“Where’s Mama?” Carmine asked.
“Papa wanted to talk to her,” Monica replied. “He’s been awake less than an hour and he’s giving his orders out.”
Raoul grinned and handed her a drink.
“No doubt he’ll be telling me what to put on the specials menu tonight.”
Carmine accepted his coffee. “I think you’re perfectly capable of managing that.”
“Thanks, brother.”
The door opened and Maria came in, dabbing her eyes.
“Mama?” Monica asked.
“Don’t worry. He’s fine. Well he’s not but you know what I mean.”
She sank down on a chair. Monica threw her arm around her.
“What did he say?” Carmine asked.
“He wants to see you,” she replied. “Off you go.”
Of course Stefano would have an audience with each of them. Nonna would be proud of his sense of occasion.
As he got to the door, a nurse stopped him.
“Five minutes maximum,” he said.
“How is he doing?”
“Remarkably well. He’s not out of the woods by any means.”
Carmine nodded.
As he approached the bed, his father watched him. His eyes as bright as stars. A sob caught in Carmine’s throat.
I’ve just come back to you. Don’t leave me.
Taking the seat recently vacated by his mother, he rested his hand on Stefano’s arm. Still strong from years of hard graft.
“I want you to make sure your mother is all right,” he said croakily.
“Dad. There’s no need for talk like that. You’re doing really well.”
Stefano waved him away. “I mean today, not forever. Don’t get carried away. Try and get her to rest up a bit.”
“Raoul’s going to get us a hotel room,” Carmine replied. “I’ll make sure she has a lie down.”
“Good boy.”
He fell silent for a second. Carmine didn’t know if that was his audience over.
“Shall I leave you?”
Stefano grabbed Carmine’s hand.
“Give me a second, will you? I’ve had a heart attack.”
