74. Family Ties & Weddings (Part 5)

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Francesco was walking alone around his grandfather's property breathing in the scent of roses in the gardens and fresh rain on the ground and soaking up the sun. It was a beautiful day. He couldn't ask for a more beautiful day on his wedding. But his thoughts were too occupied to enjoy the variation of scenery on his grandfathers' property.

Francesco was thinking about his wedding and how it was going to proceed. Many thoughts came to his mind. Was this wedding good enough for Adele? He hoped so. But his angel had given him her approval. Francesco admitted to himself that he didn't mind the wedding in Sicily either.

If someone had asked Francesco where he preferred to have his wedding he would have said anywhere that didn't have too many bad memories attached. When he came to think of it, a wedding in Sicily that Adele had agreed on was in some ways fitting since he didn't have any bad memories from Sicily that he didn't want to revisit. His Sicilian family had never done anything to change his family's life. They had never taken a step to make his family's life better but they hadn't made it worse either. They hadn't stopped the divorce and hadn't picked on how violent Paulo Rosario could get with his family if he was displeased. But they hadn't thrown obstacles in Francesco's life either. So he felt at peace. There were some fond memories he had of this place he could recall.

Francesco was smiling as he was walking past olive trees planted around a beautiful path that lead to a water fountain as though walking through memory lane. This used to be the spot where he hung out with boys his age. There was a pool around the fountain down the path that was massive enough to swim in. When his father was doing business with his allies, Francesco used to hang out with sons of those men his father did business with. The boys used to dive into the water and enjoy the sun for hours and hours splashing water around.

Francesco smiled at his memories of the summer holidays at this property. He used to love getting his expensive clothes wet alongside others and run or cycle with his peers to the near by town buying gelato and pastries while their clothes dried under the heat of the Sicilian summer sun. They used to eat any sweet delicacies in town that couldn't be found elsewhere and raced back to the property only to skip meals and Mama Adriana to complain why the boys weren't eating enough. Those were good moments and none of them included his father.

Francesco's father was almost always in meetings when he was at the Don's mansion and when he was not, he never even bothered to do what other fathers did. He never bothered to play baseball or football with Francesco or Costanzo like how other fathers did. There used to be teams of sons against their fathers playing ball and Paulo Rosario was never one of those fathers preferring drinking with his brother Piero in the shade while other fathers were playing and women were having picnics.

Paulo Rosario was a cold father, a dangerous father, a controlling father, a father that Francesco despised, a father that Francesco wanted to have nothing to do with and of course Paulo Rosario was a father who Francesco wanted to never resemble in any way in terms of how he treated family. He was determined that when he started a family he was not going to be like his father.

Francesco so badly wanted to make his father realise what he had done to his family was wrong. He wanted to marry Adele and live a prosperous life alongside her. He wanted to raise his children with care and love proving his father wrong that he was nothing like him. He wanted his wife and children to truly feel loved by him and never fear him or feel threatened by him. He wanted to make sure his father saw what he had lost amongst other plans that were forming in his mind.

Once Francesco reached the fountain, he stopped and stared at the water sparkling under the sun. He closed his eyes and pictured himself in a few years time with Adele living a happy life with children who were loved and felt loved.... It was his dream. It was a dream he was eager to achieve above anything else he ever wanted.

Francesco then opened his eyes as he heard O'Neil's voice from behind him calling out "Francesco, here you are. I have been looking for you..."

Francesco kept looking at the fountain as he spoke with a firm voice " Where have you been? You have kept me waiting on my wedding day. What kind of best man are you? Maybe I should demote you."

O'Neil reached Francesco and laughed as he wrapped his arm around Francesco's shoulder " Oh, if you demote me I would wrestle you into this fountain right here. Come on. Who will you replace me with if you demote me from my position as your best man? Will you replace me with that indecisive, stubborn, love sick brother of yours? Really? Him? Or will you pick your traitorous cousin who is not leaving his dear father's side acting as his bodyguard. Is that his new job? Guarding his father? Lets face it, your family is messed up. I am all you have when you want someone to rely on with your ring that you want to put on Adele's finger."

Francesco sighed and mirrored his friends action putting his hand on his shoulder " I know that..." He then walked away from him to the fountain. Francesco sat down at the edge of the pool facing O'Neil. He took out a velvet box from his pocket and offered it to O'Neil " Don't lose it."

O'Neil walked to Francesco and sat down next to him as he took the box " I will guard it with my life." He then opened the box and nodded " Wow. This is a nice ring. You have good taste in rings just like your good taste in women. You just choose a woman who is one of a kind and this ring is one of a kind too. I have never seen a ring like this before." He then closed the box and put it in his pocket.

