by J. J. McAvoy
“When I left the kitchen, your daughter was putting strawberries on pancakes,” he answered.
I tried to move out of the bed when I felt a wave of nausea hit hard. Stretching out my arm, I steadied myself by holding the bedpost. It felt as if I were rocking on a boat at sea.
“She said it was a side effect, and it would make you a bit dizzy for a moment.”
“Did she now?” I muttered to myself, genuinely annoyed she’d poisoned me. That was not necessary.
“Ms. Orsini…she had another request,” O’Phelan stated warily, obviously not wanting to convey this damn message.
“Do I look like Santa Claus? I do not take her requests. Get out,” I snapped at him.
But he stood there unflinching, looking me in the eye instead of following my orders. “Forgive me, sir, however, directed I—”
“Have you lost your mind, O’Phelan? Or have I lost mine?” I asked, now facing him completely. “Because I’m sure I told you to get the fuck out, and yet, here you are still in my fucking face. Do you work for Ms. Orsini or me?”
“According to her, both.”
“You are very quick to accept that.”
“That is the order. I work for the house and the house ruled by the woman of it. Unless you are saying we are not to treat her as the woman of this house?”
I stared at him for a second. I truly wanted to know the exact words she had said to them this morning. I needed to get a full break down of her methodology and strategy plan later. It was obviously superior as he was already halfway to being her soldier, even though he grew up watching over me.
“What was her list of demands this morning?” No point fighting over it.
“Only three, sir: first, to make sure you take your medicine,” he said and then paused and watched my expression for second before going on. “Second, she requests you shave your beard, and the third, she wants you to remove your wedding band before coming to breakfast.”
Wedding band?
I glanced down at the ring I’d put back on while spending time with my family; however, I’d taken it off last night. When the hell did she put it back on?
Just like an assassin.
While I was fast asleep, she’d used the night to prepare. Wait, was that why she had poisoned me? So she could set her stage for this morning’s act?
“Were there people around when she made these demands? Did they hear?”
“Yes, sir. She gathered most of us and gave us a list of things to do for the day.”
That explained that. She had put the wedding ring back on so everyone would believe it was because of her that it was off.
Bravo, la mia anima. It was the little details that mattered.
“Are you finished, or did she request you shave me personally?” I asked, suddenly feeling much better.
“That is all, sir. Please excuse me.” He nodded before walking to the door, and I did not move, didn’t even blink until I heard the door close behind me.
“What chaos is she plotting today?” I wondered, walking into my bathroom. Sliding the ring off my finger, I tossed it into the toilet before reaching up and grabbing my beard. She’d pulled at it last night, and I could tell she was annoyed at how long it had gotten. She did not say a thing, though, and I actually didn’t mind it. Part of me wanted to keep it to annoy her. However, because she was a madwoman, and I was often swept up into her madness, I knew if I did not follow her demands, she might drug me again and shave me poorly herself.
Snickering at the thought, I reached over to where my old single-blade straight razor always was…only to see a small familiar wooden box there instead with a sticky note on the top.
“Did that medieval contraception hold some sentimental value? If so, know that I used restraint and did not toss it into the trash. It is merely under the sink. I brought this back with me as well.”
Opening it, there was a new, yet old single-blade straight razor. It was the one she had bought for me years ago; however, I had only used it a handful of times when I had visited. In fact, as I looked around the sink, all of the things she had bought for me over the years were on my side. Everything from an electric toothbrush to cologne.
The creams and soaps she had scattered all over the place yesterday were now neatly organized on her side of the sink. Clearly, she had not gone to sleep and had chosen to settle in. There was no question about forgoing shaving now.
Smearing the foam over my jawline, using the razor she’d given me, I lifted my chin to the mirror. I slowly slid the blade across my face. With each slice of foam off, I saw my own flesh, and the more I saw of my skin, the better I felt, like the air was returning to my lungs. And when it was done, when I looked at my reflection, I saw myself clearly.
