“It wasn’t very hard. This was always your favorite home.” Even though we never came here after Mom died.
“It was a wedding gift. Your mother would want you to inherit it.”
I pluck a stray piece of grass off his shirt sleeve. “I think you should hang onto it. It’ll be good for you to live here, out of the city.”
“I thought so. I want you to know, Bella, I didn’t throw away anything of your mother’s. Everything of hers is yours if you want it.”
“Her paintings?” I remember the bare walls at the New Rome house. I was so devastated, thinking he had removed every trace of Mom from the place.
“I moved them here. All of her things, our photographs.”
“The money tree?”
“Of course. All her plants.”
I sigh, feeling relief. “I thought they were destroyed when you blew up the New Rome house.” He must have planned ahead. I’ll have to ask him to teach me to do that.
There’s a rustle in the bushes beside us. Kaiser is here, but he’s giving us a moment.
“Did you get the samples I sent?” my father asks in a soft voice only I can hear. I know he’s talking about the oxytocin packets. I guess they weren’t sent to me by accident.
“I did,” I say. “Turns out I didn’t need it. He loves me for me.”
“You’re all grown up.” Papa pats my back awkwardly. Maybe he’s just an awkward guy. He needs help with emotional stuff.
“Come on.” I twine my arm in Papa’s and lead him toward the house. “Let’s show Kaiser around. Kaiser, you can come out now!”
Kaiser stalks out of the brush. He’s got burs clinging to his pants and goldenrod pollen smudged on his face. There’s a morning glory tucked behind his ear, though, and I’d bet anything he put it there.
Sure enough, he pulls it out and hands it to me.
He and Papa nod to each other in silent greeting.
“I just got off the phone with St. James,” Kaiser says to Papa. “Someone poisoned Dominus Vesuvio.”
“Oh no, that’s awful,” I say without a trace of sympathy. “Who would do such a thing?”
“No one knows.” Both Kaiser and I look at my father.
“What a tragedy,” my father says with a straight face.
“How did he die?” I ask.
“He’s not dead yet. Just in incredible pain. Which is good, because we think he was about to move on us. Now he’s fighting for his life and might lose everything. If Dominus doesn’t defend his organization, the other families will move in.”
“Good.” I smile. Sounds like my father got his revenge.
“It’s more than he deserves,” Papa says. “Have you thought about an alliance with the Regis family?” He and Kaiser start talking strategy. Alliances and mafia families. Blah blah blah. Wake me when it’s time to poison someone.
We walk through my mother’s garden. The last of the summer roses are still blooming, the scent strong around us. Underneath an oak tree is a grove of lily of the valley. It’s not the right time for them to be blooming, but they are. The little white flowers are so lovely and delicate. And deadly.
I stop and stand under the oak tree for a moment, breathing in the sweet scent.
I reach into my pocket and take out my mother’s ring. I slip it on and it fits perfectly. I hold it up, letting it sparkle in the sunlight.
The wind picks up and rustles my hair. It swirls around me, and I smell a rich, floral perfume.
“Thanks, Mom,” I whisper, and follow my father and future husband into the house.
