Aces & Spades

Bullshit

Isabella:

I spend every waking hour waiting for a sign- anything from Massimo, but it never comes. Maybe he still hasn't found the letter? Maybe he chose to ignore it? Maybe he thinks I'm crazy and that this is all bullshit.

I waited and waited until it was finally time for me to leave my room. I head into my closet, pulling out a familiar sapphire gown. The only item I couldn't bear to leave in my old room.

My gown from the last Mafia Ball.

I hold it in front of me, laughing off the fact that it could never fit me anymore.

But, if I just add some elastic here. I think as I grab onto the waistline of the dress.

And some more material here, I think it should do the trick for now.

All I need is a sewing machine and I knew just where to find one.

I head upstairs, bundling my dress under my arm, not wanting anyone else to know about my plans.

About my final shot at love.

"Beth!" I say a little too excitedly, startling her as she stops dusting.

"Yes my dear."  She replies sweetly.

"Do you have a sewing machine that I could borrow? I remember you complaining about having to tailor your husband's clothes and thought that maybe, you still had one." I say hopefully, watching as she nods her head.

"Of course I do- come, follow me."

She leads me to another corridor, one that I have never seemed to acknowledge even existed, as she turns the doorknob to a dark room. She flips the lights on, revealing the satin covered bed and exquisitely decorated walls.

"This is your room?" I ask as I admire it from afar. I hear Beth's laugh fill the air.

"I have been living here for decades my dear, they couldn't expect me to be stuffed in one of those tiny rooms down in the maids' corridor."

I laugh with her as I follow her deeper into the room. She leads me towards a table, already set up with a sewing machine and colour coordinating threads.

Beth points at the dress as she speaks. "The ball?" She asks as if she can read my mind. I nod my head, slightly embarrassed. "He told me about his plan. Please, go get the old Massimo back." Her determined voice is drowned out by sorrow.

"I promise I will."

She outstretches her hand, gesturing for me to give her the dress and I do.

"I'll fix it for you, Massimo hasn't come home since last night, but you need to figure out a way to stop Annalise from going." She says as she begins to fiddle with the machine.

"I know just the person who can do that."

***

"You want me to hatch a plan, to sabotage Hanna from going to the ball, because Massimo is going to propose to her?" Maria says as she one-handedly stirs the soup on the stove.

"In a nutshell, yes."

"This is going to be a fun night." She says with a slightly evil look crossing her face.

"Nothing dangerous!" I say to be sure.

"You really are no fun Isabella Martinez." She says with a scowl. "So, how are you going to tell him?"

Holy crap.

The letter.

"Oh no no no I need to get it back."