The Heart of Tuscany

Saying Goodbye

Cece walked up the stairs to her bedroom.  When the door was finally closed behind her, she let her tears fall.  She sat on her bed and opened the drawer on her nightstand.  She reached in and pulled out the last 2 letters she had received from her parents. It had been almost two years since they had been killed by a drunk driver on their way home from dinner and movie.

              Cece had always been close with her parents.  They taught her how important family and good friends were.  They had married each other when they were very young in Italy.  When her father’s mother had died, they decided to sell her house and move to America. 

              Savio and Livia Faciano loved America.  They had made their way to Kansas and both attended the University of Kansas.  Livia getting a teaching degree and Savio getting a degree in literature.  When Livia received a teaching position at Hutchinson high school, they decided to buy this house and make Hutchinson their home for good.  Cece was born the summer after her mother’s first year of teaching.  This had worked out well so her mother could return at the beginning of the following school year.  Cece’s father had began writing and ended up having a few best sellers, which helped when her mother had summers off.

              Up until Cece was 13 years old her parents would take her to Italy for a month to stay with her maternal grandparents.  She loved it there.  Her cousin, Emily would invite Cece everywhere with her.  Luckily, they all spoke English since Cece never tried to learn Italian, even though her mother tried to get her to learn.  Sure, she could say a few words, she just wasn’t fluent.  The summer she turned 14 Cece decided to go to a summer art school.  She had so much talent that her parents encouraged her to pursue it as a career. 

              She loved her parents so much.  As she sat on her bed holding the two letters with shaking hands, she let her grief consume her.  It had almost been 2 years since they were taken from her and she could remember that night so vividly.  She closed her eyes taking herself back to that horrible night.

              Cece was sitting in her office finishing that last of her paperwork when the phone rang.

“Hello?” She said

“Miss Faciano?”

Cece didn’t recognize the voice at the other end of the line.

“Yes, this is her, may I ask who’s calling?”

“Miss Faciano, this is police chief Steve Collins.  I’m afraid there has been an accident.  Can you please come to the hospital as soon as possible?”

“Accident?”  Cece stood up from her desk abruptly. “What kind of accident?”

“Your parents were hit by a drunk driver.” The chief said.

“Oh my God! Are they ok?” Cece could feel her legs giving out under her and sat back down.  Her heart plummeted into her stomach; her ears started to feel like they were under water because she couldn’t hear anything. 

Her voice must have projected panic because Grady walked in the room “Cece are you…?” Something in her face must have alarmed him because next thing she knew he took the phone from her and started talking to the chief.  The chief must have repeated everything to Grady.  All Cece could register in her head was Grady saying “Ok” and “Yes”.  He hung up the phone and dialed again.  Who could he be calling?  Then she knew.

“Jack?  Its Grady, I need you to come get Cece and take her to the hospital.” There was a pause “No, no her parents were in an accident and I think she has gone into shock.” A pause. “Yeah, Okay.” He hung up the phone and took Cece’s hands and stood her up.  Was she standing?  Everything was so numb, she couldn’t feel her legs, but they must have been working because as he pulled her to the back door she was walking.

              Jack must have been close or drove well over the speed limit because he was already there helping her into the car.  The drive to the hospital was a blur.  The police chief was waiting for them at the entrance of the emergency room.

“Cecelia Faciano?” he asked.

She must have still been in shock because she couldn’t answer.  Jack took over and answered the chief.

“Yes, this is her. I’m sorry but she’s in a bit of shock I think.”

“That’s very understandable.  Please come with me, the Doctor would like to speak with her.” Replied the Chief

              He led them to a small room that looked like a smaller version of a waiting room.  It was equipped with chairs and a television was on a stand in the corner of the room. 

“I’ll let them know you are here.” The chief left the room for what felt like ages.  Jack and Cece sat alone waiting to hear something.  Finally, the chief came back into the room with the doctor at his side.

“I’m Dr. Parker, the on-call physician tending to your parents.” Dr. Parker said

Jack stood and shook hands with the doctor. “I’m Jack Andrews and this is Cece Faciano. Can you tell us anything?”

