Page 94 of Mine Again
“Isa is right, Mamma. She’s old enough to look after herself. And she’s not alone here. All the staff are still around. They can look after her. You need to put yourself first for a change.”
Mamma seems to consider Mia’s words. At last, she sighs.
“All right. But if your symptoms get worse, you call. Promise me, Isabella.”
“I promise.”
She kisses my forehead, lingering, then rises. “Rest up. I’ll bring you some ginger tea. That should help settle your stomach.”
Throughout the next hour, they come and go. Mamma brings me tea, though I can barely stomach the smell. Sienna offers a cold cloth for my forehead. Ari sneaks in with a book I left downstairs. I thank them all, keeping up the act. Since expelling the vile concoction from my body, I feel much better.
By the time they finally gather at the door, bags in hand, I’m fine again. They hug me, and I moan and move as if in pain. Mamma looks back at me, worry still in her eyes.
“If you need me, I can always come straight back.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine in a day or two. Have a safe trip.”
Mia gives me a wink when no one is looking. And then they’re gone.
The house grows still, and I’m alone at last.
I stay in bed a while longer, listening for any sounds that might mean they’ve come back for something they forgot. A jacket. A book. One last check on me.
But the house remains quiet.
When I’m sure the coast is clear, I grab my phone and send Sebastian a quick message. Then, I throw back the covers and spring from bed, my heart racing with nerves.
I head straight for the shower. The hot water does wonders, washing away the sickly residue of that awful concoction and clearing my head.
This is all going swimmingly. It’s clearly meant to be.
In record time, I’m dressed and ready to go. I wheel my packed suitcase from the walk-in closet, every item inside carefully chosen, each one a step closer to my new life.
I move through the house as quietly as possible. The tiles are cool beneath my feet, the familiar halls suddenly seeming like part of a dream I’m leaving behind.
I come across a maid near the kitchen. My pulse jumps, but I force myself to slow down, to hunch my shoulders and put on a suffering face.
The maid gives me a small smile and a nod, seemingly paying no attention to my suitcase.
I want to grin. I want to laugh. I want to run outside and shout that I’m about to be free.
Well, somewhat free… at least from my Mafia life.
Plus, not only am I going to get married, but I’m also leaving Sicily for the first time. The thought sends a thrill through me.
Sebastian took care of everything, my passport, the tickets, thehotel. All I had to do was get myself out the door.
At last, I slip out the back door into the night. The air is cool, the sky streaked with the last hints of sunset.
I pause for a breath, my hand resting on the doorframe. The house is silent, familiar shadows stretching across the walls. I take it all in, every line and corner.
This is goodbye.
I haven’t had enough time to let that truly sink in. I know I’ll come back here. This isn’t the last time I’ll see or set foot in the place where I grew up. But I won’t live here anymore. I’ll be living with my husband.
My stomach plummets.
Husband.
