Celeste lived a hard life.
She lived with an abusive mother who was so bad her father left. After her mom's overdose she was sent away into the foster care system, bouncing from one home to another. Things only got worst when she turned 18 and...
Lorenzo sat in his office with his neck tie hanging from his neck. Celeste nodded on the door lightly before entering his office.
"Everyone's waiting downstairs. Are you ready?" She asked as she walked towards him. He nodded silently as he got up from his chair. She smiled sadly and began to tie his tie for him.
"It's okay to be sad, you know? You don't have to act tough all the time. You can talk to me," she said.
"I'm fine," he said.
"No you're not," she said.
"I am," he said. She shook her head before continuing to tie his tie.
"Lorenzo...Your father just die. You're not fine," she said.
"Yes, I am," he said.
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"Why are you lying to me. I know you. You try to put on this act for everyone, but you know you're hurting. Why can't you just talk to me about it?" She asked.
"Because it's hard. It's just...I spent so long hating him. Wanting him dead and now that he is...I just, I just wish I did things differently," he said. She didn't say anything and just allowed him to continue while she listened. "All I can do is think about how I told him on his wedding day that when it's done, I wanted nothing to do with him. He just wanted to make things right, but I was to stubborn and pushed him away. I told him he wasn't my father. I told him that bullshit on his fucking wedding day. What kind of piece of shit says does that?" He asked.
"I'm not condoning what you said, but in the end there is nothing you can do about that. All you can do is remember the good times between you too. Focus on the good memories not the bad ones. At the end of the day, your father died knowing that you forgive him and that's all that matters. He died at piece where his family and his wife were with him," she said as she fixed up his collar and patted down his blazer.
"I hate Raphael so much. When I get him, I'm going to kill him in the worst ways than he can even imagine and when he holds onto his last breath I'll let him know it's for my father," he said.
"You're angry and you want revenge for your dad. I get that, but don't loose yourself in the process. Anger and hate can turn you into your worst enemy," she said.
"What are you saying? Forgive and forget?" He asked.
"I'm not asking you to forgive him and I'm not asking you to forget what happened. I don't want you to hold onto this anger you have," she said.
"Don't worry. Once I end this, we can move on. I promise," he said before he placed a kiss on her lips. She held onto his arm as the two left his office and walked down to the house entrance to meet everyone.
"Ready, Lorenzo?" Silvio asked with Hye-Jin who stood close to him and Trinity who stood behind her. Celeste looked up at Lorenzo as she as she rubbed his arm softly to comfort him.
"Yes. Let's go," Lorenzo said. They all left the house and got into the cars before they drove down to the church wher the funeral would take place. They arrived at the same time as Giovanni did with Ayanna, Irene, Raven and T.J. Irene gave her brother a small smile before she left with Raven and T.J.
"How's she doing?" Lorenzo asked as he walked with his brother into the church.
"Not good. She was crying all night," Giovanni said.
"This must be very hard for her," Lorenzo said.
"It's hard for all of us," Giovanni said.
"I know it is. Have you heard from Luca?" Lorenzo asked.
"No, but he'll show up. Luca's irresponsible, but he wouldn't miss papà's funeral," Giovanni said.
"I don't know. The look on his face when he say father dying. It was even worse than when mama died," Lorenzo said.
"Let's just hope he shows up," Giovanni said.
"Did you write your eulogy?" Lorenzo asked.
"I spent all night writing it, but it's done," Giovanni said. Once the made it to the grave field and took their seats. Once everyone was settled in, the priest started the liturgy. When the priest finished preaching, it was time for Giovanni to give the eulogy. He kissed Ayanna on the cheek before he stood from his seat and walked to the stage which was behind his father in the casket.
"Alphonso was many things. A Leader, A Friend, A husband, A father, But most of all he was a good man. Everything he did, he did for his family. Whether we knew it or not, he'd always put us first. Starting as an immigrant who came over from a small town in Italy with no more that $100 cash on him, he made a business in his community and hustled so that his children and wife would be able to live well. When his wife died, he took on the role of both father and mother. He did so much for us," Giovanni said as he started to get choked up. Lorenzo saw for the very first time, his brother was breaking. Giovanni was one of the only people Lorenzo had never seen cry, but for the first time he was. His older brother who always managed to be stern was crying. Irene and Lorenzo got up from their seat and walked up to their brother to help comfort him. They were surprised, yet happy when Luca walked into the church. He saw his siblings comforting Giovanni, so he walked over to them and placed a hand on Giovanni's shoulder before he sent a smile his way.
"Our father was a good man, and although he was taken from us too soon, he will always be in our heart," Giovanni said. Lorenzo took the mic from Giovanni and spoke.
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"I haven't always had the best relationship with my father, but I wish I had spent more time with him. I urge you all to hold onto those around you. No matter what's happened between you because they might not always be here. My father would always say, Chi si volta, e chi si gira, sempre a casa va a finire. No matter where you go or turn, you'll always end up at home. Home was my fathers safe space. In a way that was where he died. Not in his home, but instead around the people who made it home. Anyway, my father was a good man. Despite his faults, he will be deeply missed. By all of us. Alla prossima, papà, (until next time dad)" Lorenzo said the last part to the sky. The Russo siblings moved off the stage and back to their seat so that the priest could finish the liturgy. Lorenzo sat in his seat next to Celeste who held onto his hand and rubbed the back of it with her thumb while smiling.
"That was beautiful," she said. He nodded and smiled back before he gave her a quick peck. They both turned back to the priest who was concluding the funeral liturgy. Lorenzo wasn't happy, but he felt more at peace because in that room he could see that his father was loved and really made a difference in peoples lives. He felt at peace...because his father left leaving his legacy. Now Lorenzo would have to live up to the challenge of fulfilling his legacy and he would start by finishing this war with Costa. He knew that the only way it's ending is in blood.
