Page 22 of La Dolce Vita

Catalina nodded. He took her hand instead of guiding her like a blind woman. She could smell the difference from outdoors to indoors when they entered. But the silence was confusing. She turned her head to Dominic when she spoke. "Where are we?"

His hands went to the slipknot behind her head and loosened it. The blindfold slipped.

"È una sorpresa!" yelled the crowd. Many used hand crackers to pop and snap, each released black and silver confetti which rained over the tables and floated everywhere.

Catalina gasped. Her eyes stretched, and her hand went to her heart. Never in her life had she been so caught off guard. Dominic hugged her from behind, and she grinned.It was a surprise.For her!

Tanti auguri a te

Tanti auguri a te

Tanti auguri a Catalina

Tanti auguri a teeeeeeee!

The applause was louder than thunder. Catalina tried not to cry. And then she saw her brother and Mirabella approaching. The kids ran to her and hugged her legs. She thought everyone had forgotten. But they did this? For her?

Giovanni walked over. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her face. She hugged her brother so tightly. She loved him with all her heart, even more of her heart than she knew to be possible. She couldn't let go. She held on to him and felt her self melting with happiness.

"I love you, do you know that?" he whispered in her ear. "You're my first lovepiccoletta. And I'm so proud of you, of the woman you've become."

"I love you too, brother," she wept. He lifted her chin. He kissed the tip of her nose. "Make me an uncle soon, eh? A godfather?"

She laughed and hugged him. It had been so long since she was held by Giovanni. She forgot how safe and loved his embrace made her feel. He let her go so that Mirabella could hug her.

"Come here," Mirabella said. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"You did this? All of this? How? When?"

"Shh! Enjoy. Do you think I would forget the most important day of the year?" Mirabella let her go and grinned.

"You look beautiful, look at you!" Catalina said of her sister in-law’s transformation. "Isn't she beautiful, Giovanni?"

Her brother tossed up Gino in the air and mumbled his reply. "The dress is too short."

"Don't listen to him," Mirabella chuckled. "You need to greet your guests. Go on, Domi, take her around."

Dominic stepped up, and Catalina hooked her arm around his. He led her over to the first table, and she glanced back at Mirabella who beamed with happiness. She loved her family. She made her way through the crowds and was kissed by so many people that she was certain her blush had rubbed off both cheeks. Tables were lined with gifts for her. And one had so many envelopes of cash that two of Giovanni's men stood next to it, armed with guns. Not since her wedding to Franco had she had so much attention focused on her.

The music played outside. A DJ booth was set up. She could see that the festivities would go all through the night. She was ready to party until she dropped.

***

"No. No. I dun no want it, Mama! Nooooooooo!" Gianni pushed the fork away.

Mirabella worried over his lack of appetite lately. He was the last child of hers to leave the breast, and he did so with much protest. A month ago she and Zia had decided to take away the bottle. Gianni was cranky and less agreeable when it came to meals, even if he had his cup and all his favorite foods.

She glanced up to the other kids who were eating with no problem. Maybe she should take him outside and give him his cup to settle him down. As if reading her mind Giovanni reached for Gianni and picked him up out of his chair with one arm. She hated when he was so rough with them. He put him on his lap and began to feed him from his plate. Apparently, her husband was silently observing the tug-of-war between mother and child. Gianni ate every bite his father fed him without complaint.

"Thank you, Gio," she mumbled.

"Relax, Bella, you have put on a great party," he said. He reached over with his free hand and touched her thigh. He leaned over and she leaned in. He kissed her cheek.

“Boss, ah, I need to speak with you,” Albirto said.

“No. Go away,” Eve replied.

Giovanni chuckled, but Mirabella didn't. She couldn't believe her daughter's reaction. The rule at home was that Giovanni was not to be disturbed at dinner time. Apparently, her daughter thought it applied here.

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