Chapter Forty-one - Natalia
Chapter Forty-one
Natalia
O ctober in Sicily brought with it beautifully warm temperatures, sunshine, and marvelous views of its prominent cliffs and mountains. Natalia had always loved it there, and autumn was the best time to visit, if that’s what you wanted to call it— a visit .
The minute she saw him, her body shook and her legs trembled. Nic’s eyes bulged when he walked over to the table, greeted Natalia, and saw her growing belly.
“Wow, you’re pregnant,” he said.
“I’m here because I need closure.” Natalia ignored his statement, stuck with the script that she had rehearsed with Lu and Kenya on the flight to Sicily.
“I understand you need closure, and Natalia, I can’t tell you how sorry I am . . .”
Natalia pulled the order for divorce from her bag, laid it on the table, and handed Nic a ballpoint pen. “I just need you to sign these and both of us can move on with our lives.”
Her hand shook and her voice quivered, just a little bit . Her breathing was off and her nerves out of control. She hadn’t expected to be so off-center.
“What about the baby?” Nic asked.
“What abou t the baby?” Natalia forced the pen into his hand.
“Will I have any rights to the child?”
“No. My child will grow up without you, not knowing you. That’s what I want. If he or she decides to look for you later in life, it will be up to them. But after you sign these papers, you will not ever see or hear from me again. Your actions have consequences.”
“Truthfully, I’ve already begun to pay. My family has disowned me because of this.”
Natalia turned her head away from Nic, a light smile dancing at the corner of her mouth. She found some satisfaction in hearing that he had already begun to reap.
“I would just like to know why. Why her, Nic? Why?”
“I guess we just never got . . .” He cleared his throat. “I guess we never got over each other. I wanted things to work between you and me, Natalia, I really did. But if I’m being completely honest, I still loved her.”
Natalia’s heart sank. She attempted to blink away the tears, tried to remain composed, but she was unsuccessful. She felt them coming, betraying her. The tears burned her eyes. She’d come here for answers, and as painful as they may be, she needed them. However, part of her wished he hadn’t been so truthful. A little lie would’ve soothed her wounded heart.
“If you would just sign these, you can be on your way.”
Nic gave the order of divorce a quick scan and then scribbled his signature on the last page—a signature that she’d seen many times, like when they’d purchased their home on Cape May, purchased their vehicles, applied for their marriage license—all the things that had mattered at one time. Yet here they were, in this beautiful restaurant in Cantania—his home—ending it all with a signature.
“You deserve everything you’re asking for here: the house, your car, the furniture. I won’t fight you for anything.” He laid the pen on the table and rose to his feet. “I guess this is goodbye, then?”
“Yes, it is. Goodbye, Nic.”
He looked as if he wanted to say something more, as if he needed to explain or apologize, maybe hug her. Instead, he hung his head. “Goodbye, Natalia. Please be good to our baby. But most importantly, be good to yourself.”
She exhaled as he walked away. She could breathe again.
Natalia folded the papers and stuck them back into her bag. She glanced across the beautiful courtyard at Lu, who was lodged on a barstool at the cocktail bar, ordering another Corvo Irmàna Frappato, a Sicilian red wine. Natalia giggled at the fact that Lu had already overstuffed her luggage with too many bottles of the wine. Kenya whispered something to Lu, and the two of them laughed. Natalia smiled at her friends, took in the fact that they were both glowing. One was newly married and the other was surely headed for the altar soon, as Kenya and Gideon had become quite cozy. She was happy for them but suddenly felt alone—her heart ached.
Kenya spotted Nic leaving the restaurant as he passed the bar. She glanced at Natalia, gave her a look that seemed to ask if she was okay. Natalia gave her a light smile: assurance. When Kenya and Lu returned to the table, they embraced her.
“Are you okay, Nat Pack?”
“Yes.”
“You did it.” Kenya smiled at her.
“Yes, you did,” said Lu. “So proud of you.”
“I cried a little.” Natalia giggled.
“It’s okay. This was huge for you.” Kenya gave her a squeeze.
“Do you feel like you got closure?” Lu asked.
“As much as I’m going to get.”
Traveling to Sicily had been Natalia’s greatest fear, but she’d conquered it. She was evolving, becoming someone she didn’t even recognize. She’d managed to confront Nic about Angelina and served him with divorce papers. She’d all but gloated about their unborn child and all the while gained the closure that she needed and deserved.
