Three months later…
Every month for the last two months, I arrive at Elisa’s home with money in hand, and this time is no different, except this time, I’ve brought Adriana with me. When I asked Adriana if she wanted to come and visit a friend who is going through a rough time and needs to be cheered up, she immediately said yes. She ran to her room to grab her favorite stuffy, Penelope Bunny, to share with Elisa in hopes it would make her feel better. I have the best kid in the world, but Adriana needs to like Elisa for me to be able to keep my word to Guido. Guido had money tucked away, but Raffaele insisted that Elisa should keep that money aside for personal use, and that Ultimo Morte would take care of the bills, giving me the perfect excuse to see her each month.
Guido’s death came as a shock, and, as expected, she fell apart. Raffaele promised to arrange his death so that he could leave this world on his terms. Raffaele has to live with his decision, and it’s shaken him to his core, but under the same circumstances, I think I’d want to go out the way I choose too.
Raffaele arranged to take Guido out with a bunch of the other underbosses, and Guido played the part well, refusing to go at first, but eventually, he caved, all the while knowing the plan. Delighted that her husband was finally going on an outing to meet with friends, Elisa kissed him goodbye on the cheek.
Guido decided how he wanted to die, and after most of the men were gone, the doctor came in and gave him an injection that would take him out of this world peacefully, and our friend slowly left us and his beloved wife behind. The situation was taking a toll on Raffaele, but the job wasn’t done. Guido didn’t want anyone to know his plan and wanted his death to look like we were attacked by the enemy. He would look like a hero, not a man who’d given up.
Raffaele pointed his gun, and for the first time, I saw him hesitate. It didn’t matter that Guido was already dead. He was still one of our own. I pulled out my own gun to do it for him, but Raffaele waved me off.
“I made the promise. You have another to keep,” he said, then turned and pulled the trigger. That night, my life changed, and I felt a fear that I’d never felt before. Taking on a wife when I swore I’d never replace my Maria was affecting me more deeply than I thought it would.
I was there when Raffaele broke the news of her husband’s death. We took Evangeline with us, and we heard Elisa cry while Evangeline held her all night long. We assisted with the funeral arrangements. At the service, all the prominent underbosses were present with their wives and families. Flowers filled the funeral home and the grave site. Guido must have spoken with Elisa about what to do if he died, because she made sure to follow his instructions to the letter, beginning with the closed casket. She placed a photo of Guido in his prime on an easel next to the casket and stood like a pillar of strength as hordes of people walked through to pay their respects.
What hurt the most was watching her stand beside Guido’s grave as they lowered him into the ground. Guido’s parents, next to Elisa, huddled together, and her family waited on the other side, but Elisa looked lost and alone. There was no solace, even with her family in attendance. She looked small and vulnerable as tears streamed down her face.
“Daddy, why is Elisa so sad?” Adriana asked.
“Her husband died and went to heaven, baby,” I said quietly.
“Like Mommy?” I know that Adriana doesn’t remember her mother, but when she started asking questions, I explained that Mommy had to go to heaven, but she loves her so much, and she always will. I have pictures of Maria all over Adriana’s room and throughout the house. I tell her stories about her mother all the time to keep her memory alive.
“Yes. Just like your mommy,” I answer.
A couple of months later…
“Daddy, where are we going?” Adriana asks. We’re barely out on the main road before my chatterbox starts asking questions. She loves going for drives because we usually end up going for ice cream.
“Do you remember that woman we saw a few weeks ago, Elisa?” I wait for her to nod before continuing. “I thought we’d pay her a visit. I hear she’s been very sad since her husband died. I thought we could give her some company. I’m hoping we can make her smile today.” I spare her a glance, then turn my gaze back to the road. “It’s not far. We’ll be there soon.”
“Do you think she has cookies?” Adriana asks. My kid has the biggest sweet tooth.
“We don’t ask, Adriana. We wait until she offers.”
“What if she doesn’t offer?”
“Adriana,” I warn.
“I might get hungry,” she persists.
I turn into the driveway and park the car. “Be a good girl and remember your manners.” She gives me a smile that would melt the iciest of hearts. I blow her a kiss into the mirror where she’s watching, then get out from behind the wheel and come over to unbuckle Adriana from her car seat. She grabs her stuffed bunny and holds my hand as we walk to the door.
