The Don's Forsaken Wife

Chapter 4

I packed my bag on shaking legs. Then the world went black.

In my fevered dream, I was back in Kotor. Daylight streamed through unfamiliar blinds. There was blood—so much blood.

He hadn't come back.

I dialed 911 with numb fingers. The ambulance came fast. The paramedic kept shouting as they lifted me: "Stay with us! We still have a heartbeat! We're going to try to save it!"

I closed my eyes. "Don't bother."

The operating table was freezing. I stared at the ceiling light until it burned my eyes.

Tears ran down my temples. The doctor said the procedure was successful. Only then did I let my eyes close.

Vittorio was laughing like a boy in the dream. "You're amazing, Claudia. A son."

Even in the dream, the happiness felt fake.

I woke gasping. Sweat soaked the pillow. Three days. He hadn't called once.

I took a suitcase and went to my mother's house. The table was set with flowers and gifts.

Vittorio stood in the kitchen wearing an apron.

I turned and walked straight back out. He caught me in the driveway.

"I'm sorry. I know I messed up. Let me give you a belated birthday dinner."

I looked at him. Thought of the operating light. The blood running down my legs. His arms around Mara. "Vittorio."

He held out a vinyl record. His eyes were soft. "Remember our first time in the campus radio room? This was the song."

My eyes stung. He smiled and stepped closer. "Not angry anymore?"

I thought of Mara's unboxing video from last night. Luxury goods piled like a mountain. "Three days to open everything. Thank you, my love." She'd pulled out three items for a giveaway. One of them was this exact record.

I took it from his hands. Then I smashed it on the ground. Black shards scattered across the floor.

My mother ran out. She pulled me aside and whispered: "You're about to be a mother. Stop running away. He's so good to you. Don't make trouble."

Vittorio froze. "You're pregnant?"

He dropped to one knee. Pressed his ear to my stomach. His eyes went red. "I hear it. I'm finally going to be a father."

The joy on his face was so real it hurt. I laughed until tears fell.

What did you hear, Vittorio? There's nothing there anymore.

"It's gone," I said. "I lost it. Give me the divorce."

His smile cracked. "Don't say that. I won't let you go."

My mother frowned. "You flew to a war zone to bring him home just days ago. Now you want to leave over a bad mood?"

Vittorio's eyes darted to the TV. News was playing—footage of Kotor. Rubble. Fire.

"Where did you go?" he asked.

My mother answered for him. "Dubai, of course. Didn't she bring you back?"

I stood in the center of the living room, calm as stone. "We've done this before," I said. "I'll do it again." I looked at Vittorio. "Isn't that what you told Mara?"