Page 96 of Vita Mia

Mirabella was startled by her cries. She left a sleeping Leeza and Lorenza on the bed and fled the room for Eve’s. She was met in the hall by Zia whose room was between hers and her daughters. They rushed inside to Eve screams. She was wailing and fighting against her nightmare. Mirabella reached her child and drew her into her arms.

“Eve! Evie, calm down.”

“Mummy,” Eve groaned. “It’s Papa. He’s on fire! Papa’s on fire!”

“No, no baby, he’s not.”

“Paaappppaaaaa!” Eve wept. “I saw him on fire. I made fire again! He was in a car burning!”

“Eve, it’s a dream. Sweetheart,” she grabbed her face firmly. “Open your eyes.”

“Noooooo!”

“Open your eyes and look at Mama.”

Eve opened her eyes. She wept.

“Mummy?”

“Yes, baby, see, I’m here. There is no fire. Papa is safe, you’re safe. We’re all safe.”

“Where is he then?”

“He had to take a trip. Remember. The people wanted to talk to him so he left with them for business.”

“I saw it. He was on fire. In a car. They were all on fire mummy. I tried to put the fire out but I couldn’t open the car door. I tried. But I couldn’t stop him from burning. They were all on fire. Him and the others.”

“Shhh,” she pulled her closer and held her tight to her breast. She looked back at Zia. “Can you sleep with Leeza and Lorenza? I’ll stay in here tonight with Eve.”

Zia smiled. She nodded and left. Mirabella eased onto the bed with her daughter. She drew the blanket up and over them both. Eve shuddered so hard her teeth chattered. Before she wouldn’t open her eyes. Now they were stretched wide staring at some horror that Mirabella couldn’t see. She and Giovanni had tried to bring in a doctor and even a priest. But Eve would never lower her defenses enough for them to get through to her. Then the nightmares stopped and they were foolish enough to believe that she had made it pass the terror. After seeing her father arrested and taken away she’d been brave. A helpful obedient child who asked for nothing. She cared for Leeza and Lorenza as if they were dolls for dress up and playtime.

Tonight, it all came crashing down. And Mirabella was so torn over not seeing or hearing from Giovanni in two days that she couldn’t identify the trigger.

She began to stroke her daughters head and she held her to her chest. She hummed ‘His Eyes Is On The Sparrow’ for her and sang it softly. It was what her grandmother sang to her when she was unable to sleep. Soon Eve’s trembling began to ease. She could feel her daughter soften in her arms. And Mirabella’s own fears began to lessen. She prayed silently over her children, and then she prayed for her husband. All she had left was prayer.

***

NEXT DAY

“Mum?” Eve said.

“Yes?” Mirabella said and handed her a slice of cheese.

“There’s a lady here with Dominic to see you,” Eve said. She walked out nibbling on the cheese. Mirabella frowned. She hadn’t expected a visitor. She was in the middle of preparing lunch for the kids. Catalina and Zia were in the garden bringing in more vegetables for dinner. Mirabella turned down the gas stove and walked back through her villa. The sounds of the kids laughing and playing always soothed her. But last night had been hard. Eve’s nightmares had ended, hers had started. All night she tossed and turned imagining the worst for Giovanni. She was ready to leave. She was desperate to leave.

She heard voices in the parlor. When she entered she expected nothing, and with low expectations the surprise nearly knocked her off her feet. “Sophia?”

Sophia Ramazzini stood before her with a warm smile. “Donna Mirabella.”

It had been over four years since she last saw Sophia. Before Cecilia was the only caregiver for Eve it was Sophia who helped her. And then her daughter Carmella betrayed the family and disappeared. Sophia and her son had to part ways soon after.

“What are you doing here?” Mirabella kissed her on both cheeks.

“She’s here to help,” Dominic stood. “She heard about the fire and the trouble with Giovanni.”

“Help? You want to come work for us again?”

“I want to help you Donna. I know a lot has happened. I told Dominic I can travel back to Naples with you. To help with the children.”

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