Releasing a deep exhale for patience, Mira nodded. Catalina would have to stop the pity party. Everyone was trying to hold strong. Dominic had to face everyone with bruises on his face and neck. She had to face the questioning looks of others because of who she was and would become now that Giovanni wanted her to be his wife. Catalina was selfish. But Mira cared about her and tried another approach. “True. But I get the feeling there’s more troubling you. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Yes. There’s more.” Catalina dropped her head. “Giovanni doesn’t talk to me. He doesn’t look at me. And Dominic is so busy kissing his ass he barely sees me either. What’s the point?”
“It’s going to take time, Catalina. For all of us.” Mira walked over and stood at her side by the window.
“How are you? Now that everyone knows you’re alive.” Catalina touched her arm. “How bad is it?”
“They took a statement from me. I was told that Kei was picked up in America. They think he had something to do with Angelo Calderone’s murder and a lot of other things. I don’t know what to think.”
Catalina nodded toward the window. “The press is still out there by the gates.”
The truth was Mira’s life would never be the same. Part of her liked the world not knowing about her and Eve. It gave her a sense of security. Now she only found security behind these walls. What had her life become? Who was she becoming?
It was Christmas, and the holiday used to mean so much to her. She had less than a day to find that magic again for her daughter. “I’ll be fine.” She smiled. “It’s Christmas after all. Get dressed and join the family. I want us all together.”
“I can’t. Giovanni expects me to take the test.” Catalina’s gaze turned to the dresser and the brown paper bag sitting on it. She then looked back out of the window. “I’ve taken one test already. No point in taking the other two.”
Mira approached the nightstand and reached inside the bag. She removed the two pregnancy boxes. She was a few days late on her cycle. Her cycle had been unpredictable since she gave birth to Eve. Still she couldn’t deny that she made love to Giovanni nightly with no protection.
“Mira, are you okay?” Catalina frowned.
“Oh, yes. So you’re not pregnant?” Mira asked.
“No. Gio will be furious over the lie. Why do I keep doing these things? I lied, but I had hope. Domi and I slept together, and for the last couple of months Franco hadn’t touched me.”
“Catalina, I promise you Giovanni isn’t going to make any decisions about you and Dominic today. Let’s go and join the family. We can deal with everything else later.”
Catalina released a burdened sigh. “That’s just it. I don’t want to deal with this. Domi will never be mine. Gio will never forgive me. I can never wash the sin of what I did to Franco off my soul. I have nothing now.”
“Not true.” Mira put her hand on Catalina’s shoulder. She turned to her and they embraced. Mira held her tight then stroked the back of her head. “I’ll talk to Giovanni. We’ll figure this out. But first you have to stop this self-pity. Get showered, put on some makeup.”
“I’m sorry. You’re going through a lot too.” Catalina let her go.
“I can handle it. We both can. Can’t we?”
Catalina wiped at her tears and nodded. “Grazie.”
“Go on and get dressed.”
Catalina headed to the bathroom. Mira’s gaze shifted to the bag of unopened pregnancy tests. She reached inside the bag, took a box, and slipped out of Catalina’s room hurrying to her own. Not long after she entered her bathroom Giovanni entered as well. “Where’s Ma-ma!” he yelled.
Mira scrambled to hide the pregnancy test and left the bathroom closing the door. Giovanni set Eve down on her feet. “There she is.”
“Hi baby.” Mira said kneeling for her daughter to rush into her arms. She kissed her gently on the cheek. Eve loved the attention. Mira rose smiling. “It’s Christmas Eve.”
“Let’s have some fun.”
“How?” she asked.
“The gardens. The cold has moved on. Today the sun is out and it’s nice. Perfect for a stroll.” He kissed her. Mira smiled. She hadn’t seen Giovanni this happy since the news of Catalina and Dominic. She glanced to the bathroom. What would he think of another baby?