Amore (82 page)

“Mommy! Mommy!”

Mirabella felt a tiny hand pushing at her face. She opened her eyes. Gino stared at her. His round blue eyes glistened with tears. “Mommy,” he said.

“Gino?” Mirabella lifted her head from the pillow.

“I’m sorry, Mira.” Zia came out of the bathroom. “I was going to change him. I only went to the bathroom for a minute.”

“No! It’s okay,” Mirabella smiled. She reached for her son. He stretched his arms up to her. She kissed his brow as she brought him to her lap. Gino grinned. He touched the bruise on her neck. She still felt some tenderness there.

“You miss Mommy?” she asked.

He put his head to her breast. Zia came over and smiled. “How do you feel?”

“Better now. Stronger,” Mirabella said.

“We were so scared. All of us.”

“I’m sorry. I hate I put you through that,” Mirabella said.

“No! It’s not you. That animal who kidnapped you did this. May he burn in hell.”

“Where’s Giovanni?” she asked. She hoped Zia didn’t hear the panic in her voice. Giovanni swore he’d stay close. He promised not to leave her.

“He’s with the men meeting in his office. Here inside. He’ll return soon.” Zia said.

“He’s going to be more protective of me. I need that. But I need my babies. Can you bring them? And my sister, and Catalina, bring them.”

Zia nodded and left. Gino lifted his head from her breast and looked up at her. He spoke to her in his baby language, a long sentence that she tried to understand. “Is that so, baby? Mommy is so sorry she wasn’t here to see it. Un huh, yes, Mommy understands. I missed you too.” Mirabella laughed.

“Mira!” Catalina rushed inside. She looked up at a grinning Catalina who went to the bed and kissed and hugged her. The kids came in afterwards. Mirabella laughed through her tears as she hugged Gianni who started to cry the moment he saw her, and then Eve. She felt so much better seeing them all.

“How are you, sis?” Marietta asked. Mirabella looked up at her sister standing at the door. She nodded that she was okay. Marietta began to cry. She came over and hugged her neck. There were so many on the bed hugging and kissing her at once, Mirabella couldn’t stop giggling with delight. One of the babies accidently fell on her ankle and she howled.

Everyone froze. The children looked at her terrified.

“It’s okay. Mama just hurt her foot. She’s okay,” Mirabella said.

She hugged her babies. Catalina and Marietta told her so many stories at once of how they were. She was gone three days, but from the way they talked it was like she was gone for three years.

“What is going on in here?” Giovanni asked. He entered with concern. “Bella, you need your rest.”

“No, Giovanni,” Mirabella said. “I just need my family. I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

She looked around at all the love surrounding her. She feared nothing with her family close. This is what she needed. “I’m positive.”

Giovanni picked up Gino. He came around the bed and got on top. Marietta and Catalina sat on the edge of the bed talking at once. Eve found room to hold her mother’s waist, while Mira held Gianni to her breast. She looked over to Giovanni and smiled. And her husband winked at her.

Napoli Italy –

Kyra sighed. She moaned as she slowly woke to the touch of a hand over hers. Her head lifted. Renaldo stared at her. Shocked she jumped to her feet.

“Renaldo! It’s me! Baby! You’re awake!”

“What is it?” Jamie asked. She sat up on the sofa with the sheet covering her. Kyra smiled at her
fiancé
. He stared at her, unable to speak. She kissed his brow.

“Go get the doctors, Jamie. Tell them Renaldo is awake.”

Jamie did as she asked. Kyra couldn’t tell if Renaldo heard her or understood her. The doctors said that there could be neurological damage. She didn’t believe them. She would never give up on him. He was her life.

“I’m here, sweetheart. You’re going to be okay. I swear it. You’ll be fine.”

The doctors and nurses came in. Kyra was pushed to the side. Jamie hugged her as they watched them un-tube Renaldo. It was harsh the way he gagged and coughed down air. She wanted to go to him, to comfort him. Jamie held her back.

“Wait, Kyra. Let them help him,” Jamie whispered. Kyra nodded and tried to be strong. Renaldo always told her to be strong. He warned her that there would be a day when she would have to. She was so angry at him for risking his life. What about her? What about his son? What about their family? Would they ever be more important?

“
Signora,”
the doctor said. “We have to take him. For some tests.”

“Can I come? He needs me.” Kyra tried to look around the doctor. Renaldo’s eyes were closed again. He hadn’t spoken. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Let us run some tests. Then we’ll talk.”

“No!” She pushed past him to Renaldo. She returned to his bed. He opened his eyes. When he gave her a faint smile she knew he recognized her. Kyra wept with relief. She kissed his chapped lips. She tried to hug him but the nurses pulled her away. “I love you!”

He nodded and mouthed the words back. The joy of that moment made up for the horrors of the past three days. She couldn’t believe how good happiness and hope felt again.

They wheeled him out of the room.

“Did you see it, Jamie? Did you?” Kyra laughed.

“I did, baby doll. He’s going to be okay! I saw it!”

Kyra hugged Jamie so tight. They were both crying and laughing. Maybe the nightmare was over.

That night –

Mirabella needed the use of crutches to walk to the bathroom. Giovanni had some brought in for her. She closed the door and vomited the contents of her dinner. Her body was racked with shivers. Her skin itched. She felt as if a million microscopic spiders crawled underneath. And the worst of it all was her stomach. The cramping. She endured it without alarming the family, but it was getting worse.

“Bella? You okay in there?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart!” she called out in a lighthearted way.

“You sure?” Giovanni asked.

