Page 160 of La Dolce Vita

"What are you going to do?"

"Whatever I have to. Just do as I ask. So the men aren't looking for me. Okay?"

"I don't like this plan. I'll get in just as much trouble as you. Why take the risk when we can tell Giovanni..."

"Because we can't! I'm doing this for Giovanni. For all of us!" Catalina shouted.

Rosetta nodded. "Va bene,I'll do it. Whatever you say."

"Grazie. Grazie, Rosetta."

"Prego.We will do it together. Whatever it takes."

ChapterTwenty-Four

The Cook-Out

Apple Grove, VA

Mirabella was the first to rise. Gianni woke before daylight crying for milk. She had to change him and take him downstairs quick to keep from waking the other kids. And now he played in the cabinets while she rummaged through the refrigerator to find enough to make breakfast. She smiled to discover she had enough for homemade pancakes and syrup. The kids and the men would be happy.

There was a knock at the door. Surprised she froze. Gianni stopped banging his pots to look up at her curiously. The person knocked again. Mirabella went to the door, a bit hesitant. Then she looked out of the peephole. It was Clyde.

She opened the door.

"Morning,"

"Morning, hope I'm not too early."

"No, of course not, come in. I was just about to start breakfast."

Clyde smiled and entered with his son Clarence. Mirabella hugged him. She hadn't seen Clarence since he was about fourteen.

"The family is all excited about you being here," Clyde said. "Had to tell your cousins to give you a minute to get settled before they all showed up."

Mirabella didn't believe him. But she loved him for pretending it was so. This was the country. If her family wanted to see her, they would have been standing outside with Minnie when she and her family drove up.

"I'm anxious to see them all," she lied.

Clyde stood by the door. His son looked away from Mirabella. He seemed uncomfortable. But that tension in his face subsided when Mirabella's baby appeared. Gianni walked out and looked at the men while sucking his pacifier.

"Hi, little man. How you?" Clarence said.

Gianni blinked at him but didn't move. Clyde chuckled. "He's the shy one."

Clarence knelt. "My name Clarence. We kin."

Gianni nodded as if he understood. They all laughed. "He's a good looking kid, cousin."

"Thank you, Clarence," Mirabella said with pride.

"We got some work to do this morning. Trying to wrap up with the boys early, before noon so that we can go to the cookout. Just wanted you to know we here. So we didn't scare the whole house."

"Okay. Ah, Clyde, I want to ask you something."

He paused.

"I was wondering if..."

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