“Yes?”
“I need you to do something for me.” He came in closer. “Can you do me a favor?”
His closeness made me forget about everything else surrounding us. I didn’t know if it was the seriousness in his tone, or the fact that my heart was beating out of my chest, but it left me speechless. All I could do was nod in response.
“I need you to wear that locket at all times. Never take it off. Do you understand me?”
I nodded again. It sounded more like a plea than a question. The tone in his voice let me know he was serious.
“I promise,” I said and meant it. I wouldn’t take it off.
Chapter 15
Christmas day went by faster than I wanted it to. My mother was super excited when we all finally arrived at her house. The first thing we always did as a family was to have the youngest walking member of the family be the lucky one who had the privilege of laying baby Jesus in his bed in our life-sized nativity scene. It was a tradition that I loved and looked forward to every Christmas.
We ate breakfast as a family and then we spent the next two hours opening presents. I loved watching all my nieces and nephews open their gifts. The look on their faces when they got something they really wanted was worth more than gold itself. The adults in our family didn’t give gifts to each other, which I was thankful for. As much as I loved my family, some of them had terrible taste and, in my opinion, presents were for the kids anyways.
Dinner was delicious! My mother had prepared a three course meal that began with appetizers around four that consisted of antipasti, prosciutto, and vegetable and olive salad. The main course was gnocchi with marinara sauce, linguine with red clam sauce, and roasted halibut with potatoes, with sides of string bean medley, fresh asparagus, and garlic broccoli.
After dinner, we made our way to the dessert table, which was set up with several different desserts including Venetian cookies, mostaccioli, wine poached pears, and tiramisu.
The evening ended with hot chocolate and all my family gathered in the family room around my father. We always ended Christmas the same way we started it, with a tradition. As he read the story of the birth of Jesus, I looked around the room at all my family that was there: my aunts and uncles, my cousins and their children, my four older brother’s and their wives and children, Emilio’s mother and his older sister, and Dante and Emilio. I was beyond blessed to have them all. I was the luckiest girl in the world in more than one way.
***
The next few days flew by fast. Everyone did their own thing for the most part, but one evening all my brothers and Emilio were called to my parents’ house. My father wanted to talk with all of them, so I decided I would tag along and spend some time with my mother.
We had been watching a movie when I decided we needed a few snacks, so I told her I would be right back and headed to the kitchen. When I passed by my father’s study, Emilio’s voice rose above the others, so I quietly crept over and leaned in to hear what was so important.
“I’m one hundred percent sure it was the Heinrichs who attacked us.” Emilio’s voice was firm.
“They’re getting more aggressive.” Marcello’s tone was harsh and a little frantic. “We’re positive Lily has already been approached by one of them.”
“The way they’re coming at us, it wouldn’t surprise me. Nikolas is a sneaky piece of work,” Giovanni spoke up.
“They’re one step ahead of us every single time,” Giorgio chimed in.
“We need to find a way to get ahead of them. If not, Lily could end up getting hurt. We need to protect her.” Benito’s voice was firm.
I didn’t hear anything after that. I was shocked by what I had just heard. I lost my balance and nudged the door, which caused their conversation to come to an abrupt halt.
I raced around the corner and held my breath as the door opened and then completely shut. I walked swiftly to the kitchen in a daze as I thought about what I had just heard. Who were the Heinrichs? Were they the ones who killed Roman? Why were they after me? Why did my family always think I had to be protected from something?
My mother noticed right away when I returned that something had happened in the time I was gone. I played it off as nothing and we finished our movie as we waited for the men to finish their meeting. I honestly couldn’t remember how the movie ended, which was a shame, because I really enjoyed the beginning.
That evening when Emilio and I had returned back to the house and crawled into bed, I asked him who the Heinrichs were. His shocked expression, half cough, and moment of silence was as if I had told him I was marrying Lucas. I explained how I accidently heard the name when I had passed the study tonight. I neglected to tell him I listened to a short portion of the conversation, mostly because of the reaction I was receiving at the moment. I had planned on telling him everything I had heard, but tonight was not the night.
Emilio’s explanation of the Heinrichs was that they were an unfriendly rival of my father’s and they were trying to commandeer parts of his business. He never mentioned me, or that I was at the center of this whole thing. Emilio’s pointless jabbering only made me more curious and more impatient. I would leave it alone for now, but I would eventually figure it out whether anyone liked it or not.
***
The warmth of Emilio’s body woke me up the next morning. I had two covers on me and was curled up in his arms. I was so hot that it made my stomach turn. I tried slowly to get up without waking him, but no such luck. I motioned for him to go back to sleep as I headed out the door.
Violet was in the kitchen making breakfast for everyone, so I joined her and within less than thirty minutes, everyone else had congregated in the kitchen for breakfast as well. After we ate, we all went our own way. Emilio and I volunteered to clean the kitchen. We stayed quiet for a while, just me and him. I knew he had something on his mind. He usually wasn’t this silent, or so concentrated on doing the dishes.
