sure? We can still turn this around. We can defeat Gio, think about it Lo. We have him where we want him.”

“Do we? Where are you Marie? What have they done to you? What have they taken from you? Our daughter? No. Helping the republic is not how we win. That’s not how we protect our daughter, or save our family. You know that.”

“I’m scared. I’ve already told them so much. They won’t let me get on the stand and take it back.”

“Don’t you worry about your testimony. It won’t be their focus.”

“Huh? Yes, it will. The whole country is waiting to hear me testify.”

“Do you love me?”

“Lo—“

“Say it!”

“I love you,” she said.

“Then trust me. One last time. Trust me.”

“Okay. I trust you,” Marietta wiped her tears.

“I’ll see you soon,cara, really soon.”

Marietta nodded. “Lola, she’s coming. They are bringing her to me Lo. What if she doesn’t recognize me? What if she thinks Mirabella is her mother?”

“You are her mother. You will prove it to her again.”

“Marietta!” Sera insisted. “Let’s go!”

“I love you so much. I love you.”

“I will see you soon and you can tell me in person. Tell mybambinaPapa loves her.”

“Lo!”

“Yes?”

“When it’s over. When it’s all over then what? What do we do?”

“We start again. You, me and Lorenza. The three of us. I promise.”

“Okay, okay. See you soon.”

“Ti amo,” Lorenzo said and hung up. Marietta wiped her eyes. Sera walked in again and she hung up the phone.

“They are downstairs waiting. If they found you on the phone—“

“I’m done,” she handed the mobile phone back to Sera. “I’m ready.”

The doctor looked at her with a questioning stare of distrust.

“Iamready. I swear it. I’m better now.”

“No recovery happens that fast.”

“It does lady. I was never crazy. Just extremely pissed off.”

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