Epilogue
LIANA
ONE MONTH LATER
Since being back in New York, my mom’s been seeing a neurologist and a psychiatrist who both specialize in amnesia. They’ve helped her transition her life back here and have been slowly helping her retrieve her memories while managing the side effects of them coming back.
They say it’s best for her health if her memories come back slowly, so I’ve been doing my best to just be there for her as her support system, only giving her more information about our past when her doctors say it’s okay.
Teo, Enzo, and Izzy have been amazing with her.
When I first let them know she was still alive, their questions came just as quickly as mine did.
But after I explained everything, and let them know that overwhelming her could be detrimental to her health, they’ve been a solid support system for her.
Our family was close, so they have just as many memories with her as I did.
Thankfully, my mom’s been doing incredibly well, remembering a little more each week.
It’s a slow process, but just having her back makes it all worth it.
They said there’s a good chance her full memories will never return, but they’re hopeful she’ll regain the majority of our lives together, and for that, I’m thankful.
The door to the psychiatrist’s office opens, and my mom walks out. I push myself to a stand, and Massi does the same. He’s been coming with me to every single one of her appointments, and I’m so grateful for that. I’m not sure where I’d be without him.
“How was your session?” I ask.
“It went well,” she says with a smile.
“Your mom is making a remarkable recovery,” Dr. Levinson says. “I’m pleased with how far she’s come after just a month of working together.”
“I’m so happy to hear that,” I say, glancing at Massi, giving him a hopeful smile that he returns.
“I’d love for you to start showing her some more pictures from your past. Just start with one or two, then we can reevaluate how she’s doing at our appointment next week.”
“That sounds great. I can absolutely do that.”
“Then maybe you can attend part of next week’s session. I think it’s a good time to have you start coming.”
“Of course. Anything to help.” I beam at Dr. Levinson.
“I’ll see you all next week,” she says, then turns around to go back into her office.
“It sounds like you’re making amazing progress, Mom.”
“I am. Things are still very fuzzy, but I’ve been able to manage the migraines and dizzy spells, which has helped the memories coming back a little easier.”
“That’s great. I’m so happy to hear that.”
We’re walking out to the car when my mom’s phone rings.
“Oh,” she says, surprise in her tone.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“It’s … It’s Chiara, Ignazio’s daughter. I have to answer this. We were very close, and I told her to call me anytime she needs to.”
I nod but can’t help the splinter of hurt I feel at those words. I know that’s selfish, but she’s my mom, and she was taken from me for over a decade.
“Chiara, darling, it’s so good to hear from you,” she says.
We all get into the car while my mom continues to speak to her.
“Okay, sweetheart, yes, I understand. Do you really think your brother is going to force you to marry that man?”
I whip my gaze to Massi, who’s watching my mom closely from the rearview mirror.
“Okay, yes, yes, take a deep breath, Chiara. I know … I know. No, you did the right thing by calling me.”
I can’t hear what Chiara is saying on the other line, but I can hear her muffled, frazzled voice through the phone. That mixed with my mom trying to calm her down, tells me whatever is happening with her is not good.
“Okay, do not worry, Chiara. We will figure a way out of this for you. Just … Just let me think on this, and I’ll call you back, alright, sweetheart?”
There’s more mumbling on the other line.
“I know. I love you too. I’ll talk to you soon.”
My mom hangs up the phone, and I turn in my seat to look at her. “Is everything okay?”
“That was Chiara. You both met her at the ball in Sicily, right?”
I nod.
“Well, her brother is back, taking his spot as the new don of the Faraci family, and he’s arranging a marriage between her and another very powerful don in Italy.”
“I don’t mean to be insensitive, but isn’t that normal?” Massi asks.
“It is, but this don is much older than Chiara and is known to be very cruel.”
“Why would her own brother arrange their marriage, then?” I ask.
My mom lets out a sigh. “Chiara believes it’s because her brother wants to create an alliance with that family to …”
She licks her lips, which has me waiting on the edge of my seat for what she’s about to say.
“To come after you,” she says, locking eyes with Massi.
I snap my gaze to his, and he has a blank expression on his face, as if he knew this was going to happen and he’s just been waiting for it.
It’s something he and I have talked about, but we figured after a month of zero contact, Ignazio’s son wasn’t going to retaliate for Massi killing his dad, but it seems we were wrong and he was just being strategic about his plan.
“This other don has connections in the states, so she’s pretty sure her brother wants to use those connections to … start something over here,” she says.
“That doesn’t surprise me. It was only a matter of time before the Faracis retaliated for killing Ignazio,” Massi says.
“What does this mean, then?” I ask.
Massi is silent for a moment while he thinks. “You said Chiara’s brother needs her to marry that other don in order for him to have contacts in the states?”
“Yes,” my mom says.
He lets out a sigh and grips the steering wheel. “So, what happens if she doesn’t marry him?”
I crinkle my brow.
“Well, I suppose that means he won’t help him,” my mom says.
My heart picks up pace at what I think Massi is suggesting here. Surely, he can’t be …
“Then it looks like we need to make sure she doesn’t marry the man,” he says.
“And how do you suppose we do that?” I ask.
Massi looks at my mom from over his shoulder. “Chiara … Do you trust her?”
“Of course. She’s a very sweet girl. She’s been modeling for half her life and has always tried to stay away from all of this stuff.”
Massi looks at me, and my gaze widens at what he’s suggesting.
“Then we need to get her here before her brother can force her into that marriage.”
“Massi, do you really think that’s a good idea?” I ask.
“I think it’s the only idea we have right now, mia moglie.” He glances back at my mom. “Do you think she’d be willing to come to New York?”
“I do, but I want to make sure Liana is okay with it first. I will not bring her here if you’re uncomfortable with it.”
All eyes are on me when my mom says that, and I hate this feeling. I have no connection with Chiara. All I know is that she’s the daughter of a madman who stole my mom from me. She was pleasant at the ball when I met her, but that was a brief hi.
Though I do feel this is a weird situation to be in, when I gaze into my mom’s eyes, I see the worry in them.
She’s the one who knows Chiara, and if she thinks bringing her to New York is best, then …
I guess I can put my personal feelings aside and support that decision, especially if it’s something that can help Massi.
“We’ll help Chiara in any way that we can,” I say.
My mom’s eyes light up. “You’re sure, sweetheart?”
I nod. “Yes, very sure. I can tell she means a lot to you, and if this is something that can help our family in the end too, then it’s something we have to do. Go ahead and text her, letting her know what we’ve decided, then we can figure out a plan from there.”
My mom nods, then starts typing on her phone.
Massi places his hand on my arm and gives it a light squeeze. “You’re sure about this?” he whispers.
“I am. We knew the Faracis were going to retaliate at some point, so if this is a way for us to stay one step ahead of them, then we need to do it.” I look back at my mom, who’s deep in thought on her phone with a relieved smile on her face.
“Besides, look at my mom. She seems to really care about Chiara, and when we ripped her away from Sicily, we didn’t allow her any kind of closure with anyone.
If bringing Chiara here is something she feels strongly about doing, I don’t want to take that away from her.
I just want her to have the life she used to have back.
Not to slip into another one that tries to control her. ”
Bringing Chiara here will only derail her brother’s plan for a short amount of time, but I’m willing to do that if we’re able to stay one step ahead of him. I just hope now that we know for sure he’s planning on attacking us, we can get rid of this threat before lives are shed.
The End