Francesco spoke " Is everything in order? I have checked the security that the Don and my uncle Pietro have put in place. It all seems perfect. Did you find any weaknesses anywhere?"

O'Neil shook his head " No. I haven't found any weaknesses. Your grandpa has military men working for him. No one will get past the layers of security he has put in place. So you can enjoy your day and you will not need to be worrying for any security issues. You will enjoy your day. Right? Promise me you will."

Francesco looked at O'Neil " What do you think? Of course I will enjoy today. Nothing will ruin today for me."

O'Neil spoke carefully " Really? Are you sure about that? How are you holding up? You can tell me the truth. You are marrying Adele today but I know you have so much on your mind. Tell me what is on your mind right now?"

Francesco sighed " Read my mind."

O'Neil spoke " Alright. If you insist. But you can't object if the truth hurts. I don't sugar coat my words often. You know me.... I say .... you are feeling .... betrayed right now...."

Francesco raised an eyebrow as he spoke in a sarcastic tone " Really? I am shocked to hear you think that..." He then laughed to himself " Go on."

O'Neil spoke with a sad smile " Let me think.... Your brother is a failure in his love life and your cousin is a traitor. Your brother doesn't know what's good for him but you do. Costanzo wants to forgive and forget but in the process he forgets too much and you know his peaceful ways don't necessarily end well for him. He is losing his woman and it's all down to him.... He is just occupied with himself that he has missed the point about why you showed up here in the first place. The plan was to get your mother out of here safely. Then the plan was to show your old man and your uncle a taste of justice. But Costanzo doesn't get it. He actually doesn't mind your mother getting back with your father but you do.... And that hurts you.... Right?"

Francesco nodded " What else is on my mind?"

O'Neil spoke " Antonio of course is another issue. Your dear cousin doesn't know where his loyalties lie. He is picking a losing side and he doesn't know it but you do.... You can't rely on your brother and cousin right now even though they manage sixty percent of your business together. You are questioning the future ..... How will you manage it?"

Francesco spoke " Wrong. My business is the least of my worries. I lead my business. I don't need to manage it 24/7."

O'Neil spoke " Of course. You will handle it all either way. But am I referring to your business or personal matters."

Francesco spoke " You tell me."

O'Neil spoke " You can never forgive and forget Francesco. Your brother does. Your cousin does. Maybe you should teach them a lesson ... today."

Francesco spoke " Today is my wedding day. Just my wedding day. Later on when we get back to New York, I will sit the two of them down and will teach them some lessons. But not today. I would not dignify their misconceptions by responding to them. I have Adele and that's what matters the most to me. I will blank out everything that bothers me when I stand next to her in that church...."

O'Neil sighed " I think it works for Costanzo. But what about your cousin? What if Antonio stays behind? What makes you think that Antonio won't stay here and guard his father? What if he resigns from your organisation?"

Francesco laughed bitterly "No. He doesn't act so irrationally. He knows that as long as his father does not leave Sicily I can't touch him. It's the same situation with my father. This place is fully protected as you know. Antonio knows it too. So he would leave tomorrow morning with us. Besides, Antonio knows if he stays here guarding his father and does not leave his father behind, I would see him as a traitor. He is not reckless enough to risk Georgina's life."

O'Neil raised an eyebrow " So if he defies you, you will make him kill Georgina one day. Huh? That would make Georgio the last Canavaro standing. The odds are against that family's survival."

Francesco spoke "Tell me.... Did you go to hospital today?"

O'Neil nodded "Yes. I went to see Angelo. He has put in place a care plan for your father. Other doctors here would follow the treatment instructions. He is ready to come back to New York."

Francesco spoke "I never thought he would be my father's breathe of life."

O'Neil spoke "Neither did I. But he is a doctor. He is sworn to treat anyone. Even criminals. You don't need to add him to the list of people you would be blanking out of your mind at the wedding. So let's see....... You will be blanking out Antonio and Costanzo. But .... Will you blank out your father's presence and your uncle's at the front row?"

Francesco spoke " I can blank out my father and my uncle. That is what I have been doing. But if my father touches my mother in front of me again, I am not sure that I will endure that very well. I may take time out for that."

O'Neil spoke "Let me get rid of your father and your uncle for you. All you have to do is ask. They won't make it to your wedding..."

Francesco shook his head " Thank you but no. I don't want anyone else to get involved in this situation. You are my best man. I only ask of you to be there at the church and look out for Adele and I. You don't have to do anything else."

O'Neil spoke "So, you are just going to act like nothing has happened at your wedding? How can Adele let this happen? You allowed her to make the guest list. She could cross out your father's and your uncle's name...."

