Page 115 of La Dolce Vita

"I'm listening," Mirabella said.

"Domi is the key. If Domi has a chance to work Giovanni's affairs, he will find a way to stop this. Or at least a solution that won't destroy our family." Marietta cleared her throat. "Lorenzo said you wanted to go to America. Let's go. Let's get Giovanni and Lorenzo out of the country for a few days, or maybe for a week. You can work on Giovanni. Uh... talk him into being reasonable, to a compromise?"

"And Rosetta and I will go to Paris. We need to keep the business on a good foot. If they start shooting each other in the streets again, the press could be bad for the company. We should leave immediately."

Mirabella nodded. "Okay. Wait. I got to deal with this doctor. She's coming today."

"Bring her with us," Marietta said.

"Who? The doctor?" Mirabella asked. "To America?"

"We're going home. She's your therapist. It's important. So, we take her with us if you want."

"First of all, you can't just take a doctor with you. I'm not her only patient. Secondly, I haven't even met her yet. I just got Giovanni to agree to let her come to the villa today. Besides, I don't even think I need her anymore. Giovanni and I are better. I haven't had my hand spasms in two days. I'm getting better."

"We need to leave for America. Slow this thing down between the men. Agreed?" Marietta asked.

"Agreed," Mirabella said.

"This is impossible. Listen to us. As if we’ve got power. We don't have the authority to stop this. It's going to all fall apart," Catalina said, and her eyes welled with tears. Rosetta and Marietta looked on. "I'm sorry. I need some air." Catalina said and got up from the table. She walked off the terrace toward the back of the villa. Mirabella got up, and so did Marietta.

"I'll talk to her," Mirabella said.

"I can do it, don't stress yourself," Marietta offered.

"Sit down. Eat. I'm not that fragile." Mirabella sighed. She went after Catalina and found her pacing over by the fences. The distress she saw in her sister-in-law was alarming. And Rosetta said she and Marietta were arguing quite a bit that morning.

"Catalina?"

Her sister-in-law wiped her tears and turned away from Mirabella.

"What is going on with you? Are you and Dominic fighting?"

"No, please don't say that." Catalina sniffed. "I... I can't talk about it."

"Of course, you can." Mirabella grabbed her arm and turned her around. "Hey? Look at me. Of course, you can. What is it?"

Catalina opened her mouth to speak and stopped. She stared past Mirabella. When Mirabella's head turned to look back, she saw Marietta was watching them. "What is going on between you two?"

"Nothing, a stupid argument. I'm all right." Catalina sighed. "I need a break from all of this."

"All of what?"

"This!La Camorra. This!" she pointed to the vineyard. “You were kidnapped only a few months ago. Now Giovanni wants to go to war? He could make the few allies we have left our enemies. They will start hunting us again. Try to destroy us. And we can't go back to Mondello or Palermo for years, if ever! It's always drama! I'm sick of it!"

"Shhh..." Mirabella pulled her into her arms and hugged her. She kissed the side of her face. And then she hugged her tighter.

"Help me, Mirabella, send me away. I want to go to Paris. I think Domi may try to stop me. Can you help?"

"I can try," Mirabella said.

Catalina let go of Mirabella and forced a smile. "It's not impossible to change these men. I was wrong. We can do it if we stick together. Right?"

Mirabella smiled.

"Nothing is impossible if we stick together."

ChapterNineteen

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