Jessie would be home by Christmas and then they’d decorate the tree like they’d planned. He sat in a stupor, waiting, Mirry at his feet. She followed him everywhere these days. He fed her, took care of her just like Jessie would want. He also tended to her other animals. He thought of letting the fawn go, but Jessie might want to see her one more time.
Rosa and Felix watched him from a distance and he knew they thought he was losing his mind. Maybe he was.
The day he received the divorce papers he lost it. Kid brought them out and Cadde tore the document along with the transfer of one share into shreds and burned the pieces in the fireplace. He kicked the furniture and threw a vase. Kid tackled him as if they were playing football and Felix rushed in. They tried to hold him down.
“Mr. Cadde, please,” Felix begged.
Cadde relaxed, took a deep breath and sat up. “Sorry,” he muttered, and staggered to his feet.
Kid looped an arm across his shoulder. “Let’s go paint the baby’s room and put all the stuff up so Jessie doesn’t have to see it.”
“I don’t have any paint.”
“I brought it.”
“What?”
“Yeah. The lady at the store said it was a popular color and whatever the hell it is, we’re putting it on the wall.”
“Kid…”
Before Cadde knew it, he was painting. The sweeping strokes of the roller eased some of the tension in him. The pale gold color was nice. They put the crib and the baby things in the attic and moved the bedroom set back in. The room didn’t even look like it had been planned for a baby.
Kid left and Cadde returned to the living room, staring at the tree. He couldn’t think about the divorce papers. All he knew was that he wasn’t signing anything. Jessie would be home by Christmas.
He clung to that one thought.
JESSIE WOKE UP IN A STERILE-looking room. She lay on a metal-framed single bed. A stiff white sheet and a brown blanket covered her. There was a small dresser and a nightstand with a pitcher of water and a glass. The walls were a gray stone, as was the floor. Sunshine poured in from a slim window.
Where was she?
A woman poked her head around the door. “Ah, you’re awake.”
“Where am I?”
“In an orphanage outside Rome.”
“Oh.” It all came flooding back and she gasped for breath as the pain hit her.
“Rest. Rest.” The woman pulled the blanket up to Jessie’s chin. “You’ve been very ill.”
“Have I?”
“High temperature, so we called the doctor and he examined you.” The woman stroked Jessie’s hair. “You’re Angela’s daughter, sì? You look like her.”
Jessie stared at the dark hair and the dark eyes of the woman. “Are you my aunt?”
“I’m Teresa, sì.” She nodded vigorously and rubbed her stomach. “You lose bambino, sì?”
No, no, no! Don’t say that. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. She did neither.
“You rest. Doctor leave pills for you and you have to eat. Margaret and I will take care of you. Rest.”
Teresa disappeared out the door. Jessie threw back the covers and tried to stand. The room spun. Weakly, she sank on the bed, noticing she was wearing a tan nightshirt. It was very plain, with no frill or lace.
Another woman dressed in a long black skirt and long-sleeved white blouse walked in and immediately ran to Jessie’s side. “Child, what are you doing? Get back in bed.” She covered Jessie, clicking her tongue. “Teresa’s bringing you some food. You have to eat. You have to heal.”
“Are you Margaret Martinez?”
“Sì. I’m Sister Margaret.”
She placed her hand on Jessie’s forehead. “What are you doing here, child?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know.”
CADDE SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM, Mirry in his arms, staring at the Christmas tree. He couldn’t seem to force himself to do anything else. He just needed to know that Jessie was okay, but as each day passed he knew that she wasn’t. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
Dr. Barnes’s secretary called. Jessie had missed her appointment. There was nothing he could do about that, either. Except worry.
Suddenly, Myra came in and threw her purse into a chair. “Why in the hell don’t you answer your cell?”
He lifted the phone from its case on his belt. “I forgot to charge it.”
“What if Jessie calls you?”
Oh, God. How could he forget that? He placed Mirry on the floor and stood.
“Just wait a minute, big guy. I have some news.”
“Jessie called you again?” He grew hopeful.