Page 171 of La Dolce Vita

"He thinks he's a spades king now, girl. Did you see him?" Marietta asked. "Over there threatening people in Italian over a card game. Thank God they didn't know what he was saying!"

Mirabella didn’t respond. Neither did Giovanni.

"I learned to play fast. Me and my partner won. Twice," Lorenzo said.

"That's right, baby, you’re the champ," Marietta teased.

***

The van arrived at the farmhouse with the last of the sun vanishing from the sky. Mirabella guessed the time to be around eight or closer to nine. Behind her, Giovanni lifted Gino out of his car seat. Lorenzo cradled Gianni in his arms. He kissed the little toddler on the lips before starting toward the house.

“Mama,” Eve whined and patted her leg.

"Come here sweetheart." Mirabella lifted her four year-old up in her arms. No matter how much she grew, she found she was strong enough to hold her still. Marietta stepped to her side. She thought of the offer to leave the kids and take Giovanni off to have a much needed talk. But one look at her children and her maternal need to comfort and secure them for the night took over. "I don't know; maybe I should put them to bed first. They are so tired."

“What is going on with you and Giovanni?” Marietta said.

“Nothing, we’re both tired. Aren’t you? Today was exhausting.”

“Why don’t you let me and Lorenzo take the kids while you two get away from here for the night? Go find a motel room and order a pizza and buy a pack of beer.”

“What?” Mirabella frowned.

Marietta grabbed her sister by the arm to keep her from walking off. “Whatever it is you’ve been keeping locked up inside of you spilled over today. Don’t deny it. We all saw it when you were at the grave. Take your man somewhere and explain it to him. Then you and me can talk about our family. Do you hear?”

Mirabella glanced to Giovanni. He hadn't said much after her graveside confession. In fact, she was dreading the conversation. What she blurted out must have confused and disappointed him. But if they were truly to hash it out then it would need to be alone. “A motel huh?”

"I saw a few when we were driving around town. Go with him,” Marietta said.

She smiled. “You’d do that for us? For me?”

Marietta shrugged off the gratitude. “You aren’t having nightmares anymore, right? You aren’t seeing ghosts in every shadow anymore, right? You’re getting stronger and being here is making you stronger. That’s what I see. I think that doctor may be right about this PTSD thing you were telling me about last night. What if all you need is to let go of the past. What if that’s all we both need? I want to help.”

They went to the house and inside. Mirabella was able to put the boys in her bed upstairs and take off their pants and shoes. They wouldn't sleep through the night. Marietta promised to keep her eye on them. Eve was a different story. As soon as they went inside, she perked up. She clung to her father wanting him to take her outside to swing in the open tire hung from a rope on the tree out front. They had to negotiate with her to get out of the house. And they did.

She got inside the van with Giovanni and sighed.

“So where to?” he asked.

She glanced over to him. He stared at her. She saw the questions in his eyes. "Out on Hwy 19 is a Red Roof Inn. On the way is a barbecue place we can grab some takeout."

"Barbecue and a motel?" Giovanni asked.

She nodded. “You up for it?”

He shifted in reverse and backed out on the dirt road. Mirabella braced for whatever the night could bring.

***

“Qauli birre sono--what kind of beers are there?" Lorenzo asked and plopped down into the recliner chair in front of the TV. He picked up the remote and turned on the television.

Marietta ignored the question. If she gave him another beer, he'd be of no help to her. She didn't need an extra kid to put to bed for the night. Eve followed her crying as she walked into the kitchen.

“Volglio la mia mamma--I want my mommy,” Eve said as she wiped her tears.“Volglio la mia mamma!”

Marietta smiled at her sweet niece. She couldn't help it. Eve was so adorable when she pouted, and her long lashed eyes pooled with tears. She just wanted to squeeze and kiss on her.

“It’s okay sweetie. You’re going to stay up and help auntie take care of the twins. And that big baby over there sitting in the chair.”

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