Vincinti Stories #3
Leon stopped his pacing and looked over at his son.
“You are losing it. You will never win this way. This is one thing that you taught me well, a long time ago. If anyone knows the pain of losing a daughter, it is me. You held me up the whole time. You also kept me sane.” Calderone stalked over to his shocked looking father.
“Don’t make me slap you the way you did me the day.
..” he choked up. “...the day they found my wife dead in that car and my daughter gone.”
Leon studied his son’s reddened face then his shoulders relaxed. He shook his head. “Not fair to use reverse psychology on me, son.”
Calderone almost smiled. “Good. There’s my dad. Leon Vincinti. Smart and clever.”
Leon shook his head. “God, I need a damned drink.”
“M y dear. I am so sorry . I didn’t know about Siobhan’s backup plan. Though I should have known. It is the very thing she would have in place.”
“It is not your fault. Leon. None of this really was.” Swiping at her tears, she asked, “H-have you heard a-anything?”
He nodded as he rubbed his hands gently up and down along her arms to try to calm her. “I spoke to Meena. She was alive and sounded fairly good.”
“Fairly good...?” Evelyn squared her shoulders. “At least, there is that. She’s alive.” She seemed to try hard to control her grief. “I just have to think positive. I have to believe—”
A buzzing sound cut off her sentence.
Calderone caught Leon’s eyes as both men stared at each other.
“Someone has crossed the perimeter fence.” Calderone stood up.
Suddenly, there was a racket at the back door.
Leon and Calderone started at the banging.
“Che Cosa?” Calderone reached for his weapon.
Leon told Evelyn to stay where she was and he called out for John.
Walking toward the back door, Leon wrenched the door open and a girl fell into his arms.
She was bloody and bruised and before she passed out, she whispered a word that froze his heart, “Daddy.”
Leon lifted her into his arms and carried her into the kitchen.
Calderone stepped outside and looked around the backyard.
Not far from the back door, a man laid in the dirt.
He looked around but when he didn’t see anyone, he holstered his weapon and rushed down the back steps to turn the man over.
He didn’t know him. He wondered what he had to do with all of this.
When he raised his gaze, he could see Anna standing in the doorway.
She looked both stunned and worried. Her eyes were locked on the man at Calderone’s feet.
John came running out of the house. He picked the man up and carried him into the house.
Anna was waiting and she looked as if she was personally concerned about this injured stranger.
Calderone glared at Anna and asked, “Do you know him?”
Anna nodded. “That’s Oscar, he’s the man who was watching over Meena for me.
He was keeping her safe. I don’t know what happened to them but he got her here where she belongs.
” She knelt down beside his body and cupped his jaw with her hand.
“Oh Oscar, what did they do to you?” She looked up at Calderone then turned her head to focus on Leon, Evelyn and Meena.
She then got to her feet and went over to Evelyn. “Is she okay?”
Evelyn nodded. “I think so.” She looked up at Anna.
Anna dropped down beside her and wrapped her arm around Evelyn’s shoulders. “At least now, she is with you.”
Evelyn held on to her daughter’s hands. “Damn your sister and damn whoever could do something like this to an innocent girl.” She had pulled Meena’s head into her lap the moment Leon laid her on the floor. Evelyn wept silent tears as she gazed down at her daughter.
Leon snapped his eyes up to Anna. “You know this man who brought her here?”
Anna nodded. “Oscar and a few of the others have been watching over Meena for me, but Siobhan’s always known where she was. Her men have been watching your daughter all along. And it seems one of them got the idea to ransom her as Evelyn told me about the kidnapping. I hope he’s dead too!”
Meena began waking up and it wasn’t pleasant. She called out to her mother and then she flinched as if someone had struck her. She sat up and opened her eyes then screamed for her mom, “Mom!” she cried out and fought the arms wrapped around her.
“Meena stop, please stop,” Evelyn called out.
Meena stopped and turned her fear filled gaze toward her. “Mom?” She shook her head to clear it. “Is it really you?” She threw herself into her mother’s arms. “Oh mom, I found you!”
Evelyn hugged her daughter closer and kissed her cheek. “Oh baby, I’m so glad you did.”
