The Mafia Rose

Chapter 24

Rita's POV

I didn't know what had happened, one minute I was cooking and next everything was black.

Was I dead?

I don't know, I can't tell you. I could still hear my families voices so I couldn't be dead, then why can't I wake up?

"I see your temper hasn't changed then?" Who said that? Not only do I not know if I am I either dead or alive, I'm now in some sort of dreamland where I could have sworn I could hear my husband's voice.

"Who's there?"

"I know it's been thirty years but have you seriously forgotten your own husband."

If I ever wake up from this I think it's fair to say I need a  psychiatrist or therapist or maybe even some pills, my husband who died thirty years ago was standing right in front of me. The only thing I could do was cry the love of my life, the only man I've ever loved was standing in front of me. But Vincent had been dead for thirty years now, how could it be him standing in front of me, was it that I was dead as well.

"What is wrong mi amore?"

"Ohh Vincent it has been so long, but you need to tell me am I dead?" He held me in a embrace and began to laugh.

"Rita you are not dead, that family of ours would never cope without you, they have all been by your side since you came in here two days ago". What did he mean by that?

"Well where am I then? The last thing I remeber was cooking at home."

He took my hand a we began to walk, he leads me into field with blue sky and green grass what lead on forever. "Where are you taking me Vincent?" He doesn't answer me, he just carries on walking.

My mind was with Vincent but my ears could still hear the real world, and all my ears could hear was the devil himself Angelo Russo. My body trembled with temper at the thought of him being anywhere near me I hated the man. He and his family were the reason as to why my Vincent was no longer with me.

"You can't hold a grudge forever you know." I looked up at Vincent wondering what he could mean.

"Our daughter is in love with that man and has married that man and has beautiful child with that man. Angelo was not the reason for my death, yes his family maybe but not him, he was only a child himself when I was killed."

I would never forget that day, the pain still run through my body when I thought about it. The pain of losing my Vincent, the pain of him dying in my arms I couldn't forgive the Russo's for what they had caused.

"I will never be able to forgive him." They took my whole life away that day.  "And besides Luca hasn't forgiven him."

"Our son has forgiven him but he hasn't forgotten, I don't expect you to ever forget that day but  for the families sake you have to forgive him, there is a wedding coming up anyway and we don't need tension on that day. Angelo was not the one who fired the gun, and he didn't even know they had planned my hit."

Tears streamed down my face, I had always been so cold and hateful towards Angelo, our daughter was in love with him and I had a beautiful granddaughter from them but I let all the bitterness inside me blank all of that out.

"You need to let this guard down from around you. You don't need to have a guard up when you have a family like ours, they will never hurt you."

I pulled him into me knowing I'm not going to see him again until our paves cross again in heaven.

"I miss you everyday."

"I know and I do you but we will see each other again but not yet, our family would not be able to function without you."

And with that he started to fade away in my arms, only to be filled by the noises of the hospital.
I started to wake for my long slumber, Sofia had her hand cupped in mine.

She was asleep.

I looked at her face while she slept, I had never noticed how much she looked like me when I has her age, many people had said it but I had only just noticed it myself.

"Nonna you're awake."

Her eyes here red and swollen as if she had been crying for days. I cupped my hand around her to reassure her that I am fine now, she began to cry again.

"Amore what is the matter?"

"It's my fault this is happened, if we didn't have guests and so many family members around you wouldn't  have been cooking for so many l so wouldn't have gotten exhausted and collapsed."

I pulled her into me and held her while she cried. I hated it when ever she would blame herself for anything, she was the sweetest person I knew, so when she blamed herself for my stubbornness my heart would bleed.

"It is not your fault Sofia, I'm an eighty year old women trying to cook and three course meal for thirteen people." People are always telling me to slow down but I have never listen to them, now my body has told me I think it is best I listen.

"You had already warned me earlier that day that is was to much for me to do but me so stubborn chose to ignore you."

I pulled back to look at her face, tears still streamed down her face but she was now smiling at least.
"You are the best thing to ever come into my life."
Me and Sofia were the only one's in the room and I knew that I shouldn't have favourites when it came to families be me and Sofia had a bond like know other.

Sofia stayed in the room with me, she told me that everyone had just gone home to freshen up but she couldn't bare to leave me. She also told me that she was considering cancelling the wedding but luckily Rachael convinced her not to do such a drastic thing.

A few minutes later Angelo walked in.

"Ohh your a wake I'll go and get Luca."

"No wait, I think I have something to say to you." I looked at Sofia and she knew I needed some privacy so left the room.

"Come and sit, this might take a while."