Page 52 of Vita Mia

They toured the market and Mirabella bought a scarf, and then a handmade doll for Eve. Giovanni looked at some leather belts and heckled the man down to nothing before paying full price. In the market, you were expected to bargain. The first price was not the price, not even the second or third. A smart shopper would walk away as if insulted by the price and be pursued with a bargain they couldn’t refuse. That was the fun of it all. But today she and her Don wanted to be generous. And they were. Soon the disapproving looks were replaced by friendly greetings and a few people coming to take pictures with her and Giovanni.

“Let’s eat,” he whispered in Italian in her ear.

Mirabella agreed. They walked the courtyard to the restaurant and was given a seat nearest the open archway so they could see the visitors stroll along the covered sidewalks. The owners came over and greeted Giovanni. Mirabella smiled and thanked them for their condolences and offers of prayers. The best Chianti, next to their own, was brought to the table. Then came an appetizer plate with thinly sliced salami, prosciutto, cheese and jam.

Giovanni poured Mirabella a glass.

“I can’t. I’m breastfeeding,” she said.

“You pumped for the day, right?” he asked.

“Yes, but she prefers my breast to sleep,” Mirabella smiled.

“Me too,” Giovanni said. “One glass. After today you deserve it.”

Mirabella was hesitant and then relented. A glass of red wine was indeed what the doctor ordered. She took a sip of the nectar and let the dark chocolate smoky taste explode in flavor over her tongue.

“Talk to me Bella. You know I love to listen.”

“I’m fine Gio.”

“I believe you are. But we’re here and alone now, and something is wrong. Something you’re not telling me. What is it?” he asked.

She glanced to the couple seated on a bench. They looked young, Belinda and Leo’s age. The girl smiled and blushed as her suitor held her hand and whispered softly to her.

“It’s my fault that Belinda jumped.”

“Of course, it’s not.”

“No Gio. It is. I was there when she went into distress. I saw them put something in her IV to calm her. And they wanted to strap her to the bed.” She couldn’t look at him as she recalled her terrible mistake. She looked down into the wine. “I told them not too. And then I walked out of the room. She was sedated, out of her mind with grief. And I walked away. She had no one.” Mirabella sniffed up her tears. “You know Marietta said there was something about me. Something fake. She said everyone acts like I’m some jewel, but really, I’m as self-centered as my sister. When I think about Belinda and my sister, when I think about Cecilia and Leo who protected me for years. I think about everything I took from them and how... and what... and Fabiana... and—“

Giovanni reached across the table and took her hand. Mirabella nodded that she was okay. She let tears fall again. She let the pain move through her instead of denying the hurt.

“I’m sorry Gio. I want to be a good person. I’m afraid I’m not.”

“Bella, you are a good person. And you have made mistakes. I’ve made them too. But you never did anything to intentionally hurt any of them. Ever.”

She looked up at him through her tears.

His eyes glistened with repressed tears.

“I want to take your pain away. But that’s not how it works. You have to face it,” Giovanni said.

“I’m trying.”

He took her hand and kissed it.

She softened.

“I wish the world knew you like I do. That people loved you, like I do. I wish they knew my Gio.”

He let go her hand and drank his wine smiling. She smiled and fed him from her plate. They talked about the vineyard, and the work that needed to be done. Giovanni eventually told her all about Carlo sending Shae away with his son.

“Where is he now?” Mirabella asked as soup was brought to the table.

“He went back to work. That’s what Renaldo tells me. But he’s in no condition. He broke another man’s jaw last night for staring at him too long.”

“He’s rock bottom?”

---