Page 130 of Vita Mia

“She’s past that,” Nico said.

Mirabella blinked away her tears. “She doesn’t talk to me Nico. She won’t let me in. I lost my daughter, and every time I see you with her I’m reminded why.”

“Don’t give up on her. She needs her parents. It’s all she ever really needed.”

Mirabella sipped her gin this time with a shaky hand. The day of secrets and reveals had taken its toll. She was battle weary from dragging up all of her painful past alone. She ached in her heart and soul for Giovanni’s comfort. For years she had to face the world alone.

“I don’t care what these feelings are that I have for her,” Nico confessed. “I swear on my life. On my honor and my pledge to my best friend. I will never betray Giovanni or you by crossing the line with Eve. I’ll never touch her.”

Mirabella nodded.

“Can I take one of the cars and leave?” he asked. “She brought me in. Tell her I’ll bring Boo-Boo back in the morning before she leaves for Paris.”

“I think that would be best,” Mirabella agreed.

Nico stood. He walked over and leaned in and kissed Mirabella on the cheek. “She loves you. And she knows you love her. She just wants you to stop feeling so much guilt over her mistakes. They belong to her Mirabella. Not you and Giovanni.”

“I’m her mother. I’m not sure I know how to not see her failures as my fault.”

Nico smiled and left.

“That’s what makes you a good mother.”

***

“SO YOU’RE GOING TOleave without saying goodbye?”

Nico turned with the car keys in his hand. He was a step away from the car door when she spoke from the darkness. Eve walked out of the shadows in the sparse light of the moon. She crossed her arms over her breast and took a defensive stand that he knew too well. She demanded an answer without asking for it.

“I think it’s best that I go now.”

“Why? Because mum said so? Right? She makes you feel like our friendship is wrong, and you can’t defend yourself? Same story. Same Nico. It’s this place you know. Sicily. All of the history of my father and uncles. It chains you to the past. If you left you’d be free Nico.”

“Your mother knows what’s best for you Eve.”

“You ignored what I just said.”

“It’s late. I need to go. Get some rest, it’s been a long day for you.”

“I’m a grown woman! Has everybody forgotten that? Don’t send me to bed like a child.”

“I’ll be back in the morning with Boo-Boo.”

“Is it really so disgusting that I’m in love with you. Does it embarrass you that much?”

Nico closed the car door.

“You don’t disgust me or your mother. Gio and I are best friends.”

“Were best friends. Right?” Eve asked. “Were!”

“Regardless, I respect him and I would never betray him this way.”

“What’s funny is that you and Mama have the biggest problem with me being who I am, but my Papa never did. He learned from his mistakes with Catalina and Uncle Domi. He’s always accepted me. No matter what decisions I made.” She raised her hand that was gloved. “He went through the fire, he knows what it’s like to be scarred, burned, and to lose it all.”

“Eve...”

“He never blamed you for getting close to mum before and after he was in jail. He changed Nico. He let all of this go for us. He didn’t become a coward like you, or a tyrant like Uncle Domi. He put us first. The only thing you ever put first is your grief and guilt.”

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