Bertelli Investigations Volume 1: Noteworthy Mysteries

Chapter 33

Mario was laying in bed, taking the time to rest and he was reading a mystery book they allowed Isabella to bring to him. He wasn't a big reader, but he needed something to keep his mind occupied or he would go totally crazy. And he knew he would go crazy if he seen any more TV. The television he had in his room was especially programmed so nobody in the ward would be triggered by self harm or suicide. That meant the only shows that were on were a couple Disney shows,a church station, and Green Acres - none of which Mario was interested in. It wasn't his true crime shows or the world news that he liked watching a few times a week.

As he was reading through the pages he heard a soft knock on his hospital door. It being so late, Mario figured it was a nurse coming in to take vitals.

"Hey dad", he heard a distinctive voice say. It was a deep voice , but had more of an Italian accent. It must've been Tony, he was sure.

As Mario looked up from his book he seen Isabella, followed by his sons Tony and Tino. It was mixed emotions to see his sons. They had surely taken their time to come and see him, but he was happy they were there. He wasn't happy that they seen him in the condition he was in though - all laid in bed in a mental ward,instead of being their tough,police,dad.

"Hi boys", he said with a slight smile.

Isabella walked over to the bed and Mario gave her a quick kiss. "Honey are you doing okay?"

"Yes, I really am", Mario said reassuringly.

"Well then I'll leave you all to talk for a bit", Isabella said leaving the room.

Tino walked closer to his dad's bed,trying to reassure him of how sorry him and his brother were. "Dad we are so so sorry that it's taken us so long to come here. We just found out. We've been so busy that we haven't answered our phone."

"Boys it's okay", Mario replied. "Look, I was a cop. Your mom might not understand. Others might not understand. But I do. I know what its like to get involved in a case emotionally. It takes a toll on you and you cloud everything else out. And this case involves your sister. So don't worry, I understand."

"Dad we should've at least answered mom's calls", Tony said.

"You couldn't have know what was going on. I know this is", Mario looked away "unexpected."

Tino shook his head, neither he nor his brother knowing what to say. What do you say at a time like this? It was awkward and it was a very sensitive subject.

"Why did you do this?", Tino blurted out with Tino giving him a look of shock that he asked their dad something like that.

Mario layed back, his back against the fluffed-up pillows on his bed. "You know, when your mom tried to kill herself after Tia first went missing, I didn't know why. I couldn't understand what made life so bad for her that she would think she was better off dead. But lately I've been thinking a lot about Tia. I've come to the realization that she might not be alive like I have always believed. And then you guys have been busy with your new careers. And all of the stress of just waiting around, waiting to see if we find Tia, when we will, and what condition she will be in, it caused me and your mom to argue a lot. I guess I've felt like I'm losing everyone." Mario chuckled. "I don't know when I've come to feel so sorry for myself."

"But we never meant to make you feel like that we were abandoning you. We even agreed to come to dinner Saturday night.", Tony reminded him.

"Yeah but only after I talked you into it."

The room was silent for a few seconds. The brothers knew their father was right. "Dad I'm so sorry", Tino said.

"Me too. And we're going to change." Tony walked up closer to his father's hospital bed. "I'm gonna be honest, if this case didn't involve Tia we wouldn't have been abandoning everyone around us. We didn't mean to make you and mom both struggle with things so bad."

Mario sighed, looking away. " Okay so you boys aren't but the only ones that have done wrong."

"What are you talking about?", Tony asked.

"Your mother isn't having any kind of mental issues because of all of this.", Mario admitted. "I've been the depressed one, not your mother. She's been perfectly fine ever since we told her about the note. I've been the one crashing. I just had too much pride to admit it."

"Well... I'm glad mom is atleast okay", Tino said,not really for sure what to say. "But you could've  told us. It would've been better than...this."

"Atleast I know where I get my ego from", Tony joked.

"I'm sure your mother would agree", Mario said with a smile. It was the first smile he had in quite a while.

"When do you get discharged?", Tony asked.

"Well, I talked to a psychiatrist today and reassured her that I'm not suicidal anymore. I've decided there's more to life. She said I was only suffering from a brief episode of mental instability.  So I get to leave tomorrow."

"Me and Tino will come over every Sunday night for dinner and games."

"And we'll make sure to answer when you guys call. And if we absolutely can't answer,  we'll call you back the same day."

Their father smiled, happy that his boys still cared about him."And me and your mother will try to be more understanding that you boys have actual careers now."

From behind the shut hospital door to Mario's room, Isabella had her ear glued to the door. She was smiling widely, happy to know that she was still able to fix family matters by using her voice. She still had it.