La Sposa (14 page)

She’d seen this woman before.

The first three months of her pregnancy with
Eve she’d lost ten pounds and slept day and night. The doctors had
ordered her to full bed rest when she entered her third trimester.
He told her Eve was draining her, and it was true. None of this she
shared with Giovanni. He was already on edge, and kept asking her
to confirm that she would indeed marry him. It was cute and a bit
troubling. The closer to the wedding they drew, the more agitated
he became. What was he afraid of?

“
Signora
? I can begin your
facial now.”

Mira smiled. The young girl used great skill
in waxing and oiling her skin. Mira, however, insisted that she
wasn’t shaved bare down below, but trimmed. Giovanni had made that
request of her several nights ago, when he walked in on her
grooming herself in the bathroom. He loved the feel of her pubes
against his thighs when she slept nude with him every night, and
her legs were intertwined with his.

“
Grazie
,” Mira said, and
yawned.

“
Afterwards, we can start on your
hair. Andrea will be arriving to do it. She is really good with
black hair. She’s African.”

“
Oh really, okay I have an idea how
I’d like to wear it—”

“
Vai via! Fatti fatti toui!”
Giovanni’s voice boomed above a softer one in the front
area.

Mira nearly jumped in surprise. The girl
looked to her with fear in her eyes. She gave her a comforting
smile and hurried out into the hall to see what the commotion was.
Rosetta and her aunts were pleading with Giovanni, who paced and
shouted at them to bring Mira to him immediately. The other ladies
were undergoing their own beautification regiments, but now they
all stood silent and transfixed on the angry Don, a man who
stubbornly refused the word no.

“
Bring her to me now!”

“
Catalina said that you aren’t
supposed to come back here, Gio. Please go away,” Rosetta
responded.

Giovanni’s gaze lifted and locked on Mira. She
frowned at his behavior, embarrassed for him. “It’s okay, Rosetta.
He’s been patient enough. We can talk.” She extended her hand. He
walked over to her and she led him past the others to a room she
knew was empty. As soon as they entered, he was pulling her into
his arms.

“
Why are you making a scene? You
scared them to death.”

“
I needed to talk to you. Who the
hell are they to tell me no?” he said, going in for a kiss. Mira
pushed his face away.

“
It’s the third time you’ve come
here. You said you’d be patient.”

“
You look tired,” he said, his brow
creasing with worry.

“
I’m fine.”

“
Do you feel okay?”

Mira hesitated. To be honest, she could barely
stand. She really wanted to curl up and go back to sleep or get
another massage. Anything but standing. “I’m fine,” she
lied.

“
I have to go to Napoli. Every time
I asked for you I’m sent away. I’m sick of it.”

He gave her a sheepish look. She cupped his
face. “You do know I’m doing all of this for our big day tomorrow.
To be beautiful for you.”

“
You already are. Besides, I
haven’t had you to myself for days. The dress has kept us
separated. My patience is short.”

She chuckled.

“
I have to go into Napoli for a few
hours and I will be back. We will celebrate together.”

“
A few hours? You sure?” she
yawned.

He brushed his lips over her neck and she
giggled at the tickle of his unshaven skin. His hands went to the
tie of her robe. She tried to stop him but with one tug, it
loosened, and her robe fell open. God help her, but she couldn’t
have sex. Her body couldn’t handle his aggressive manner now.
Giovanni lifted his head and his gaze lowered to the
unveiling.

“
Do you know that we haven’t made
love since my trip to Bologna? Why is that, Bella?”

She closed her robe. “Our schedules, and that
wonderful massage you gave me. I guess we haven’t found the
time.”

“
I’ll be home tonight.” His gaze
lifted and connected with hers. “We will make time.”

And then his lips met hers and the love in her
heart for him set her body aflame. He spoke naughty words of desire
in Italian, which smothered into mumbles through the passionate
kiss his tongue swept hers up into. He eased a hand inside her robe
and ran it over her neatly trimmed mound. And when he tugged on her
pubic hair, as if testing the length, a jolt of pleasure stabbed
her clitoris and warmed her channel. She breathed through his kiss,
her lids fluttering as his middle finger then began to stroke
between the folds of her sex. She rose on her toes to meet his
kiss, refusing to let him go. It dawned on her that tomorrow, she
would be his wife. Everything would change for her. And she
intended to rest up for her wedding night.

Mira stopped his hand before he slipped his
finger inside of her. She turned her mouth from his. “Don’t you
have to go?”

“
I can stay a little longer.” He
breathed against her ear, and then kissed the top of her head. “I
miss you. Whatever it is they have oiled your skin with is making
me crazy.”

“
The ladies are out there. I have
to get my hair done and… I’m tired.”

He lifted her chin. “We’ll celebrate
tonight.”

She nodded.

She saw his reluctance as he drew away. He
tasted his finger that had been naughtily exploring her below and
she blushed. Giovanni winked and walked out. Mira closed her robe,
steadying her breathing. She felt as if she was on the verge of an
adventure. A wave of nausea made her sway, and she found a seat in
time. She sat with her face in her hands for several minutes
waiting, for her body to stabilize.

“
Mira!” Catalina walked in. “My
brother forced his way in didn’t he? He won’t listen to any of
them. I’m the only one besides you that can tell him no,” she
smiled.

“
He just wanted to say bye. He has
business in Naples. He’ll be back soon.”

“
I just spoke to Dominic. Is it
true? Are you sending me to America?” Catalina walked toward her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”

With all the back and forth between her and
Giovanni regarding her company and control over it, she forgot to
even talk with Catalina about her plans. She patted the seat next
to her for Catalina to sit. “You have talent. These past few days I
could have never gotten through making my dress without
you.”

