the right thing

Vincenzo Moreno

I forced open the door, cutting Dr. Yolanda short. "See it now? They've fucking succeeded."

Initially taken aback, Dr. Yolanda sent her gaze to the receptionist standing beside me, eliciting an explanation for why I had barged in from the dumb girl.

Dr. Yolanda didn't show she was mad. Rather, she waved the receptionist away, turning to me. "I'm currently having a session, Vincenzo."

"This is a matter of life and death. Definitely it's worth looking into with immediate effect."

She paused, eyes fixed at me, and pressed back against her swivel chair. "What is it?"

I frowned.

"Yes. What is it?"

"You don't expect me to talk…now." I looked at the client seated across from her.

"So, it's private. Surely, it isn't something too pressing you can't spare some minutes."

I glared at her, the intensity almost lethal. Yet, she held my gaze, not at all intimidated.

"Go on, Vincenzo. The longer you stand there, the less your chances of meeting with me."

After several seconds of visually loathing the doctor and her client, I left. Briefly acknowledging the receptionist, I stood by a window—reeling with unquenchable anger resulting from this latest development involving Rina. The wave of rage spiked up just by thinking about it. It was just unbelievable, the nerve Alessio had. And I'd always known. The son of a bitch meant nothing other than bad news. I'd known this; and had tried to make Rina understand.

Shit!

I banged my fist against the wall. Hot, angered breath shot through my nostrils. I couldn't stay here anymore, seething; instead of working towards a solution.

"Signore," the receptionist called as I started out.

It took a lot of discipline not to knock some teeth out of her mouth. In the car, I attempted contacting the police again, the hundredth time today; but that would be me acting like a pest. Still, I couldn't help it. I dialed them up and got the same unhelpful response: we are working on it. Fuck them. Fuck this. Fuck Alessio for ever existing.

I tossed my phone aside, irritated to the marrow. They expected me to keep calm: Padre and co. How the fuck did they think that was possible when Rina was involved. Not just her. The babies.

I increased my grip on the steering. A response to the intrusive thought. Closely following was the rigidity that held me at a place. I ran the risk of going crazy if I considered the unfortunate fact. I'd have to handle one thing at a time. First find Rina, then worry about the twins.

I looked back at the therapy clinic, pressing my teeth together as a way of chiding myself for being needy. Emotionally needy.

Few minutes later, I pulled out my luggage, getting ready to set out for Pietra in Villa. My crazy mother had been so desperate to clear Rina out of the picture that she'd settled for a town miles away. Before going to Dr. Yolanda's, I'd considered flying to Pietra in Villa. However, I'd been disoriented. Now, it was clear to me to take the bull by the horn, get to the town and get rid of Alessio once and for all.

I packed, purposefully avoiding eye contact with the bag of baby stuff to keep my sanity intact—until my phone rang. I glanced at it; then returned to my packing. When the call persisted, I flung the towel I'd been folding away and grabbed the phone.

"What? I don't have time for less pressing cases."

"Where are you?"

I gave in. I did because I had unfortunately become trusting of her. "The motel."

"Piazza Paradiso. Do I pick you?"

"What happened to your office?" I said, the phone wedged in between my ear and shoulder.

"I figured a park would be more conducive. Do you prefer the office?*

No. I didn't want to see that receptionist. For now at least.

"I'm on my way."

I finished up with packing, assuring myself that all would be fine.

I didn't have to call to know where Dr. Yolanda was because she stood at the parking lot, leaning against her car. Her focus stayed on me throughout, as I left the car and walked up to her.

In silence, we ambled around the park. The breeze rolling in and people living their perfectly normal lives. I gazed on till it occurred to me Dr. Yolanda hadn't said a thing.

"Are we going to spend the day doing this?" I asked.

"What?"

"This. Walking in silence."

"I should be asking you that." She glanced at me. "You are the one that's got something to say. So, I'm all ears."

I steadied my gaze at her, stumped for a moment, until sadness re-possessed me.

"Rina's been found, but that isn't the catch. That sick motherfucker is holding her captive. The fucking cunt. The fucking wolf in sheep clothing. And I had always known he was up to no good." I still couldn't believe that this was the reality.

"And you want to go rescue her. You want her back."

"Not just that. I want that cunt to pay with his dear life. I could kill him."

Dr. Yolanda smiled. "You might want to mind your language. There are kids around."

"Like I care."

In silence, we walked for the next few minutes. The only sound heard was noisy park-goers.

"I don't know what they'll gain from all of this. And still, they'll expect to produce an heir. Right."

"Rina's your mate?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why does it sound unbelievable?"

"Because there's so much you haven't told me. So much you ought to," she said. "You have to talk to me, Vincenzo. Tell me what I should know so I can help you." Again, that word 'help'. I didn't like it; but what choice do I have? I couldn't turn around and leave. No, because I wanted her to proffer solutions.

"Remember, one step at a time. That's all it takes," she said. "Vincenzo?"

I looked at her.

"Do you really want to end all this?"

I looked away, speaking when it seemed to her I wasn't going to. "More than anything."

"Then, take baby steps. One of such is to take me back to the genesis of all this. Why is Rina away from you? What brought this about?"

I stared straight-ahead, which was all I did for the next minute or so.

***

Dr. Yolanda had ended our meeting with the words: do the right thing. No matter how hard I’d tried to get her to explain, she hadn't—walking out on me with an indiscernible smile. Had I been pissed? Yes. Frustrated? Yes. And I had spent the night, musing on what she might have meant.

Do the right thing.

I didn't know what the right thing was. And I hated unnecessary assignments.

The next day, I’d stared at my luggage and had remembered my planned trip to Pietra in Villa. I'd made the arrangements and booked an evening flight. I was spontaneous, I had always known. However it'd taken being seated in an airplane to prove this.

I had sat on the edge of my seat throughout the flight, and when I'd finally gotten into Arrivals, I'd placed a call to Padre, insisting he gave me Mrs. Zante's location. He'd given in after I dropped the 'I'm in Pietra in Villa' bombshell.

The vehicle quaked and drove through the rough, windy road. I kept still, rather than think about how mental Madre had been to have sent Rina and her mom here. The hands of time had truly turned because this place had previously been sealed off, but now, I came alongside an outsider. The driver to the rental vehicle.

With the vehicle coming to a stop, I headed towards the entrance of the one storey apartment. It was well-lit, giving life to the lonely night. If not for the crickets, this would have been a graveyard.

I reached the front door and pressed on the doorbell. No response came. On the second ring, a guard answered. His face, nothing short of surprised.

"Signore?"

He looked past me to know if I was alone; then stepped aside for me to get in. A fair-sized foyer that smelled homely greeted me.

"Signore…"

"Is Mrs. Zante in?"

"Sí."

"Take me to her."

He walked me across the hall to a room by the far left. As he knocked, I stopped him. "You may leave."

He bowed and left, leaving me to stare at the door handle. I braced up and opened the door.

"José. I've told you, each time I'm…" She paused, eyes gradually forming a circle. "You?" She pulled from the ground. "What…how. . . what are you doing here?"

I closed the door beside me, took a silent breath of bravery and turned to Mrs. Zante. I was ready.

I was prepared to make her understand I'd changed, and would go to any length to get Rina back.

I sat on the bed, facing the mini altar she'd been saying her prayers at. This was the right thing. Making amends with the mother of my mate.