Page 42 of Ti Amo

“It’s beautiful.” Mira said.

Eve grabbed a bear and walked over to the marionettes not sure of what she was seeing. Her daughter then spotted an open toy chest, which she approached curiously. Mira entered the room. The crib drew her. There was such a cheery bright feeling to everything. She’d never focused much on surrounding Eve with such an expressive place to grow. She spent so much time mothering her and being selfish with her daughter’s love. Eve kept her company throughout their lonely isolation. Why hadn’t she decorated and made their cottage home? Maybe part of her knew this day would come. This felt like home.

“Are you okay? Mira? Are you crying?” Catalina came closer.

Mira smiled through her tears. “Thank you so much. For this. It’s wonderful.”

Catalina hugged her. “Don’t cry. I have something better to show you.” Catalina walked over to a door Mira believed was the closet. When it opened she found it was not. Catalina had made the room a connecting one to hers and Giovanni’s. She put her hand to her mouth. “Oh my, this is perfect!”

Catalina gasped. She stepped back with eyes stretched. At first Mira thought it was Eve. So she looked down for her daughter who was busy pulling one toy then the next from the chest. Then she realized what had made Catalina’s smile fade and her face go pale. It was the diamond sparkling on her ring finger.

“Gio proposed to you? My brother pr-pr-proposed?” Catalina stammered.

“He did.”

Stunned, Catalina continued to stare at her in disbelief. Mira held out her hand. “I feel honored that he gave me your mother’s ring.” She stepped toward her. “It happened so fast I had no idea he would. We were going to tell you and the family together.” Before she could finish Catalina pulled her into a sweet embrace, one so snug and loving that Mira had to suppress tears of joy.

“I’m shocked. My brother, he’s been so distant since you left. I’ve been so worried about him. Now you’re back and I feel like we will change too. He never said… he’s never wanted to marry. And we’ve all tried to convince him to take a wife, trust me! To see him and you together makes me so happy. It’s how it should be.”

Mira felt the cinch of small arms around her legs. She let go of Catalina to look down. Eve had come over to hug them both. “Look at you baby! You want some of this?” she picked Eve up. Both Mira’s and Catalina’s cheeks glistened with tears. They kissed and hugged on Eve, and her daughter giggled as if their kisses tickled her.

“What do you think of the crib?” Catalina pointed it out. Eve and Mira glanced over at a cherry wood antique crib pushed up against the wall. The bedding was all done in yellow and lavender. Mira placed Eve inside. Her daughter sprang to her feet with her arms reaching. When Mira didn’t lift her, she spit out her pacifier and called her name. “Ma-ma!”

“You think she’ll sleep in it? She slept with me and Franco last night.”

“We might need to move the crib into our room for the time being. If she sleeps in it, it’ll have to be with us near her.” Mira chuckled.

“Done.”

“It’s gorgeous.” Mira ran her hand over the top rail. “It looks old, handmade?”

Eve plopped down on her bottom, sucking hard on her pacifier watching them. Her daughter couldn’t decide on anger or curiosity over being placed in a crib. Mira preferred they sleep together. After Kei finally put the crib she’d ordered together, Mira never had the heart to place Eve in it.

“That’s my surprise. It’s Giovanni’s crib from when he was a baby. I had them drop the mattress so she couldn’t get out and hurt herself. Yes, I believe it was handmade.”

“Thank you for doing this. I don’t know what to say.”

“No need to do or say anything. We have a wedding to plan. After all you did for me and my wedding I can’t wait to help you plan yours.”

Mira’s smile dimmed. She wasn’t sure of how fast she could move with plans while the world thought she was dead. Catalina reached in the crib and picked up Eve. She put her on her hip.

“How is married life treating you?” Mira asked desperate to change the subject.

“Oh, it’s great. Just great.” Catalina said. She put Eve down and began to run in circles. Eve ran around the room chasing Catalina, laughing. Mira watched them with happiness in her heart. With each day she began to realize she had again found a family.

****

Catalina entered her bedroom and paused. Franco was dressed for the evening. He looked over at her with a familiar cold congested look of tolerance. “Ciao bella.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m needed inPiano di Sorrento. I will be late this evening.”

“No. No Franco. I was thinking we’d all have dinner tonight as a family. Giovanni and Mira have an announcement. You won’t believe it Franco. They’re getting married. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Bene. I’m happy to hear it. I’ll try to return early. It’s the best I can promise.”

He walked over and kissed her cheek. Catalina caught a whiff of his cologne and frowned. She took a long hard look at his attire. He wasn’t dressed for work. Franco opened a bottling factory with Giovanni’s backing and brought some of his friends from Sicily with their families to run it. None of them would put on an expensive suit for drinks at a pub. Three nights out of the week he spent out with the ‘men’ and each time she knew it was a lie. He never touched her and on the rare occasions they did make love it was as if neither were in the room. She knew the truth in her heart. He didn’t love her.

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