Chapter 1 - Kira
I walked into the beautiful church for the first time since I was eighteen. My son’s hand is clasped tightly in mine as we walk behind my father to take our seats near the rest of the family.
I can see some family members look at me, their eyes lighting up with excitement as they realize I’m back from Italy. It’s been thirteen years, but nothing has changed aside from everyone looking older. We all sit in the same order, only now there is space for Raphael, who wasn’t here the last time.
My father ushers us into a pew, and we take our seats. Raphael is used to church. We went all the time in Italy as part of our routine. I insisted he learns English because I knew in my heart that one day we would return to New York to be with my father and my family—how I’ve missed them all!
Alessandro takes his seat at the front of the church, and I smile. He glances back at me and gives me a warm smile. I’ve been home awhile and over to his house, but a lot has been going on, so we haven’t really spoken.
Now that everything is settled, I’m sure we can speak today at family lunch.
We sit obediently, Raphael and I, as the priest begins mass.
After the church is done, we wait our turn to file out, following my father, Sonny, to where the priest greets everyone at the door.
I wait for my turn and let Father James take my hand in his, “Sweet Kira, I’m so pleased to see you back in our parish. The church shines brighter with your smile looking up at me. And who is this?”
I nudge Raphael forward, and he holds out his hand. “Hello, Father,” he says politely.
“This is Raphael,” I say to Father James. “He is my son.”
“A child is such a blessing,” Father James says. “I look forward to seeing you every week, Raphael. There is a lot to learn about God’s work.”
“Amen,” Raphael says quietly. It’s his go-to response with priests. Father James gives him a bright smile, and we shuffle out the door into the sunshine.
It’s a lovely warm day. Usually, I’d take Raphael home to change and play in the park, but today we have family lunch.
Sunday lunch at the head family’s house was a big deal. We were all expected to show our faces, whether my father wanted us to or not. He generally didn’t complain about it.
Things haven’t changed in my absence, except now it’s held at Alessandro’s house. Father isn’t happy about my return, but there’s nothing I can do about it, as Alessandro requested it—at least, that’s what I suspect.
We all file into the cars parked on the street, me behind my father and Raphael next to me.
“Nonno,” Raphael says, “have you been coming to this church for long?”
“Since I was younger than you, our family has always come here,” my father says, opening the car door for us to file in.
We weave our way through the suburbs, the houses here are beautiful, but Italy has a homeliness that I miss. Especially my grandfather's estate where we lived, it was beautiful and open, and Raphael spent many days playing in the vineyard.
“Raphael, are you excited to play with your other cousins?” Sonny asks.
“Some of them, I know, but I’m excited to meet new cousins. I love my family.” Raphael grins.
My father nods his approval and adds a pat on the head for my son. My son that he hadn’t wanted me to have, but I was too far along to have an abortion. So Raphael was born, and my father just hid us away from the world, far away, and told me to make my own way.
The problem is that the Don of this family grew up closely with me. His siblings and I were great friends, and we were practically siblings. We spent almost every day playing together. There was only so long he could hide me from the Don.
We pull into the estate and the car parks. We get out, and I immediately reach for Raphael’s hand. “We must greet Zio first, Alessandro, and then I’ll introduce you to your cousins so you can play.”
Raphael nods as we walk through the house to the backyard near the orchard. It’s set up beautifully, and Alessandro sits at the head table when we enter.
“Ciao, Kira,” he says to me, standing and kissing both my cheeks, “I will never grow tired of seeing you at our home.”
I grin. “Raphael, say hello to Zio Alessandro.”
“Hello, Zio,” he says with a confident smile, “my mother has the most beautiful smile of all.”
“She does, my boy,” Alessandro chuckles. “Go play with your cousins while I steal your mother away to catch up with her.”