Page 272 of Vita Mia

“This way we control the narrative,” Mirabella said. “I brought a young man to Sicily to meet with me and document our history. He’s the one that will release it to the press. I tried to tell the best story I could.”

“You told your story, not mine,” Marietta said.

“True. It’s not yours. And you can tell your story,” Mirabella said. “You may have to. Whatever story you tell I’ll support you. If you support us.”

Marietta looked to Lorenzo. He nodded at her.

“Carlo has a bigger risk in all of this. He could be tried again. You all could be.” Shae said. “We have worked for over twenty years to build our new lives. You talk about destroying it.”

“No. Carlo isn’t a part of this. Neither is Nico. The only two of us that will have to face the world is me and Lo,” Giovanni said. “I can’t separate us. I don’t think any part of our story can be told without the other. You agree?”

Lorenzo nodded.

“Good. Because it’s your daughter that has a future on the line. Gino and Gianni have tried to protect her but the world knows who she is.” Giovanni looked to Eve. “We love our daughters; the best love we can give them is our sacrifices.”

Eve smiled at her father.

“Lo? You need to think about this. It might do more harm than good to Lola if we do this,” Marietta reasoned.

“No need. The moment Domi told me what you planned I was all in. Brothers, cousins, best friends, enemies, we’ve been it all, Gio. We have never been partners. Never. But on this one Gio, we are.”

Giovanni raised his glass to Lorenzo. His cousin raised his glass. Slowly every man and woman at the table picked up their glass.

“Then it’s settled. The Battaglias are back,” Mirabella said.

“Cin, cin,” everyone said in salute.

Nico lowered his glass and looked over to Eve. “You smell beautiful.”

Eve nearly choked on her wine. She slipped him a look and he was staring directly at her. She set her wine glass down.

“I want to talk to you. Really talk. I have things I need to say.”

“Too late, Nico.Scusi,” she said and left the table.

Nico glanced to Giovanni who stared at him. He picked up his wine and drank the glass clean.

***

THE CELEBRATING STARTEDsoon after the meeting with the kids. The family ate and drank outside under the cabanas until the sun went down. Mirabella was part of the celebration, ensuring that everyone felt comfortable and welcome. She and Kyra had a long conversation that left them more connected than they’d ever been. Ten years ago Jamie died from a heart attack while traveling with her lover in Sweden. Mirabella couldn’t be at the funeral but she wanted to know everything about Jamie’s life and happiness.

After a while of socializing Mirabella left the gathering to go upstairs to freshen up. Her room with Giovanni was on the third floor and led to the rooftop where deck chairs and umbrellas were set up for him and her to relax over the years. Inside the room she removed her heels and put on her slippers. She wore a multicolor summer dress with long split sleeves and splits that reached up the front of her dress to the midpoint of each of her thighs. She paused in the mirror to admire her daughters work. Eve designed and dressed her for years. She had a special collection that was for Mirabella only. It made Mirabella heart expand with pride.

...Knock-Knock...

“Come in,” she said without turning. She went into the bathroom to quickly use it. “Be right out.” Once she was done she washed her hands she walked out believing that one of her daughters had come up to her room for some purpose or another. Instead, she found her sister.

“I uh, saw you come upstairs and followed. I hope that was okay?” Marietta asked. “Every time I tried to talk to you seem like the family would get silent just to hear us.”

Mirabella chuckled. “I noticed. Sure, stay with me. I was going to wait until tomorrow to have our talk. Give you time to adjust to being around us again.”

Marietta nodded but said nothing further. Mirabella couldn’t believe how much Lorenza looked like her mother. Marietta was still a beautiful woman. She had the curves of a woman in her twenties. She envied her sister in that physical way her beauty preserved. Mirabella looked toward her outside deck doors. “We can sit out on the rooftop,” she offered.

That seems to be okay with Marietta. She walked her sister out of the room to the hall and then the short stairwell, that led to the rooftop. From there they could look down and see their family. They sat in chairs with white and blue striped plush cushions.

“It’s been a helluva day,” Marietta said.

“It’s been a helluva life,” Mirabella agreed.

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