Page 66 of Vita Mia

Nico drank.

“You’ve been busy. But it’s only been a few months and we really haven’t talked.”

“Two months and three weeks,” Nico corrected him.

“Forgive me. Two months and three weeks,” Giovanni said. “Now, how are you?”

“My wife is dead. My child is dead. Carlo is dead. Lorenzo is dead. Life is shit. But it’s the life. What can you do?” Nico shrugged and pushed his empty beer to the bartender. Another pint was given to him without asking.

“I’d like you to visit us, stay with us. Instead of out here, why here?” Giovanni asked.

“Cecilia wanted me to build her a house out here. Wanted us to raise our children here.” Nico glanced over. “How is Evie?”

“Better. She didn’t speak much at first, but time out in Chianti and now here with her cousins she’s improving. I wanted to buy another puppy, but the doctors were against it. We’re just waiting until she’s ready.”

“Children don’t forget. Evie won’t.” Nico sighed. “It’s best to keep busy Gio. If I don’t, I don’t know what I’ll become.”

“I do. I should have offered you the full title and job when I had the chance. Become my consigliere again. I need one. Dominic is pressed here in Sicily. I need someone I can trust in the Campania. You and Renaldo are all I have left.”

Nico glanced over at him. “I’m not good at that job. You were right to call on your wife. We should all look to our wives for strength. We’d be better men for it.”

“You’re my friend. One of the few. You’re more than a construction worker or an enforcer. You see the trouble that the Santoro’s are stirring. You see the invasion of the Russians. The Camorristi’s bond is unravelling. You can be my eyes and ears. And that will keep you busy.”

“To what end?” Nico asked.

Giovanni scratched his chin. “I’m not sure I know the ending. I know this can’t go on. I have to deal with Puglia clan and I have to protect the family. I just need someone in my corner I can trust.”

He nodded.

Giovanni nodded.

“I am sorry, brother. I loved Cecilia. She was my family too.” Giovanni put his hand to his heart.

Nico looked away. He picked up his beer and drank again fixated on the television. Giovanni got up from his bar seat and put enough folded money on the table to make sure his friend didn’t have to worry about the tab. He started to the door.

“Gio?”

Giovanni paused.

“Can I come see Evie?”

“She’d like that.”

Nico nodded. “I’ll come by tomorrow.”

***

THE NEXT DAY

“No Anabella! It’s mine!” Eve said.

“I had it first Evie. Everything doesn’t belong to you.”

Anabella ran off with the wand and long container they used for dipping the wand to make bubbles. Eve stood there and watched her other cousins chase Anabella as if she were some magical faerie making magic for them. The strong wind off the sea blew so many bubbles.

“C’mon Evie!” Gino said as he ran after the other kids chasing Anabella. Eve didn’t budge. She had her turn and it was fun, but she felt empty when the fun wasn’t centered on her. She sat on the sand. They were at the beach. Her mother and father had made a picnic for the kids and not far behind her the adults were together at a large picnic table eating and drinking. This was supposed to be fun. It wasn’t.

Eve sat there staring at the ocean. She wasn’t allowed to go in and swim any longer. Her mother was afraid she’d get hurt.Why?Swimming was not the same as fire.

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