Page 266 of Vita Mia

“Really? It’s her grandmother’s name,” Marietta said.

“She goes by Mia, or MiaBella. She’s thinks she’s a carbon copy of her mother. Giovanni told her that.”

Marietta shook her head smiling. “It’s been so long, we’re all strangers to each other now.” Marietta frowned. “Wait? How could she remember Gio? He died when she was a baby. Right?”

Catalina didn’t answer.

Shae reached over and touched Marietta’s hand. “I’m glad you came.”

“I haven’t seen or spoken to my sister.... in so long. I feel weird about it now. You know?”

“Don’t. She isn’t the only one coming to make you feel weird,” Catalina told them.

The women looked curious. Catalina sat forward and smiled like a woman with a secret. Shae had to admit that time traveled in reverse when it came to aging Catalina. Her thick dark hair hung in long graceful curves around her shoulders. “There’s something you both should know. Something Domi and I have protected as a secret for a very long time. But not anymore. Mirabella didn’t call this meeting. Neither did we.”

“Then who? Gino?” Marietta asked.

“No. Close. It was his father.”

“What father?” Marietta repeated.

Shae double blinked.

“He’s only got one father. Giovanni is alive. He has been all along.”

“That’s not possible. Is that possible?” Shae asked.

“We made it possible,” Catalina said. “Just like we made it possible for you and Carlo to leave the Camorra and start again in America.” Catalina then glanced to Marietta. “How we made it possible for Lorenzo to escape that Russian prison camp we sentenced him to. Our family makes the impossible, possible.”

“All of it was a lie?” Marietta asked.

Catalina nodded. “Depends on your perspective.”

“But... Lo spoke to you after Giovanni’s funeral. I could hear you crying and screaming in the background and blaming my husband. I heard what you said,” Marietta said.

“Did you always know he was faking his death?” Shae asked. She had heard enough of Marietta’s conspiracy theories over the years on Gio’s death.

“No I didn’t always know the truth,” Catalina confessed. “I didn’t know for the five long years that I mourned him just like I mourned Lorenzo when I thought he was dead. I swear I was so weak from losing everyone I loved after Zia’s death I almost went crazy. Then one day I walked into my parlor and saw Giovanni standing there. I couldn’t conceive the lie, but I understood why he and Domi kept it a secret. Giovanni was hunted by that Anti-Mafia police. There was really no escaping the past like you two were able to. He had to do it differently. I was so tired of mourning our dead I was happy for life.”

“Including Armando? Did you mourn him for long?” Marietta asked. “Do you even tell your son about my brother?”

Catalina flinched. The question was like a hard slap across her face. She was flushed red with anger. Shae looked between both the women alarmed. Over the years Marietta had shared the history and conception of Armando’s only son by Catalina with Shae. She knew the comment would be extremely sensitive between them.

“I loved your brother. I know you don’t believe that. But I did with all my heart. If he had lived I would be his wife and the mother of as many Mancini children that my womb could carry. That is my truth. I wouldn’t give a damn what any of you thought of my marriage to him including my brother,” Catalina said. The anger made her voice tight and her body stiff.

Marietta’s scowl softened.

“But Armando died, he was murdered. I was pregnant,” Catalina continued. “And your husband killed him. I was there, remember? I saw Lorenzo kick his dead body into the sea so I couldn’t even bury him next to his father and mother. I keep that secret and other secrets from my son so that our children will love each other without the burdens of this family’s sins.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it at all,” Marietta mumbled.

“But you did. Because even now you can’t help but test the people that love you. And here’s another truth, Marietta. We failed that test. You failed it, too. None of us are perfect. Still through it all we loved you. That’s why you’re alive. Love. And we love Lorenza too. When you wasn’t able to be her mother. Remember?”

“That’s enough,” Shae spoke up. Catalina cast Shae a challenging glare. “Marietta has a right to her feelings. So do i.”

“I’m not trying to hurt you,” Marietta interjected.

“Bullshit. You don’t want to be here. You sure as hell don’t want this family to reunite. After all this time you still can’t let go of your hatred. Can you?”

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