Chapter Two #2
It seemed strange, therefore, that she chose that day to describe the event in her life that led to her meeting Alonso.
We’d never asked her for the details. Before Alonso left, he instructed us to be compassionate toward her. He reiterated what a troubled life she’d endured, without ever alluding to any of the details.
That evening as we were relaxing by the pool after our swim. I was lying on the sun-lounger beside Carlo, and Chess was on his opposite side.
“Why haven’t you asked me the reasons why I live with your parents?” she asked my friend.
His gaze flitted to me before responding with a shrug.
“I figured you’d tell us if you wanted us to know.”
She bobbed her head, sucking her teeth slightly. I’d seen her do that before; it was a habit she adopted when she was thinking hard.
“Why don’t you live with them?” she asked, cutting straight through any of the usual social graces.
Carlo tipped one shoulder up toward his ear dismissively.
“They gave me a bullshit excuse about safety and sent me to live with Spence when I was six.”
She bobbed her head, and we could see her mind whirling.
We glanced away, letting her think. Some swifts skimming the surface of the pool in their desperation for a drink drew my attention.
“My parents were killed that same year.”
In unison, our faces snapped back to her, matching expressions of horror carved into our features.
“How familiar are you with Sicily’s recent history?”
We both shook our heads, “Not much more than hearsay,” Carlo admitted.
Her head bobbed slowly, and after a beat of silence, she spoke again.
“Two mafia families have always run the island. The Gelentini’s and the Mariano’s, each co-existed relatively happily, running the island in their designated territories for years.”
I watched her sweep her hair over one shoulder, something she did from time to time, as if it gave her fingers something to do.
“Fifteen years ago, the late Don Gelentini seized control of the whole drug market on the island, squeezing out the Mariano’s. In a last-ditch effort to maintain their territory, the Mariano’s started a war eleven years ago. They lost catastrophically, and during the fighting, I lost my parents.”
We both sat forward, intrigued by our new friend’s story.
I flicked a glance at Carlo and noticed his focus was unwavering.
Since the age of six, he’d longed to understand the reason for what he considered to be his rejection by his parents.
I hoped that hearing all this history would help him understand that perhaps his parents weren’t simply pushing him away.
Maybe they had his best interests at heart after all.
“Subsequently, the island experienced peace for several years. Any of the surviving Mariano’s went away with their tails between their legs.
We assumed that would be the end of them, but in fact they were regrouping.
They allied with a South American family whose primary income came from human trafficking. ”
“Fuck!” Carlo exclaimed.
Chess bobbed her eyebrows, but her chin didn’t rise. Instead, her attention seemed riveted to her toes, which were stretched before her on the sun-lounger.
“After our parents died, my sister Nina and I went to live with our aunt and uncle on their farm. For years, life there was blissful—quiet, sheltered, safe. Our aunt educated us at home, and our uncle guarded us with fierce protectiveness. We rarely left the farm but on the few days our aunt allowed it, Nina would take me to the beach.”
Her voice trailed off as her field of vision broadened. She appeared to be viewing the same birds I had earlier, drinking the pool water.
“I lived for those moments of freedom. We always prolonged our special day as long as we could; sitting shoulder to shoulder, to enjoy the sunset. Nina used to say the sunset made her feel closer to our parents.”
“Is that why you enjoy seeing the sun rise and set?” Carlo asked.
We’d noticed our new friend rose early every day; she came down onto the deck to experience the sunrise in solitude.
Chess swallowed, her head bobbed minutely. It wasn’t surprising that she was overwhelmed. A lump had formed in my throat just from listening to her.
“Because of these excursions, Don Julio Mariano saw my sister.”
She paused for a moment and when she spoke again, her voice was so soft it was barely audible.
“Julio zoned in on her the moment he saw her; she hated his arrogance. Unfamiliar with rejection, he became agitated with her.”
Chess cleared her throat. She reached behind her neck, using her fingers to massage away knots of tension. After a life like hers, I vaguely wondered if she ever rid herself of them.
“Nina and I had no idea who he was. We assumed he was one of the local boys.”
She glanced at us for the first time. Her stare was fixed in our direction but she didn’t seem to see us, as if she was looking straight through us.
“Mariano’s men forced their way onto the farm. They killed my aunt and uncle and took Nina. But I hid.”
Chess’ words stopped abruptly. I expected her to cry, but she didn’t.
We waited in silence. She needed time to gather her thoughts.
“It was clear I wasn’t safe on the farm. I suspected they’d return for me. At twelve years old, my options were limited. I took what food and money I could carry and went to the city, hoping to find a hostel or somewhere safe where I could stay. A few weeks later, I met your father.”
I glanced at Carlo; his face was white. Chess’ words seemed to have struck a chord with him. The entire conversation targeted Carlo. So, even though I had questions, I stayed quiet.
“Is your sister still alive?” Carlo asked.
“I truthfully don’t know, though I have my doubts. When I went to live with your parents, their estate was in Geletini territory. Your father told me not to socialize outside of their tight-knit group, because so many young girls were being kidnapped each year.”
She looked straight at Carlo; their eyes locking.
“Your father has been extremely protective of me. He’s a kind man. I owe him an enormous debt.”
I sat up, taking a sip of water from the glass beside me.
“That conversation happened right at the end of the summer. Then; only days later, we had to leave for England, and our final year of boarding school,” I explain.
“It must have been hard to leave Chess behind after learning how vulnerable she was?” Dr. Klein observes.
“I think the events of that summer changed us both, the differences in Carlo were considerable. I never knew if it was hearing Chess’ history or simply meeting her, but she became a prominent figure in our lives.”
I rub my hand over my left cheek, weary after talking for so long but still keen to share all my history with this woman, so that she can give me the advice I need to move on.
“Carlo became more guarded; his previous bravado diminished. He was no longer interested in charming every woman he met, and he held me tighter at night when he couldn’t sleep.”
I glance at the doctor, who’s still scribbling notes on the pad in front of us. Her hand must ache from all the notes she’s taken. I study her, waiting for her to finish.
“That seems like a good place to break for today, Mr. Barton-Jones.”
I narrow my eyes, inclined to disagree.
“I see we have a meeting arranged for tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ve been putting this off for too long. I need to find a solution.”
She smiles in her now familiar knowing way.
“Mr. Barton-Jones, the solution is inside you. We can discuss what’s happened in your life. I can help you understand your choices, but the decision about how you’re going to proceed must come from you.”
She must notice my shoulders sinking, or a change in my facial expression because she adds. “Have you found talking today useful?”
I pondered her question.
Before coming here today. I half expected it to be a waste of time.
I made the appointment, because my friend's words plagued me and I knew if I didn’t at least try, I’d regret it.
The scheme had the added bonus of showing I’d tried, and I hoped my action would help demonstrate to Sophie how serious I am about our relationship, and about finding a solution to fix our marriage.
My initial reluctance has therefore left me surprised that just by talking to this stranger, it already seems to be helping. I haven't had an epiphany yet but I certainly feel less of a freak.
“It’s helped normalize a few things in my mind.”
“I’m delighted to hear that,” Dr. Klein replies with a broad smile. “I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”