Page 41 of Alessia
“Welcome all, thank you for being here with my siblings and me to honor our father. My father was a man of honor. This was visible in the way he raised us and the way he guided me within our family. He was a man that was beloved by those whostood closest to him and feared by those who crossed his path. I knew he was grateful for the bonds he had with your families.” I look at a few of the Dons he considered his friends. Making sure they know I’m talking to them.
“I hope to uphold those bonds and make them stronger now that I’m taking his place as head of the DiSanti family. I hope to honor his legacy and make our business thrive and grow with time. I hope to make him and you proud to be our found family.” I hate saying these words but I know they must be said. The Dons need to know they still have an ally with me. I hope the words sound sincere. I receive a few nods throughout the crowd.
“My father was a righteous man, which meant he ruled with an iron fist. He taught my brother and sister and me right from wrong. He gave my life purpose and learned me all he knew for when this day would come. I hope you all can be patient with me while I continue his legacy. Thank you for being here.” I step away from the mic and one of the funeral directors hands me and my siblings a dark red rose. We walk over to the casket and the director lowers our father into the ground. We watch in silence and when he’s six feet under we let go of the roses and they land on his casket. Bella’s cries mix with the sound of the rain on the umbrellas. It’s like the world around us mourns him as well.
I turn around and walk away, back to the limousine, Lorenzo and Bella following me quietly. We get in and Elio drives us back home, the world outside the car a blur of black and grey.
When we arrive back home Lorenzo and Bella leave me to go back into their own apartments and I go up to mine. I can’t wait to get out of these clothes and into Harpers arms again. It feels like this day was the longest day of my life. After the ceremony, we needed to stay for drinks with all the guests. They needed to have the opportunity to pay their respect to my siblings and to me as new head of the family. When the elevator opens, I’m greeted by the scent of someone cooking and I see Harper in the kitchen busy preparing all kinds of food. It smells like warm and greasy comfort food, just what I need right now.
“Hi, you’re home!” She says, her voice filled with some kind of relief like she’s been waiting for me. “Go take a shower or a bath, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. Oh, and I asked Elio to pass on the message to Lorenzo and Bella as well. You guys all need some decent food so they will be here soon. Just put on something comfy when you’re ready.”
I just stand and look at her. My brain is not able to catch up with what she’s saying.
“Uhm… What?” Is all I can say, completely stunned by her gesture of kindness.
“Go take a shower or a bath, we’ll talk after that.”
When I get out of the shower I put on a pair of sweatpants and my favorite oversized sweater. I walk back into the kitchen and I see Harper hasn’t set the table yet.
“Do you need me to set the table for dinner?” I ask, unsure of my place at this moment.
“No, you don’t need to do anything. I already set up plates and glasses by the couch no need to be all formal and shit.”
My heart feels like it’s beating out of my chest. I walk over to her and hug her from behind, my mouth finds the crook of her neck and I kiss her softly.
“Thank you. This means the world to me and I don’t know why I deserve this. I don’t deserve you in my life.”
“It’s okay Alessia, this is what people do when someone they care about is hurting. You might not have seen eye to eye with your father but he was still your father. You have a right to feel sad and I have the right to smother you in comfy, greasy food.” She lets out a little chuckle at the last part.
I can’t help but smile a little at that as well.
“Hi, we’re here!” Bella’s voice chimes from the elevator. I let go of Harper and she walks over to them, pulling them both into a hug again. I never knew my brother was such a hugger but apparently Harper brings it out of him.
“Hi, so glad you could both come over! I set up plates by the couches so you can get comfortable over there. Alessia, would you mind serving them drinks? I’ll be there shortly with the food.”
She gives me a kiss on the cheek and hurries back to the kitchen to finish preparing the food. When she’s done, she brings out all kinds of different dishes. I didn’t know I was hungry until now. My stomach lets out a loud growl at the sight of all she has prepared.
We settle down around the coffee table and Harper takes a seat on the floor in front of me. I widen my legs so she can lean back against the couch. My brother and sister start talking about all kinds of stuff and I just listen and enjoy their conversations. Harpers eyes twinkle and her face is glowing with happiness. It’s like she lives and breathes calmness and warmth. I can’t remember the last night I had when we truly where together as siblings and not because we, or I, had ulterior motives. Soon we’re opening our third bottle of wine and giggles fill the room more and more. Lorenzo seems totally at ease and tells us stories about Italy and the people he met along the way. Bella does some kind of weird thing with her face at the mention of one if the girls Lorenzo met and we all burst out in laughter. Lorenzo still has a hint of sadness in his eyes even though he’s laughing just as hard as the rest of us. I need to talk to him about that later, when the time is right.
It’s almost midnight when Lorenzo and Bella leave for their own apartments. I’m glad the don’t need to drive because Bella can barely stay on her feet, she’s such a lightweight. Lorenzo tries to steady her but he’s not much help. As I watch them wobble to the elevator, I can’t help but feel my cheeks hurt. Apparently, I’ve been smiling so hard all evening. I guess my frown is trained more then my smile, those muscles are totally out of practice. Behind me Harper is tidying up the coffee table, she walks over with her hands full of plates and dishes ready to put them in the dishwasher. She puts them down on the counter and that’s my cue to make a move. Dishes can wait for tomorrow, I can’t. I need her in my bed, now! I grab her by the waist, hauling her into me and she yelps.
“What are you doing?” She laughs.
“I haven’t had dessert yet.” My eyes darken when I smirk at her.
“Yes, you have. You had the white chocolate ice cream you like so much!” She swats my arm playfully, like I’m so silly to forget that.
“Can’t remember it.” I say with as much seriousness as I can muster.
“Well, I see, that’s the last time I’m getting you that ice cream if you can’t even remember it. It’s probably not as good as you say it is.”
“So, what about my desert?”
“Uhm… there are brownies left over?”
“Not the kind of dessert I’m into right now.”
“Uhm… I have-” She stops mid sentence. “Oh…OH!” The pieces finally falling into place.
