Chapter 8 #2
“How long will she have to stay?”
“It’s standard for Antonella to stay one or two days, just to make sure everything is fine. And if everything goes as I expect, I think I’ll discharge her tomorrow afternoon.”
***
I immediately felt my heart grow lighter when I approached the bed where Antonella rested. She and our baby were fine and safe.
Nathan, who had come to the hospital as soon as he learned what had happened, took charge of taking my girls back to the mansion after I calmed them down.
I fixed my gaze on her face. I couldn’t resist tracing the wet trail at the corner of her eyes with the tip of my index finger.
Even after falling asleep, she had cried.
Ella slept deeply, but her dream world didn’t seem so good.
That brought my anguish and fury back. I hated seeing her like this.
I wanted to find Rocco and beat him to death.
***
Antonella woke shortly before Marcela entered the room. I stayed in a corner, giving as much privacy as I could while the doctor spoke with her, and when she finished, breakfast was brought in and I watched with appreciation her effort to eat.
Marcela gave me a significant look.
“I’ll be right back,” I said.
In the corridor, Marcela and I spoke for a moment. A conversation that relieved me and at the same time left me tense, but also gave me an idea.
I was on a call with Gamble when my girls arrived accompanied by Nathan, Eric, and Josie.
I gestured that they could go in. Ten minutes later, I returned to the room and stood beside Martha, Nathan, and Eric while I watched the girls.
Everyone smiled at my sister’s craziness, except Ella, who stared at her distantly.
Her body was there, but I could feel her withdrawal.
Her eyes were dull and swollen. And within a few minutes, they gained the shine of tears, and within a minute, they tracked down her face, fading the conversation.
I placed myself at her side immediately.
I curved my hand around her nape, my thumb brushing the skin below her ear when she hid her head against my abdomen and clutched my shirt.
I bent my head. “Shhhh… It’s over, sweetheart.
You’re safe now. Everything will be all right, I promise,” I whispered.
She cried harder. “You need to calm down, Ella. I know it’s hard, and even selfish to ask that, but you need to think about the baby.
Make this one more effort for him and for you…
Everything will be all right… You’re not alone. ”
“We’ll go…” Martha said, drawing my attention.
I looked and nodded.
Everyone left in silence.
“You don’t need to say anything now, sweetheart. Don’t think about anything except yourself and our boy.” She relaxed a little. “If the tears make you feel better, cry. I’m not leaving here. Everything will be all right, I promise.”
***
“How is she?” Martha asked when I entered the kitchen.
Antonella was already home, but I was far from feeling calm. She wasn’t well, and it would take time for her to be. I felt that in my own soul. The damage was much greater than everyone supposed. Gamble’s words confirmed my fear.
“Antonella is a strong girl in many ways, but behind all her confidence, there is a fragile person. And I fear that on this specific subject, she is not yet as strong as she would like to be… This is fragile ground that must be stepped on with great caution so there is no further damage. Do you understand, Mr. Castellammare?”
In that moment, I remembered a conversation she and I had had months earlier, and I understood the scale of the problem. It made me want to hunt Rocco Vicenti.
Gamble said he would call her. Which made me grateful. He would help her through this with all his diploma-bearing pomp while I…
Hell.
I poured water into a glass.
“She fell asleep a little while ago. She seemed calmer.”
“Later I’ll make some chicken soup and take it to her.”
“Do that, Mother.”
“Well, then let’s eat.”
Minutes later, I leaned back in the chair while I watched the movement around me. Martha cleared the table. Pietra washed dishes and Nathan dried them.
I was exhausted. I hadn’t closed my eyes since taking Antonella to the hospital a day and a half earlier, and I still felt far too restless to lie down and sleep.
Martha approached, placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of me, and kissed my head before sitting beside me. I took a sip.
“What worries you so much? She’ll be fine, son. The bambina is strong, and we’re all going to help her get through this storm.”
“I know. I…” I fell silent.
Martha touched my arm.
“What is really worrying you?”
“I don’t know how this acceptance of hers happened, but I remember very well how it was before, and now this…
man comes here and does this. I don’t want to think of the worst, but Rocco is her father, her family.
Before she fainted, I saw the way Antonella looked at him.
She didn’t tell them, even after accepting the pregnancy… ”
“I cannot believe you’re doubting her! Not after everything that happened and after she’s shown in so many ways that she changed and loves the baby!”
Nathan remained quiet, drying the dishes, but I was sure his attention was also turned to the conversation while Pietra threw daggers at me.