The Don's Doctor

A Plan

Chiara's POV

Strategy isn’t an unknown talent to me. When I am planning the best surgical outcome, I have to consider all risks and possibilities, and select the team that will be the most prepared, and know my routine best. However, trying to orchestrate an off-chance meeting between Viviana and Officer Miller might be a little beyond my skill set. The biggest obstacle being that if Vincent were to let his sister out of the house it would inevitably be with a hoard of watchful guards.

On the night that Valentino was sick, after we had ignored Miller’s rings for the fifth time, Viviana had eventually answered his call. It was the most hushed argument that I had ever heard, and although I kept pointing to the door to see if she wanted some privacy, she shook her head repeatedly. Miller was demanding that she tell her brother that he would be coming to the house in the next five minutes, to tell him everything, and see his son, and the woman he loves. Eventually, Viviana had to give him an ultimatum. If he didn’t turn up unannounced, she would somehow find a way to bring Valentino to him, but if he didn’t respect her wishes, she would deny his confession, and ensure that he was never able to see his son.

“Would you keep my child from me? You aren’t the woman I remember falling in love with!” I had heard him shout down the phone.

“Valentino is better having an absent father instead of a dead one, and if you go through with your great idea, the only time your son will be able to visit you will be at your grave. As for love, I recall you told me your opinion on who you could love the last time we met, so excuse me, if I don’t believe your declarations. Now that I am a mother, it turns out that you were right after all.” She snapped back at him.

“You have a week, Viviana, or I will drive to your brother’s house and tell him that despite everything, I still love you, and I want to take you to a peaceful life far away from here where we can raise our child.” He insisted.

Viviana hung up the phone, and then cried on my shoulder.

“How can I arrange to meet him in a week, when I can’t leave the house?” She panicked, and that was when I stupidly told her that I would come up with a plan.

For four days, I have been trying to think of a way that we could all leave and go to a public area that wouldn’t raise suspicion. It was impossible. Vincent was adamant that we would only be protected if we stayed in the grounds of the house, and nothing short of a house fire would convince him otherwise. Leaving it to one side for a moment, I decide to be proactive in cancelling the prior engagements I had made before meeting Vincent. Scrolling through my phone calendar there were so many that I was looking forward to: the conference in Seattle, an online quiz night with some friends I had made on my travels, the blood donation that I always attended.

The blood donation.

I always attend the blood donation, and so did many service men of the city. If anyone was to see Miller there, it could easily be chalked up to coincidence. A plan is forming with a much higher rate of success. What if I could compel Vincent to let us go, and challenge everyone with us to donate? We could arrange for Miller to be there, and he would see them from a distance.

Full of fairly good ideas, I run to Viviana’s room to share the plan with her. There are many issues that we would need to anticipate: timing for one, the probability that Vincent would say no, and why would we need to take Valentino?

“He is due a check-up. I could book that in and kill two birds with one stone.” She suggests, and given it is the best plan we have, I decide to see if Vincent would allow it.

I have never been to his office without being called for before, and although I don’t think that Vincent would mind, I am still really nervous. Listening in, it doesn’t seem as if I would be interrupting anything. I knock. I wait.

“Come in.”

He doesn’t seem surprised to see me, and I wonder if there are cameras outside the door. He gestures to the chair and leans on the edge of the table closest to me with his hands clutching the lip of the desk on either side. I find that I have to be disciplined and keep my eyes on his face, but ignoring his body when it seems more relaxed and open is a temptation that I’m struggling with.

“I can tell you this will be the best meeting I have all day.” He smiles.

I feel awful, he trusts me, and I know I am about to lie to him, but his sister needs someone too.

“Actually, I was just saying to your sister that I was a little upset about having to miss the blood donation this month as I have always attended in the past. Valentino has a check-up on the same day that the donation is happening, and she said she would like to do it too. After all the help that the midwives gave her during her labour, she wanted to give something back to others in need. We were thinking maybe anyone who came with us could do it too. It would really go a long way in helping people who really need it in their worst moment. It could be us one day.” I know I have rushed through all my arguments, but I am desperate for this plan to work.

Looking at me, I can see he is thinking about all the things that could go wrong. His entire family would be in one place, and the last time that had happened, they hadn’t returned. Guilt is settling in the pit of my stomach, but Viviana needs a life, and she is miserable, trapped in this house, unable to share her son with the person she wants the most. A knock interrupts his deliberations.

“The meeting has been arranged, and...” Luca calls out as he passes the threshold.

He stops talking abruptly when he sees me, and I am sure that he is aggravated by my presence.

“Just wait a moment outside, Luca. I am just finishing some business with Doctor Chiara first.” He states, emotionlessly, to the surprise of both Luca and I.

The door slams.

“When is it?” He asks me.

“Tomorrow. All day.” I answer, praying that he would agree.

“Very well. I have a meeting until late tonight, so it will have to be in the afternoon, but I’m sure we can make it happen. I’ve never given blood before, and it seems long overdue. Perhaps it will be a good deed to count against the others,” Vincent says, and I realise that he is going to come too.

Half of me is elated that he would be happy to give blood, the other half realises that our plan would be far more complex with him attending. He is astute and sees even unassuming interactions from all possible angles.

“Great, I’ll tell your sister.” I answer, before walking out.

Holding the door open for Luca, who doesn’t appreciate my manners, I am deliberately slow to shut it.

“Don’t ever look at her like that again. You are to be respectful to Chiara…” I can’t delay closing the door any longer, but hearing him defend me, changes the knot in my tummy to butterflies.

I am surprised to see that Renzo is holding Valentino in the nursery, while Viviana is dispensing with the nappy bag. He seems so at ease with the baby, and I wonder if he has any one special, someone to love him.

“Good news Renzo, you’ll be coming with us to donate blood tomorrow.” I laugh when I see Renzo’s face.

I think we finally found his Achilles heel.

Despite his former comfort in rocking the baby, he makes a quick exit to check on the information, handing Valentino to me. When I look over to Viviana, I can see she is already messaging Officer Miller. The plan is in motion. I just hope I have done the right thing.