“Yeah, check on the kids. I want to, uh, tuck them in. I’ll be out in a minute!” she said.

“Okay,” he said.

Mirabella closed her eyes. She held on to the crutches. When she lifted her face she got the first real glimpse of herself since her return home. What she saw shocked her. She lowered her eyes. The urge to vomit heaved up in her throat, and she dropped over the sink. Nothing came out. But the burning in her veins persisted. What had Kei given her?

Giovanni checked in on the twins. Eve was sleep in her bed. And then he heard it, a loud crash. He ran from the children’s room back into his. He went to the bathroom. “Bella? Bella!”

He opened the door but couldn’t move it. Mirabella’s body blocked it. He pushed on the door and shoved harder. His wife was pushed aside.

“Bella! Bella!” he got to his knees and pulled her over to him. She had vomit all over her mouth and was unconscious. “Bella, wake up. What’s wrong, sweetheart? What is it?”

She didn’t respond. He had to get her help. He was desperate.

Three days later –

Mirabella sighed. She turned her head on her pillow and opened her eyes. It was then she saw the heart monitor, and the IV bag and line that dripped into her veins. She blinked at the sterilized white walls. Giovanni sat up. He leaned forward.

“Hi?” she said.

“Hi,” he answered.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“What do you remember?” he asked.

“Bathroom, our house? Was it a dream? Was I there?” she asked.

“Yes.” He took her hand and kissed it. “You were there. We’re just in the hospital,” he said.

“Why? What’s wrong with me?”

Giovanni sighed. “I should have brought you here first. I’m so sorry, Bella. I just wanted to protect you. Take you home.”

“Gio, it’s okay. I’m fine. Right?” she smiled.

Tears dropped. He lowered his gaze.

“I feel better. I’m fine!” she said.

“Bella, when you were with him, how many times did he inject you?” Giovanni asked.

“Why? Is it what Kei gave me that’s made me sick?” she asked.

“The doctors, they said he put something in you, Bella. Your kidneys were shutting down. But they’re better now. The doctors say you’re improving.”

“What did he give me?” she asked. “Tell me!”

Giovanni sighed. “It’s some kind of drug. Derived from opium, more addictive than heroine. They don’t know. They’re sure it’s a narcotic. When your organs started shutting down I was…” Giovanni swallowed the emotion clogging his throat. “I was scared. But you started to improve. They don’t know why.”

“I know why,” she smiled for him. He looked so tired, so distraught. She touched his face. “I love you, Gio. I love our children. I’ll never leave you. Never.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “I’m just glad you’re feeling better.”

“The family? Our kids? How is everyone?” she asked.

“We’re surviving. We just want our Donna home where she belongs.”

“I’m fine, Gio. I’m going to be okay,” she reassured him. But even she wasn’t certain. Not anymore.

A month later –

“Mira? You dressed?” Mirabella turned from the mirror. She screwed the cap back down on her mascara and tossed it in with the rest of her makeup. Every window in her room was open. A balmy ocean breeze blew inside and reminded her of the beach. Marietta walked in. She wore a black dress that looked almost identical to hers. She smiled.

“Everyone ready?” Mirabella asked.

“The kids are in the car. Giovanni is on his way upstairs if you don’t come on,” Marietta said.

Mirabella nodded. She reached for her crutches and used them to balance her weight. Marietta looked as if she wanted to help. But Mirabella walked just fine. In another week or so the doctors said she’d come out of her plaster boot and be able to walk on her own. It wasn’t as bad as her family made it out to be. She was able to get around now, and most days did so without the need of her crutches. The kids had drawn all over it with markers and crayons. She made it into a little game for them.

When she reached her sister she touched her hand. “Have you told Lorenzo?” she asked.

“No. We’re staying behind. A chance for us to be together, you know. I want to tell him private. He’s barely around lately. Constantly working or chasing something or the other,” she said. They both knew what Lorenzo and the men were out doing. Hunting down a woman named Isabella, his long lost sister. Mirabella still couldn’t wrap her head around the strange connection to her kidnapping.

“Okay,” Mirabella said. “Let’s go.”

She and Marietta walked out of the room. She balanced her steps with her crutch. It took her longer to come down the stairs, but she managed. Giovanni waited for her by the door. He was dressed conservatively in a dark suit, as were all of his men. The women and children were too. Mirabella smiled at her husband. He smiled back. It wasn’t a happy day. A funeral in the family never was. And this death was even more bitterly felt. The men were solemn and remorseful. She took her husband’s hand. Lorenzo escorted Marietta out.

“You okay, sweetheart?” she asked him as he led her to their car.

“I will be,” he reassured her. She glanced to the Mercedes van where the children, Rocco and Zia rode. She then looked back at Villa Mare Blu. With a burdened sigh she eased inside the car. Why was the return to Sicily so bitterly felt, as it was for her last visit?

Once seated in the van the driver led the caravan out. Mirabella missed Renaldo’s absence and the sadness of what happened to him squeezed her heart. He was typically Giovanni’s driver and bodyguard. Today Umberto was the substitute. She glanced over to Giovanni. His eyes were hidden behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses. However, his profile revealed to her how fatigued with sadness they were. Giovanni felt guilty. They all did. She brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed it.

The Battaglias drove out of Mondello along the coastal highway. They made the long drive to Carini barely speaking. After the funeral they would host a dinner at Villa Mare Blu, and then return back to Sorrento the next day. She was going to miss the peace and tranquility of the beach side village. But she was ready to take her family home.