“Yes.”
He lowered his face to her chest. She stroked the top of his head and ran her other hand down his back. “You’re right. Lies are not who we are. Whether small or big they can destroy us. I swear to you I won’t lie to you again.”
“Ti amo,” he said sleepily.
“Ti amo,” she said stroking his hair.
Chapter Nine
Mira expected to find her at the breakfast table, but Catalina never arrived. Franco joined them and said it was a woman issue. Mira doubted it. In fact something about Franco’s smug grin at that table set Mira’s teeth on edge. She couldn’t quite determine the reason. After seeing Giovanni off to his meetings, she and Eve went in search of Catalina. Mira waited patiently for an answer. Several minutes passed before she knocked again.
Her hand rose to repeat the action and the door opened a crack. “Yes?”
“Are you okay? You didn’t come down for breakfast.”
Catalina opened the door and walked away. Eve, at her mother’s side, pushed the door all the way open. Mira hesitated but entered and closed the door. Catalina wore a thick pale green robe with her hair finger combed into a messy braid. Balled up wads of tissue were littered over the bed covers and dresser. It was evident she’d been crying.
“I saw Franco leave for work after breakfast,” Mira said. She could see little of Catalina’s face because of her refusal to make eye contact. Eve hurried over to Catalina and held her arms up. When Catalina reached for her she tossed the loose tendrils of hair from her cheek and Mira got a good look at the bruising near her left eye. Was Franco insane?
“He came in late last night and left early, which is just fine with me.” Catalina said dryly. She bounced Eve on her knee and then hugged her. Mira was at a loss as to what to say. She knew Giovanni wouldn’t tolerate his sister being abused. Laying a hand on Catalina was an act of suicide.
“How long has this been going on?”
Catalina kissed the top of Eve’s head. Her niece rested the side of her face against her chest, snuggling comfortably in her lap. Without looking up she answered. “Yesterday, before dinner. First and last time the bastard will ever put a hand on me.”
Mira moved closer. “Giovanni finds out about this, and he’s a dead man.”
Catalina ran her hand over Eve’s soft locks that were pulled back by a flowery headband. “Giovanni, Domi, Lorenzo, Nico, hell even Carlo would go crazy. No one can know,” she said without looking up. “Thank you for covering for me yesterday.”
“I wasn’t sure what you were hiding, I prayed it wasn’t this.”
“I mean it, Mira. You can’t tell anyone.”
“I can’t keep this from him. I won’t do it. That asshole needs to be out of here tonight. I’ll talk to Giovanni and make him understand. Every problem in this family does not have to be dealt with by violence.”
Catalina wept. Eve reached for her face touching her cheeks. “Nippy?” Eve said.
Mira immediately went to her side to comfort her. “Sweetie we can’t keep this from them. The man attacked you and that’s never acceptable.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then help me.” Mira said.
Reaching for the box of tissues she gave Catalina a few. She wiped at her tears and collected herself. “I’m stronger than this. Franco said things. I can’t. I just can’t talk about.”