Mira passed Eve a cracker. Her baby sat up like a big girl between her and Giovanni. She made sure to dress her for the big day. She wore a pale pink dress and white tights. The sweater had been hand knitted by Mira when she was pregnant and in a month or two would be too small.
“What do you say Eve?”
“Thank you,” Eve said in a small sweet voice.
Giovanni’s eyes stretched. “She speaks, English?”
“Yes. She says certain words.” Mira chuckled.
Eve continued to nibble on her cracker. She kept brushing her fingers over his dark slacks leaving trails of crumbs. When he talked to Mira or the driver, she’d pat his thigh to remind him she was the center of his world. Mira didn’t think she’d ever seen Giovanni smile as much as he had in the back of the car. When the drive ended at the gates of Melanzana Mira felt her heart sink. She glanced over to Giovanni. He winked supportively at her.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked.
Mira unfastened the oversized seatbelt from around her daughter and pulled her on her lap. Giovanni waited for her to respond. Her heart hammered so hard and fast she couldn’t summon enough breath in her lungs to speak. Was she ready? Two days and they pretended the world didn’t exist. All of their energy was focused on Eve. And the nights were equally as sweet with them staying up to dawn talking, and talking. He hadn’t touched her other than to kiss her or hold her. She loved the natural pace of things. Now they were marching into his world and she had to be ready. It would take all of her faith and love for him to overcome the nagging doubts in the back of her mind. And she was determined to do it. Her gaze slipped over to him and the smile she gave was genuine. Was she ready? Damn straight she was. She made her choice. It was this place and this life. And she’d show him how strong she truly was.
“Bella?”
Eve grunted and extended her arms to him. Giovanni swept her up against his chest. He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers. “It’s totally up to you cara. Say the word and I will take you anywhere else you'd rather be.”
A faint smile touched the corners of her mouth. “This is where I want to be.”
He stepped out of the car, and she followed. Mira looked up at the estate and remembered the first time she saw his home. Under the Italian moon, she found the place both majestic and intimidating. Giovanni set their daughter down. He took her hand and Eve began to walk before he did. He chuckled and reached for Mira. She accepted his other hand, and together they headed for the steps.
The men had gathered. Everyone observed her and her child. News had spread all the way to the shores of Sicily in the Battaglia inner circles. Many wanted to see if the boss had indeed sired a daughter. Eve didn’t seem to notice her celebrity. She popped her pacifier in her mouth and hopped on the step trying to jump to the next. Giovanni gave her a lift with a gentle pull of her arm.
“Mira!” Catalina shrieked the moment they crossed the threshold. Eve stopped, shocked. She turned and ran for her mother’s legs. Giovanni scooped her up in his arms, and Eve spat out her pacifier, crying for her mother. Catalina looked radiant and beautiful as ever, but she froze at the sight of Eve. She put both hands to her mouth, and her eyes went weepy with love and tears. She praised Eve in Italian going directly to her. Eve turned her face away refusing to look at her, even when Giovanni tried to turn her around to see her aunt. Catalina laughed and lunged for Mira next. She knocked her several feet back.
“It’s true! It’s really true!”