“Her anxiety isn’t a bad thing; it will help her stay alert, and it will help her realize who to trust in our world. She’s smart, andshe’ll do fine.” I look at my daughter, smiling at the people around her, observing them. “And Matteo, he’s going to be a good Capo; sometimes it’s good not to feel too much; he’ll know how to control his feelings and impulses.”
“Sometimes I really think they complete each other when they’re together the way they act…”
“Yes, I know!” Bella looks at Matteo, who seems attentive to his sister. “They were lucky; they were born and will grow up with each other, one becoming the other’s person.”
Matteo moves until Bella puts him down; he runs toward his grandfather, trying to reach his gun; Don Henrico puts him on his lap, saying something that leaves him mesmerized, seeming to record every word his grandfather says.
“Luca talked to me about the Cosa Nostra proposal.” I glance at her, trying to read her expression, which is useless; Bella is probably the hardest person to read. “Hundreds of enemy soldiers have died since the twins were born.”
“And they will continue to die if they come near our family; we will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.”
“As it should be, we should eliminate any threat. I should help.”
“What do you mean?”
“Luca has protected me all my life, and every time I look at those children, I feel it’s my duty to protect them, too. Maybe I can do something to help.”
I raise my eyebrow, examining Bella; she looks anxious. I know she feels what she’s saying, but I also know she’s not ready to take action on it. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to or that might make you unhappy! We can protect them; we’ve been doing so, and we will continue to. They’re lucky tohave you in their lives; you don’t need to give more than that; it’s enough, Bella; your love for them is enough!”
Bella doesn’t say another word, following me toward the table in the center of the garden, picking up my son on the way and handing him into my arms; I place him in his chair facing the table, next to his sister. They both seem caught up by the colors of the large birthday cake in front of them. The birthday song goes across the garden, and I smile as I see Vittoria grab her brother’s hand; knowing that he doesn’t like attention, she pulls him toward the cake, and they both blow out the candles with their hands still joined. Everyone claps, and although Vittoria is loving it, the discomfort is noticeable on Matteo’s face. I watch him carefully, waiting for some negative reaction, but nothing; he just stands there still and stares at the people around him, waiting for them to stop making a fuss.
The fireworks are heard, and I pick him up, seeing him look more relaxed, not having everyone’s attention on him. Vittoria claps her hands and smiles in her father’s lap, looking ecstatic.
“Matteo!” Grandma came toward me with her arms outstretched and the most loving smile I know on her face. “Come and sit on Grannie’s lap, will you?” Matteo nods, stretching out for her to take him and finding in her the same comfort that I find.
Vittoria runs toward me with chocolate all over her beautiful face; I smile at her and take her in my arms, spinning her in the air; she laughs, and I squeeze her against my body. “Happy, Principessa?”
“Yeah!” She stretches out her arms as far as she can. “This much!”
I put them to bed, watching Vittoria move closer to her brother. She always needed physical contact to sleep, and she felt safer having him close. I read them the story they had chosen, watching my daughter’s eyes close little by little whileher brother is paying attention to every word that I say.
“Good night,miei amori!” I leave a kiss on each of their foreheads and slowly walk away with light steps, trying not to wake them up.
I feel Luca stop behind me at the door to our children’s room. I see their serene faces, their little hands clasped together, their light breathing and I can’t take my eyes off them both. I amcompletely caught up in that scene, trying to imprint it in my mind so that I never forget these moments.
“They’re perfect, everything I ever dreamed of!”
Luca hugs me from behind, leaving a light kiss on my neck. “It seems a miracle that these human beings could be my children. Look at them; they seem too good, and I have a large quota of sins behind my back.”
“Our life can’t be all blood and struggle; they are the light! Our sins do not define them.”
“And they never will; I won’t let our past haunt them.” I look at our babies, knowing that sooner or later, no matter how hard we fight it, our pastandour lives will catch up with them; they have no choice; they were born in the blood and will have to live that way all their lives.
“They will have to live with our choices; their destiny is set, they won’t be pure forever. Eventually, the blood will get to them.”
“They’ll be strong, and they’ll know how to deal with it; they’re our children, the next leaders of the Camorra.”
I nod, letting Luca lead me toward the garden; for a moment, my heart skips a beat. I look around, seeing little lights floating in the air and a table with candles and flowers in the center, a perfect recreation of our wedding reception.
“What?” I look at Luca and see him holding out his hand toward me.
“Will you dance with me, amore?” I let my hand meet his,and his body cling to mine.
I let my face rest against his strong chest, and I can’t help but smile like a teenager in love, hopelessly in love. Luca spins me, and I let out a laugh, seeing a smile on his face. I watch him, feeling his firm hands on my waist as he sways our bodies from side to side in slow dance steps.
“I love your laugh; seeing the happiness on your face, on the faces of our children, gives me a satisfaction I’ll never be able to describe.”
“Much of my happiness is due to you!”
