Page 180 of La Dolce Vita

“Seven? That’s early?” Lorenzo frowned.

“We do things a bit early in the country.” Clyde smiled. He waved bye to them and the kids and left.

“That was rude,” Marietta said.

“What? What did I do?” Lorenzo asked half chewing and half swallowing. Before his wife could reply the phone rang. She nearly jumped in surprise. He went for it before she could.

“Hello?”

“It’s me,” Carlo said.

“Anything? Any news?”

“Yeah, we think Alek has her. Not in the triangle. She’s closer to home. When will you be back?”

Lorenzo glanced over to Marietta who was giving him a side-eye look. She was listening though she helped Eve crack eggs. And at his feet was Gianni patting his leg. The little tot loved to be held. He reached down and picked him up. "We're here for another few days. But don't wait on me. Get her. Do you understand me.”

"Got it," Carlo said and ended the call.

He hung up.

“What was that about?”

Lorenzo smiled. “Nothing to worry about beautiful. Good news.”

***

Later that evening –

"That is the best sweet potato pie I have ever tasted," Marietta said.

"Shoot, that's nuthin,' you should have tried your grandmother's pies. Those were heavenly," Minnie said. Her daughter Belinda got up and started collecting the plates. In grade school, Marietta had a chubby friend who grew into a fat friend named Belinda. They called her B.B.B.--Big Booty Belinda. The kids teased her mercilessly. She always thought the name Belinda was for fat girls. She was wrong. Belinda could be a runway model. She had the height and the perfect symmetry to her body, same as Zenobia. She was at least five foot ten in flats. Her skin was so dark it looked polished. Her eyes were round, with irises the color of cinnamon. Very striking eyes. One ear lobe had piercings all along the cutter shell of her ear. The other earlobe had only three. She had a petite waist and perky breasts under a tube top, and a heart shaped romp. Belinda went into the kitchen and stacked the dishes near the sink to clean them.

"No. I can do that," Mirabella stood.

"Let Bee handle it. We need to talk. Macie, go and get the books out of the car."

Macie was equally beautiful but short like her mother. She was wider in the hips, but it was a compliment not a detraction from her hour-glass shape. She had deep-set dimples and medium brown skin. Her hair was in long braids that reached her waist. And when Macie smiled she covered her mouth. It was a reflex reaction to cover the small gap between her teeth. Macie nodded to her mother that she would obey her request and left.

Marietta knew she would have to bring the girls to Italy. Show them the world. Let them experience life outside of such a small town.

The men had left with Clyde and the boys after lunch to go fishing. And when they returned they came in with Minnie. Giovanni showered, and so did Lorenzo. The boys were so exhausted Mirabella was able to lay them down. Eve went to sleep soon after. Minnie came with more food. And after everyone had eaten the men decided to go out with Clyde for a beer. Desert and conversation were what the women would do.

Mirabella sat back down in her chair. She looked over at her sister who seem transfixed on the girls. So her attention returned to Minnie. Mirabella knew the visit wasn't just a friendly one. Minnie had arrived with a purpose and made sure Clyde had taken the men out so she could have her say. It was a conversation she'd been running away from for nearly ten years.

“We should talk girls,” Minnie fixed her eyes on Mirabella. She smiled. “You ready to talk Mia?”

"Minnie, what happened between Cutter and me, it was a long time ago." Mirabella began.

"This ain’t about Cutter." Minnie soft smile dissolved. "Honey, this about the truth. Your family and its secrets go way back before you was born. I swear when I married Clyde I couldn't believe what big liars you all were."

Marietta laughed. Mirabella did not. “Who exactly is the liar Minnie?”

“Don’t take offense. You know I mean no harm. I understand. See that's how it is with us black country folks. We sure do love our secrets," Minnie said and sipped her tea. She turned her attention to Marietta. "Your grandfather was worshiped in this town. The whole town protected him. White and black. Shielded him from himself even. And it killed poor Bessie-Mae, it killed your mother too. These secrets." Minnie looked to Mirabella with an apologetic smile. "Secrets chased you away from town with guilt that didn't belong to you."

It was blasphemous to speak ill of her grandfather. She wanted to put a muzzle on Minnie. But the kind smile to Minnie's face and the raw truth coming from her kept her silent.

"I asked Minnie to talk to us. About this town. About our family," Marietta explained.

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