Ch 10.1 -The Talk

It was a clear afternoon. The sun beamed cheerfully in the sky, as Anna sat on the bench in the patio under the cool shade of the tree; Her head was buried in a book. Angelina painted happily nearby.

“Time sure has gone by..” Isabella said as she staggered over with her cane, and sat by Anna.

She looked up to the sky, and continued “It was just yesterday that i was just a young signorina (girl) in italy. I lived with my Nonna, and we worked hard for everything we had. It was a luxury to have books.” She said with her shaky voice, and smiled warmly as pulled the book away from Anna’s face slowly. “You know, you remind me alot of me, mio tesoro. (My Darling) I too, was fascinated by books.”

She glanced over at Angelina, and beckoned for her to get closer.

“Angelina, can you come have a seat? I need to have a talk with you both”, she said as she pressed her cane down, and slowly raised herself from the bench. She struggled for a second, but Angelina came to help her. She was elderly, and had a hard time moving about. Anna put her book down and set it on the nearby coffee table, and looked up at her mother attentively.

“What’s wrong, Mama?” Anna asked.

“Well, I’m not getting any younger, and soon the angels will come and take me from this earth.” She began.

“Ma – don’t talk like that.” Angelina interjected. She always got upset when Isabella mentioned death.

“per favore, tesoro..(Please, darling) Let your old mama speak” Isabella replied with a slight frown. Anna nodded for Isabella to go on.

“I spent my life working hard to provide for you. I’ve spent every last penny i had to build this house, and this family. When i’m gone.. I want one of you to take over. I will leave everything i own to one of you. I haven’t decided yet, but i have already started to write my will.” She stopped for a moment, and wiped a small tear that was running down her wrinkled cheek.

“I want one of you to continue my legacy, and continue my dream. Please, do not abandon this house.” She said and paused for a moment to try and fight back her tears.

“When i’m gone.. This will be the only thing that’s left of me. So that when i’m in heaven i can look down upon my family and know that all my pain, and struggles – that all of my tears were not in vain.” She whimpered, and started staggering towards the door. She did not want the twins to see her cry.

As she held her hand out to open the door, Angelina wrapped her arms around her. Angelina cried into her shoulder.

Anna stood up and starred out to the sky, and in a low voice said, “It’s okay, Ma. We will do the best we can.”