Page 14 of Silent Night with Massimo

"Why Elio?" I ask after the silence in the cellar grows too thick.

"All the clues I have collected over the years point to someone very close to you. I thought it might be him – and then I overheard something while I was here too. I know - I know it's hard to accept. He is your cousin. He has known you since the beginning. But who stands to gain the most from your downfall? Who wanted the position of power that you now have?"

I sigh, not wanting to answer her, not wanting to say my cousin's name. I don't want to accuse him of something so serious without any real evidence.

But then again - isn't that what I did to her six years ago? That photo Eliot showed me – it could have beenanyone. It looked like her, but it was blurred and taken from a bad angle. It could have been anyone.

What if she's right and my son is alive - what if she was framed?

If that's true, then the hell that she has been through over the past six years is unspeakable. Exiled, without her son, without me, watching me marry another woman. How would she not hate me for what I did? Or maybe she does hate me, and this is her way to seek revenge.

I stare at her for a long time, trying to force my thoughts into some kind of order. But my heart is overruling my logic, and that's a dangerous thing.

"I have to think," I say abruptly.

"Massimo, please come back and talk to me."

"You haven't given me anything solid -- nothing but your word."

"I know. I am asking you to trust me and help me investigate further. I can't prove any of it without you. That's why I risked coming here in the first place. And you have to know - if I was willing to take that risk it must be for good reason." She pleads.

"I have to think, Vera," I say again, turning away from her.

She looks broken. Deep inside me, all I want to do is reach out and hold her – but I can't. I need to be the leader of this family. I need to choose them over everything else.

I walk out, closing the door behind me. I'll have to fix that broken slat. I can't have Bella sneaking down here again.

Chapter 7

Vera

At night I can hear the music from the party upstairs. I can close my eyes as I lie on the bed and let my memories take me back to the days when I was welcome here.

If I focus hard enough, I can smell the roast in the oven, the crispy potatoes, and the thick rich gravy.

I can see all the aunts, uncles, and older generations gathered in the living room, a massive fire crackling to the left of the Christmas tree. The warm scent of pine needles fills the air, heated by the flames. And then after dinner all the kids have been ushered to bed, and the adults sit beneath the tree wrapping gifts, laughing, and sipping dark red port.

Uncle Marzio would be puffing on his cigar while the ladies complained and tried to convince him to go and sit outside. Massimo would chuckle and open a window,telling Uncle Marzio to move next to it, and reminding the ladies to let the old man enjoy his guilty pleasures in peace.

I want nothing more than to be part of it all again.

I want to have my son running through these halls, shouting and playing and counting the days till Christmas morning.

I want to wear my red dress on Christmas morning and dance with Massimo beneath the mistletoe.

I want to kiss him and share special moments with him.

Tossing and turning in the uncomfortable bed I realize they have turned the music down. Dinner must be starting.

It sounds so far away now.

As though it is a lifetime away.

Six years ago.

My stomach growls angrily and I press my hand against it.

Adrian won't bring me any food until after everyone has gone to bed.

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