The two of them plopped down at the table. Natalia scanned the handwritten menu that listed what was fresh from the market and off the boats that day. It had been a challenge getting a reservation at the popular restaurant in the seaside town of Trapani. She had to admit Sicily was gorgeous. It was no wonder Nic retreated here every chance he got. She decided that she would order the Cuscusu alla Tarapanese, a local Sicilian couscous with saffron, tomatoes, almonds, and fresh shellfish.
Kenya’s phone dinged and her eyes were glued to the screen.
“What is it?” Lu asked.
She turned the phone around, and they watched video footage of Deacon Charles being escorted from his home.
“The FBI has been investigating his business for tax fraud, money laundering, among other things, for the past few years, and now that their case is airtight, they’ve moved in, made the arrest.”
In the video, with handcuffs on his wrists, Deacon Charles held his head low, attempting to shield his face from the cameras.
“That’s a win for you,” said Lu.
“Indeed it is. He won’t go to jail for murder, but he’ll go to jail nonetheless. That’s a win for the church, my family, my father . . .” Kenya raised her glass in the air.
Natalia and Lu raised their glasses in a toast with Kenya.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having to eat,” Lu told Natalia. “I know you’ve already scoped the menu in great detail.”
“I’m having the Cuscusu alla Tarapanese,” Natalia announced.
“Good, make it two.” Lu brushed her hair from her face.
Natalia noticed that her friend, the newly married woman, was wearing her hair differently since her nuptials. It was much shorter, and a bit sassier.
“Zach and I received a wonderful wedding gift after the wedding. It came to the seaside inn, a set of designer monogrammed towels, and underneath the towels was this black-and-white photo.” Lu pulled the photo from her purse.
Natalia grabbed it and peered at the photo of a man tossing a toddler into the air. The child and man both laughed.
“Is this you, and your father?” Natalia asked and then handed the photo to Kenya.
“Yes,” said Lu.
‘Wow,” Kenya exclaimed.
Lu said, “The note read, ‘ I found this in Dad’s stuff . Hope you enjoy. Your sister .’ ”
“She signed it, ‘ your sister ?’”
“Yes.”
“That’s huge,” said Kenya.
“I’m so happy for you, Lu. Maybe she’ll come for a visit someday.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but it did seem to be a step in the right direction. I think that if I build a relationship with her, my younger sister, Jess will follow.”
“I think so, too,” Natalia raised her glass in the air.
“Doesn’t it seem like the things in our lives are finally coming full circle?” Kenya asked.
“I think you might be right,” Lu said.
“I think our next trip should be to the Napa Valley. I think we seriously need to go check out that wonderful piece of property that Papa John left for you. What do you think?” Kenya raised an eyebrow at Lu.
“I agree. Maybe we can stay a few days, or even a few months,” said Lu.
“Whoa! Wait a minute. Some of us still have employers and jobs,” Kenya reminded her.
“You have flexibility,” Lu insisted.
“Maybe.” Kenya backed down. “Put it together and we’ll see how flexible I am.”
“I will,” said Lu.
“I’m available. After the baby’s born, of course.”
“Of course,” Kenya agreed.
“Napa Valley it is, then.” Lu raised her glass in the air. “To Napa.”
Kenya and Natalia said it simultaneously. “To Napa.”
After dinner, the trio found themselves exploring the beautiful town of Cantania, In Piazza Università, one of the many squares along the endless street of Via Etnea, they admired the picturesque buildings in the square, and then headed out onto Via Etnea to do a little window-shopping before retiring to their luxury hotel.
She stood in the shower, the water cascading over her head as she rubbed her growing belly. She thought about Nic’s words. I guess we never got over each other. When he admitted that he still loved Angelina, it was as if he’d punched her in the stomach, leaving her breathless. She cried openly this time. Deeply. The water shielded her tears, and she could no longer tell where the tears ended and the water began. She wanted to get it all out, though, right here, right now, because after tonight she wouldn’t cry another tear for Nicolai Oliveri. She had too much to look forward to—a new baby who was kicking the heck out of her ribs, a new life with her married and possibly soon-to-be-married girlfriends, Napa Valley—and finally, but most importantly—the entire dozen of Sicilian cannolo pastries that she’d ordered from room service just before she hopped in the shower. Life was certainly looking up for her, and she was ready for every single bit of it.