I knock on the door several times and when there is no response I decide to turn the knob, finding it unlocked and walk inside. Immediately, I can hear music wafting through the hall, leading into the living room. Elisa is sitting at the piano playing the sad song by Eric Clapton, “Tears in Heaven.” Her fingers paint a portrait of sadness and loss as they move over the keys.
Here I thought my biggest problem was having Adriana approve of Elisa, and now I believe it’ll be convincing Elisa to let go of a ghost. I wait for her to finish, then call her name.
“Elisa.” She looks over her shoulder, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, then lowers her gaze to Adriana, holding tightly onto her Penelope Bunny. She quickly wipes the tears away and rises from the piano bench, straightening her shoulders and putting a smile on her lips.
“What a lovely surprise,” she says quietly. She comes over to us and crouches to meet Adriana at her level. “Hello there, I’m Elisa. And who might you be?”
“I’m Adriana,” my daughter announces brightly. “You’re really pretty.”
“Well, thank you. I think you’re super pretty,” Elisa tells her. “I love the butterfly clips in your hair.”
“Mrs. Withers put them in. Daddy tried, but he couldn’t do it. He says his fingers are too big.” That’s my girl, throwing Daddy under the bus.
ELISA
What an adorable little girl. I know she belongs to Ivo because her eyes are just like her father’s, both in shape and color. Adriana has the same smile as her father as well. This is one of the few times I’ve ever seen Ivo smile since his wife’s death, and he looks even more handsome when he does.
Ivo used to smile all the time when Maria was alive. They were a love match, and even in a room filled with people, no one else existed but the two of them. Maria was a wonderful person. I didn’t know her as well as I would have liked, but any time we chatted, we had a great time.
We were all saddened by her loss. I remember going to her funeral with Guido. There were so many people in attendance that you could barely move within the crowd. We didn’t stay long. That was just before Guido had his accident. Our lives changed drastically after that.
It wasn’t an accident. It was a brutal attack on one of Ultimo Morte’s warehouses, and Guido was the casualty. Guido and I were engaged to be married, an arrangement that our fathers discussed and set. Guido and I got to know one another, and I found I liked him, and he liked me. It was a good place to start for an arranged marriage. He was a smart, good-looking man who took the time to get to know me.
After Guido was told he might never walk again, he tried to call off the wedding. No one would have blamed me, my father said. But I believe that marriage is about respect and caring for another person. I knew I cared for Guido and insisted that the marriage move forward. At first, Guido held out hope for a miracle, but as time wore on, he lost hope and his zest for life.
When he decided to join Raffaele and the other men for dinner two months ago, I was so happy. That day, he seemed extra sweet, kissing my cheek, holding my hand, and asking me to play for him. We spent the entire day together, talking and even laughing, until it was time for him to go.
“I love you,” he said before he left. “You gave me a reason to keep living when I was ready to give up. Thank you, my love.” Those were his final words to me.
Our marriage wasn’t a traditional one. Guido and I were best friends, and we loved each other as such. No one ever knew the extent of Guido’s injuries, only Guido and I. Guido wasn’t able to perform his duty as a husband. This was the reason he wanted to cancel the wedding, and when I refused, he had to tell me the truth. I told him I didn’t care, and I’ve kept his secret all these years.
I’ve never been tempted by another man, not ever. However, I can’t deny that Ivo is the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on. His rugged good looks, strong jaw, dark wavy hair, and full lips make him seem dangerous and mysterious. He’s tall and built like a wrestler, with big arms and thick thighs.
I focus my attention on Adriana to avoid Ivo’s eyes. “It’s hard to get those clips in. I have trouble myself some days,” I tell her. Her tiny giggle is so cute as she covers her mouth with her hands.
“Will you teach me how to play the piano?” Adriana asks, looking past me to the baby grand at the far end of the room.
“If you like. Do you want to have a seat on the bench and play a few notes?”
Her eyes grow wide, and she looks up at her father. “Can I?”
“Be careful. It’s not a toy, Adriana.” Ivo’s voice is calm but firm. He lets go of her hand, and Adriana hands me her stuffed animal.
“You can hold Penelope. She makes me feel better when I feel sad.”
My heart melts at her selfless gesture. I walk with her over to the piano bench and help her up. I show her where to place her fingers on the keys. Her hands are so small, they can barely stretch across. three keys. I show her how to play the scales. She does this over and over again. Adriana’s so happy, it lightens my mood.