“
But I didn’t do much. I just
modeled, cut fabric, and sewed beads.”

Mira shook her head. “No. You found the lace I
needed without being asked. You made suggestions on the bodice that
I wouldn’t have considered without your insight. And you took care
of getting my sewing material returned. It was a relief to have you
managing tasks in ways that kept me focused. You sell yourself
short because it all comes to you naturally.” Mira relaxed into the
sofa. Catalina sat upright with eyes bright and alert. “It’s proof
that you have potential to do much more. I’m going to marry your
brother tomorrow, and things are going to change for you and me. No
longer will
Melanzana
be your responsibility. And when you
marry Domi, you’ll have a home and life of your own. Now is the
time to become more if you wish to. To accomplish something all on
your own.”

“
I don’t know what to say.”
Catalina put a hand to her heart and tears brimmed in her
eyes.

Mira patted Catalina’s knee. “With your help,
I plan to take my company back. How does that sound?”

“
Wonderful!” Catalina said, with a
clap of her hands together. “Thank you for trusting me, believing
in me. I can’t imagine how wonderful our lives will be
together.”

Mira laughed. She found her second wind and
felt vibrant again. “Me either. I truly had abandoned my passion
after Fabiana died. But not anymore.”

“
Wait? Giovanni is going to allow
this? Mira this doesn’t sound like him. He’s really spoiled and
sometimes selfish. Look at his behavior today. We have to travel,
meet with celebrities, you will be so busy.”

Mira bristled a bit, but covered it in her
smile. “It’s not that glamorous. A lot of the work can be done
right here. And don’t worry, your brother and I have an
understanding. Let me worry about keeping him spoiled and
happy.”

“
Sometimes I can’t believe he found
someone like you. I prayed that he’d have someone to love. Now he
does. It would make my mother so happy to know he has
you.”

Mira smiled. “
Grazie,
Catalina. I’m so
fond of you, and we’ll show them how strong we both are.
Right?”

“
Right.” She nodded.

“
What’s even more important is
Giovanni and I agree on this path for you. We both want to see you
blossom into your own woman. I have a friend in America. We call
him Teddy. He’s going to meet with you and Domi. He’ll go over all
the inner workings of my company and let you train on projects
already underway. I want you to study the project plans, ask
questions, and learn as much as you can. When you come back, we’ll
talk. Okay?”

“
Grazie!”

Rosetta walked in. She stopped at the scene of
Mira and Catalina embracing. “I tried to keep Giovanni out but he
insisted. Everything okay?” she asked.

Catalina let Mira go. She dropped her hands to
her hips. On her face she wore a sly smile that made Mira frown
with worry. “I’m going to America,” she announced. “To manage
Mirabella’s. I intend to become a fashion designer.”

Mira blinked, shocked. That wasn’t exactly
what she told Catalina. Rosetta paled. She truly looked dejected.
And Mira supposed that was the reason for Catalina’s
performance.

“
Catalina, can you see where Eve
is? Bring her to me.”

“
But you have to get your facial
and pedicure.” Catalina objected.

“
Time for a break. Bring her to me.
I need to see her.”

Catalina nodded, tossed her cousin another
glare and walked out. Mira stood. “Rosetta, what is it between you
and Catalina? This constant bickering?”

“
Is she really going to work for
you? In America? Are you going to let her design
clothes?”

“
I—”

“
Can I work for you too? I had
intended to ask Giovanni if I could stay here. But now that you’re
going to marry him, Zia said it was your decision to make. I can
cook, I’m good with math. I can help you, like I did with the
dress.”

“
I’ll consider it if you help me
understand why you and Catalina are constantly
fighting?”

Conflict deepened the worried state of
Rosetta. She began to pace. Zia said they needed to bond. But it
was strange to Mira since they have known each other since they
were children. The bonding should have happened years ago. “It’s
not my fault. How she was treated in the family. Not my fault. When
we were little, the cousins and I teased her. We did things that
were mean. But that’s what children do. Catalina has never forgiven
us. The other cousins aren’t allowed to come here. I only think
Catalina lets me come so she can rub in my face how nice her life
is.”

Mira heaved a deep sigh. “Go on.”

“
You do know that Catalina’s mother
never married her father. He has a wife and she lives in Palermo to
this day. Catalina and Giovanni aren’t legitimate heirs but they
have all this. They aren’t even true Sicilian. For some people this
makes them… unworthy.”

Mira went to the door and shut it. She turned
and faced Rosetta. “Let’s get something straight. I don’t want to
ever hear you make that reference to them again. It’s an insult to
my family. If you have these views then why would you want to come
work here?”

“
I… ah?”

“
Exactly. You have no reason except
this petty jealousy between you two. Do you not realize that my
children will be less Sicilian than their father and I’m not
Sicilian at all? You’re asking to be part of a family you have
contempt for.”

“
No! That’s not my intent. I am
sorry. I wasn’t trying to offend.”

“
But you have.”

Rosetta lowered her head in shame. “It’s hard.
Trying to understand so much when you haven’t seen or done much.
All I know is my life at home. The things I was taught. Here,
Catalina can do whatever she wants to do without any question. I
thought that here I can change too. I can grow.”

Mira looked her over with suspicion. “If you
want to stay here, then you need to put all of your prejudices
behind you.”

“
I have!” Rosetta perked
up.

“
Prove it.” Mira said.

“
How?”

“
Make up with Catalina. Find a way
to coexist.”

“
She hates me.” Rosetta
protested.

“
Find a way to get over it.
Catalina will make the final decision if you can move in. So I
suggest you work on your relationship with her now. If you two work
together well in this family, then I will consider allowing you to
work in my company.”