“I’m sorry to have to deliver this kind of news to you.” Dr. Parker moved and sat next to Cece and took her hands in his.  “Your father didn’t survive the accident, by the time the paramedics arrived on the scene he was already gone.”

              This Cece understood, tears started rolling down her face, she opened her mouth to speak trying to find her voice again. “Wha-What about my mother?” She looked up at the doctor and his features looked pained.  

“We are trying to keep her as comfortable as possible now.  She has suffered some very serious internal injuries.” Dr. Parker said

“Will she make it?” Jack asked

The doctor squeezed Cece’s hands.  “I’m sorry Cece, but your mother will not survive this.  She is bleeding out very quickly.  We have her on morphine to make everything as painless as possible.”

“Can I see her?” Cece asked.  She had to see her, she had to have more time with her mother.

“Yes, I will take you to her. She has been in and out of consciousness, but I promise you, she isn’t feeling any pain.”  Dr. Parker stood and motioned for them to follow.  They followed him down a long hallway and through a set of glass doors.  They stopped at the 3rd door down the hall and a petite nurse came out.

“Angie, this is Cece.  Livia’s daughter.  Cece, Angie is the nurse taking care of your mother.”  Dr. Parker said

              Cece looked at the other nurse through her tears.  Angie walked over to Cece and put an arm around her shoulders.

“Your mother has been asking for you sweetheart.  She’s awake now, would you like to go in?”

              Cece nodded and Angie led her through the door.  She could hear the beeping of the machines as they walked in the room.

“Cece, my baby.” Her mother said reaching out to her.  Cece quickly went into her mothers open arms, careful not to hurt her more.

“Oh mom! I’m so sorry.” Cece started sobbing even harder.

“Shh Shh, be strong my Cece.  It will all be ok.” Livia said

              How could her mother say that? Did she not know she was dying? Cece looked up into her mother’s face.  She had a big piece of gauze wrapped around her head, even after a car accident she still looked so beautiful.  Long black hair, big dark chocolate brown eyes, a small button nose, full beautiful lips and flawless olive toned skin that brought all her features together. 

“But mama, you’re…” Cece couldn’t bring herself to say the word.

“I know sweetie.  They told me already.  It doesn’t hurt though.  I’m not scared like I thought I would be.  Your father is there waiting for me Cece.” Livia said.

The morphine certainly was working it magic Cece thought.  “I don’t know if I can handle this without you mama.”

“Cece, we will still be with you.  In your heart and all around you.  You are a strong woman.  I could never have asked for a more perfect daughter in my entire life.  God has a plan for all of us baby.  This is part of His plan for me.  Don’t let this lose your faith in Him.”  She said.

“Oh mama. You know me too well.” Cece had never questioned her faith until she was next to her dying mother asking why?  She knew her mother was right.  They had raised her well enough for her to know that there was a reason for everything.

Angie walked into the room “Is anything starting to hurt Livia?”

“No, I’m fine.  Thank you, Angie, you have been wonderful.” Livia said.

“Well I have to admit in my 15 years as a nurse you have been by far, my best patient and I really mean that.”  Angie smiled and Cece thought she saw a tear roll down her face. 

“Have you met my Cece?”  Livia asked.

Angie smiled down at Cece.  “Yes, I have.  Gave me a bit of a start too I might add, she looks exactly like you.”

Livia smiled and looked over at Jack. “Jack darling, come sit with us.” She patted the bed on the other side for him to sit.  He did as he was told and with her free hand she took his hand.  “Jack, you’ve been like a son to us and a wonderful friend to Cece.  Please take care of her for us.”

Jack had started to cry.  Something Cece had only seen twice in her life. “I promise.” Was all he could reply without getting choked up.

“Jack, can you call your father? He has everything Cece needs.” Livia asked

“I called him on our way here.  He and mother should be here shortly.”

“Thank you.”

              Jack’s parents arrived a few minutes later.  Jodi and Chad Andrews were very close friends with Cece’s parents.  Chad was their lawyer and Jodi was a teacher at the high school with Livia. 

