Epilogue
TIFFANY
The Hamptons
We made it. Today is my twenty-fifth birthday, and the family has gathered at Sophia and Giovanni’s Hampton estate.
Nico and Regina live in Manhattan. They were supposed to relocate here when Giovanni retired, but things never worked out.
Giovanni didn’t retire. It has a lot to do with the grandchildren he now enjoys. Sophia wanted to be close to us all, and he, as it happens, shares her wish.
They are good grandparents, perfect in fact, and I couldn’t wish for a better family to marry into.
Talking of family, my mom is here with Riordan, her husband. We have become close during the past few years. When the threat from the Sorcusi mafia was over, it was as if we were all reborn.
Even Alice’s mom is here with her husband Jason and their three sons, Alice’s brothers, Gus, Will and Scott.
The house is definitely big enough for us all, which makes Sophia happy because she loves utilizing evert part of this sprawling mansion, including the various guest houses on the grounds.
“Happy birthday, Tiffany.”
I’m sitting with my sisters, overlooking the terrace, and Regina beams as she drops into a vacant chair, reaching for the bottle of non-alcoholic wine.
“Twenty-five, Tiffany. A milestone.”
“One I thought we’d never reach.” I add drily.
Alice grins. “It’s been a whirlwind.”
Her son, Anthony, holds up his chubby hands, and she swings him into her arms, kissing him relentlessly, causing him to giggle.
My swollen belly shifts as if the baby inside is keen to take part.
“Do you think it may be twins?”
Regina is thoughtful with good reason, as Joseph attempts to entertain my two babies. A boy and a girl. Zachariah and Eden.
“We certainly smashed the conditions of dad’s will.”
Rose giggles as Julius rocks the pram holding his sleeping son, Gray while he engages in deep conversation with Simeon.
Regina’s son is with his grandparents and Nico, deep in conversation with his father, while Sophia entertains their son, Beau.
Regina is also pregnant, the same as me, and we are due on the same day coincidentally. I am having a boy and so is she, so I can only imagine the trouble those two will be.
To be honest, it resembles a creche in the garden right now and I’m certain our family will grow even further because life doesn’t get much better than this.
“What did Joseph buy you for your birthday?”
Regina laughs softly. “I was hoping he would ask me to rustle up something in my gift basket business, but he didn’t. I wonder why.”
Alice chuckles as Rose says kindly, “How is that going?”
Regina runs a gift basket business that she started from her apartment in Queens.
When she met Nico, she discovered he owned a similar business that was international and ran out of several warehouses worldwide.
He offered her the business, but she politely declined, dabbling in her small way in her basket case company.
Preferring to spend her time at home with her child and enjoy it more as a hobby business than a corporate one.
“He bought me a car.”
“Why?”
Rose giggles and I shrug.
“Because I haven’t got one, I suppose.”
“And will you drive it?”
We still live in London and travel everywhere by black Range Rover. As always, there is a driver and several guards along for the ride and there is no way in hell Joseph would ever agree to me driving anywhere on my own, especially with the kids.
“He said it’s for when we go out on date night.”
“So, he’ll drive.”
Alice rolls her eyes. “What car is it?”
“A Lamborghini.”
I shrug. “It’s the thought that counts, I suppose. I asked for a bicycle.”
We all dissolve into fits of giggles at the mere idea of that ever happening.
It’s way more practical in London though, but luckily, we own a country estate near the coast that we visit on weekends.
It’s big enough to drive my car around the grounds and a bicycle if I get my way.
However, most of my time is taken up with my family and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Sophia heads our way and smiles mysteriously.
“Girls, may I take a moment of your time? There is another guest who would like to wish Tiffany a happy birthday.”
“Another guest?”
I wrack my brains as to who it could be, and we smile at Regina as we head inside, leaving her to chat with my mom, who smiles sweetly as I leave.
It’s almost as if she knows what’s coming, and my heart flutters as I follow Sophia inside.
We head to the beautiful music room that has always been Sophia’s favorite and the scene of many gatherings as she entertains us with her skill on the piano, as we dance with our children while the men talk business in Giovanni’s den.
However, this time when we walk into the room, a familiar face greets us with tears in her eyes.
Sister Agatha.
We race to her warm embrace, desperate to be the first and as she greets us all as one, it strikes me how much I’ve missed her.
