Page 225 of Vita Mia

“Zio Lo! Zia Me-Me!” Eve exclaimed as she rushed them. Giovanni and Mirabella entered behind their daughter. Lorenzo caught Eve mid-jump. No matter how old she was he held her up with a proud smile.

“You’re a pirate!” Eve laughed.

Lo made the sound of a pirate and Eve giggled. She hugged his neck. Marietta stared at Eve and smiled. She had Lorenza in her arms. Mirabella smiled at her niece who grinned at her in return.

“What about me? Did you miss me Evie?” Marietta said.

“Yes! Oh yes! So much! Hi Lorenza!” Eve grinned. Lorenza reached for Eve. Lorenzo put her down and Marietta put Lorenza down so the girls could hug. Leeza jumped in Mirabella’s arms and she was forced to set her baby girl down. She walked over on her bow-legs and threw her arms around Lorenza’s waist. Marietta looked up at Mirabella and her smile faded. But she gave her a nod of respect. Mirabella did the same.

“Catalina? No hug for me?” Lorenzo asked.

Catalina looked over to Dominic. He stared at her but didn’t speak. Mirabella had noticed a change in Dominic and Catalina, but her sister-in-law refused to discuss it. Catalina walked over to Lorenzo. She touched his face. She touched his eyepatch. “I prayed for you Lo. So hard. God answered. I knew you couldn’t be dead.”

“Your prayers protected me.” He gathered her up in his arms and hugged her. Zia walked over and hugged Marietta which seemed to be genuine between them. She then turned to Lorenzo. She put both her hands to her mouth and tears came down her face. Lorenzo leaned in and kissed Zia’s forehead and then hugged her.

“Have you eaten?” Zia asked.

“Not from your kitchen not in a long time.”

“I will feed you!” Zia announced. She glanced to Giovanni.

“Let us talk first Zia. With you,” Giovanni said.

Lorenzo’s brow lifted. He found the request curious but didn’t say so. Mirabella could tell.

“Maybe you two should catch up first Gio? Give the women a chance to have our own reunion,” Mirabella said. Marietta glanced to her and then Catalina. She nodded that she agreed. Dominic was the only one unmoved. He didn’t speak. He just stared at Lorenzo.

“Fine, my Bella always knows best.”

“Come,” Mirabella said. She walked out and Catalina walked over and picked up Lorenza. She kissed her cheek. Eve held Leeza’s hand and Marietta’s hand. They all returned to the solarium where lunch was served. No one spoke but Eve. She told Marietta everything she could. That her puppy was dead, and so was Cecilia, Leo, Belinda. She told her about the fire and how sorry she was. Marietta was sensitive to Eve but she didn’t appear shocked. Mirabella assumed she had heard a version of the tragedy herself.

When they were seated Lorenza wanted Mirabella. It made her uncomfortable because she wanted to hold her too. But Marietta plucked her daughter from Catalina’s lap and sat protectively at a distance with her.

“Eve, isn’t it time for your lesson.”

“Oh ma! Not piano! I want to stay here with you.”

“After it’s over. Your teacher is here. Now hurry,” Mirabella said and kissed her cheek. Eve pouted.

“Come give me a kiss,” Marietta said to her. Eve rushed over and kissed her aunt. She cupped her hand around Marietta’s ear and whispered a secret to her. Marietta laughed. She shook her head smiling. Eve seems happiest when she made someone smile. She then ran from the dining area promising to return soon.

“Her wrist. Does she wear that glove because of the fire?” Marietta asked.

“You heard about it?” Mirabella answered.

Marietta nodded.

“It was horrible. Yes, she was burned. And we lost—“

“Cecilia, Belinda, Leo... yea, I know.” Marietta said.

“Are you okay?” Catalina asked Marietta.

“Do you mean am I crazy? I bet you both thought I would be,” Marietta said.

“No, I meant, I only meant—“ Catalina stammered.

“Please, let’s not pretend. We know what happened and why,” Marietta turned her anger back to Mirabella. “I guess I do owe you a thank you. She knows me, she knows Lorenzo. That means you kept your promise to not brainwash my child.”

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