Avarice (16 page)

Selange skipped pages, going to the end of Luzo’s life. At the mention of Alfonzo’s name she hastily read what he had not said on a deathbed confession: “My son is angry. I cannot tell him everything at once. Alberti will aid me there. I know these trials will cause him grief. They are the trails of tears for our family. Let
Alberti help him to see we have no choices on certain matters. We can willingly expire or multiply and one day blend with society. I see in my son’s eyes his desires. I will sleep believing he will honor me. Return to Sicily, take up quarters, return the items marked by hatred to their rightful owners. Give peace back to some, give them their birthrights stolen by Nazi scum. This we must do, our family needs no further quarrels, we Giacanti’s have enough…”

She clutched the book, running through the lit basement up stairs until she reached
the master bedroom. With shaky hands she dialed her husband. When he answered she cried, “Honey…are you on your way home…there’s something I need to show you!”

Alfonzo’s voice sounded far away and forlorn. “I’ll be home soon love. I want to talk to you anyway. See you
in a bit.”

***

On the days leading to Christmas Eve in Sicily cenones are banquets of gastronomic proportions. Groaning tables mean hearty eating in a land of food and wines. These celebrations were traditions and of tantamount importance.

Bucalatti, filled with almonds and pistachios along with dried fruits are tradition. This year Sophie’s excitement stemmed from the addition of foreign sweets and desserts courtesy of Shanda. The guests and family gathered in her villa brought laughter to a previously quiet home. She was happy, extremely blessed that children once more ran through the halls.

Usually, after dinner on Christmas Eve presents are opened and the huge family huddled around is par for the course. However, Giuseppe was not present. His absence was missed by a mother, but he had called and told her he would arrive a tad shy of midnight which was quite fine because family often stayed over. Sophie had ensured there were copious quantities of food and there would be plenty for her son to eat.

There was a flutter of excitement in her stomach at the gift secreted in the garage for Shanda. Oh, she could not wait to see the
excitement on the girl’s face when the present was unveiled after dinner. Giuseppe had given Sophie permission to do the honors if he did not arrive when the last gift was unwrapped.

Sophie clapped with glee as Shanda and Carlo’s faces glowed. A mother’s heart thundered at having them to love. She had begun to think of Shanda as a daughter, nurturing and pampering is what she’d given the woman. The change was like the seasons. Seeing her blossom and discovering a passion other than a man and a child brought softness to a senior’s eyes.

What tragedy for her parents to be blind to their daughter’s gifts. Had they only looked past the disagreements, they would have seen her many talents. But, not every parent who tosses away a child understands they are forever bound. Ties are never really severed, because blood of family circulates in the body and beats in the heart. This is what she saw when she looked around the room. Her joys were many. Lucia’s mother informed her of her daughter’s engagement to Sergio, they were celebrating the news at the very moment. Amelda had already shared this information yesterday. She was also very upset at Sergio for striking her husband. Aye, Sergio was now on Amelda’s list of people to wreak havoc upon. However, a wise mother advised her warring daughter. “Do not bring troubles. Remember the words of Selange.”

Her attention waned from the subject when everyone was herded to the tree by elders.

Nico and his family were present but before the opening of gifts he and Ari announced they would return home. Semira had fallen asleep and her parents were quite tired. Their long flight showed.

Loaded with food and presents from a surrogate mother, Sophie escorted the group to the door to say farewell. She kissed Ari’s cheeks and that of her mother. They looked alike, she thought. She even kissed the handsome face of Ari’s father. His lovely wife took no offense and Sophie smiled because he respected confidence in a woman.

“Arriverderci!” she exclaimed, glad they had come. But then she returned to her family and the other guests, fluttering here and there as the gracious hostess.

She prayed Giuseppe arrived before morning. A woman surrounded by family is blessed…but still she missed her
husband…he would have spoiled his grandchildren…especially Giuseppe’s son.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Giuseppe yawned. Aye, he could not wait to eat and see his family. He felt better since visiting his brother. The children had given him many presents to take home. Such sweet bambini.

He laughed thinking of Sal’s question. “Uncle, when a girl likes you, does that mean if you like her you have to have sex?” he asked.

Giuseppe roared and woke his Tenente. “No…no…nipote. Besides, you are too young. When you are older then we speak sex.”

“I already had the talk with my dad. I just didn’t get to ask that question and wanted to know.”

“Is there a girl who likes you,” Giuseppe had dismissed the dumb question. Sal was a handsome young boy. Of course many girls wanted friendship with kisses. The girls around Sal’s age were more mature than the boys. He had learned this early on.

“Yeah,” Sal admitted. “I like her but not the lovey-dovey stuff.”

“The lovey-dovey stuff comes later. Be her friend, that is enough, capisce Salvatore Diaz?”

“Okay Uncle.”

“Bene,” he’d said and then left to say good-bye to the others.

“Ah,” he sighed, stretching his restless legs.

His mind wandered to his son. Carlo would grow and ask the same questions one day. It was good to have the practice, at least he would know what to say.

A smile remained on his face as the plane soared above the clouds. He would soon be home albeit late but if all went well his donna would welcome him permanently to their bed, he was tired of sleeping without her. He was a foolish man for not giving her what she wanted.

Fidelity.

