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The scrape of chairs on the stone filled the air for a few minutes and then as directed the gathered crowd fell into silence. I sat down on the terrace wall and pulled Serafina down next to me.
‘Thank you.’ My grandfather spoke in a small voice, given the amount of people in front of him, and it was right then that I knew something was wrong.
‘Thank you to my nipote for hosting this party. It has been my pleasure to see your beautiful wife complete her studies and return home to you. And thank you to you all for being here today. There is much to celebrate. Our world is stable and safer than it has been in many years and that is mostly down to the hard work of my grandson, Salvatore.’
A murmur went around the terrace and most of the men raised their glasses in my direction. I would have accepted their salute had I not been so transfixed on studying my grandfather.
Pain unfolded inside me as I took in how frail he not only sounded but looked and I wondered just when it was that I’d become so fucking blind? It was true that in the past year he had become more reluctant to be away from home, even if just for a day or two. As his dutiful soldier, I’d carried out his express wishes to the fucking letter and I’d grown stronger with his unending reliance on me.
As I’d grown stronger it seemed he had grown weaker.
‘I think you will all agree that there is strength in extended family?’ he carried on and I focussed once again solely on him. My heart burst with pride as he was emphatically answered.
‘Thank you… Given that response, I want to let you know my plans for my family, for your families. Forourfamily,’ he added to make everyone aware of the direction he was going in and raised his glass to all the eyes that were solely focussed on him. ‘I want you to know that the future of the family has never been in safer hands than it is right now.’
He is very ill.
Of that I was certain.
Removing my eyes from him momentarily, I looked around at our gathered guests and understanding him so well, I instantly recognised that this was no welcome home party. I tightened my hold on Serafina as I waited for the revelation I grasped was about to come.
In my peripheral view, I saw my sperm donor stand up and raise his glass at first to his father and then to the others. ‘Sit down, Gianni,’ my grandfather ordered with a strength to his voice that had been missing earlier. With some amusement I watched Gianni’s face turn the shade of puce I loved to see so very fucking much.
‘Papa?’ he questioned, just before Ricco pushed down on his shoulders with both hands and helped him back into his seat.
What the fuck is going on?
‘As you are all here today to witness my declaration, I want it known that I plan to make Salvatore, my namesake and my eldest grandson, my heir.’
The murmur that went around the crowd grew until it became something alive. Clapping started and bottles hit against glass, as one by one the men in front of me stood up, turned, and showed their allegiance to me.
As the area quietened down, a roar tore through the calm.
‘What? WHAT?’ Gianni tried to stand once again as Ricco kept a firm hold of his shoulders and kept him in place. ‘Papa, I am your only son; it is my right to become your heir.’
‘Gianni, my son,’ Nonno placated him, as he moved his hands downwards to ask for calm. ‘It is true you are my only living son.’ I could see by the gradual hunch of his shoulders that he was thinking of the two others he had lost in previous wars. Then, like the leader he was, he threw off his own hurt, straightened his back as much as he was able and carried on. ‘But the position as head of the family must be earnt, it isn’t something that gets handed down by default. It is no one’s right.’
‘You can’t give it to that… that bastard!’
As my temper got the better of me, I stood at his accusation. ‘I am only the bastard you made me, Gianni De Luca.’
A minute or more must have passed, as with the many people gathered around us, we glared at each other.
‘Enough, both of you,’ my grandfather instructed and I sat back down and removed my eyes from the man who didn’t deserve any acknowledgement.
‘Papa?’ Gianni pleaded and once again showed his childish petulance and subsequent weakness.
‘THIS is my final word! Our family is stronger than it’s been in years, and I won’t have that compromised.’ Abruptly, Nonno started coughing, as if the whole situation was suddenly far too much for him to cope with and my earlier suspicions were validated. Janine, his companion, rushed to his side, and I felt Serafina unexpectedly move, as she gauged whether she was needed or not.
Without being told in as many words, I instinctively knew my grandfather hadn’t much longer left in this world and as the hushed silence around us was broken, I was aware that others had also comprehended the same. I was experienced enough with the politics of our family, to appreciate that a lot was riding on my grandfather’s statement today.
What the hell is going on?
Does Serafina know he’s ill?
If she did know… What else was she keeping from me?
Anger and pain unfurled inside me as I comprehended just how comfortable the Giordanos were, sitting in my home, eating my food, and drinking my wine.