Francesco spoke " Adele didn't put my father's and my uncle's name there. My mother did. Adele approached her and asked if she would mind if she did not invite my father or my uncle. My mother said she won't come to my wedding without my father and said her sister won't leave my uncle's side."

O'Neil was shocked "Your family is messed up.... What is wrong with your family?"

Francesco spoke " I believe my eyes would only be seeing Adele no matter what happens at the wedding. My father or my uncle won't ruin my wedding....My family wants to close the door to the past by this peace offering that has been happening in the past week. They don't see that peace does not come like this. My peace comes with Adele. Ever since she has come back to me, I don't see nightmares of my past often. I see some bad dreams about the future some nights but the past is leaving me. I will make a good life with Adele. I know I will. So by shaking hands and sharing bread on a dinner table, no peace comes. But my woman is all I need for my peace. I don't think anyone else sees it that way. The Don thinks he is helping the tensions going low by letting me talk it out with my father. He has no idea, holding Adele in my arms is all I need to bring me peace and make me think of my future and blank out the past."

O'Neil spoke "But not helping you to forget the past?"

Francesco spoke "I don't want to forget. But I don't want to re-live the past in my nightmares. However,  I do not mind remembering the dark past and especially how much I have been hating my father. I will make sure I will remember my hate towards my father so I won't ever make my children hate me. The day my child looks at me like how I look at my father, then I will know I have failed as a parent."

O'Neil spoke "I can see that... You are already thinking of babies. You are serious about concentrating on the future. Aren't you?... Have you thought of your grandchildren perhaps too? ..... Some O'Neil blood can be of some benefit. It would get rid of the crazy genes you people have."

Francesco spoke "No, I haven't thought of grand children.... If you think that my blood will ever mix with yours, think again."

Francesco never figured out O'Neil fully. He was complex as a character. He was a double edged sword who was reliable as a man of war and in diplomacy. The contrast in his character was matching to the crime life they were leading. He was a dangerous rival and enemy but a loyal friend. Emanuelle O'Neil didn't have many non-Irish allies but the ones he had, he was willing to die for including Francesco. O'Neil's marriage to Sancia had made him even more powerful. The Giovannis were quite powerful and O'Neil could turn into a dangerous enemy if their alliance ever broke down for any reason.

O'Neil gave Francesco a knowing smile " Why not? Some O'Neil genes can make your bloodline more rational. Don't you think? Some O'Neil juniors running around would brighten up your day. You would be Papa Rosario...."

Francesco sighed "You have a vivid imagination." He then got up "We must get back."

O'Neil nodded and walked alongside him towards the mansion. O'Neil asked "Where are you going now?"

Francesco stated "To go see my mother."

O'Neil spoke "What for?"

Francesco shrugged "To tell her my goodbyes. I am leaving in the morning. I want to ask her one last time if she wants to come to New York with Adele and I. I told her she is welcome to live in New York with us but my father isn't. She said she won't go any where without my father. She said she was born here and will die here. But I have to try one last time."

O'Neil spoke sadly "You know if I was in your position I would have attacked. How can you hold yourself back? I think Adele is changing your perspective. Isn't she? With the pace you are going, I am pretty sure, you would be coming here for thanksgivings in a few year's time if that is what Adele would want.... Come on Francesco. Let me get rid of your father and uncle for you for today. I can ask Angelo to slip some sleeping drugs here and there to make sure they don't ruin your day...."

Francesco spoke "No. My mother won't come to my wedding unless my father does. I want her there. The key reason for Adele wanting this wedding to take place in Sicily is for my mother to attend. I must accept that my father never goes away. The Don is on his side."

O'Neil whispered "Your father does not deserve to be in your life any more. I don't know how you show so much self restraint. All you have to do is ask and I will get my allies here. We can attack. We can kill your father."

Francesco stated "No."

O'Neil spoke "So you are just leaving your parents here to live a happy life?"

Francesco nodded "I gave my mother the choice to come with me. She said no. I will try one last time and will ask her."

O'Neil spoke "She can't be staying here. Why don't you get her out?..."

Francesco spoke " I explained to her that I would gladly rescue her from here. All security has focused on my father mostly  and not much concentration is on her. I can get her out and she won't have to come back. I told her the option to come with me but she is staying. It pains me to think about that she would not be in my life again and she won't see my family in New York. I want her to be a part of it. But she has picked my father's side. She won't leave his side and the Don's protection zone. It is all a complex family matter..."

O'Neil spoke "What does Adele think about all this? Don't tell me she says forgive and forget the past? Does she insist that you make peace?..."

Francesco spoke "That is what she wants and what she always would want..... But don't worry yourself about my father today. Worry about the ring today. Don't lose it."

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