“Welcome back, Ethan Callahan,” I muttered, a dark grin spreading over my lips. Oh, how I had missed myself. All those years of holding back, waiting, taking insults…it was over. I now had everything in my grasp.
All I had to do was hold on.
CALLIOPE
“No, the bombolinis go with the pasticciotto, and the cornetto is—never mind—stop!” I held out my hands, and all four of the maids froze as I walked back to the dining table. Lifting the plates, I rearranged them in the center myself. When I was done, I glanced over the table. “Something is still missing,” I muttered to myself.
“Flowers, Mommy,” Gigi said, sitting on her knees on the chair beside me, her beautiful brown and green eyes looking over the table. “There are no flowers, Mommy.”
“You’re right. That’s it, my pretty girl,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “Now sit properly; you don’t want to mess up your clothes,” I said, fixing the bottom of her pleated green dress and then turned to the maids.
“From now on, I want seasonal flowers on the table with all of our meals. Let everyone else know. I still need to look over everyone’s qualifications, but I rather not repeat myself later—”
“What’s going in here?” A new voice spoke from behind me.
I turned to Evelyn, dressed in dark pants and a light tan blouse, a single diamond necklace around her neck. Her short, graying copper-brown hair was cut into layers, brushed over her forehead in slight bangs.
“Bisavola!” Gigi said, sliding off the chair and running to her. “Buongiorno.” Good morning!
Immediately she smiled down at Gigi and cupped her face saying, “Buongiorno, Giovanna. I’m so happy to see you this morning.” Her old crow eyes then found me.
Walking closer to her, I smiled politely. “Good morning, Evelyn. We haven’t been properly introduced. I am Calliope Seraphina Orsini, Giovanna’s mother.”
“I now understand where the other half of her beauty comes from,” she said, glancing down to my hand before my meeting my eyes. “What I don’t understand is how someone I’ve just now been properly introduced to is bossing around my staff and ordering breakfast for the family.”
Keeping my hand outstretched, I replied, “What’s the saying? La mia casa è la tua casa?” My house is your house.
Her glare only became sharper. “Not here. This is a Callahan house, now and forever. We neither share it or open it to anyone. So, your daughter has the right to command, but you do not. You are guest here, and therefore, you should act like a guest.”
I kept the smile on my face, clasping my hands as I looked her over.
“Evelyn,” I said gently. “I heard your church crashed down on top of you and you barely made it out alive. How sad. I am sorry such a terrible thing happened. But maybe you should take that as a sign from God that you are far too old and have been through far too much to have this fight with me. We can do this the easy way. You can shake my hand, smile, enjoy the food I had made, spoil your great-granddaughter, showing not to be an obstacle for me today, or you can insult me once more and we can go to war. I am very good at that. And I really want to know how many lives those old bones of yours have left.” I laughed to myself, lifting my hand to her once more. “Please make your
choice now so I know how to go about the rest of my morning.”
Her eyes narrowed on me, glaring a bit before taking my hand. “The quickest way for you and I to be at war is for you to mention my age.”
“Noted. It won’t happen again.” I nodded, and she didn’t seem to believe me. “At least not to your face.”
The corner of her lip turned up, but when she let go of my hand, she turned to Gigi, speaking in Italian, “Come with me, my precious girl.”
Gigi grinned, taking her hand and leaving with her. I watched them for a second as they walked by before everyone else came down. The first couple, Ethan’s Uncle Neal, wore a dark blue sweater and dark brown trousers, and his wife, Mina, wore a polka-dotted sweater and long skirt. Her black hair was in a bun. Neal looked over my shoulder at his mother and then to me.
“You caused a lot of trouble last night,” he said, looking me over.
“Did I?” I gasped, dismayed and innocent. “I would apologize, but sadly, I have no idea what you are talking about. But I’d love to hear more over raspberry jelly-filled sugar donuts. I heard those were your favorite. I made them for you myself.”
His gaze shifted over my shoulder to the table, a small grin appeared on his face when he saw it. His wife smacked his shoulder.