Meena just let her mom hold her for a minute. Then she turned her head and spotted Leon. Sitting up, she just stared at him for a moment before she asked, “Are you...?”
“I’m Leon Vincinti. We just talked twenty minutes ago, my dear.”
Meena smiled. “You are real aren’t you?” She reached out to touch him. “You’re real and I finally get to meet you. Oh, my God!”
Leon chuckled. “Yes child, I’m real.”
“And you do know that you’re my dad?” Meena asked in awe.
“I am so glad to see you are okay.” Leon smiled softly. “And yes, I am your father.”
Meena shook her head. “Not my father, that’s too harsh. You’re my daddy. That’s what mom always called you in her stories. She would tell me about you and my brother Calderone every day.” She turned to look at Calderone. “Are you him? Calderone? My big brother?”
Calderone nodded and smiled. “And I’m guessing you’re Meena.”
“Dominica Lysette Druggan at your service, so to speak.”
Calderone looked shocked and turned his head to stare at his father. “Dominica Lysette?”
Meena turned to look at Leon. “Mom named me that for a reason. She always told me that I was named after your mother. She said you lost her and that while you would always have a small piece of her in your heart she wanted you to have a living piece of her too.” She looked at him for the longest time then she asked, “Is that all right?”
Leon felt a single tear roll down his cheek as he nodded. “That’s perfect.” Turning his head, he gazed tenderly at Evelyn. “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”
Evelyn cupped his jaw. “No thanks are needed. I told you I loved you. I can’t and won’t dismiss your past. Lysette was Calderone’s mother and your wife. You loved her too. She is part of your past. I can’t ignore that and I will not dismiss it either. When I accepted you, I accepted all of you.”
Several months later, Wachusett Mountain, Massachusetts
The day looked bright and sunny.
Up atop Wachusett Mountain where there were 17 miles of trails and northern views of Mount Monadnock, western views of the Berkshires, and eastern views of the Boston skyline. It was a breathtaking spot.
The perfect spot for a picnic. Forested, green and wild. Though today, there were large groups of people here.
To think that so many people and different types of people were all here for a picnic. When they had been invited, yes, many of them thought it was the craziest event they’d ever heard of.
There were blankets strewn everywhere and picnic baskets on every blanket.
There were some people that were dressed to the nines and they still seemed comfortable on the blankets.
Then there were others, dressed casually like one would expect at a picnic. Sun dresses, jeans, t-shirts and some even wore biker vests.
Laughter and voices rang up and down the grassy field. Though no one was eating yet. They all seemed to be waiting for something or someone.
It would look odd to a stranger though that was not invited. However, there weren’t any strangers here. You wouldn’t be able to get anywhere near this mountain on this particular day, unless you were invited.
It wasn’t an annual convention or a company picnic. But it was an event of the century if the truth be told.
Indeed, many would agree that this was a crazy event, but today it did not matter as it was about happiness.
... It was a wedding. Only it wasn’t your average wedding. It was a gathering in the name of happiness long overdue for the people who had waited a very long time for this day to come.
The area suddenly grew silent as music started. It was the Wedding March.
Everyone turned their heads to see the brides.
Yes, two brides with their arms linked. They both wore soft white sundresses, not the lavish wedding gowns most women of their stature and means would wear.
Willow and Evelyn both smiled nervously as they marched toward their futures. Under the bright sun and the cool mountain April air, they both drew closer to their futures. Of course, as they moved closer to the altar, they spotted the men they were to marry.
Leon and Calderone stood waiting for them.
These two men smiled and no, they did not dress casually as you might expect to match their brides. They were dressed impeccably in Italian suits as anyone who knew them, knew they cared very much about their attire. They waited for their women to reach them.
The two brides linked arms with their grooms as all four looked up at the preacher.
The preacher nodded his head as he then recited the vows.
The brides said yes. Then the grooms said yes, as rings were exchanged.
Both couples kissed sweetly.
The preacher looked up and announced, “May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Vincinti!” He laughed and nodded his head to the younger couple. “And Mr. and Mrs. Vincinti!”
Everyone applauded as they all broke out into laughter.