Part 49 (2/2)
The Don ran his hand smoothly over the book. The t.i.tle was To Kill a Mockingbird. It was Lisa's. Her favorite. On his long journey home she gave him the book to take with him. It spoke of racial intolerance; it spoke of the human spirit. He often read it over the years. He'd trace his fingers over the pa.s.sages underlined by her with a red pen. Words that leapt off the pages, felt real. Each highlighted sentence seemed spoken from Lisa.
He smiled.
The doctors had already informed him he existed on borrowed time. And when he met Lisa on the other side he'd have the forgiveness from their girls to bring to her.
Mancini kissed the weathered binding of the book and opened it to read.
* B *
Relaxed with contracts strewn about him as he lay in bed propped by pillows Dominic struggled to focus on the fine print. He couldn't sleep. He had done well to avoid Catalina all day. But in the night he found it hard not to think of her. He wasn't sure if she knew he had returned. He had lost the privilege to see her. Right now he just existed.
The phone rang.
”p.r.o.nto?” he answered.
”She's awake!” Giovanni said.
Dominic sat up. He removed his gla.s.ses. ”When?”
”A minute ago!” He could hear the elation in Giovanni's voice. ”She woke up and touched my head. The doctors have her now. She's awake and she spoke. Bella is fine.”
”I'm on my way!” Dominic pulled back the sheets.
”No. Come tomorrow. I want to be alone with her. Tell the family and come tomorrow,” Giovanni said.
”I will. I'm so relieved, Gio. I'll tell everyone.”
”Ciao,” Giovanni hung up the call. Dominic got out from under the covers and found his robe. He eased his feet into his slippers and walked out of his room. The first door he visited was Lorenzo. After two knocks Lorenzo answered in his boxers.
”What is it?” he groaned.
”Mira's awake.”
”She is?”
”Tell Marietta. Gio expects us to come in the morning.”
”Bene. Grazie,” Lorenzo said.
”Prego,” Dominic replied.
Lorenzo closed the door.
”Mira?” Marietta asked. She held the sheet to her bare chest and stared at him with fear in her eyes. When Marietta returned home to him late in the evening she was so emotionally exhausted he made love to her and put her to bed without questioning her about the events of the day. It felt good to be the one to deliver the news.
”Your sister is awake. She'll want to see you first thing in the morning.”
”Oh my goodness.” Marietta covered her mouth. ”Thank you G.o.d!” she got of bed, and ran to him naked. Lorenzo brought her up into his arms and hugged her. ”Thank you G.o.d! Thank you!” Marietta cheered and kissed his face repeatedly.
* B *
Catalina heard a gentle knocking at the door. If she had been sleeping the visitor wouldn't have woken her. But how could she sleep? She heard from Rosetta that Dominic had returned. He'd travelled between the villa and the hospital yet she never saw him and he made no effort to see her.
The knocking came again.
Catalina turned on the lamp at her bedside. She didn't bother to put her robe on. She went to the door in her nights.h.i.+rt and panties. ”Who is it?”
”Domi.”
Catalina fixed her hair and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She sucked down a deep breath and exhaled before she opened the door. ”What are you doing here?” she asked. ”I thought you were avoiding me?”
”I came to tell you that Mira's awake,” Dominic said.
”Really?”
”Gio called. The doctors are with her now,” Dominic smiled.
”Come in.” Catalina further extended the invitation by opening the door wider. He looked tempted. She could see by the way his gaze climbed her body and lingered at her nipples or dropped to her bare thighs.
”It's late. Get some rest. We'll leave early in the morning,” he said and turned.
”Domi!”
He paused.
”Is that all? Really? Is that all you have to say to me?” Catalina asked.
He glanced back at her. She waited. She hoped. But he nodded yes before he walked away.
”Domi!” she called after him as he kept going. ”Vaffanculo!” she slammed the door. His rejection after delivering such good news cut her deep. Catalina fumed.
* B *
The doctors kept with their exams for over an hour. The waiting was torture. Eventually the door opened and the nurses wheeled her bed back inside the room. Mira sat up against her pillows, alert.
”Signor, Dr. Buhari has been called. The doctors will meet with you when he arrives.”
”Grazie,” Giovanni said.
”Babies?” Mira rasped.
Giovanni looked to his wife. She had tears in her eyes. Her hand went to her heart. ”My babies?” she asked again while patting her heart. ”Where?” she asked.
”Yes. They're in the neonatal unit. They're premature remember? Small. But they've been waiting on you.” Giovanni smiled.
”Take. Me.” Mira moved the sheet aside. Giovanni hurried over.
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