“Seriously? Are you so cheap?” she muttered, and he looked at her and then to me again when she spoke up. “She poisoned our children!”
“Yes, I did,” I replied without shame. “And before you say anything else, think long and hard about what you would have done if someone had your daughter and they tried to stop you from getting her back?”
Her pink lips made a fine line, so I went on. “Now remember, all I did was put her to sleep. Gracious in comparison to whatever you would have done, correct? So, let’s not harp on the past. It’s a new day, and the donuts are getting cold.”
Neal put his hand on her shoulders and pushed her forward. “Let’s go. Besides, Nari and Sedric wouldn’t be happy if you fought their battles for them.”
She glared as she walked past, but Neal gave me a small wink as if I was supposed to know what he meant by that.
Either way, it was clear that they all wanted to try to get a dig. And next up to the plate was Ethan’s Irish uncle, Declan, dressed in a dark moss-colored sweater over a white shirt, and his wife, Coraline, who simply wore gray sweater dress, her shoulder-length black hair in waves.
“Good morning, Calliope,” Coraline said, though she looked slightly annoyed with me, too.
Declan nodded as well before they moved to their seats, and I wished everyone else acted like them. It would speed up this damn process. Luckily, I didn’t have to greet anyone else as I knew it would take a few more minutes for the rest of them to get downstairs. The poison didn’t wear off that quickly. Grabbing one of the chairs, I lifted it and put it at the head of the table, pushing the head chair to the left a bit before taking my seat.
When I looked up to take my napkin, everyone in the room was staring at me as if I’d grown a second head all of a sudden.
“Yes?” No one said anything. Shrugging, I looked at my daughter. “Gigi, that’s enough, sit down,” I told her.
She’d personally gone around to say good morning to everyone. I pointed to the chair to the right of me for her to sit, and she started to come when all of a sudden, the door opened again.
“Papa! Buongiorno!” She bolted like a cheetah out of a cage, hugging his legs.
His green eyes focused on me briefly before he glanced down at her and lifted her. The ring was gone, as was his beard. I thought he’d put up a bit more a fight for the sake of our little show, but then again, Ethan would only play with me for so long before getting tired of it.
“Good morning, Giovanna. How are you?” he asked in Italian, gazing into her eyes. He offered her a small smile as he brushed a few strands of hair from her face.
She grinned so wide I thought she’d burst from joy, and she replied quickly, “Great! You want us to stay, Papa! I get to be with you all the time now! Mommy said we are picking my room and then going to get my clothes. Can my room be close to you, Papa, please?” she begged, but instead of putting her on her feet, he carried her to his chair, sitting her in his lap.
“The closest room to mine is being used as my private study, but we can move those things out and have your room there. As for clothes, don’t you want to have new clothes made for you—”
“Her old clothes are fine,” I said as he sat beside me.
He ignored me. “We’ll call the family tailor, and he’ll make you anything you want to wear. How about that?”
“Really?” she gasped, her eyes twinkling…I knew that look.
“Of course, he’ll be honored,” he said to her, and she was so interested in him, she didn’t seem to notice the looks I was giving her…or even notice me at all.
“I want shoes, too.”
He tapped her nose. “Of course, how could we get clothes without shoes?”
Inhaling gently, I looked at the ugly wooden chandler, which hung over the table, trying to keep calm. I knew my daughter, especially the parts of her that were like me. She loved testing how far she could go, how much she could get, and so she would demand the stars, the moon, and the sun.
“Anything you want, you—”
“I feel like I’m on the Titanic.” A pale, raccoon-eyed Wyatt, grumbled, holding his stomach as he busted inside the dining room, interrupting his brother.
Beside him, Helen looked much better than yesterday. She wore an oversized sweater and leather pants, holding his arm as he limped forward. However, she got a look from her father, Declan, and sighing, she let him go. He stumbled a bit, having to support his wounded self.
