AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ricco removed her from the room.
Walking together, we crossed the vast room to the large bed at the other end. I lifted my other arm and held onto Salvatore’s forearm trying to offer him some comfort. We made our way to the head of the bed and once there Salvatore fell to his knees, pulling me with him. Releasing his hold on me, he gently picked up his grandfather’s hand from his chest and leant further in to hold it to his face.
Salvatore’s body began to shake as he let his emotions leave his body. Lifting one hand, I started to rub his back to try to offer him a modicum of comfort.
Then carefully, I took in everything I could about the man lying in front of us. His breathing was very shallow. I could see that each breath he took was a struggle for him as he tried to keep going and I knew he would be gone within the hour.
Lifting my head, I smiled my thanks up to Janine and the rest of the nursing staff. If only we all got to die so well looked after and at peace.
‘He’s peaceful, Salvatore.’ I whispered, trying to offer the man I loved some consolation. ‘Talk to him, he might not talk back, but he can hear you. Say your goodbyes.’
‘Nonno,’ Salvatore called his name and placed a kiss on the back of his hand.
Salvatore Snr’s eyes opened. He looked at us both and tried to speak. Janine stepped forward and dabbed an already prepared piece of moist lint to his lips in a bid to help him.
‘Salvatore,’ he whispered with a voice that was only just discernible.
‘We found Enzo… he has been taken care of.’
‘That is good, Nipote’
‘And…’ Salvatore stopped trying to find the words and I stilled my hand on his back as I tried to will him the strength that I understood he needed to say his next words. His grandfather’s eyes opened wider as he wordlessly encouraged his grandson to carry on with what he needed to say. ‘I’m sorry, Nonno.’
‘Go on.’
‘Gianni is dead. I ended his life.’
I watched and I knew Salvatore saw it too, when one tear left the corner of the old man’s eye.
‘It was him. He was the one who took my mama and the countless other women and children,’ Salvatore informed him.
For a few seconds, Nonno squeezed his eyes shut tight as if to shut out the pain of losing his last child. Salvatore dipped his head to the old man’s hand and kissed it again as he soundlessly offered his remorse.
‘Family, Nipote?’ Nonno questioned as he opened his eyes once again.
‘We are together, Nonno. Me, Romeo, Gabriel and Gi. Together.’ Salvatore presented what he knew he needed to hear, and his grandfather relaxed further into the comfort of the bed underneath him, in acceptance.
All at once, I knew I had to impart what I’d been keeping a secret and I stood up. Both men’s eyes followed my sudden movement.
Was it only yesterday that I’d confirmed my suspicions?
It felt like a lifetime ago.
Purposefully, I stood as close as I could to the edge of the bed and tugged lightly at Salvatore’s hold, placing their conjoined hands against my lower abdomen.
‘Serafina?’ Salvatore looked from their hands, and then up to me in question.
I placed my hands on theirs and watched as understanding consumed them both. Salvatore Snr smiled a small smile, while my husband continued to silently question me, and I nodded gently at him.
‘It’s early days,’ I informed him, ‘but there’s no reason to think…’
‘Family,’ Salvatore Snr acknowledged and nodded. ‘Family is everything.’
Pulling at his grandson’s hand, he brought the red, family crest to his lips and closing his eyes he kissed the garnet Salvatore always wore.
‘Don De Luca,’ he whispered, showing his respect. Then closing his eyes for a final time, he let out his final rasping exhale and the room fell into a hush.
* * *
