The Don's Doctor

All The Family is Home

Chiara's POV

I had finished my embroidery for the morning, and was reading about an experimental method being used for valve repairs, which usually, was the speciality of a cardiologist, but nevertheless in the end, it was still an interesting read. Overall, I was having a relaxing start to the day, although Vincent had put off our PTSD session today as he was called out at the last minute. I had planned to coach him through some breathing exercises to turn to when he could feel the rage building, but it would have to keep for another time. Deliberating whether I can justify having one more coffee, even though there is little need for me to be caffeine infused, I am distracted by the yelling from the first floor. Clearly, it was Viviana, because I could hear her voice the loudest, and I am immediately concerned that her brother has discovered the identity of Valentino’s father. Pulling my trainers on my feet, I rush towards the commotion.

“Are you crazy? As if it wasn’t traumatic enough doing it the first time, you are reburying them in our back garden! This is disgusting Vincent!” She looks as if she is going to launch herself at him, and after hearing only the latter part of her outrage I can understand why.

“If Barone gets them, and he could, we will never find them. They could be at the bottom of the Hudson, and we would never know. He could dangle them outside our gates, or throw them in a lion’s den at the zoo to be mauled. We will never find them. This is our only option. You don’t have to be there!” Vincent shouts back at her.

“Is that what you’ll be doing to Barone’s parents?” She asks, and the silence that follows lets us know that he would never tell her.

“Business isn’t for women”. He returns, coldly.

Although he has managed to offend every single woman listening to them yell by his comment, the deceit is what is most irritating. If business isn’t for women, why are we the most hurt by it? Screaming in his face, Viviana storms upstairs back to her room. Her pain is palpable in the air and I wish I could help her.

Staring at the direction she left in, I didn’t notice that Vincent was next to me, until he places his hand on the small of my back, causing me to jump. He steps back guiltily, and I feel bad about my reaction. Nodding his head towards his office door, he gestures for me to follow. Awkwardly, I do as am instructed, surprised to see Renzo and Luca inside. Renzo is facing the window, and for some reason he seems smaller today than I have ever seen him before. I notice the blood on his knuckles, but he seems unconcerned by it, and sensing the mood, I decide to examine it later.

“What’s happened?” I ask, aware that I’m not here to do any anger management techniques, while Luca and Renzo are here.

“My parents’ graves were defaced. We know it was Barone, and obviously it has hurt us all more than we can say.” Vincent explains.

“Disgraceful!” Luca shouts out to no-one in particular, but clearly is furious at the audacity of the other family.

Luca always looks like a retired, hardened killer, nothing ever seems to faze him. It’s as if he has seen the worst in life and had the appropriate, unyielding answer for all of it, so hearing the shock in his voice is chilling.

“I’m very sorry. That must have been a great shock to you all. Is there anything that I can do?”

“We know that you and Viviana have started a good friendship. I was wondering if you could support her through this. We want her to be part of the reburial tonight. Here’s my credit card. Please put any purchases for the evening on there. I think some flowers would be a good idea, and if you use my name when you ring, everyone will accommodate you for an express delivery.” Vincent tells me, and the tone in his voice indicates to me, he’s desperate, as he hands me his card.

I nod, and leave them, heading straight for Viviana’s room.

Finding her sobbing on the bed, brings a tear to my eye, but I pin my emotions down, and stroke her back until her pain is numbed by the silence.

“I can’t believe I have to do this again!” She whispers.

“Your brother has asked me to make some arrangements for tonight, but I need your help. They were your parents, and you know what they would want most, and I bet the funeral didn’t have much of your input the first time.” I inquire, and she nods in agreement.

“They didn’t even have my mother’s favorite flowers,” she answers, and the realisation motivates her to help me plan.

She rings up all the venues, insisting that they deliver them by 4pm, and I place all the online orders. We buy some new black dresses and mourning hats, and Viviana channels her focus on preparation.

At six o’clock, the florist has covered the path from the gate to the hill in yellow petals. On the new burial site are red roses, and from the speakers the songs from Tosca are singing out beautifully. Vincent arrives, dressed in black, and he looks taken aback by the yellow petals on such a sombre occasion. Viviana, steps to his side, a fraction away from touching him.

“They are for mother’s favourite film.” She explains, and he nods.

“The Wizard of Oz.” He remembers, and a little smile hovers over his lips.

Two hearses come through the gate at an agonisingly slow pace. The coffins have been polished as if this was the first time they would be laid in the ground, and not a whisper is uttered.

At the graves, a square of red roses is boarding where the hole has been dug. It was contrasting to the white that I had assumed that they would have wanted. Once again, Vincent looks perplexed by the choice.

“When we were born, mother said that dad had arrived with red roses each time, because we were made from their love, and shared their blood, and that was all that mattered above anything else in the world.” To our surprise, Vincent wraps his arm around his sister, and tucks her under his arm in a protective movement.

“That’s what they went to see, Tosca.” He says to her.

“I know, but they never got to hear the end of it. I think we should let them now. Besides, father liked religious art, but he loathed hymns.” She replies.

Vincent nods and laughs at the details about his father that he had forgotten, but his sister had retained. We stay there until the last song is played. Watching the love that lasted after death.