62. His Parents

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Adele was sitting with the ladies at the balcony as they were having lemonade and watching kids play in the front yard's play ground. There were alot of kids there mostly the sons and daughters of Don Vitorio's men.

Mama Adriana, the Don's wife kept checking on the heavily pregnant Sofia who was Francesco's uncle Pietro's wife. It was Sofia's first child even though she had been married for more than two decades.

Sofia spoke "Mama. I am fine. I am not hungry any more. I am just thirsty. As she reached for the lemondade jug another one of the women who was one of the wives of the employee's of the manor poured her some lemonade and handed it to her "You are not eating enough Sofia. When I was pregnant with my first baby I ate much more that you did. Today at lunch, you hardly had two helpings. You are eating for two." She then turned to Adele " Doctor you tell her how important it is to feed the baby."

Mama Adriana smiled "She already has. Its Sofia who is just the one who must listen. Are you ok Adele? You seem abit ... concerned. Don't worry about Francesco. He will handle what comes at him."

Adele was baffled by the women. From what she had seen, it seemed like the women were in the dark in this manner and either didn't seem to know much about what was happening around them or pretended nothing was happening, turning a blind eye. She wondered how they could get used to living this way. She had to adjust to such life..

Adele smiled at Mama Adriana "Tell me about your son, Paulo."

Mama Adriana sighed "There is not much to tell. I raised him until he was eighteen. He went to college and he refused to come back to Sicily after graduation alongside Piero. I hadn't seen Paulo since his divorce. He came to Sicily weeks ago and announced he is marrying his divorced wife. We were happy for him but did not attend his wedding because we didn't like to witness a re-marriage. We don't believe in divorce. Then ..... someone tried to .... tried to ... kill him." Tears then came to her eyes. "I wish we had gone to his wedding and the Don's security was there. But Paulo had made it clear he didn't want no security and no one was going to hurt him since he was retired."

Sofia wrapped her arm around Mama Adriana's shoulder and spoke softly "Calm down Mama. It is all well now. Paulo is back out of his way too early retirement and Piero has come with him. No one can hurt him now. The Don would protect his family. Pietro knows what he is doing as the second in charge too. Don't worry Mama."

Suddenly Adele noticed the ladies freezing in their place looking behind Adele. Mama Adriana stood up "Francesco...."

Adele turned around as she saw Francesco smiling "Mama Adriana. Its great to see you."

Mama Adriana walked to Francesco and embraced him whispering "I haven't seen you for so long. Let me look at you. You are so handsome now." She slightly pulled away and looked at him taking in his appearance.

Sofia waved from her seat "Hi Francesco. Your fiancé is so lovely. Congratulations to both of you."

Mama Adriana took a step away from Francesco and spoke "You see Sofia... She is almost nine months pregnant now. This time next year, Adele can give you a baby too. You never know. But you must marry her first. Enough waiting Francesco. When is the wedding?"

Francesco sighed " You will be invited Mama. It is very soon...."

Mama Adriana turned to Adele "Why don't you get married here in Sicily? Think about it sweetie. Its very beautiful here. You will have your privacy in this place. You will have a huge wedding and then you can go back to the states on your way to your honey moon. Don't you love Sicily?"

Adele smiled " Of course. I love Sicily."

Francesco spoke "Sweetheart, I need you now."

The look on Francesco's face said a lot. He seemed like he had a distant look in his eyes and so much on his mind. She knew this was it. A big moment was approaching.

Adele stood up and walked to Francesco and took his hand.

Francesco spoke "See you later ladies. Thank you for welcoming Adele."

Mama Adriana smiled as she went back to her seat "See you at dinner. Don't be late."

Adele was lead away from the balcony and around the manor. Adele asked "Where are we going?"

Francesco spoke "To the guest houses at the back. Its a few minutes walk. We are going to see ... my mother."

Adele gasped "Oh, Francesco.... What about your .... father? Is he there too?"

Francesco nodded "He is in a guest house next to her. I only wish to see her for now."

Adele saw Antonio and Costanzo standing at the porch of the side of the building. They nodded at Francesco and followed him as Francesco walked past them with Adele.

As Adele saw the guest houses at the back of the building, her heart started beating fast. This was it. What was Francesco going to feel? What was on his mind now? She had no idea."

As they stopped in front of a guest house meters away from the main manor, Francesco spoke without looking at Antonio "You, Antonio, go see your parents at that guest house at the end. Take your time. I know you don't want to see your mother but its an order. I am asking you to see her and let her make peace with you. It's  not her fault. She only wanted what was best for you."

