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“Are you asking has she come in here?”
“Yes, mother. Have you seen her?”
“No. I haven’t. Why?”
Francesco didn’t answer. He was becoming increasingly frustrated that she hadn’t returned. Then he saw one of the house servants lingering at the opened front door.
“Why is the door still open?” He asked after making his way there.
Francesco saw the befuddled look on the servant’s face. “I was waiting for the misses to come back inside,” he said, “but I don’t see her.”
“What do you mean you don’t see her?”
“I saw Mrs. Celestina walk to the front door when I was down the hall. I waited for her to come back inside, but she didn’t. I came to the door, looking for her.” He lowered his head and lowered his eyes, not looking up into Francesco’s face.
“I don’t see her, sir.”
“What do you mean you don’t see her?” Francesco quizzed as he pushed past the man and stepped outside. He looked around and called for her. She didn’t respond. He took a few steps out of the door and walked down the driveway a few steps. He called for her again and waited for her to reply. He was miffed that she didn’t. Nothing looked out of place. Everything looked the same, but his wife wasn’t out there.
She didn’t answer.
Francesco returned inside the house, his mind racing as to where his wife could be. It had only been a few moments since she left the room they’d previously occupied.
“Find my wife,” he barked. Costanza came out of her room and stepped into the hallway. She heard her son’s command.
“Yes, sir,” the servant answered, scampering away.
“Find her!”
Chapter Three
“Here are your discharge papers,” Nurse Diallo said, handing the papers to Ricardo. “Please note that you are to follow up with a physical therapist in two weeks when the cast on your arm is removed. The cast on your legs will be removed in four weeks. In the meantime, we have prescribed pain medication. I am including a two-week supply for you, and when you see the physical therapist, if more is needed, then she will give you another two-week supply.”
Ricardo was unresponsive.
“Have you taken a look to see how well your face and head have healed?” She asked, trying to be light even though she knew he despised every moment and her for being the deliverer of such bad news.
“Why bother?” He uttered. “I’m going to be dead anyway. No need to look at improvements.”
The nurse’s brow furrowed. She didn’t understand his reference. Seeing how despondent he looked, she didn’t ask.
“The porter is here to take you downstairs. Is there someone coming to pick you up?”
“Nope, but why would you care? I’m being discharged, right?”
“I can have the ambulance drop you off. Would you like for me to arrange it?”
There was a knock at the door that interrupted the discharge. He didn’t wait to be invited in. Giuseppe stepped around the divider and made himself visible.
“Looks like I am just in time,” he said. “You ready to go, Rick?”
“Rick?” The nurse asked.
“Yeah,” Giuseppe smiled. “That’s what his friends call him.”
“I thought you didn’t have a ride?” The nurse asked, redirecting her attention back to her patient.
“He must have forgotten,” Giuseppe stepped in, repositioning himself closer to Ricardo, who was stunned into silence.
