“Call me whenever you need me, Goldi. It doesn’t matter the time.”

“I will. You do the same, okay?”

“Okay. I love you, and I miss you.”

“I love you and miss you too.”

My eyes fill with tears as I end the call. I don’t want to say goodbye to Alistair, but I can’t expect him to make a commitment to me so I can stay in the US.

There’s a knock on my door before it opens and Max’s head pops through the sliver. “There you are. I can’t stay here for a minute longer. I’m heading to town to meet some friends. Do you want to join me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

I’m not really in the mood to socialize, but staying in this apartment surrounded by family members who hate me would be masochistic to say the least.

ALISTAIR

“Did you talk with Chiara?” my father asks when I come into the kitchen at five in the morning.

“Yes. What are you doing up?”

“I couldn’t sleep. How is she holding up?”

“She’s having a hard time, I could tell. It kills me that I can’t be there with her.”

“If you’re staying here on our account, don’t. Your mother and I will be fine.”

“It’s not only that, Dad. I want to settle things with Nadine first. She’ll always be a hindrance until the divorce is finalized.”

“Is your lawyer making progress?”

“Oh yeah. That video Nadine posted turned out to be a big mistake on her part. Anyway, we have a meeting with the insurance company tomorrow. We had a good policy coverage. The insurance money should be enough to start anew.”

“Listen, son, about that. Your mother and I have been talking, and we decided we don’t want to run a vineyard anymore.”

My eyes widen. “But it was your dream.”

“Yes, it was. But it was more hard work than we anticipated, and we don’t want to start from scratch.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Travel, see the world.”

“I confess I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping that now that I don’t have a job teaching anymore, I could help you with the business.”

“If you want to own a vineyard, what’s stopping you?”

I open and shut my mouth, but no sound comes forth. Dad is right, there’s nothing stopping me from forging ahead without my parents. Well, there’s Chiara to consider now. She wouldn’t want to give up a career in the city to move to wine country with me. She hasn’t even gone to college yet.

He pats my shoulder. “You don’t have to decide everything right this second, son. Take your time, talk with your girl.”

“How did you know I was thinking about her?”

“I wasn’t born yesterday. I know that glint in your eyes. I see it every day when I look at my reflection in the mirror. You are head over heels in love with Chiara, just like I’m still in love with your mother. I never saw that spark in your gaze when you were married to Nadine.”

I look down and cross my arms. “There are so many obstacles in our way though. It’s hard for me to think about the future and see a happily ever after as much as I want to believe it’s possible.”

“Stop focusing on the problems and focus on the reward. Is she worth it?”

There’s no hesitation on my part.

“Fuck yes.”

46

Chiara

I turn the doorknob very quietly, not wanting to make any sound and wake the banshee—aka my mother. It’s past two in the morning, but I wouldn’t put it past her to be waiting for me in the living room. With my shoes in my hands, I tiptoe toward my room.

The entire house is as quiet as a tomb and dark as well. When I walk by my father’s office, I notice light pouring through the crack. I hesitate for a second. Maybe I should go check on him. We hardly had time to talk earlier, and maybe I can offer him some comfort, even if he’s not willing to tell me the truth. My hand is on the semi-open door when a gunshot rings in my ears, loud and terrifying.

“Papa!” I burst inside his office, and suddenly time seems to move in slow motion.

Dad’s body is on the floor. The only thing visible from where I stand is his prone hand and a gun. I run around the desk, dropping to my knees next to him. Blood is splattered on the carpet.

I hear screaming moments before I’m pushed to the side and my mother takes my place. I’m in too much shock to do anything but stare and cry. Then my mother is shaking me and yelling, but I can’t discern her words through the loud roar in my ears.

She shoves me out of her way and stands up. I don’t know if she’s still in the room or not. All I can do is stare at Dad.

Eventually, more people come, and then the police show up. Someone lifts me from the floor and cradles my face against his chest. At first, I think it’s Alistair, but the scent isn’t his. Max is the one holding me. He steers me out of Dad’s office and back to my room. Then he forces something strong down my throat, making me gag. I cough as the potent liquid turns my veins into fire.

“Chibi, please talk to me.”

“I-I was just outside his office when it happened. If I had come home a few minutes earlier, he’d still be alive.”

“No, you can’t think like that.”

I stare at my cousin through blurred vision. “How can I not say that, Max? It’s the truth.”

A knock on the door interrupts what Max was about to say.

“Who is it?” he asks.

“The police would like to take Chiara’s statement,” Uncle Joe says.

Max turns to me. “Are you okay to do this now?”