Antonio balled his hands in fists and walked away as he gritted his teeth "Yes, boss."

Adele understood. Francesco was pulling rank on Antonio to force him to make peace with his mother. But did that mean he was going to do the same with his own father?"

Francesco was looking up and down the building with a passive facial expression that didn't give much away. only his eyes had worry in them.

Francesco sighed. He then turned to Costanzo "Let's do this." Francesco the lead Adele inside as Costanzo nodded and followed.

As they entered the building, the smell of fresh paint was the first thing they noticed. They walked into the living room and saw no one. They checked the kitchen, the dining room and then they made their way upstairs. She must have been in the bedroom. Then the moment came. Maria had her back to the bedroom door, as she was painting. Adele suddenly became tearful at what she was painting. Adele looked at Costanzo and Francesco also and they were also tearful. The portrait was of Maria's sons. She had a small worn out picture of them next to her painting and she was drawing her sons. It was such a beautiful painting and by the looks of it she was finished.

The woman suddenly noticed people were in the room as a sob escaped Costanzo. She turned around immediately and dropped her paint brush on the floor as her eyes widened as she put her hand on her heart.. It was Costanzo who walked to his mother first "Mother." He then embraced his mother as he was sobbing. Francesco let go of Adele and walked to his mother, he wrapped his arms over Costanzo and his mother embracing them tightly too as he was crying silently.

Maria whispered "I love you... Francesco and Costanzo..... The lights of my life." She was now sobbing too very hard and now no one could form sentences. They were just crying and holding each other.

Costanzo whispered as tears were escaping his eyes "We have missed you so much..."

Maria managed to breath "I have missed you both too."

Francesco spoke as he was holding himself together "Mother. Are you hurt? Are you ok?" But his voice broke in the end sobbing softly

Maria was shaking her head while sobbing "I am fine..."

Adele felt like she was interrupting a moment there. She felt like a stranger in that room and wanted to give the mother and sons some privacy. Adele walked slowly outside and waited outside the door.

Minutes passed and she tried not to listen to what was being said. She really wanted the mother and sons to have their moment. She leaned to the wall and looked around the dark corridor of the guest house. She sighed and walked away. She walked down the stairs to the living room and sat down deciding to give Francesco as much time as he needed with his mother. Her mind was everywhere now. She thought about herself. Could this be her future? Could she ever become forced to part with her children like how Maria had to? No, Francesco was not going to hurt her. She knew he was a better man than his father. She had faith in him that he was not going to hurt her.

Adele came out of her thoughts as she heard footsteps coming downstairs. She saw Maria coming in the living room followed by Francesco and Costanzo. They didn't look tearful anymore. It seemed like the shock had worn off slightly and Francesco could even manage a smile as he saw her.

Adele stood up as she saw Maria walking straight to her. Maria addressed her with her soft voice and she embraced her "You must be Adele. Sorry, darling about what went on upstairs. I was going to talk to you but you had left by then.' She then pulled away and kissed her forehead as she turned around to Francesco "You take care of her Francesco. I know you will. You are not your father and never will be."

Francesco's expression hardened "Mother. Don't talk this way. You are not staying here. You coming with us to the states..."

Maria spoke "Let's sit down and talk about this." She said it in a tone that left no argument as she sat down. Adele took a seat opposite her next to Francesco on the double sofa and Costanzo sat next to his mother looking at her intently. Francesco may have resembled his father so much and had inherited his cold eyes but he was so much like his mother too. The way she talked was so like Francesco in many ways. She seemed strong willed and did not resemble a victim who had been locked away from her sons for two decades. She kept her head high with dignity and looking between his sons with love and affection but a certain assertiveness.

Maria spoke "Francesco. My home is here. This is where I was born. Your uncle Piero gave me options to where to live and I picked Sicily. I can't leave this place...."

Francesco became tense and Adele immediately took his hand in hers. Francesco took a deep breath "Mother, what is your true reason for staying? Are you here taking father's side so you can save him? is that what your plan to get back with him is about? He doesn't deserve you. He hurt you. He hurt me. He hurt Costanzo. Why are you choosing him over Costanzo and I?"

