Page 151 of La Dolce Vita

"I did something once that I'm not proud of. A sin. One of the biggest in my life. When Granddaddy learned of it, it broke his heart. I have never spoken of the past until tonight. Never even thought of it. Never told Fabiana about it. Only my therapist in New York. It's the real reason why Granddaddy had a heart attack. The reason why I've never come back here."

"How did you make the mistake?"

"I fell for the wrong man. When I tried to end it, things were already far out of control. Granddaddy found me and him arguing and got in the middle of it. He had a heart attack."

"That doesn't sound like your fault."

"It feels like it," Mirabella said. "And you don't know why we argued. What I..."

Marietta took her hand and squeezed it. "I don't need to know. Shhh. Miss Princess. Trust me, the first time I saw you, I knew you weren’t perfect. We all have our pasts. Our mistakes. Our secrets. Not every one of them is meant to be told."

Mirabella smiled.

"The thing is you are as close to perfection as I've ever seen. I like that. It's like you are my better half. You have a good heart, a trusting heart. That's why King B is nuts about you. He doesn't have one. You fill in that space for him."

"Must you insult my husband?" Mirabella asked. “It’s getting old. Before I understood, he wasn’t very kind or welcoming. But now? Gio has been very sweet to you. Stop it right now.”

"Hey, I’m sorry. It’s just a teasing joke between us. I really don’t mean anything by it.”

"Doesn't sound that way to me. It sounds like you do mean it."

“Mira, seriously. I’m sorry. Okay. Don't get me started on what is wrong with Lorenzo. I talk about his raggedy ass the same way. But, hey, I’ll stop. Okay?”

Mirabella shrugged off her irritation.

“What I meant to say is that we all look to you for strength, and that's because out of all of us, you are the strongest. I'm just happy that I found you. So I can truly feel whole."

"Thank you!" she hugged her again.

"Keep your secret. Or tell me later. Let's not focus on your mistakes, not now. We have so much to be grateful for."

"I am grateful."

"Now. Let's go downstairs and play some more music. Drink some of that lemonade, and eat as many cookies as we can swallow until your belly is as fat as mine."

"We can't wake the house," Mirabella said.

"We'll be quiet. C'mon." Marietta stood.

Mirabella stood. She looked at her sister with such pure love she had to hug her again. "I'm so glad we came."

"Me too."

***

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Rosetta laughed.

Catalina turned halfway to her room. Of course, their escorts were ahead of them. She glanced back to see that Rosetta had come out of her shoe. She was on her knees in a couture designer dress crawling toward the door. Apparently, the drinks and partying with Jamie had totally wiped out her cousin. Catalina shook her head smiling.

"Would you come on!" she said in a loud whisper. They were at one of the most prestigious hotels in France. They couldn't be caught disturbing guests. Rosetta dropped flat on the ground and howled with laughter. Catalina threw her hands up. She hurried to her cousin and reached down to help her stand. "Get up. Get up!"

"I can't," Rosetta laughed. "My legs don't work!"

"Oh good grief, stop this. It's embarrassing--" Catalina lost her footing and went down hard. She landed on her side. Rosetta flopped over like a fish, flapping her arms and legs and laughing hysterically. Catalina pulled down her skirt, afraid that the men sent to protect them got a view of her private area. She sat up to yell at Rosetta but saw she had rolled several feet away in laughter. Despite her aggravation, Catalina's smile soon turned to laughter. Jamie was a heavy drinker and a partier. The night was spent bar hopping and a little dancing. Rosetta had never done either. It was like her eyes were opened to a whole new world. Catalina watched her cousin dance like a wild woman and shake every curl in her hair. She drank champagne and mixed drinks. Rosetta drank anything Jamie had sent over to them. And before long men were all over Rosetta. She must have rubbed and danced all over four different guys.

"Che palle!That's enough. You're coming to my room." Catalina picked up her purse and stood. The men just watched, unsure what to say or do.

"Can you get her please?" Catalina asked.

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