“Jodi, Chad.” Livia smiled

Jodi went to stand next to Jack and put her hand on Livia’s cheek. “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry.”

“Its okay Jodi, I’m not in any pain.” Livia looked over at Chad “You will make sure Cece has everything she needs?”

“I will.” Chad said as he walked over to stand next to Cece and laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll take care of everything Cece.”

              Cece could only sit and look at her mother.  Her father had once said that her mother had this beautiful glow about her that would make even the strongest men weak in the knees.  Even in her final moments that glow was still bright and strong.  Cece may look exactly like her mother but, she never had the “glow” her father talked about.  How could she survive without her mother? Or her father?

Her mother squeezed her hand as if hearing her thoughts. “Your father and I are so proud of you sweetheart; we love you so much.  Never forget that.”

“Oh mama, I love you too, both of you, so much.” Cece carefully hugged her mother and kissed her cheek.  Livia smiled, closed her eyes and took her final breathe.

              Cece just sat there, holding her mothers’ hand, tears falling down her face.  She wasn’t sure how long she sat like that.  She remembered Angie coming in with Dr. Parker to turn off the machines and stop the drip of the IV.  Everyone had left the room; she could hear them in the hall.  Cece couldn’t budge though.  She couldn’t bring herself to leave her mother.  Nobody tried to make her leave either.  Time had ceased to exist for her.  After a long time Jack walked in the room and knelt down next to Cece’s chair.

“Cece?”

              Cece just looked over at him through burning blurry eyes.  He knew she didn’t have to say anything, he could see how much pain she was in.  He maneuvered himself in front of her and hugged her tightly.  She needed this, someone to lean on, someone to be there for her.  After several minutes he released her and looked in her eyes.  She was tired and needed sleep.

“How about you come stay at my place tonight?” he asked

Cece nodded and he helped her up out of her chair.  She stopped him as he was leading her towards the door. “Just one more second.” She said and walked over to her mothers’ body, leaned in, kissed her cheek and whispered, “I love you mama.” She walked back to Jack and out the door.

              The week that followed was a complete blur to Cece.  She had let Chad and Jodi handle all the arrangements.  Her maternal grandparents, Frank and Stella Negri, flew in from Italy.  Her parents house was full of people for days and days it seemed.  Everyone bringing food and hugging her and saying how sorry they were.  It all was really starting to irritate her to no end. 

              Eryka had flown in from California, where she had been at a photo shoot, but when she had heard about Cece’s parents she dropped everything and came home.  Cece was tired of being around so many people and she shut herself up in her parent’s bedroom.  Eryka found her up there a little while later sobbing into a pillow.

“Cece? Oh honey!”  She went to Cece’s side and laid next to her wrapping her arms around her.

“I’m sssss…sorry.” Cece choked out.

“Cece you have no reason to be sorry.  You’ve just lost your parents; nobody expects you to be a social hostess.  Mrs. Andrews is handling everything; you just relax okay?”

“Okay, I should do something for Jodi to thank her, maybe make her a cake or something.” Cece sniffled

“Be serious Cece.” Eryka said “There is enough food down in that kitchen to feed a small village in Africa.  Trust me, the last thing she needs is more food.”

“But I should do something at least.” Cece whined

Eryka sighed “Jodi loves you like you were her own daughter Cece, she loved your mother like a sister.  I think she is perfectly happy handling things and doesn’t expect anything in return.”

“Are my grandparents here yet?” Cece asked

“Jack went to Wichita to pick them up at the airport.”

“Oh, I should probably set up the guest room for them.” Cece said

“Jack and I have already done that for you.” Replied Eryka.

“How did you manage that without ripping each other’s heads off?” asked Cece

Eryka giggled “Well it wasn’t easy that’s for sure, but we were able to put our bickering aside to get things done, especially for you Cece.  Are you hungry?”

“Not really.”

Eryka frowned “You really should eat Cece.”

