Page 203 of Vita Mia

“If they are to believe you barely escaped with your life then you need more than your acting skills.”

Lorenzo tossed down the last of his whiskey and cleaned the top row of his teeth with the tip of the tongue and stood. “Well, boys, let’s go get me ready for my big debut. But don’t fuck with my pretty face. Don’t want to scare the wife too much.”

The men glared at him. Lorenzo nodded at Dominic, then shook his head and walked out. It appeared that the more things changed the more things were left for him to regret. He couldn’t counsel Dominic against the path he was on. He felt like a hypocrite for questioning him. He’d just have to find his own way.

***

MARIETTA KEPT RUBBINGher palms together. They were raw from the constant friction. Her stomach was tight with muscle spasms. She’d eaten breakfast but she doubted that she’d keep it down. No matter how much she told herself she was ready for this moment. Lorenzo told her she was ready. But her guilt and regret overruled reason.

“They should have been here by now,” Marietta mumbled.

Sera glanced over to her. The room where they waited was next to the prosecutor’s office. It wasn’t ideal for a mother-daughter reunion. She had asked to greet her daughter somewhere park like or a playground but that damn Carabinieri refused.

“What happens next?” Marietta asked.

“We went over this. She’s your kid. She’ll come home with you. Mirabella went to the courts and relinquished her rights.”

“Home? You mean back to that prison you keep me in. How soon before I can take her and leave Rome?”

“It’s a villa with privacy, and protection. What more could you want for your daughter?” Sera said as she avoided the question. Marietta stood. She rubbed her hands together again. She glanced to the window and walked over to peer outside of the blinds. She saw the hustle and bustle of cars and Vespa motorbikes moving along the road.

“What if she doesn’t remember me?”

Sera looked up from her reading. Marietta turned and faced her doctor. “What if she doesn’t want to be with me. She’s a baby. I abandoned her.”

“You weren’t well. You handle stress differently now.”

“I don’t want to mess her up too. Lorenzo forgave me, but kids are different. I’ve been abandoned and hurt before I was old enough to crawl. That kind of stuff can scar you for life.” Marietta put a hand to her forehead. “Lorenzo understands, he had a terrible mother. I had no mother. Now look at our baby. She is just like us. No mother.”

“She always had you,” Sera said. “A mother’s bond doesn’t change.”

“I thought he would be angry at me for doing what I did. Risking her safety to get revenge on Gio when he begged me not too. But he forgave me. I don’t know if I can forgive myself—“

The door opened. Marietta nearly gave a startled cry of surprise. Her heart thundered in her chest so bad she was struggling to catch her breath. A man entered the room first and then Mirabella walked in after him. She carried Lorenza in her arms. Her baby girl looked directly at her while holding on to her aunt’s neck.

Marietta put her hands to her mouth. She couldn’t believe how much Lorenza had grown. She looked like a caramel doll baby with her long jet black curly hair. She stared at Marietta as if she were the stranger. She wore a lavender sundress and white sweater.

“Hi baby,” Marietta said and lowered her hands. “It’s me. Mommy.”

Lorenza rested the side of her face on Mirabella’s shoulder. It was then that Marietta’s gaze swiveled up to her sister. She hadn’t seen Mirabella in over a year. They stared at each other in silence. The doctor and the men with Mirabella didn’t speak. No one did. Not even Lorenza.

Mirabella made the first move. She approached. It freed Marietta from her emotional paralysis and she approached her as well. They met in the middle of the room.

“Lorenza,” Mirabella said softly. “Do you remember what I told you about mommy?”

Lorenza looked at Mirabella for a second and then glanced to Marietta. She nodded her head yes.

“This is her. Remember? This is mommy,” Mirabella said. “Like the pictures I show you.”

“Hi baby girl, auntie’s right. I’m your mama, I’ve missed you, pumpkin.” Marietta touched the sleeve of her sweater. Lorenza didn’t recoil. Marietta’s heart surged with the hope that her little girl might indeed know her. And then the toddler shocked the room of adults. She smiled and reached for Marietta.

“Oh my God!” Marietta exclaimed and took Lorenza into her arms. She broke into tears. She hugged her to her heart and peppered kisses all over her face.

“Oh, thank you God,” Marietta wept. “She remembers me.”

Marietta didn’t know how long she was on her knees crying and holding Lorenza. But her daughter didn’t turn her away or fight to be released. She was the sweetest little girl. An angel in her arms. Marietta thanked God and begged him for forgiveness.

When she looked up from her baby she saw Mirabella walking toward the door. There were too many officials in the room for them to really speak. And there was so much pain and loss between them that Marietta didn’t know if she could speak. But when Mirabella glanced back at her one last time she saw a familiar smile on her sister’s face. Only one that sisters would share. And then she was gone.

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