Page 120 of La Dolce Vita

"Melanzana was not the scene of the trauma," Giovanni said.

"But it’s close to where everything began," Mirabella said.

"So we don't need her then. We will just take some time away from Sorrento, and you will get better."

"Not exactly," the doctor said. "Donna Battaglia, that's what they told me to call you."

"Call me Mirabella," she said.

"Mirabella, you need more than a vacation for Acute Stress Disorder. When trauma is lasting, like yours appears to be, there is therapy that must be done to deal with the many layers of the human mind. A healing where we separate the event from your day to day life. And I'm not sure without knowing more about you if you have a more advanced stage of PTSD or something not as complex."

"I've seen a therapist before. My issues then were different."

"Why did you see a therapist in the past?" the doctor asked.

Mirabella looked to Giovanni who had never bothered to ask her the question before. He now stared at her as if he too wanted her answer.

"My grandfather died, I moved to New York, and I was... lonely, depressed. My friend... ah Fabiana, she recommended I see one. She was... in therapy for her own reasons."

"Did he die violently?" the doctor asked.

"No, of course not," Giovanni answered for her.

"Yes, well sort-of," Mirabella answered. She avoided his questioning stare. "He died defending me."

"Defending you? What does that mean?" Giovanni asked. "You said he had a heart attack."

"It's okay if you don't want to speak on it just yet," the doctor said.

"Shut the hell up!" Giovanni dismissed the doctor. He turned Mirabella's face to force her to look at him. She couldn't conceal her shame now. "What happened?"

"He had a heart attack while defending me. He lapsed into a coma and never woke up. He died," she said.

"Defending you from what? From who?" Giovanni asked.

"Maybe we can talk about this at another time. When you are ready..."

"I said shut up!" Giovanni shouted at the doctor. "From who, Mirabella?"

"I'll tell you about it privately. Not now, please."

"We're done!" Giovanni stood.

"Gio! No." Mirabella stood. But Giovanni had already snapped his fingers. His men came from the distance and started toward them. She forced her husband to look at her. "We'll talk. Let me finish with the doctor. Okay?"

He stared down at her. He shook his head as if disappointed. But he wiped a trace of tears from her cheek with his thumb. "Why not tell me any of this, after all we've been through?"

"I don't know," she admitted.

Giovanni put up his hand and the men backed off. He turned and walked away. Mirabella smiled for the doctor. "Let's take a walk."

"Are you okay?" the doctor asked.

"He'll be fine. Walk with me," Mirabella said.

The doctor nodded and stood. But she kept looking at the men who were close enough to see their eyes. They glared at her. Mirabella touched the doctor’s shoulder. "They won't do anything to you."

The doctor nodded, and they started out toward the fields.

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