Page 48 of Vita Mia

“This isn’t your story, it doesn’t belong to any of you. This is my story. The world already knows your father’s crimes. I’m telling them about the love we shared, and how we survived the worst time in our life.”

“But you could talk about how you met, and then how Papa helped you with your business, and played the guitar. How he married you with blue roses everywhere. You could tell Ryder how he would read to us and do homework, and...”

“Mia.”

MiaBella wiped her tears. “He’s a good man. They need to know that truth. Talk about the love, not just the pain. That’s all I’m saying. Please tell better stories, mum. Hasn’t he been punished enough?”

Mirabella’s heart melted.

“Okay, I will talk about the love. Because you’re right. There was plenty of love.”

MiaBella got up from her seat on the bed and went to Mirabella. She hugged her mother. “Listen Mia. I’ve spent my life, me and your father, doing everything to protect you from his business and his failures. That fire, was the turning point for him. It was when he really understood how precious you were to him. We fought so hard to be together that we realized we lost sight of what was truly important. It was not the Camorra. It wasn’t the fame or money. It was you kids. We changed and our love changed after that fire. Belinda’s death, what happened to your uncles, it changed all of us for the better.”

MiaBella nodded.

“Ryder could google everything about us. There have been books done on our family.” MiaBella began. “But nothing the world knows is even close to how great Papa was to you. He’s my hero. And I want them to know that. Okay?”

“Prego,” Mirabella agreed. “Trust me baby. I’m not hurting Papa. I’m protecting him and you. I know what I’m doing.”

“Okay.”

Mia walked out of the room. Mirabella stood there for a moment staring at the door. She then turned and went to the night table nearest to her bed. On top of it rested wedding photo in a silver frame. Giovanni looked so handsome in his tuxedo. And Eve was in his arms sucking on her red pacifier. Mirabella stood next to him. The smile on her face was so complete with happiness Mirabella found herself smiling in return. She sat on the bed and remembered the love. Because MiaBella was right. There was so much of it.

***

SPRING 1995

Chianti, Italy

“Owe!” Eve cried out. “It hurts mummieeeee!”

Mirabella fought back her tears. Gino and Gianni stood by the bed staring at their sister with fear. She hated Eve’s suffering but what was she to do? “Please stay still honey.”

“Noooooo. It hurts! You’re hurting me!” Eve wept.

“Please honey, please... I’m trying.” Mirabella said as she peeled off the gauze. She needed to apply the antibiotic ointment to the burns. Eve was in a constant state of despondency or tears since Belinda’s death. It had been three days and it was harder each time she tried to comfort her.

“Eve, sweetheart, we’re almost done.”

“Noooooo!” Eve screamed. “You want to hurt me! I hate you!”

“I don’t, I swear,” Mirabella burst into tears. “Please... just let me finish.”

A hand went to Mirabella’s shoulder. She hadn’t realized someone had come in the room. She wasn’t even aware of the distress of her sons who held hands and watched their sister. She was doing a horrible job at keeping it together.

“Bella?”

She looked up with tears in her eyes and the soiled bandages in her hand. Now she and the kids were all crying.

“Let me help,” Giovanni said.

Mirabella nodded. She got up from the bed. She picked up Gianni and took Gino’s hand. They stepped back to let Giovanni give care to Eve.

“Eve?”

Their daughter’s scarred hand lay listless at her side but Eve turned her head back and forth as she wailed and screamed. Giovanni picked up the rag on the nightstand Mirabella had used to clean Eve’s face earlier. Giovanni wiped the sweat from his weeping daughter’s brow. Eve settled a bit but kept panting hard through her sobs. Giovanni began to hum a tune to Eve. It was a nursery rhyme he’d sung to her before.

“Lucciola lucciola, gialla gialla... metti la briglia alla cavalla... che la vuole il figlio del re... lucciola lucciola vieni con me...”

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