Page 215 of Vita Mia

Nico brought her down from his shoulders and she ran to him. His sons were scrambling from their chairs, but it was Mirabella who stood frozen like a statue with her hand to her mouth and the other to her heart. He never took his eyes off of her. How could he? Night after night he dreamed of this moment.

“Papa!” The children all celebrated with their joyful screams. He knelt and welcomed the onrush of love. Eve being the oldest and tallest overpowered the little ones with a hug to her father’s neck. He laughed and kissed her face. He managed to pull in Gino and Gianni. Both of his boys happy to be included held on to any part of him they could.

“Welcome home brother,” Nico said.

He glanced up at Nico. The last time he saw him they were in a room watching helplessly as Renaldo was murdered. He nodded in gratitude for his freedom and for his family remaining safe. “Grazie, for protecting them for me.”

Mirabella came down the steps of the gazebo. Giovanni gave Eve more kisses but had to pry her arms down from his neck to stand. She grabbed his waist and refused to let go. Every desire he’d ever had in his life as a man narrowed in focus to his wife. She walked down the steps and approached him.

“No one told me,” she said. “I’ve been avoiding the television and radio since I testified. No one said a word.”

“I know. I wanted to surprise you.”

“You did,” she smiled at the children. “You surprised all of us.”

“Mummy! Look, it’s Papa, it’s really him. Give him a hug and kiss.” Eve walked over to her and pulled her by the hand. His daughter had become a psychic because she knew and said exactly what he wanted.

The sheen of tears in his wife’s eyes made them glisten like diamonds. She stopped before him. He inhaled the lovely natural fragrance of her. Her hands went to the sides of his face. Giovanni’s mouth drew in to taste her. He wanted too so badly only a whisper escaped his lips when the petal soft lips of hers met his. The children cheered. Eve led the celebration by yelling, jumping up and down and celebrating.

Mirabella drew back and smiled up at him. “Welcome home.”

“Mummy! Tell Papa the news. Tell Papa that Lorenza was taken. That she’s gone.” Eve said.

“I think he knows Eve,” Mirabella said staring into Giovanni’s eyes. Giovanni wiped he tear that slipped down her cheek with his thumb.

“Papa, can you go get her back for us? I miss her so much. Please?” Eve asked. “The twins cried last night when they had to sleep without her.”

Giovanni snapped out of the trance his wife put him under and looked down at Eve. She too was on the verge of tears.

“You’ll see her again Eve. She had to go to her mama and papa.”

Eve nodded respectfully.

“Are you hungry?” Mirabella asked.

“Yes,” he confessed.

“Let’s eat,” Mirabella smiled. She reached down and picked up Leeza and led her family back to the gazebo. There was a netting cover over each dish to keep the flies and bugs away. Giovanni sat at the round table and put one of his sons on his lap. Eve took the lead of fixing his plate while Mirabella encouraged Gianni to sit at the table and finish his food while holding Leeza in her lap. The food had so much flavor, texture, and sustenance he felt drugged by his satisfaction. He ate so fast that both Mirabella and Eve were constantly replenishing his plate and glass. He had to remind himself to pause and feed Gino.

“Papa I went to school in Sicily but had to stop because we came back to Chianti,” Eve told him. “Nico has been a big help to Mama. He stays with her and me all the time. He’s the best friend I ever had.”

Giovanni listened.

“Oh, and Papa, I taught the twins how to aim and pee so they don’t get it all over the toilet seat and floor. Didn’t I mum?”

“Yes, you did sweetheart,” Mirabella said and winked.

“Leeza can say all of our names. She calls Gino, Tino. And she says Mianni for Gianni. But she can say Eve, Mama, Papa, and Nico.“

“Nico!” Leeza said then put her pacifier back in her mouth.

Gino chuckled. He glanced to his enforcer. It appeared that he had indeed stepped up while he was gone. Giovanni felt a mixture of jealousy and gratitude. He kept eating.

“Can we leave? Tonight? Leave here and go back to Sicily? Maybe Paris? It would be nice to get away just us.” Mirabella asked.

Giovanni glanced to his wife. He kept chewing but didn’t answer. He had so many questions for her, and she had so many for him. His time was short. He doubted he’d be able to answer them all, so he decided not to say anything. They finished eating with him listening to stories of butterflies and adventures the kids had found inVilla di Luce. He shared stories with the children about his time growing up there when he was a boy.

“Can we go for a walk Papa? Please?” Eve asked when the meal came to an end.

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