“I know, but if I have to endure anymore hugs from strangers or kisses on the cheek and the ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ bullshit I will scream.” Cece complained

Eryka tapped her index finger on her chin. “Hmmmm give me 10 minutes, I’ll be right back.”  She winked at Cece and headed out the bedroom door.

10 minutes later Eryka was back in the room “Okay! Coast is clear!”

“Huh?” Cece asked

“Just get off your ass and come on.” Eryka laughed as she pulled Cece out of the room.

              As they walked down the stairs, Cece realized how quiet it had gotten.  There was nobody in the living room.  They made their way into the kitchen and the only person in there was Jodi, who instantly greeted Cece with a smile.

Cece turned to Eryka “how did you?”

“Hey, don’t look at me. Jodi’s the miracle worker here.” Replied Eryka

Cece turned to Jodi “You got rid of everyone? How?”

Jodi chucked “Well when Eryka came down and said you were hungry but didn’t want to be around everyone, I put my ‘I mean business’ look on and told everyone to leave.  Simple as that.”

Eryka high fived Jodi “Oh I remember that look.  Especially in class.  You didn’t mess with Mrs. Andrews when she meant business.”

Cece couldn’t help but smile.  She looked around the kitchen.  The amount of food had tripled in the few hours she had been upstairs.  Jodi seemed to sense her distress at trying to decide.  “Here, I’ll get you a plate made; you just go sit down.”

              The rest of the evening nobody else dropped by.  Her grandparents had finally arrived, but they were so tired from their flight that they went to bed only a few hours later.  Cece spent most of the week with them.  She had missed them so much. 

              The funeral was a very long process.  It was like the entire city had shown up.  Did her parents have that much of an impact on the community? They had opened the floor for people to say a few words and a line started to form.  Everyone had so many stories to tell, all of them centering around how Cece’s parents had helped them in some way or changed their life in some way.

              A few days after the funeral, Chad showed up at the house to go over the will.  Cece’s grandparents sat on either side of her holding her hands. Chad sat his briefcase on the coffee table and opened it.  He pulled out a stack of papers and ledgers and things for her to sign.

“I’m a bit surprised my parents had thought to make a will.” Cece said

“When you were born, I had advised them to make one, over the years it has been revised.” Chad stated

              He proceeded to go over the will.  Cece assumed she would get everything, the house and everything else in it.  Then, Chad mentioned she would also be getting all her father’s assets from his investments.

“What investments?” Cece had never heard her parents speak of any investments they had.

“Oh right, I forgot you didn’t know about those.  Basically, when your paternal grandmother died, she left everything to your father.  You know he sold everything and came to the states with you mother.  Even after putting himself and your mother through college and buying this house, he still had about $150,000 in savings.  After you were born, he and I had discussed your future and what he could do to make sure you and your mother were taken care of in case anything was to ever happen.  So, we looked at stocks and he took that money and invested it.  Your father really took to doing the research on the stock market.  I wished I would have invested with him.  Because he really knew what he was doing.  As you know your father wasn’t much of a risk taker, but with his investments, he took some risks.  Luckily, they paid off.  Over the last 20 years those investments have grown considerably.  I made some phone calls and found out that there is a little over $2.5 million there.” Chad said

Cece’s jaw dropped.  Why hadn’t her parents mentioned this to her? Her head was spinning out of control. “$2.5 million?”

“Yes, and then the life insurance policies.  $500,000 on each of your parents.” Chad paused to pull out another piece of paper.  “Then there is a villa in Italy that your mother had inherited from her grandmother.”

Cece looked over at her grandfather “Nonno? Is this true?”

“si, it’s true, its on the vineyard just up the road from the main house.  You remember, the house you stayed in during the summers.”

“Oh.” Was all Cece could manage. “But, wouldn’t that be yours Nonna?”

“Your great grandmother was very specific about leaving that for your mother.” Her grandfather smiled at her.

“But can’t I just sign it over to you?” Cece asked.

“You will do no such thing!” her grandmother interjected.  “It’s yours now Cece.  Your mother and great grandmother would have wanted you to have it.”

