Page 69 of Vita Mia

“Yay!” Gino grinned. Gianni came running into the kitchen followed by Eve holding Lorenza’s hand. “It’s ready. Mum said it’s ready.”

“Can we wake him now?” Eve asked.

Mirabella looked down at the children. She wore Leeza in a cloth sling around her chest while she frosted the cupcakes. Her baby still insisted on breastfeeding though she was nine months.

“Yes, wake Papa.”

“No running!” Zia called out to the kids as they all raced from the kitchen cheering. She looked over at Mirabella and smiled. “He’s going to love this.”

Mirabella sighed. “Domi called last night. He said the Carabinieri were all over Bagheria making arrests. He said all of them were our men not his.”

“It won’t touch Gio. It never touches Gio,” Zia said with confidence. Mirabella tried to give her a smile of agreement but her heart was heavy. She wasn’t blinded to the dangers or consequences of their life, like she once was. Giovanni had temporarily taken his hands off the wheel after the fire. Despite warnings from Dominic he stayed focused on the family. Now even the Camorristi couldn’t be trusted to respect his authority. Her husband had a backup plan. It was the riskiest plan she’d ever conceived, and more and more, it felt like their only hope.

“It’s like we take two steps forward, and then four steps back,” Mirabella said.

“Any news on Marietta?” Zia asked as she cut the fruit.

“No. Nothing. I don’t even know if she is still in Maddalena. And if Gio knows he isn’t telling me. I guess he doesn’t want me to worry.”

“What wife doesn’t worry?”

Mirabella smiled. “Not a wife married to the Camorra.”

***

“HE’S STILL SLEEPING,” Gino whispered to the kids who waited outside of their parent’s room. Eve looked down at the little ones. Lola was the bravest when it came to their sleeping father. Maybe because she was just a walking, giggling toddler. She could always go into Papa’s office when he said he didn’t want to be disturbed and make him fix a toy or hold her. Eve came up with an idea. She smiled and stooped before Lola.

“Lola? You want to wake Pop-Pop?” Eve asked.

Lola blinked at her as if understanding.

“Pop-Pop’s got a treat for you. Go in there and get it.”

Lola sucked her middle two fingers. She nodded that she did want a treat. She called Giovanni Pop-Pop instead of Papa. Probably because she couldn’t speak as well. in her baby talk. Eve pushed her inside the room. “Go in. Tell Pop-Pop to wake up.”

Lola went inside the room. The kids stood at the door watching. She stopped at Giovanni’s bed and then grabbed the bedsheets and climbed on top. Giovanni didn’t wake. She crawled over and patted him several times. Still Giovanni didn’t wake.

“She’s too little Evie. You have to do it,” Gino demanded.

Eve knew Papa wasn’t in the best of moods lately. She could tell. And she heard Papa and her Mom arguing the day after Christmas. Then he disappeared for a few days. But he came home last night like he promised and spent New Year’s Eve with them. Today was a special day. She was the oldest. Gino was right. She should wake him.

Eve went inside the room. Lola sat on the bed next to Giovanni and sucked her fingers perplexed.

“Good try Lola,” Eve said with a smile.

“Papa! Papa!” Eve shouted. “Wake up!”

Giovanni shot up in bed. He frowned and narrowed his eyes on Eve. And then Lola attacked him. Giovanni fell back on the pillows. Lola laid on his chest trying to hug him. He chuckled. He picked Lola up and held her over him. Immediately Eve knew her father was back to his good mood. Lola squealed and laughed as Giovanni shook her playfully. The twins ran in and got up on the bed and fell on Giovanni as well.

“Come, it’s time Papa,” Gino and Gianni said in unison.

He sat up with Lola, moving one child and then the next.

“Pop-Pop!” Lola said.

Giovanni looked at his children a bit confused.

“It’s time, Papa,” Eve said.

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