Page 247 of Vita Mia

Shae frowned. Carmine was out of his chair giving his sister the other half of the Pop-Tart and putting on his backpack. Jilly had shoved Shae’s phone on her again.

“I’ve been meaning to do this since I got my car. Rolando fussed at me last night. In Italian. I hate when he speaks Italian. Anyways he told me I better do it. So here it is.”

“Do what?” Shae inspected her phone.

“The app, it’s connected to my phone. Let me show you,” Jilly pulled it up and showed a GPS screen that had a target blinking. “That is me Ma, it’s my car. Everywhere I go and where I turn you can see it. You can monitor me. Rolando does and so does Papa Bear. So you can trust me to take the brats to school.”

Shae smiled. She looked at Jilly and the young woman she had bloomed into. It made her eyes tear. “I’m so proud of you baby.”

“Thank you,” Jilly puckered her lips and gave her cheek a kiss. “Now let’s go kiddos! March!”

Carmine and Jewel laughed and marched out of the kitchen like toy soldiers.

“Wait! Their lunch!” Shae called after Jilly. She handed over the lunch bags and picked up the phone. She heard the door close and shook her head smiling. From her phone she could see Jilly back out of the driveway and start in the direction of the elementary school that was only three miles away. Carlo had told her about the app several times when she complained about Jilly driving. She should have done this sooner.

“Shit! I’m late. Doris is going to kill me.” Shae walked out of the kitchen and hurried upstairs for her purse and shoes. While slipping her feet inside she heard the doorbell. She sighed. It had to be her new neighbors. When she and Carlo first moved into this house there was little development. Since then a few houses had been built, and Maxine who lived half a mile up the road always made a stop by in the morning if she saw her car. She wasn’t in the mood.

Shae grabbed her purse and went downstairs. She was already thinking of an excuse to avoid being neighborly when she reached the door.

“Morning,” she said as she opened the door. Prepared to give an excuse that could have her on the road in minutes. But Maxine was not waiting to greet her. She took a step back. Marietta stood at the door with a baby boy on her hip and a pretty little girl at her side.

“Good morning,” Marietta said.

“What the hell?”

“Can I come in?”

Shae was stupefied. She double blinked for an answer.

“Go on in Lola,” Marietta said. The little girl smiled up at Shae and walked in as her mother suggested. She looked around. Marietta came in after her daughter. Shae closed the door behind them. “I guess you’re surprised to see me?”

“Ah, yeah, yes, you could say that.” Shae said. She smiled down at the little girl. “And who is this?”

“Lola, meet your Auntie Shae. Say high.”

“Hi,” Lola said.

Shae stooped before the little girl. She had two long braids but Shae could see the wavy textured pattern of her hair beneath, just like Marietta. “Can I have a hug?”

Lola hugged her neck immediately.

“You know I have a daughter your age.”

“She knows. I told her,” Marietta said and walked through the house. Shae looked up as Marietta went into the living room. She took Lola’s hand and followed.

“This is my son Rocco.”

Shae frowned. “Rocco?”

“Girl don’t look act like that. When Gio died Lorenzo went crazy. He named him since I named Lola. I had no say in it.” Marietta sighed.

“How did you find us?” Shae asked.

“I dunno. Lorenzo said we were moving to America. Been in Texas for a week. Then this morning he gave me your address and told me to stop by and say high. Is Carlo... ah, Lucio here?” Marietta looked up as if she were hopeful. Shae frowned.

“He’s at work. At the club, he was supposed to be here by now but—“ Shae realized that her husband’s delay could be for the same reason she wouldn’t make it to the center for the opening ceremony.

“You really are surprised to see me?” Marietta asked and sat down. She put her son on his feet. He looked to be no more than two years old. He wobbled a bit as he walked over to a forgotten toy action figure left behind by Carmine.

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