“Girls. You are looking so well.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve spoken to her since we left the convent. It happens several times when she checks in on us. Not to mention the call she made to each one of us in turn, exactly one year to the day that we left the Order of The Holy Mother of God.
Our answers were unanimous. We wouldn’t be returning, but I’m guessing she already knew that.
There is a huge, gift-wrapped box beside her and she smiles as we take the surrounding seats.
Sophia has arranged a tray of refreshment and, as we all take a glass, Sister Agatha smiles. “Happy birthday, Tiffany, and I’m so encouraged by how well you all look. I can’t wait to meet your children, but first there is one loose end to tie up.”
Alice catches my eye and I turn to Rose, who is on the edge of her seat, apparently holding her breath she is so still.
“This gift contains three gifts. Not from me, but from your father who sadly couldn’t be here but would be so proud of you all.”
My breath catches as I stare at the box, almost wishing it remained a secret.
Nothing about how we got to this point was easy, and this is merely a reminder of a past I am trying hard to forget.
Sister Agatha leans down and unties the ribbon, handing me the first box, Alice the second, and Rose the third.
Sophia watches on with interest as we hold the small wooden boxes in our hands.
“So, this is it.”
Alice sighs, her reaction obviously the same as mine, and Rose whispers, “We don’t have to open them.”
“We don’t.”
I gaze at my box thoughtfully, wondering what’s inside. It could be papers or a memory card perhaps with instructions.
Alice sighs heavily. “He must have had a good reason for giving them to us. Do you remember how on edge he was at the time, which was so unlike him?”
“It was weird.” Rose acknowledges and Alice nods.
“He was a difficult man but, in that moment, he was almost apologetic. Do you think it was because the contents of these boxes make our lives difficult?”
“There’s only one way to find out, girls.”
Sophia says lightly. “I must admit I would have opened it myself by now. I’ve never been patient.”
“You can say that again.”
Sister Agatha rolls her eyes, and it strikes me how deep their friendship is to have stood the test of time. It’s almost as if they are sisters and share an easy familiarity which I love.
“But we don’t have the keys, remember?”
Alice smiles at Sophia, who laughs out loud.
“Of course. Forgive me, I was so excited I forgot you needed those.”
She reaches inside her pocket and the familiar iron keys are heavy in her hand.
“Tiffany.”
She hands one with a red ribbon to me, my name engraved on the side.
“Rose.”
Her ribbon is pink, the key also engraved with her name and Alice is last, the green ribbon and her name identifying the correct person gets the right box.
“Do we go one by one, or all together?”
Rose asks, and Alice grins as she catches my eye.
“Together.”
We speak as one and Sophia leans forward, Sister Agatha also interested in what the boxes contain.
We insert our respective keys into the locks, and as I turn mine, my heart beats way too fast. Tears come to my eyes as I picture my father.
Enrico Zaferelli, a hard man but our father all the same.
I will never forget the regret in his expression when he gave us the keys, and I’m not surprised that Sister Agatha has the boxes.
I raise my eyes and say with curiosity, “Before we open the boxes, how did you get them?”
“Your mom brought them to me.”
“My mom!”
I’m amazed.
“When?”
“Shortly after she married her husband, who was the executor of your father’s will.
She believed they would be safer in the Order of the Holy Mother of God, and she was right.
I kept them under the altar, the safest place there, and every day when you kneeled before it, I loved knowing you were always so close to your legacy. ”
Our attention returns to the boxes and Alice says brightly, “Well, here goes. In three, two, one–”
We turn the keys and as I lift the lid, my shocked gasp echoes those of my sisters.
“What is it?”
Sophia is excited and my fingers tremble as I reach for the biggest diamond I have ever seen in my life.
I hold it up, my sisters doing the same, and they are so big, almost like a tennis ball. My sisters hold similar ones in their hands, astonishment on their faces that I share.
“I can’t believe it.”
There is a note folded inside the box, and I read it out loud.
My darling, Tiffany.
If you are holding this diamond, I am dead. Either by old age or at the hands of unscrupulous organization, I foolishly allowed to shape our lives. This is my apology to you. You have money. Your inheritance should be protected to some degree, but this is your inheritance from me.
A rare diamond.
The largest one known in the world. Priceless as one stone but worth billions if broken up.