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“We are” I answer and, repeating the same reaction to all the answers I gave her today, she still looks at me for another two seconds, waiting for an explanation to follow. When she sees that it's not going to happen, she looks out the window again.
A few minutes after the plane takes off, Gabriella falls asleep.
***
“Let the men know she's moving out,” I tell Tizziano, and he sits back in the chair facing my desk.
I rap my knuckles on the wooden top, and the sound is lost amidst the sound of rain lashing the windows on the wall a few feet away. My eyes stare at the cloudy landscape and I shake my head, agreeing with my own thoughts.
The smell of wood lining the walls, floor, and ceiling of my office is a solid, familiar presence, as is the one wafting through the cigar box on my desk.
“You know that's not necessary, right? No one would dare try to touch her again.”
“That's not the only reason.”
“So, you're really going to go through with this?” my brother asks, but I refuse to answer again. “Don't get me wrong, I think this is a really fun plan, I'm just surprised that you're going to put it into practice.”
“Of all people, if anyone would find this amusing, it would of course be you, Tizziano.”
“Your plan is basically to have fun at parties and events for the next few weeks. What's not fun about that?”
“You used the words parties and events in that sentence, didn't you?”
“I really don't know how it's possible for us to be brothers.” The comment takes my eyes to him because this is a constant question in my head.
“This is the shortest way to my goal.”
“You're a son of a bitch who loves mind games, that's what.” I don't deny it, because it's true.
“Your wealth of vocabulary always impresses me.” The underboss smiles without any shame, and I shake my head, denying it. “Get the news out, Tizziano. Inside and outside the walls.”
“Consider it done, Don,” he declares.
Light knocks are made on the door before Luigia enters my office. The elderly woman has lived in my parents' house since before I was born. Luigia watched my brothers and I grow up, she helped my mother raise us to the point where Sagrada took over our education, in fact.
In her traditional dark suit, she stands in front of my desk, keeping her eyes on the patterned rug beneath her feet and her hands clasped in front of her.
“Don Vittorio, Tizziano” she greets, and my brother looks over his shoulder.
“Cara mia” he responds to the greeting in a friendly way, as he treats most of the house's employees.
The underboss treats the other small part even more friendly: he fucks them. I've lost count of how many times I've had to put up with complaints from my mother about having to fire an excellent employee because her second son thought it would be a good idea to get between her legs.
“Take a seat.” She obeys and looks up at me.
“Tell me about Gabriella. How have the last few weeks been?” I order, and my brother crosses his legs, resting an ankle on his knee.
“I would like to take responsibility for the girl's leave, Don Vittorio. She asked me for permission, I didn't think it would be a problem to let her go to the village with Miss Rafaella. I take responsibility for what happened.”
My neutral expression doesn't betray the surprise I feel. This is the first time I can remember that the housekeeper has come into my office to intercede for someone, and the fact that thisintervention was not requested by me, or the person being defended must also be considered a puzzling fact.
“The only ones responsible for what happened are the men who dishonored their oaths, Luigia. And they got what they deserved.” I pause, and she nods. “Now tell me what I want to know.”
“The girl is hard-working, determined and very dedicated, Don. In a month and a half, she learned the house routine, performs the tasks given to her perfectly and already speaks Italian well enough not to do stupid things. She even helped withSignoraAnna's pain.”
“Mamma?” Tizziano interrupts for the first time.
“The girl made tea for thesignoraduring the last crisis, a few weeks ago. She said that she made this same tea for her sister who is sick. I was suspicious at first, but the cooks assured me that they watched the herbs cook and that nothing strange was added. It was just the mix that was unusual. Thesignoradrank the tea and in a matter of hours she felt relief from the pain. The next day, she was able to walk.”
