Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen

*Gabriela*

This was the last place I was expecting him to take me. I have thought about it ever since we had landed, but I wasn’t sure when I was able to go since technically, I was still a prisoner that wasn’t able to go anywhere.

But the fact that he took me on his own without me requesting it nearly brought me to tears. Emotion swelled inside my chest as we reached the front gates, and the guard nodded his head before opening them. The loud creak of the metal was like a bell of what was to come.

I was finally going to see my mother’s resting place and this time I wasn’t going to be rushed by anyone. If he’ll allow it, I hope I will be able to take my time with her. Since I wasn’t even aware that she had been buried here, I had no idea on where to go.

But it seemed Enzo did. He starts walking with a purpose in a particular direction like he’s been here a hundred times. But then I notice the small piece of paper in his hand that he kept looking at and that’s when I knew that Giovanni had given the information that he needed to know to find her.

I smile as we quietly passed the headstones, and monuments of their ancestors. It wasn’t a very large grave, but still big enough for just one family to have. The place was beautiful for something to represent something so forlorn and heartbreaking. It was noted that he made sure this place was well taken care of.

The grass was lush and green and trimmed nicely, flowers and trees were planted all throughout the cemetery giving it an earthly atmosphere. Even the oldest headstones were polished and cleaned. There were hedges as tall as ten feet every now and then, all encased with white flowers. Enzo heads to one of them now.

My heart starts slamming into my chest at the understanding what this meant as he opens the tiny wooden gate, that was placed in a spot that was separated from the hedge to be connected.

“This is it.” He whispers as he steps away to let me in first.

I look to him as the pain in my chest thickens. He nods his head, gently giving me a smile. “Go on, I bet she’s been waiting for you.”

I don’t hesitate a second longer as I pass the gate and wanted to cry. The place was breathtaking. Filled with flowers and a tiny baby tree growing next to a headstone that only belonged to my mother. Tears started to fall as I knelt to the ground in front of that marble stone that forever will have her name engraved on it.

I faintly hear the gate close behind me, but my emotions became all out of whack as I let the sobs take over. I didn’t know when Giovanni had done this, but I was grateful that he did. I was so afraid that she was going to be lonely in the town’s graveyard with no one to visit her. But to see her here with so much care and love…I was happy.

More than happy. I was relieved.

I finally got a hold of myself and smiled. “I’m here mama.” I choked out. “Sorry, it took me so long, but I’m here.”

I stretch out on top of my stomach on her grave, laying on the grass, closing my eyes I sigh deeply. “And let me tell you…it’s been a horrible six months since.”

***

I don’t know when I fell asleep. I had been talking and talking until finally I just passed out from all the exhaustion the past seventy-two hours had left me with. I jerk up remembering that Enzo had been with me and judging by the sun it was well past noon.

How long was I out? An hour, two?

Scrambling up, I wipe the grass that had been stuck to my cheek and quickly say, “I’ll come visit again mama, promise.”

I rush out the gate to nearly slam into him. “Oh!”

He slowly leans away from the hedge he had been leaning on apparently. “You okay there?” He asks.

Feeling a bit flustered I take a step back. “Yes, sorry that took so long.”

“You don’t need to apologize for spending time with your mother, Gabby. Take all the time you need.” He stands in front of me, placing his hands in his pockets looking adorable as hell.

My face flushes with heat and I couldn’t help averting his eyes in embarrassment thinking he was adorable. “S-Should we head back?” I stutter, feeling like a bigger fool.

He smiles a little. “Yeah, we should. I’m sure they’re cursing us right now for leaving all the hard work to them by now.”

We start walking back the way we came from as he says this. “I feel like only your cousin would be cursing us, I’m sure the others don’t mind at all.”

“You’re more than likely right about that.” He chuckles, throwing me in for a loop hearing the sound of his laughter.

It’s been so long since I’ve heard it that warmth fills me inside. Maybe I’ll get to hear that belly laugh he always used to give whenever he watched me struggle with something. I was always so easy to pick on for him that half the time he spent laughing when we were together.

Not knowing what else to say we walk in silence the whole way back. But it was a comfortable silence than an awkward one. It was nice actually. I thought he was going to ask more questions, but he didn’t.

“There you two are! Where the hell have you been?!” Domenico yelled out as he came stomping towards us from the fields.

He was completely covered in dirt, sweat, and grape stains. He also looked right damn pissed off. But I could care less since I didn’t like him anyways. He snatches the hat right off his head just as he reached the two of us.

“Must be nice to have a leisurely walk for no apparent reason.” He snaps, staring daggers at Enzo, who looked calm as can be.

“Not my fault that Nonno put your ass to work after the huge mess you made of things. Be thankful that’s all he’s doing to you right now. Working in the fields from dusk to dawn is the least of your worries, Dom.”

He growls in annoyance, looking away for a moment before snapping, “Well…what have you been doing anyways?” Looking at the two of us with suspicion.

Huh. Guess he wasn’t going to argue with that statement since he knew it was true. Enzo grabs my hand and grins, “Why do you want to know? Jealous? Well it’s none of your damn business.” Making me widen my eyes at the implication on that meaning.

Domenico scowls at him as he watches us leave him behind. As soon as he was out of ear shot, I scolded, “Why did you say that? Now he thinks we were doing something dirty.”

Enzo looks at me with a smirk. “That was the point.”

I stare at him with shock, not understanding what was going on in that head of his. But the playful nineteen-year-old Enzo that I had known and come to fall in love with had finally presented himself. Making my heart flutter all the more. He was still there, hidden deeply inside, but there, nonetheless.

I couldn’t help blushing and smiling in return. And he still hadn’t let my hand go.