Chapter 11 - The Question Nobody Could Answer
“Mom, am I not allowed to go because Uncle Luca is my uncle?”
Rose stood in the school hallway, looking up at her mother.
Nobody answered immediately.
The other woman tightened her grip on her son's hand.
“Sweetheart, that's not what I meant.”
Rose looked confused.
“Then what did I do?”
I saw Mia's expression change.
She knelt in front of her daughter.
“Nothing, honey. You haven't done anything wrong.”
“But she said I shouldn't go.”
Mia brushed a loose strand of hair from Rose's forehead.
“That's something the grown-ups need to work out.”
Mrs. Warren stepped forward.
“Rose is part of this class. Every child is welcome on the field trip.”
The other mother looked uncomfortable.
“I'm not trying to be unkind.”
“Then please don't make this conversation about Rose,” the teacher replied.
The woman looked at Mia.
“My brother was badly hurt because of people involved in organized crime. I don't want trouble anywhere near my son.”
Her voice trembled.
I realized she wasn't merely being judgmental.
She was frightened.
Mia stood slowly.
“I'm sorry about your brother.”
The woman looked surprised.
“But my daughter is eight. She doesn't know anything about the things you're afraid of.”
The woman lowered her eyes.
“I understand.”
“I hope you do.”
Mia took Rose's hand.
Then she looked at Mrs. Warren.
“Could we talk privately about the trip?”
“Of course.”
We stepped into the classroom.
Colorful paper leaves decorated the windows.
Children's drawings hung above small wooden desks.
Rose immediately noticed a family-tree project pinned to the wall.
“That's mine,” she said.
Mia looked at it.
Rose had drawn two trees beside each other.
One carried the names of Evelyn and Teresa.
The other held Mia and Rose.
At the top, in a space she'd recently added, was LUCA.
Mia stared at the drawing.
“Why did you make two trees?”
Rose shrugged.
“Because I have two grandmas.”
I felt my throat tighten.
Mia smiled through tears.
“That's right.”
Rose pointed toward the second tree.
“And Uncle Luca goes here because he's new.”
Mrs. Warren laughed softly.
“She's been very excited about her family growing.”
Mia looked at the drawing for a long moment.
Then she turned to the teacher.
“I don't want her treated differently because of my brother.”
“She won't be,” Mrs. Warren said firmly.
“But I'm not going to pretend some parents aren't worried. We need to address those concerns.”
Mia nodded.
“I understand.”
When we returned to the mansion, Luca was waiting in the kitchen.
He stood as soon as he saw us.
“How was school?”
Rose ran toward him.
“Uncle Luca!”
He crouched and caught her gently.
“Hey, kiddo.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Then whispered something in his ear.
His smile disappeared.
He looked toward Mia.
“She told me what happened.”
Mia nodded.
Luca set Rose down.
“Would you like some hot chocolate? Mrs. Carter saved you a cookie.”
Rose looked relieved.
“Yes, please.”
She followed the housekeeper toward the pantry.
The moment she was out of hearing range, Luca turned to Mia.
“I'll speak to the school.”
“I already did.”
“I want them to know nobody will interfere with her education.”
Mia folded her arms.
“That's exactly the problem.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“You're used to solving problems by making people afraid to cross you.”
His expression tightened.
“I'm trying to protect her.”
“I know.”
Mia's voice softened.
“But protecting her doesn't mean deciding everything for her.”
Luca looked toward the pantry.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he asked, “What would help?”
Mia seemed surprised.
“Go to the school like an ordinary uncle. No security detail. No threats. Just listen.”
He nodded.
“I can do that.”
The following morning, Luca met with the principal and Mrs. Warren.
He went alone.
When he returned, he looked tired but strangely relieved.
“They asked whether anyone would be following Rose on the trip.”
“What did you say?” Mia asked.
“That nobody would.”
“And?”
“They said they're glad she can come.”
Mia smiled for the first time that morning.
Luca sat beside her.
“I also told them something else.”
“What?”
“That Rose isn't responsible for my reputation. And if my choices have frightened people, that's something I need to address.”
Mia looked at him.
“Thank you.”
He shook his head.
“I should have understood that before.”
But the problems weren't limited to school.
Two customers had canceled appointments at Mia's alterations shop.
One told her she didn't want to be associated with the Moretti family.
When Luca heard, he offered to pay the shop's expenses.
Mia refused.
“I appreciate it. But I need to keep my business mine.”
He looked disappointed.
Then nodded.
“What can I do?”
“Bring me a coat that needs fixing.”
He laughed quietly.
“I have about twenty.”
“Then I might finally make some money off my brother.”
It was the first time I'd heard Mia tease him.
And it was the first time I saw him laugh without looking guilty.
That evening, Frank came to supper.
Mia had agreed to let him visit, provided he didn't pressure Rose for affection.
He arrived without gifts.
No expensive jewelry.
No promises about money.
Just an old man in a dark sweater who looked frightened of saying the wrong thing.
Rose watched him from the kitchen table.
“Are you my grandpa?”
Frank swallowed.
“Yes.”
She looked at Mia.
“Mom said you were her dad.”
“That's right,” Frank answered.
Rose studied him.
“Were you mean to her?”
The kitchen went silent.
Frank lowered himself into a chair.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
Rose frowned.
“Why?”
He looked toward Mia.
“Because I made some very selfish decisions when she was little.”
Rose thought about that.
Then she pointed toward the doorway.
“Mom said you made her leave when she was five.”
Frank nodded.
“I did.”
The little girl looked down at her hands.
For a moment, she seemed to be choosing her words carefully.
May you like
Then she looked directly at him.
“Grandpa Frank, if I was five, would you have sent me away too?”