This was just too much for Cece to handle.

“Relax mio nipotina, think of it as your ‘get away’ house.” Her grandfather said.  “Your parents wanted to make sure you were taken care of.”

“I have 2 more things.” Chad handed Cece two letters.  “These are from your parents.  There were written not that long ago in fact.  They usually updated letters to you for this will every few years.  I have all the other ones if you want them.”

              With shaking hands Cece took the letters and held them in her lap.  Chad pulled out the necessary forms to sign everything over to Cece and to cash out the investment accounts and deposit them in her bank. 

“I’ll put everything in your bank account, even the insurance money.” Chad said.

“Chad? So, I don’t forget, can you take your fee out of it?” Cece asked.

“Cece, I would never charge you for any of this.  All my services are free for you.  You’ve been like a daughter to me and your parents were my best friends.” Chad stood up and hugged her tightly.

Cece’s throat tightened, she managed to squeak out a “Thank you” to Chad.

“If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.” Chad said.

              It had taken Cece 6 months to finally read the two letters.  She just felt like finally reading them made everything real.  It made it all final.  After some heavy coaxing from Jack and Eryka, Cece finally read them. 

              Now she sat on her bed remembering those horrible weeks.  She looked down at the letter from her mother.  She had read that letter dozens of times in the last year and a half.  Every time she ready it, it was just as hard as the first time.

              My Dear Sweet Cecilia,

If you are getting this letter, then I want you to know that I am so sorry I can’t be with you physically.  I know how hard this must be for you.  Please know that spiritually I am sitting next to you reading this with you.  These letters are never easy to write, but your father and Chad insist on updating things over the years.  I’m sure Chad told you about the Villa I’m leaving for you.  Use it.  Get away.  Take a vacation.  Visit your nonno and nonna.  Spend some time with Emily.  Family is most important right now.  I know you are hurting baby.  I want you to know that I am so unbelievably proud of you.   I know you are probably working at your shop every chance you can get just to forget things for a while.  Cece, you need to take time off.  Run the coffee shop fine, just don’t let it run you.  Don’t use it to run from the pain.  Go to Italy baby, sit in the fields behind the Villa, take your paint supplies and let your inspiration fly.  I will be there, with you, always.  I love you so much.  You have always been my little angel.  Go out and live this precious life.

                                                                                                Your loving mother,

                                                                                                Livia Faciano

              Cece folded the letter back up and returned it to its envelope.  She wiped away the tears from her cheek.  She missed her mother so much.  She always knew all the right things to say when Cece was upset.  She stared at her father’s letter.  In a way, she was just like him.  She had always been a perfectionist, like he was.  They both always lived on the safe straight line in life.  Any risks ever took were investigated thoroughly before taking them.  He was also very loving, not in the way her mother was, but in a way that was all him.

              When Cece was little if she fell and scrapped a knee or elbow her mother would always kiss it and rock her softly and rub her face to soothe her.  Her father would wash up the wound and take her out for ice cream and tell her that scrapes-built character and made you stronger.  Cece couldn’t have asked for better parents.  They welcomed everyone they met with open arms. 

              Cece opened the letter from her father and began to read it again…

              Dear Cece,

I am sorry I am no longer there with you anymore sweetheart.  I love you so much and you have made me very proud.  I have set aside some funds to make sure you and your mother want for nothing.  It should help you financially if anything happens to arise with anything you need it for.  Chad has been advised on what to do.  Your mother wants you to take some of the money and go to Italy and spend time with the family.  I must agree with her on this one.  You haven’t been there in years and I know you miss them, and I know they miss you.  You have worked so hard and deserve a vacation.  Go have some fun.  Since the day you were born you have been the most precious blessing your mother and I could have ever asked for.  I will always be with you sweetheart. I will always love you.

                                                    Love,

                                                    Savio Faciano

Cece folded her father’s letter and put it back in the envelope and put both the letters back into the nightstand and got ready for bed.  Her parents were right, she needed to get away, relax and have some fun, and come Friday, that’s exactly what she intended to do.