Page 259 of Vita Mia

“I heard from the school administrator. You inquired about withdrawing me.”

“Eve—I”

“I’m not going back mum. Do you hear me? I’m not your doctor, a babysitter, or your priest. I’m not going back to take care of you.” Eve stood. “I love you. I do. But I can’t take you and your issues anymore. I’m finally free here. Free to be myself. No one knows who Papa is or what Zio Domi does. No one knows that you’re crazy...”

“Eve?”

“No one treats me different or special. I’m just Eve.”

Mirabella looked at the glove her daughter wore on her hand. Her heart swelled with bitter sadness. “Sweetheart there are things you don’t know.”

“And guess what mum? I don’t want to know those things. I’m twelve. Why should I know everything that is wrong in your life? Huh? Not anymore. I don’t want to get calls about you being in the hospital depressed. To have the kids whisper when Nico and his men drive up to the school like a mafia hit squad. I don’t want to be a Battaglia anymore. I hate the name!”

“That’s enough,” Mirabella said.

Eve shook her head and tears began to flow. “Please mum. Don’t take me from here. Don’t make me go back to live with you. Let me have this. Stop being so damn selfish!”

Mirabella was stunned. She didn’t know her daughter. Eve’s tantrum spiraled out of control. She began to hurl the most hurtful accusations of Mirabella’s abandonment over the past five years. Mirabella had no defense.

“Okay baby. Okay, that’s enough Eve,” Mirabella said and wiped away her tears.

Eve got up from her chair and came over to hug her mother’s neck. She kissed Mirabella’s cheek. “I didn’t mean to say it that way. I’ll visit you some time. I promise. I will. And you can send Nico to check on me anytime. He loves it here with me. It helps him forget too.”

“I know. I know you will be okay.”

“Thank you mummy! Thank you so much!”

“I’m sorry Eve. I love you so much, so does your father. We love you.”

“I know.” Eve let her go and sighed with relief. “Hey! Want a tour? I’m in a new dorm. Come,” she pulled Mirabella’s hand. Mirabella grabbed her clutch purse and let her daughter’s happiness be her guide and buried the crushing shame and pain in her heart over Eve’s rejection of her.

***

GIOVANNI DROVE TO THEairstrip himself. The kids were back in the beach house with his personal staff. He wanted to be at the airport the moment the plane landed. He couldn’t communicate with Mirabella since she left for France. There were rules in his life as a hidden fugitive. But he knew today was the day they would land.

The plane taxied around the runway. He was able to park his car at a safe distance. When it came to a stop and powered down Giovanni went through the gates to greet her. Mancini private jets were granted landing permissions from the Cuban authorities. There were no customs agents to greet them.

Nervous, he removed his sunglasses and put them in his hair. He rubbed his hands at his side and waited with his breath lodged in his throat. The ladder to the plane descended and his wife came down the steps. She smiled at him and he smiled at her. He saw Nico come off the plane next. There were two other attendants that left. But there was no Eve.

“Gio!” Mirabella greeted him. She grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him. He took her hands down from his face.

“Where is she?”

“She’s not coming sweetheart?”

“What?” Giovanni asked.

“I can explain.”

“Where issheBella!”

“I didn’t tell her Gio.”

“Why not!”

“Because she didn’t want to know. She found out that I was withdrawing her and went on a school trip to escape me. When I found her she told me the truth. She wants to be free of us.”

“She’s twelve, she doesn’t get to have a say!” Gio snapped.

---