Page 248 of Vita Mia

“I thought I would never see you again,” Shae said and took a seat.

“I owe you so many apologies Shae. If I had time I would have written a list. I want you to know I’m different now. Really. I have everything I ever wanted.”

“Different?” Shae quirked an eyebrow.

“Well, I’m still me. My mouth, you know how that goes. It never changes.”

Shae smiled. “How is your sister? We don’t hear anything of the Battaglias. Have you?”

“We don’t talk,” Marietta looked away. She stood and smiled. “Oh, wow! Is this your baby girl and Adara’s son?”

“They are both my children, yes.”

Marietta picked up the picture frame and stared at the brother and sister. “I can’t believe you had a baby Shae. I’m sorry for being a bitch when you told me.”

“It’s all in the past. Why haven’t you reached out to your sister? All these years, you still angry with her?”

“It’s best we leave it as it is. Besides, she lost her husband. I only remind her of a time when I tried to kill him.”

“How is she? She’s rarely seen or photographed. Does she still run her fashion business?”

Marietta shrugged. “Lorenzo told me she had a mental breakdown. She now lives in Mondello like a hermit crab. He said she put the kids in boarding school except for the baby girl. She lives out there alone. Only with Nico to see about her.”

“Nico?”

Marietta smirked. “That’s an interesting turn of events, huh? I bet Gio is rolling over in his grave over that one.”

“Not funny,” Shae said.

Marietta’s smile faded. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be a bitch but this thing with me and my sister. It brings out the worst in me.”

“Then tell me why you are here?”

“I told you. Not to cause you problems or drama. I just wanted you to know that we’ve relocated here and I miss our friendship.”

Shae stared at her for a moment. Then she looked to Lola and Rocco. She chose to focus on the children. “Are your kids hungry? I make the best pancakes.”

“Pancakes!” Lola said.

“Let me make a call to my business partner to let her know I won’t be in this morning. And I’ll fix you something to eat.” Shae looked over to Marietta. “We can catch up.”

Marietta smiled. “I’d like that. You know it’s hard for me to make friends.”

Shae got up from the chair uncertain of how to feel. All of these years and the past was officially the past. And then today it all came back. What would the future be now that Carlo had Lorenzo back in his life? What Shae knew for sure is that the only way to protect her husband was to welcome him. And that was a lesson she had learned the hard way.

***

PAST 2001

Mondello Beach, Sicily

“Hi baby,” Mirabella said.

“Mum? Are you okay?” Eve asked.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I told Catalina not to worry you,” Mirabella said. She was out on her terrace. Her staff served her and MiaBella dinner there. She glanced over to her baby girl who was working on drawing a picture. Eve, now twelve, had called home unexpectedly. However, Mirabella knew why.

“Zia Catalina said you disappeared with Mia. They were looking for you. Where did you go?”

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