From the moment Adriana and I arrived at Elisa’s place, the two have been inseparable. Elisa met us at the door, and when Adriana saw the heap of blankets Elisa was carrying and heard her say they were going to build a girl fort, Adriana jumped up and down with excitement. I left them to it, but the unceasing giggles were enough temptation to check on them. Elisa was sitting cross-legged in this makeshift fort built on sofa cushions and making crafts out of popsicle sticks.
Francesco and I join the girls for lunch.
“Daddy, I set the table and helped Elisa make the sandwiches. I couldn’t use the knife, so Elisa chopped the vegetables for the salad,” Adriana announces. She tugs at my hand and drags me to the table. “Sit down. Francesco, you too.” Francesco plays along and gives my daughter a playful tickle before he takes the seat she points to.
Elisa gives Adriana one plate at a time so she can serve Francesco and me. Adriana beams with pride as she sits next to me, and Elisa takes a seat on the other side. I take a bite of my food and say, “This is the best veal and pepper panino I’ve ever had.” Elisa smiles when Adriana laughs. “You ladies have had a busy morning.”
“Adriana and I are going to make red velvet cupcakes this afternoon. That way, she can take some home for her Uncle Rafe and Aunt Evangeline to try too,” Elisa states.
“I get to decorate them. Elisa has sprinkles in every color, and gummy bears and peanut butter cups and everything.” Adriana throws her hands up in a big circle. Her face says it all. She’s happy. It’s comforting to see that Elisa and Adriana get along well. “Can Elisa come over tomorrow so we can play some more?” Adriana asks, tilting her head to one side as she takes a bite of her carrot stick.
“We’ll have to see, cara. Elisa may have other plans. Besides, we have to go and visit the school tomorrow to enroll you in kindergarten. School starts in a couple of weeks,” I remind her.
“Can Elisa come too? Please, Daddy. Please!”
I look at Elisa, who is blushing profusely. She’s made quite an impression on my little girl. “What do you say? Would you like to join us?”
Before she can reply, Adriana jumps in. “You have to come. Daddy’s going to take us out for breakfast. We’re having waffles at Waffle House, and I can have the chocolate chip and whipped cream topping.” Adriana clasps her hands together, giving one more plea. “Please!”
“I don’t know how I can refuse waffles,” Elisa replies with a grin. “But I’m having mine with strawberries and lots of syrup.”
Adriana does enough talking for everyone at the table. Francesco merely watches the show. He’s been around Adriana a lot since he’s been guarding Evangeline and has become like another uncle to her. Besides Raffaele and Massimo, her own bodyguard, Francesco is the only other man I would trust Adriana with.
That reminds me that I’ll need another man to accompany Elisa when she’s out. Bringing another man into our inner sanctum is an onerous task. Raffaele will need to agree because that’s how we work. Anyone on our property goes through extensive scrutiny and training. We rotate the men often so they don’t get too complacent, and they understand that they have to earn their place in order to be given the opportunity to work close to us.
Francesco and I have had a busy morning. Although the papers and files on Guido’s desk weren’t of importance, it’s given me insight into the financial status of his affairs. Guido had socked away a great deal of money, but where the hell is it? There’s no reason why Elisa had to let go of her maid or any of the other things that have come to light. Guido was very detailed, and his ledgers are in pristine order. Someone’s been messing with his accounts. My next calls will be to his lawyer and accountant, both of whom are on our payroll.
Francesco found two more USB keys. He’s now on the final shelf. Once we’re done, I’ll get a couple of men to box up the books and the office. Elisa and I will be married soon, and there’s no point in putting off the inevitable. I’ll give it a little more time, then I’ll speak with Elisa about how she’d like to handle the furniture and the sale of the house.
Elisa is smiling and laughing at Adriana’s silly jokes. This is not the time for heavy discussions.
Ivo keeps looking at me, and not in a scary “hurt my daughter and I’ll kill you” kind of way. A couple of times, he brushes his arm against mine. And when he smiles, he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Ivo and Francesco devour lunch and go back to finish off what they started. Adriana and I get busy baking. I find an apron that’s much too big for her, but I make it work. I measure all the ingredients for Adriana, then put her beside me in a chair I tucked in close to me so I can keep a watch in case she stumbles.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Yes.” Adriana giggles.
“Flour.”
Adriana plops the flour into the bowl, causing it to dust us and a white cloud of flour to cover her cheek.
“Next, sugar. Let’s try putting it into the bowl a little more gently,” I advise. We go through all the ingredients and mix it all up well. While the cupcakes are baking, I prepare the frosting, making three bowls with different coloring. I add three more bowls, one with sprinkles, one with gummies, and the last with chopped-up peanut butter cups.
“Can we decorate them now?” Adriana asks impatiently.
“They have to cool first, but we can make your dad and Francesco coffee. Once we’re done, they might be cool enough to start.” She’s not entirely happy about waiting, but it seems to appease her temporarily. Adriana’s a sweetheart. She’s snuggly and open, just like kids should be, without a care in the world. I sigh. It’s too bad the world takes all that innocence away. I hope Ivo can shield her from the harsh reality of our Mafia life for as long as possible.
It’s a good hour and a half later before we finish the red velvet cupcakes with swirls of frosting. The dozen cupcakes are equally divided with blue, pink, and red icing. Each one has its own personal “Adriana touch.”
By the time we’re done, I can see that I’ve tired her out. I take her in my arms, carry her to the living room sofa, and sit with her until her eyes droop shut. Then I go back into the kitchen to clean up and box the cupcakes for Adriana to take home.
I’m so engrossed in my cleanup that I don’t hear Ivo come into the room, so when his heavy hand lands on my shoulder, I nearly jump out of my skin and whirl around.
“You scared me,” I say, placing a hand over my heart.
“When you concentrate, you really concentrate. I’ve tried to get your attention several times.” He chuckles. “You deserve a medal,” he says with a grin. He sees the confusion in my expression. “Exhausting Adriana isn’t an easy thing to do.”
I giggle. “She’s an active little girl with an amazing imagination. She’s wonderful. You’ve done a great job with her.”
“I’ll be taking Adriana home now, but I wanted to thank you for all you did today,” he says. “By this time, Mrs. Withers would be needing a nap.” Oh my, I could get lost in that smile. I wonder if I’m drooling.
“Can I let you in on a secret?” I lower my voice and whisper, “As soon as you leave, I’m going to have a snooze. I’m not much on exercise, but Adriana is a workout. I’m going to need to start a training regime to keep up.”
There it is again, a softness in his expression, but it lasts only seconds and it’s gone again. Ivo steps back and reminds me of breakfast tomorrow.
“We’ll pick you up around nine. The appointment at the school isn’t until ten thirty. It’ll give us plenty of time.”
Adriana doesn’t stir even as her father picks her up and puts her in the car. He takes his place behind the wheel, and they drive off. I liked having the house filled with laughter and all that bubbling energy that children bring into it.
I always thought I would be a mother one day. That dream was dashed when Guido became wheelchair-bound and needed all my attention. Honestly, I used to get a pang of jealousy when I saw other women with their rounded bellies or holding their babies in their arms. Fate had another road for me to travel, and although I’ve had difficult moments, I also had a good life with Guido. I wonder what my life will be like with Ivo and his adorable little girl.