I forget that Ivo is with us until I feel his presence behind us and feel the weight of his hand on my shoulder. The heat of his touch almost makes me jump. I look over my shoulder to see him looking down at me with a grin.
My heart flutters, and then guilt sets in. I am a grieving widow. What would anyone think if they could read my mind? I blink and take a steady breath. I quickly turn my attention back to Adriana.
“All this hard work deserves a cookie or two. What do you think?” I ask her.
Her face lights up like a beacon in the night as she whirls around to her father. “I told you Elisa would have cookies for us,” she announces, then shimmies off the bench and takes my hand. We walk through the house and into the kitchen, with Ivo close behind.
It’s not until Adriana is on her second cookie that Ivo says, “I must talk with Elisa. Stay put.”
Ivo pulls out my chair for me, then guides me gently with his hand at my elbow into Guido’s office. He shuts the door firmly behind us, and I know what’s coming next. He takes an envelope out of his jacket pocket. It’s stuffed full of money. He offers it to me.
“From Raffaele,” he says.
There’s no point in arguing. I’ve already tried to tell Raffaele this isn’t necessary, but he cut the conversation short. The first time Ivo came, I did the same, and he had the same reaction.
“Thank you.” I reach out and clasp the end of the envelope, but Ivo doesn’t let go, forcing me to raise my gaze and lock eyes with him. He takes my breath away. It’s not only that he’s handsome, but he’s self-assured and confident and embodies the epitome of power. He’s the kind of man you can’t miss when he walks into a room. Raffaele is the same, but Ivo does this without knowing it. “Is something wrong?” I ask when he doesn’t let go.
He loosens his grip on the envelope, letting me take it from him. “Adriana likes you.”
“I like her. She’s a lovely little girl.”
His voice lowers, and he scans my face. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” I reply automatically.
He studies me curiously, then says, “I’ll ask once more, how are you doing?”
I exhale and look away, then gaze around the room. This entire room holds memories of Guido. This was where he came to find quiet. He would be in here for hours. His chair, his desk, his books; everything reminds me of him.
“I’m better,” I breathe out. “Guido was angry for such a long time. He couldn’t understand that without legs, he was still important. He just stopped living. It was breaking my heart to see him give up. He was becoming more and more removed from me.” I pause to walk behind his desk, where I pick up his favorite pen, the one I got him for his birthday, that I had engraved for him. “When he said he was going out with the guys, I was thrilled. I thought, maybe, you know, he was bouncing back, finding a new purpose. And now he’s gone, and I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“Guido was a soldier, and to be perfectly honest, he died the way he would have wanted. His illness was making him powerless, and for a man like Guido, that’s the worst way to die. As horrible as it was that he was murdered, he would have preferred that to the alternative. He’s finally at peace,” Ivo says as he comes closer to me.
“Peace by death,” I whisper.
“In Guido’s case, this is exactly true.” Ivo extends a hand for me. I reach out to take it. “Raffaele and I would like to make sure you’re looking after yourself. He’s asked me to invite you over for dinner.”
It would be foolish to refuse your capo, and I’m aware that Raffaele’s held my father at bay for the last several months. By this time, my father would have insisted that I move back home, but my father admitted that Raffaele has spoken to him, and Dad is giving me time to process my husband’s death.
“That would be very nice,” I respond, and I even manage a smile.
“I’ll be by to pick you up Friday night, around six. Evangeline is planning dinner, and I recommend you come with a healthy appetite. She cooks enough for an army,” he teases.
“I can drive myself. I don’t want to put you to any trouble.” I’m having a hard time breathing, and I’ve only been alone with him for a few minutes.
“I’ll be here at six, and you’ll be ready for me, right?” he asks with a mischievous smile.
I look into his eyes. I was married for four years, and never once did Guido look at me the way Ivo is at this moment. I don’t know what to make of it.
“Yes, I’ll be ready.”
Not long after, we rejoin Adriana, and Ivo and his daughter head home. Since Guido’s death, I haven’t been able to enter his bedroom. I haven’t been in there since the day I chose the suit he was buried in. Everything is exactly as it was.
I hear Ivo in my mind saying that Guido died as he would have wanted. Guido already considered himself useless, and as time wore on, he was became weaker and angrier. I think he finally found peace in death. It’s time to put Guido’s things away so that I can move on as well.