“Uncle Declan, I’m injured,” Wyatt groaned, holding his side. “I was shot. I nearly died, remember? I was in the hospital, and you all were crying and worried. On top of that, I was poisoned—”
“Do you hear anything, love?” Declan asked Coraline as he poured coffee.
She just shook her head, trying not to laugh. “I think Wyatt is giving us a summary of his last month back home,” she replied.
“Hmmm…” Declan lifted the cup to his lips. “Sounds like bitching to me.”
“Language,” she snapped at him, nodding to Gigi, who happily sat on Ethan’s lap, watching everyone.
“Not this again,” Declan grumbled. “They are going to come out cursing worse than sailors anyway—”
“Who’s bitching now?” Wyatt said under his breath as he sat down.
Helen made sure to sit next to him just as Nari stomped into the room.
“When I see that—” Nari paused, seeing me at the head of the table, in her arms her daughter, Saura, dressed in pink and in pigtails, who tilted her head to the side as she looked at Gigi.
“Hi.” I smiled, waving my fingers.
“Mommy, who’s that?” She pointed at my daughter.
“Saura, this is your cousin, Giovanna. She’s your Uncle Ethan’s daughter,” Evelyn said to her gently as Nari moved to sit.
“Where’d she come from?” Saura pressed a confused pout to her lips.
“Where’d you come from?” Gigi asked back in Italian to the surprise of everyone else in the dining room.
“You understand English, Giovanna?” Evelyn asked her.
She nodded and smiled, lifting her three fingers to show her. “I know Italian, English, numbers and water in Spanish. Mommy teaches me. Next is Man…da…man…in.”
“Man…dar…in,” I said slowly to her. “And you can speak English now, Gigi.”
She frowned, not understanding. “But you said English was for lazy people.”
“When we are back home, it is; here, in America, English is what people speak. But you can keep speaking Italian to me, all right? It’s the best language in the world.”
“Okay,” she said in a heavy Italian accent, reaching for the water.
“Now, go to your seat, Gigi,” I told her.
&n
bsp; She paused, looking up to me and then Ethan. There it was—her pushing her boundaries.
“She’s fine here,” Ethan spoke to me coldly, as he should have; however, with his current coddling of her, I was annoyed. He brought the juice closer to her, which caused her to do what children do—take advantage.
“Yeah, Mommy, I’m fine here.” Gigi grinned, taking the cup and drinking slowly.
Gripping the knife in my hand, I watched the last two come in, Sedric and Darcy, both of them looking as sick as Wyatt did, sitting in their chairs and lean back. But before the doors could close, I heard barking. They dashed in as blurs of white and gray fur.
“Priscus! Verus!” Gigi laughed as they came up the sides of the table. “Sorry, are you hungry?”
They barked louder, trying to stand up next to her.
“Sit!” I snapped, and immediately, both dogs froze beside her, now silent and sitting. Speaking firmly, my gaze narrowed. “Gigi, go get them their food.”
“Later, Mommy—”
“Giovanna, get down this second and go get them their food like I told you this morning. Then sit down in your chair like the big girl I know you are and eat your breakfast. Now!” I hollered at her, and her lips quivered as she slid down Ethan’s leg, walking toward the double doors.
I glanced at O’Phelan, nodding for him to help her. Priscus and Verus sat, waiting, their tiny tales wagging as they looked back at where Gigi had gone then back at me.
“Follow,” I ordered them, and they bolted toward the doors she went through. When they had gone, I broke a piece of my bread, looking to Evelyn as calmly I asked, “Will you pass the butter, please?”
She did.
“Thank you,” I said, taking my knife and spreading it, knowing full well they were watching me. Might as well use this to my advantage and push our lie, was what I planned to do when all of sudden, Ethan’s phone went off.
Not just his, but mine did too.
But I didn’t bother checking. Rising from my chair when he did, we both moved for Gigi as we heard the gunshots echo through the air, exploding against the bulletproof windows. Gigi held on to me, confused. Seconds later, Greyson rushed into the room.