“Something wrong?” I finally asked looking up from drying the last dish before putting it away.
“Yes and no.” He shrugged.
There was a battle raging in his head. I could see it in his eyes. I stared at him for a moment waiting for him to tell me what was wrong, but he just turned his back and started cleaning the counters.
“Well, are you going to tell me?” I huffed at him.
He turned around slowly placing his back against the counter, not even looking up at me. I hated when he did that. It meant what he had to say pained him. His face contorted a few times, and then he sighed.
“I have to go back to New York today.” He shrugged before turning back around. “And I don’t want to.” Now I understood his solemn mood. “I don’t want to leave you,” he said with his head hanging low and his shoulders hunched.
You, rang in my ears. We had been spending time together and acting like we used to. Intimate moments exchanged, and the meaning behind that one little you was more than just me. He didn’t want to leave me and he didn’t want to leave us. Things had been going well.
My heart tugged toward him and I hesitated for a moment before I walked up behind him and put my arms around him, hugging him with everything I had.
“I don’t want to leave you behind, not right now. We seem to have found a good spot and I like the place we are at.”
“Me too,” I whispered.
He turned around and hugged me. There was just something about Emilio. I was really into Lucas, but every time I turned around, Emilio was there. He captured my attention and that needed to stop. I had been hiding behind him the last few weeks because he was familiar. We aren’t good for each other, and I know that and even he knows that.
Emilio leaned back and put his hands gently on my face. I didn’t want to look up at him, but I did. His eyes, gray as steel, were looking back at me. I could see through them, like a window, and all I saw was torment.
My breath caught as he stared into mine like he was searching my soul, searching for
something he wanted an answer to. My heart beat faster with every second he gazed into my eyes. I even lost myself for a moment trying to figure out what he was looking for. My brain was screaming at me to back away, but my heart was overriding it.
As Emilio’s lips started moving closer to mine, I closed my eyes and I knew I couldn’t turn my head. I didn’t want to.
“Hey…guys,” Violet said as she entered the kitchen.
Emilio and I both jumped away from each other.
“Sorry, I didn’t know I would be interrupting you two,” she said, giving me a disapproving look.
“No,” both Emilio and I said in unison.
“You’re not interrupting us,” Emilio said.
“What’s up?” I asked feeling a little ashamed.
“Dante asked me to tell Emilio that his plane leaves in four hours. He just booked his flight.”
“Thank you Violet,” he said as he threw away the paper towels he had been using to clean the counters with. “I guess I will go and pack.”
I just nodded as I watched him walk out of the room. He was barely out of view when Violet stomped over to me.
“I don’t want to hear it Violet. I know.” I didn’t even let her start. I walked past her and headed upstairs to help Emilio pack.
***
I couldn’t believe it was already the day before New Year’s Eve. Emilio had only been gone a day, but it already felt like a lifetime. I didn’t know if it was him I missed, or the warm body that made me feel so safe at night.
I looked like warmed-over death when I entered my parents’ house to help my mother and the rest of the girls decorate for my parents’ New Year’s Eve party.
Violet and I worked hard all day to get the decorations changed out from Christmas to New Year’s. We went with an almost Mardi Gras look with purples, greens, and golds.
We had brought in propane heaters for the back patio and strung lights outside. The men were in charge of setting up the firework station and getting them in place. We worked diligently, and by the time we left that night, I couldn’t believe that tomorrow would be the last day of the year and a new one would be starting soon.
The next morning went by fast. Violet and I got up as soon as we could and headed straight for my parents’. We were barely through the door when my mother started calling for us.
“Hey, can you two please come help me in the kitchen?”
I bet more than anything she had been up for several hours cooking. Violet went and got the last minute decorations from my mother’s office as I went straight to the kitchen. I was right. She had been feverishly working away.
Her hair was pulled back in a bun, but the front strings had fallen out, making her look like she had just ran a marathon. Her apron was covered in flour and an assortment of other things, and her face was flushed. I could tell she was stressing.
“So what do you need help with?” I asked as I walked over to the drawer next to the stove and pulled out another apron. I went ahead and set another one on the counter for Violet.
“I need you to start on desserts. I’m so far behind it seems. The party starts in just a few hours!”
“I'm on it!” I said with a salute toward her.
My sisters-in-law were fast at work as well, peeling or stirring something on the stove or helping with whatever else my mother needed them to do. I started on the desserts, but Violet wasn’t too far behind me. She didn’t skip a beat as she picked up some ingredients and started mixing.
That was how I knew she had spent way too many holidays with us. She could walk up and start helping without even being told what to do.
Violet and I spent the next couple of hours working on the desserts. We had so many different kinds. I actually lost track of what we had.
When we finally finished, we had less than an hour to get ready before our guests would be arriving. The two of us hustled back down to our house to take a quick shower and get ready in record time. We were going to be a few minutes late, but we didn’t think it would be that noticeable.
Violet and I slipped in the kitchen door hoping no one would notice we were late and joined in to the closest conversation that held our attention.
