When the Family Feuds

CHAPTER 27

Dr. Roper was able to convince both Fazi and Mirabella to meet at her office, at the same time for a session. It wasn't her fault that they both agreed to show up intoxicated. Dr. Roper immediately smelled the booze but agreed to continue the session as is. Unpopular to belief, she knew that drunk actions were sober thoughts and that they both shot themselves in the foot and hadn't even realized it. "Mirabella, I would like to get additional context from Fazi and would appreciate it if you did not comment and acted as a silent bystander."

Mirabella nodded.

"Mayor De Luca," Dr. Roper continued. "Very happy you've found the time."

Fazi appeared to be on his best behavior. "Happy to be here. Anything for my family."

"I want your first impressions of Mirabella."

"You know one of the sophisticated broads. Very intelligent." He played it off. "Was just looking for someone of my stature to save her."

"Fazi," Mirabella responded and gave him a look.

"What? You're acting like you weren't looking for a made-man with status?" Fazi added. "I was up and coming at the time but was well on my way."

Mirabella knew what Dr. Roper said but she decided to speak her mind anyway. "You make me sound like some sort of skank."

"Your words, not mine, hun," Fazi shrugged. "Time goes on, and next thing I know you're pregnant with Leonardo. I never once questioned if he was mine."

Then Mirabella slapped Fazi in the face. "How dare you?" she added. "I had my whole life planned before I met you."

Fazi responded, "You were bored with MIT and you know it. I brought excitement, a thrill you had never seen." then he added. "Being with me you were around made men a lot. I could understand if there was a temptation or two."

"I'm not as easily tempted as you, Fazi." Mirabella folded her arms and rolled her eyes.

Dr. Roper reeled them back. "Fazi, has Mirabella ever given you a doubt that Leonardo isn't your son?"

"No," he quickly answered.

"Yet you're suggesting that Mirabella trapped you?" Dr. Roper followed.

Fazi shook his head, "See, Doc, you're taking my words out of context. I never said I hated my wife."

Mirabella snapped, "You're a real piece of shit, you know that, Fazi?"

"Was that supposed to hurt my feelings? I was a piece of shit when you met me, hun." Fazi crossed his legs. "At least back then it used to make you wet." he looked at Dr. Roper. Her features were oddly some he'd seen before therapy. "You know Doc, you look familiar." then Fazi questioned. "We know each other?"

Mirabella replied, "Another one of your whores?"

"Hey, have some respect," Fazi snapped back. "You don't talk to her like that."

Dr. Roper reeled them back again. "Fazi, I want to talk about your political start. What made you interested in this career path?" Dr. Roper already had her suspicions that Mirabella was the puppet master. The one in the background telling Fazi right from left.

Instead, he replied, "That's where I know you from, Martha's Vineyard. The woman on Leonardo's arm." Fazi smirked. "You sleep with all your clients?"

Dr. Roper said, "Leonardo and I aren't sleeping together. He asked me to accompany him and I did."

"If you say so, sweetheart. A real emotional support animal, this one."

Dr. Roper moved on. "Mirabella, when you first learned of Fazi's infidelity, what was the first word that comes to mind?"

Mirabella and Fazi stared at one another for a few moments. Then she replied, "Disgust."

"Care to elaborate?"

Mirabella took her time. "The cheating I was fine with. It was the lying. Every minute he spent with his other family ruined ours. We've never been the same since."

"Divorce is very popular these days." Dr. Roper stated. "Why not just leave?"

"The darker the sky, the brighter the stars." Mirabella looked at Fazi. "We have so much time together. The good balances the bad. I love this man."

Then Dr. Roper looked at Fazi. "There are studies that show monogamy is not realistic. If you wanted to cheat, why not give her the same satisfaction?"

"My bride, Bella, is an angel," Fazi said as if he was vulnerable. "My fear has always been that she'll find someone better."

"And if your wife cheated on you as you did her, what's one word to describe how you'd feel?"

"Broken."

That's when it dawned on Fazi. How Dr. Roper even knew of his scandal? Mirabella chose not to speak on it which only left one other logical explanation. "One of the kids knows. The question now is which one?" Then he looked at Mirabella. "Questo è andato abbastanza lontano, amore mio. Abbiamo già detto a questa puttana più del dovuto su di noi."

"Vaffanculo, Fazi," Mirabella replied.

Dr. Roper chuckled. "This bitch, also speaks Italian, Fazi."

"Of course, you do," Fazi said with an uneasy smile.

"For a marriage to work, it takes two," Dr. Roper added. "Is this something you both want?"

"Without question." Fazi immediately replied.

But Mirabella had a different response. She said, "Fazi wants a bid for Senator. He needs our family in check. Any surprises could ruin his chances."

Dr. Roper nodded as if she had a full-circle moment. Mirabella wasn't this weak female that she tried to make others believe. Secretly she was a genius who was always two steps ahead. "So the intervention for Leonardo...was that because you believe your son is an Alcoholic or was it a part of the political agenda?"

At this point, Dr. Roper's theory about Mirabella only continued to grow. Though Fazi was the political face, Mirabella, being the puppet master, wasn't farfetched. She thought that Fazi's cheating was only fuel to the fire and a fake grey cloud that Mirabella hung over her head to weaken her appearance. It was what made her human and relatable. If she appeared distraught, no one could see her true intentions.