Page 65 of To Have and To Hold

“A tour. First, he took me to Little Italy.”

“Oh, I love that neighborhood.”

My smile returned. “We had a fabulous dinner that was way too much food. And then we bought cannoli.” I looked around. “Shoot. I must have left those in his car.” I met her gaze. “And then he took me to Imperial Beach.”

“The pier?”

I nodded.

“Did you see the sunset?”

“Yeah, it was magnificent. I guess I haven’t been paying that close of attention to the setting sun from your pool deck or my bedroom window. Being out there with all those people. It was spectacular.”

“Your tour sounds very much like a date.”

I let my forehead drop to the counter. “I -I.” I looked up. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry the capo was upset with you.”

“Don’t worry about Dario and me. We have a love-hate sibling thing going on. But….” Her smile lessened. “It was when Aunt Aurora called that I made a decision.”

“Mom called you, too. Jeez.”

“I decided to lie. When you call them, you can tell them the truth, or you can stick with my story. You were at Liliana’s apartment watching a movie. You had the volume to your phone off.”

I opened my eyes wide. That was a good alibi. “Why would you lie for me?”

Her nose scrunched. “I was you. I was eighteen, sheltered, and scared.”

“You were scared?”

Mia nodded. “I already knew I was marrying Rocco, and I’d accepted that. We’d known each other for most of our childhood. It wasn’t really a fall-in-love thing. More like a get-used-to-each-other thing. My father was mostly concerned about Dario and Dante, but when his attention did come my way, it was stifling. Every decision was made for me. My mother didn’t intervene because my life had been hers when she was eighteen. It’s a fucking vicious circle, and it needs to stop.”

“What were you scared about? Getting married?”

Mia let out a long breath. “I don’t think so. I was too young to have any idea about marriage except what I’d seen from my parents. Their marriage wasn’t the best example, and I was naïve to think Rocco’s and mine would be different. What I feared more than anything was a future in which I had no say. I’d always thought I might want to go to college. My dad and then Rocco said no. I watched movies and read books and dreamed about traveling the world.” She leaned closer. “Here’s a secret. Except for a trip to New York for a big celebration involving famiglias from all over the country, and moving here, I’d never ventured far from Kansas City.”

“I’m sorry that none of your dreams have come true.”

Her smile was back. “Don’t be. Currently, my dream is to continue what Jano and I have built. He’s ten—no, one hundred—times the man my first husband was. Jano can be a strong man to the world and a kind, loving man with Jorge and me. That’s what a real man is. He’s not someone who bullies you into his way of thinking.”

“Like my papà.”

Mia nodded. “I lied to your mom because if I had told the truth, your papà would have had Piero or another of the famiglia’s guards on a plane to come out here and take you home. You’ve experienced a taste of freedom, even in lockdown. That is an opportunity I never had. Ever. When I called Liliana tonight, she raved about the way you’re interacting with the tenants.”

“Oh, that reminds me of something.”

She laid her hand on the counter. “Your father still wants to send someone to take you back. He said they would be here this Saturday.”

My eyes filled with tears. “Please, I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to go back to their rules and …” My thoughts were scattered. “Did you know that tonight with Em was the first time I can recall sitting in the front seat of a car? How fucked is that?”

Mia’s eyes opened wide. “I am a bad influence.”

“Is there anything you orel Patr?ncan do to change his mind?”

Mia pressed her lips together.

“I’m scared of things too. I’m scared of going back. I asked to go to college. I even spoke to Catalina about it. My grades were good.” I sighed. “Papà said no. The whole story about wanting me to help Mom with her philanthropic endeavors was her blowing smoke because she didn’t want to admit to Catalina that they’d denied my request. I suppose I would have helped Mom if I were back in Kansas City. But she sits on committees, drinks coffee and then wine. What you’ve done at the apartments is real help. That’s what I want to do. I want to do more than raise money and gossip. You’re changing the tenants’ lives.”

“I’ll talk to Jano. I can even call my brother. Ultimately, the decision is his.”

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