The house was booming. The guests were continuing to arrive and my family was scattered throughout the house. My nieces and nephews were running around the house, going up and down the stairs constantly.
Dinner was soon served and it was delicious. Violet, Dante, and I sat on the patio by ourselves. Being in the house with so many people made us feel a little claustrophobic. It was nice and quiet out there, besides the dull roar of the conversations going on inside.
After dinner, the music started to play and everyone made their way to the dance floor we had set up in the living room. Violet and I sent my mother to join the party as we cleaned up the kitchen, put up several tables we wouldn’t need again, and swept the floor. It didn’t take us long, even though we did take a break here and there to show off our tango or salsa moves.
My father and brother’s friends flung Violet and I around the dance floor. Dante watched Violet with jealous eyes when some of the younger men would ask her to dance. He was still healing and couldn’t quite master dancing with his arm in a sling. It was hilarious to watch his face every time a gentleman would ask her to dance.
I was having a good time, and for just a little while, I forgot about life outside of those four walls.
It was ten minutes until midnight when we were all ushered out the back door. My favorite part was about to begin… the fireworks! Violet and I helped my mother bring out the champagne glasses for the adults and sparkling cider for the kids, along with the traditional lentils we would snack on while we watched the fireworks. They were supposed to be good luck and were believed to bring money in the New Year.
We waited and counted down the seconds, then cheered and toasted the New Year when the fireworks began. Everyone took their seats to watch. My brothers always did the most amazing show. I sat there in awe as we watched it. It was wonderful!
When the fireworks ended, the rest of us got the chance to join in. We had sparklers for the kids and more dangerous ones for the adults. Violet and I grabbed our favorites, roman candles, and lit up the sky along with everyone else.
It was two in the morning by the time our fireworks fun was over with. Everyone that was still there helped clean up the yard, before they said their goodbyes. It was just Violet, Dante, me, and my parents left by two-thirty.
“Do you want us to help you clean up tonight?” I asked as an unintentional yawn escaped me.
“No sweetheart, it’s okay. We can clean up tomorrow,” my mother said with a mimicked yawn.
“Liliana,” my father spoke up just as we were about to step out the door. “When you return tomorrow, I would like to discuss something with you.”
Oh great! Now I was nervous. Every time he needed to talk to me, it never ended well. This wasn’t going to be good. I could feel it.
Chapter 16
I didn’t wake up too late the next morning. I got up, showered, dressed, and was out the door by ten. Everyone was still asleep, so I quietly made my way down the stairs and out the door.
My parents were finishing up brunch when I walked through the door. My mother offered to feed me, but I wasn’t hungry. I went straight to cleaning up and started taking down all the decorations I was starting to curse at. Why had Violet and I put up so much?
My mother joined me shortly and helped me pack the leftover decorations we were going to be keeping for the next year. It took us a while and when we finished cleaning up, I headed toward my father’s study, already fearful about how this conversation was going to end.
I hesitated not wanting to go in. I didn’t know if I was prepared for what he had to say. I took a deep breath and knocked.
“Come in,” my father said.
I opened the door and walked over to the chair in front of his desk. He was working on something, so
I patiently waited as he finished. The longer I sat there, the more nervous I became. I knew whatever he was going to say wasn’t going to end well.
“It’s been over two weeks since the incident in New Jersey. I hope you have recovered,” he said as he placed the papers he had been working on in the top drawer of his desk.
Great, this was how he was going to start the conversation off. He hoped I had recovered from the incident. No one recovers from what we, in that house, had been through. I’ve learned to live with it. I took in a deep breath. I wasn’t going to lose my temper when we hadn’t even got to the second sentence yet.
“I'm doing okay. I still have some good days and some bad, but I’m coping.”
“I'm very pleased to hear that,” he said folding his hands on his desk and sitting straight up. “Now for the reason I called you here today.”
Keep calm, I told myself.
“I know this,” he began, “isn’t what you want to hear at the moment, but there is still plenty of work that needs to be done in New York, so I will need you to move back there.”
What the hell?
“Emilio is there upgrading a new house he has found. He’s getting it ready for you to move into. You leave in a couple of weeks.”
I felt my entire body stiffen as I shot up out of the seat and took a defensive stance.
“No,” I said firmly crossing my arms across my chest.
“What did you just say to me?” His right eyebrow and voice rose as he looked at me.
“I said no!”
“Excuse me young lady!”
“No, excuse you Papà! Last time we had this conversation, I told you I didn’t want to go. I told you that I wanted to stay here and live my life! What makes you think that now I would be willing to go back? After everything that has happened to me there! It’s not just a no, it’s a hell no! You can find someone else! I’m not going!” I turned and headed straight out the door.
“Liliana Evelina Dapprima!” I heard his voice call. I didn’t turn around, though. I was not going to yield to his commands anymore. I was tired of being bossed around. Look where it got me last time: beat up, bruised, and defeated. I was going to be taking control of my life from now on! No one was going to make my decisions for me!