Giuseppe thought of Kefilwe. She had become like his conscience. He did not want to be a Gamba, brutal and uncaring. Rough around the edges is what Alfonzo said about him. A man raised in a loving home was less refined than a boy from poverty.

Interesting.

He laughed because that was Allie’s word of choice lately.

Interesting.

This recent revelation.

***

Tony shook his head. He’d made his decision and couldn’t back out now. The jet was waiting to take him to Palermo. There wasn’t any sense of waiting until after the holidays. He’d only be alone anyway, better
to stay in an unfamiliar place than in an apartment where a distance was placed between him and his woman.

Tony
stopped at his apartment after parting ways with Alfonzo to collect his belongings. He was surprised to find Tiffany at home and not at her sister’s place where she said she planned to spend the holiday. It was almost midnight, the beginning of Christmas Eve and last minute shopping for the procrastinators or those hoping to catch a sale. She was clothed and she looked like she’d been crying.

He hadn’t gotten around to asking her what was wrong when she stood and told him she’d thought he’d gone.

“Not yet,” he said. “My suitcase is here.”

“Dammit Tony…your timing sucks!”

He looked around in confusion. Did she have company…had he walked into something? He strolled through the apartment pushing open doors, looking for somebody to punch because he was angry at her for letting him down. Typical of a woman. First his ex-wife and now her, someone he thought was solid!

Tony slumped against the door, staring at his feet. “Life sucks…get used to it, I have!” His head rose. “I’d hoped this time around I’d win. But damn, I’ve lost again!” he said with a sneer before marching across the floor to snatch his suitcase and slamming out the door.

He tossed the case in the backseat of his car. People were still out on the streets in Brooklyn, believe that shit? Did anybody sleep in New York besides babies?

Tony frowned. In his periphery he noticed movement and the passenger side door swung open. Tiffany flung
her duffle bag over the headrest.

“I swear Tony you better make this decision worth my while!”

He saw the engagement ring sparkle under the moon light and grinned. “The perks of this new position is I’ll be able to give you anything you want.”

“All I want is you Tony.”

“You have me. You can plan our wedding, but do it big, and I’ll be sure to show up!”

Tiffany’s smile was like a star leading him to the manger. She touched his thigh. “Get that black card ready, you know how I love touching hard objects.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The hour
grew late. Torn wrappings with sugar cane pictures or holiday images were scattered around the living room floor. The most expensive of the gifts had yet to be unwrapped. Sophie tapped Shanda on the shoulder. “Giuseppe’s present is outdoors.” She then led Shanda through a side door, prolonging the suspense.

They were followed by several curious guests.

The nippy climate had Shanda rubbing her arms as they walked toward a red shiny automobile. “No…” Shanda whispered in awe as they neared what she’d seen in magazines or in videos with rappers who acquired their dreams. A Bugatti…Giuseppe bought her a Bugatti! “This is my Christmas present?”

“Sí, it is Giuseppe’s gift and here is the key,” Sophie stated as she opened her hand and Shanda removed the key.

Feet bouncing, squeals of joy the woman go inside and Sophie smiled as one of the family members took pictures.

The engine came to life, the window rolled down and Shanda’s arm stuck out. “I’m taking it for a spin!”

Sophie stepped forward to protest but Shanda is Shanda, she hears nothing but her own mind. “Do not go far…por favore!” she exclaimed as soldati immediately scurried to their cars to follow. But Shanda had a head start.

The cold sent many back in the house with their wines, but Sophie’s limbs remained stuck to the ground. Her happy smile faded at a bony chill.

Why this feeling?

Why this sense of doom?

Answers come with the sound of an earth shattering screech not far in the distance. Tires trying to hold earth, she’d heard the sound before with Geovonna. Then came another sound…an explosive boom that shook her legs.

Flight at night, a human bird soared to a misplaced nest to her chick. There were others at her back in formation, as if migrating south for the winter. The wind whipped their clothes, flapping cloth were wings in the dark. Lovely people, led by Sophie were beautiful fowl.

At the turn beyond the villa, trees stood sturdy and tall. The thickest was the most colorful of them all. The red Bugatti had become a metal shiny bow.

The s
oldati were unable to keep up with the speeding girl when she made the turn around the curve. They temporarily lost sight of the car but heard the collision and reached the scene first.

Shanda had driven on this roadway many times. She never had trouble navigating the wide street previously, but tonight she had, they thought.

The soldati were out of their cars. Brawny men with crowbars were strains of silver slithers in a tearful mother’s eyes. She had several more kilometers to run…to Shanda…to the horrific accident site.

***

Nico had arrived home. Semira was lifted from the car seat and taken inside. Weary travelers readied for bed when he received a call from Bianca. He frowned at the message. He’d thought she’d gone to Spain to spend the holidays with her daughters. Bruno and Maria were there, why hadn’t she flown with them?

The abbreviated text informed him Sabrina had a gift that she wished to deliver to Nico personally.

Nico hoped Bianca was not playing a game. They had agreed to maintain
a platonic relationship and nothing more. “I have to run out for a minute sweetheart,” he said to Ari when she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

“Seriously Nico, now?”

“I’ll be right back. I promise I won’t be long.”

She pouted. “Ugh, Nico. Damn!”