CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Convocatio
“Is this really happening?” Maressa rushed into Dante’s arms after we finished the paperwork for his provisional release.
“I think so, Sorella.” Dante hugged her, and I could see his aura change color as his world merged with his sister’s.
Candice approached us and waited until Maressa stepped aside to let her in.
“Son.” She hugged him tight, covering him with kisses. “We’re so happy.”
Maressa suddenly hugged me.
“You were wonderful, Helena.” She squeezed me tightly, and I didn’t quite know what to do with my arms, which made her pull back. “Sorry... I got too excited.”
“It’s okay.” I smiled awkwardly.
“Can we go home now?” Candice asked, holding Dante by the arm. “Your father really wants to see you.”
Dante and I exchanged glances because we knew it was something she desperately wanted to believe, even if he didn’t.
“Actually, Mrs. Marino,” I answered for him, “it’s better if Dante stays somewhere on his own. It would be counterproductive for him and Maressa to live under the same roof, since Maressa is an important witness for the defense.”
“What? That’s not fair,” Maressa grumbled.
“It was my idea, Sorella,” he explained. “I gave them the address of that studio downtown. It’s close to here and to Helena’s place.”
Dante glanced at me at the last second, knowing I wouldn’t reprimand him in front of his family.
“This also keeps the journalists away from our property.”
“I don’t care about that,” Candice retorted.
“But I do, mamma.” He touched her face. “It’ll only be for a while, until this case is buried.”
“And how long is that?” Dante’s mother asked me impatiently.
“Next week they should set the trial date, and”—I was ready to explain the whole process, but Candice’s expression made it clear she was exhausted by all the legal jargon—“at least three months, if we have to fight it out.”
“He can’t be isolated from the world.”
“And he won’t be, Maressa.” I smiled at her. “Your parents can visit him, and you two can talk through texts and calls. We’ll just need to follow some security procedures to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“I promise to call you every day,” he replied. “Besides, Helena will be with me.”
“What?” Dante’s statement completely blindsided me.
“As the only person allowed to have secure, privileged contact with both me and the outside world, I think it’s only fair that you be my link to life outside these studio walls.”
“We’d need to look into the logistics.”
“You know what? I think it’s perfect,” Maressa said excitedly.
“Me too.” Candice released Dante’s arm to take my hands in hers. “I’d feel so much better knowing you’re there with him.”
“I don’t know if that’s advisable.”
“There’s an extra room, and you don’t have to be there all the time.”
“I have my house... my bills and a cat to take care of,” I lied.
“I love cats. What’s his name?” Maressa asked. “I can take care of your cat... him or her.”
“Yeah, what’s your cat’s name?” Dante asked.
“Roberto,” I said without thinking.
“Wow, what an unusual name,” Maressa laughed.
“You know what? We can work out these details at dinner later.” Could Candice be as insistent as Dante? I was lost. And what dinner were we even talking about?
Joseph approached us with Célie.
“These are my colleagues, Célie Fields and Joseph March.”
“Thank you so much, Célie.” Dante smiled at her, and Célie blushed. So did Joseph.
“Can I see him?” Maressa asked.
“Who?” I asked distractedly, watching Dante melt Célie’s heart.
“Roberto!”
“Ah... I don’t have any photos on me.”
“Of who?” Joseph asked.
“Helena’s cat,” Dante teased, and the smile on his face said he knew I was lying, but I kept up my act.
“I just adopted him. I haven’t had time to take photos,” I explained.
“I didn’t even know you liked cats, Helena,” Célie joked.
“Do you like seafood, Dr. Torres?” Candice asked while on the phone with someone.
“Of course, but I don’t think I could—”
“Don’t even try,” Maressa interrupted me. “She’s already picked out your seat at the table.”
“You can bring Roberto if you want,” Dante teased.
“I think we still have some paperwork to go over.” My voice came out strained as I tried to drag Joseph and Célie into the mess I’d gotten myself into.
“True,” Joseph said, playing along.
“Joe, you can go with Mr. Marino’s escort, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I thought you were coming with us,” Dante said, masking the anxiety in his voice.
“Unfortunately, I can’t,” I replied without looking at him. “I have to do that paper thing, right, Célie?”
“Ahh…” Célie nodded. “Of course… the super important one.”
“That’s right. Very important.”
“Extremely,” Célie insisted.
“Well, the guards are waiting,” I explained, cutting the act short before Célie became even less convincing. “They’ll escort you to the studio door and make sure everything’s clear before you go in.”
“I’ll have them bring clothes and your computer,” Candice said. “Do you want me to arrange something for you too, Dr. Helena?”
“We’ll come back to that another time,” I explained, guiding them toward the guard. Dante stood frozen, staring at me. “I promise, Mr. Marino.”
Candice turned her attention back to her phone and the dinner arrangements.
“See you in a bit,” he replied confidently, turning to follow Joseph and the girls.
“What was that?” Célie asked from behind me.
“That’s the Dante effect… in its purest form,” I replied, more to myself than to her.