Page 133 of La Dolce Vita

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The plane hit an air pocket, and Giovanni was jostled awake in his seat. The light above his head dinged to indicate the pilot wanted passengers to buckle their belts. He'd taken the aisle seat because of his long legs. In the First Class cabin, he felt restrained in his chair by the passenger in front of him. He wished he'd ignored Dominic's advice and used his private jet for the trip.

The thirst in his throat and fatigue were wearing him down. He signaled the flight attendant.

"Yes,signore, can I get you anything?"

"Water."

"I can make you a drink. Here is our wine list," she said and flashed a pearly white smile.

“No, water is fine,” he answered.

“Of course, but maybe something later? If you’d like?”

"He said water," Mirabella answered in that calm manner of hers that meant business.

"Oh? Yes. Yes, right away."

He glanced over to his wife. She cut her eyes away and shook her head. Mirabella held Gianni. Traveling was worst for the toddler. He screamed and hollered the first thirty minutes of the flight, refusing to be touched by anyone but her. And then he collapsed in exhaustion. Eve and Gino were the complete opposite. They babbled with excited banter and actually cheered when the plane lifted to the sky. Hisbambinisat in the seats in front of their parents chatting away and playing with each other. Marietta and Lorenzo sat across from the kids.

He reached over and touched Gianni's tiny hand. He worried over his temperament. He knew he was just a babe. Still his son didn't warm to change, or feel comfortable outside of his mother’s arms. He decided he'd spend more time with him. Encourage him to be a bit more adventurous.

"He's okay," Mirabella smiled. "Don't worry about him."

"I'm not worried, just concerned. You have to stop spoiling him so much,Bella."

She looked at Giovanni with the same heavy exhaustion in her eyes that they both felt. He regretted the remark. He could tell it hurt her feelings. She was more sensitive than ever to the needs of their children, and he understood why. Giovanni pinched her chin, he lifted her face and gave her a tender kiss. He then leaned in and kissed the brow of his son.

"What I meant to ask is, why does he behave so badly? Did the plane scare him?"

"He's just not used to this. And yes, he's spoiled," she smiled. "But one day he'll be taller, stronger, stubborn, and full of male pride, and he won't let his mother hold him to her breast. I plan to enjoy him like this for as long as I can." Gianni spit out his pacifier and his wife put it back in his mouth. Mirabella had recently taken pacifiers from the boys, but thankfully she decided to bring it for the trip. Gianni sucked it hard and seemed content.

"How much longer?" she asked.

"Another six hours," he yawned.

It made her yawn. She lifted the little window cover, and Giovanni saw daylight instead of darkness. The time difference was apparently the reason he felt so tired.

"Are you excited?" he asked.

"To go home, after all, these years? I don't know. I'm just anxious to get there. To show you and the kids where I grew up. And a bit scared."

"Why scared?"

"Haven't seen my family or the farm in so long. Now I'm coming home married, with kids. It's a lot different than who I was when I left."

"Papa!" Eve stood in her chair and looked over the top of it at her parents. Her brother Gino did the same, though he was shorter and unable to peek over the top. Eve grinned for him.

"Yes?" he answered.

"I see you!" Eve laughed. Gino howled with laughter. The kids began to jump in their seats as if they played some kind of trick on Giovanni.

"Sit down," Giovanni said in a stern voice. The kids giggled and plopped down. He glanced at his wife who was smiling at him. The trip did worry him. At this moment the alliances he made with the clan bosses meant attacks on the Mafiosi business from every angle. And it would be tough for Dominic to manage. That is why they would only stay a week instead of two.

"Giovanni?"

"Yes?"

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