Maria nodded "This is what I have to do. I love him. I was only eighteen when I married him. I wasn't ready. I had a rushed wedding because his father's men saw your father and I intimate together on a beach. We were taken to church on the same night and got married. I wasn't ready. Then I got pregnant. I panicked. I betrayed your father and tried to go to the police because I didn't want the same life for you. Then your father caught me. He tried to avoid me after you were born. The years I spent in college with your father was a distraction. After I got my law degree, everything got worse. We had fights as I wanted to get a job and be independent. I wanted a divorce so I could raise you and Costanzo with me. He couldn't risk that. He couldn't risk losing you and Francesco. He agreed to a divorce and made me give you up as punishment for betraying him. He is a proud man. He never forgave me and in his mind justice had to be served. I was condemned to a 20 year sentence away from you. He didn't divorce me straight away because of intervention of Piero saying children needed their mother as toddlers. Now almost 20 years after I last saw you is over. My punishment time is almost over and then you took over and here you are. All these years I spent my nights thinking of you and Costanzo. I did. I spent my days painting and hoping to see you one day. I had no intention of forgiving your father but then your father came knocking one day..."

Francesco spoke "You don't have to take him back mother. You come with us back to the US. You will live in New York. Father can hide here in Rosario manor for as long a he wants but I will catch him and punish him at some point..."

Maria spoke "You don't understand...."

Francesco spoke "I do mother. You are staying here to protect him. You are staying with him to protect him.... What other reason is there to stay with a man who has done nothing but to hurt you and us, yours sons. How can you get back with him and forget everything he has done."

Maria spoke " He is dying..."

Francesco spoke "No. He is not dying. Those people who shot him haven't done any damage from what I have heard..."

Maria spoke "I am not talking about him getting shot. He is sick. He has a rare disease. He is dying. He came to me regretting what he did to me and asked for forgiveness. I can't refuse him Francesco. He apologised to me and he regrets how he treated me. He may not have long to live. I can't refuse a dying man's wish."

Francesco spoke "So, is that why he is now coming back to you? He sees his end may be nearing..... Mother ...... You can't be serious giving him the satisfaction of not dying alone. Maybe he deserves to die alone. Let him die alone."

Adele spoke "What disease does he have." Francesco was surprised to hear her say that.

Francesco turned to Adele "What does it matter sweetheart?"

Adele spoke "I am just curious. I want to know how long your father has left."

Maria stood up and walked to a cupboard in the corner and took out a file from a drawer and walked to Adele. She handed the file to her as she sat down.

Adele opened the file and had a look. Her eyes widened and she bit her lip.

Francesco narrowed his eyes "What is it Adele? "

Adele opened her mouth and then closed it. "He ... has a rare disease that has no cure. Not yet. But there are treatments for it that are at trial stage. In College, Angelo did his final year project on this rare disease...."

Maria asked "Who is Angelo?"

Adele replied as she looked at Maria "My brother. He is one of the few scientists in the world that have studied this disease. His team was the only one in the USA actually with expertise in the field. He knows all about it. My brother had a successful case from the treatments he was working on.. If this file is given to Angelo, there is a possibility that Paulo will live but again he may not live. Every patient is different."

Maria spoke "Where is Angelo?"

Adele didn't dare look up at Francesco. But she had to see his reaction. When she looked up at him, she gulped. He was furious.

Francesco gave Adele a reprimanding look and then looked at his mother "He doesn't deserve your sympathy mother. I don't care about his disease or his treatments. You must give me a straight answer. Are you going to forgive him just like that? Whether he is dying or he has years ahead of him, it shouldn't make a difference. Are you willing to reunite with him?"

Maria spoke in a sad tone " I can't live with myself if he dies and I haven't forgiven him. My wedding vows state that I must stand by him through sickness and through health."

Francesco spoke "But you are divorced now. You are not married."

Maria whispered "I am married. We married in the hospital next to his hospital bed after he got shot."

Francesco was shaking his head in disbelief "How could you do this?" He then stood up and walked out of the living room and Adele followed him.

As Francesco left the room, he saw the front door open by a guard and he saw the man he hated with every fibre of his being standing at the door with crutches under his arms. He looked at his son with the same pair of cold eyes "Hello son. I heard, you are here. I thought I drop by since I didn't think you would have ever come to see me."

Adele was horrified. Francesco gave him a dark chuckle "You are wrong. I was going to come see you one day. My plan was to make it at your funeral. It seems like we had to meet abit earlier than I planned." He then walked past his father and the guards that had accompanied him and walked outside the house with heavy footsteps as Adele followed.

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