Animus by S. W. Frank Page A

they saw him stripped bare to cry for his brother. Their tears were not only happiness Giuseppe was no longer asleep, they cried in gratitude for this person of strength who was unashamed of displaying affection.
     
    CHAPTER TWELVE
     
     
     
    Shanda misplaced her darn cell. The last time she had it was at the airport before she boarded the plane, at least that’s what she thought. All of her contacts were in that phone. The only person’s number she memorized was Selange’s, but her friend wasn’t answering her calls. She called the hospital every day to check on Giuseppe and received the same rote response. “No English.”
    “Ugh,” she grumbled irritably. Maybe, she shouldn’t have left. Her parents were becoming over-bearing, not in a bad way, but smothering her and Carlo to death with love. Each time she stared into her son’s face, Giuseppe’s image stared back and slowly guilt began to creep inside. Her parents weren’t helping; they acted as if Giuseppe never existed and she had a child by Immaculate Conception or an alien swooped down and gave her the baby.
    Her mother came into the room as Shanda tried again to contact the hospital for information. “Are you coming with us to dinner?” she asked with a sanctimonious smile.
    “No, ma. Go ahead.”
    “Are you trying to reach that man again?”
    “Yes I am.”
    “Here it came. The, ‘you’re better off without the thug’ speech. “You know baby girl, Carlo is much safer here. Are you so in love with that person, you’d risk having your baby killed?”
    Shanda’s hand slightly trembled. The mention of how close she came to losing Carlo elicited panic. The pounding in her chest grew loud and made her gasp. “No.”
    “Then you have to let him go…for Carlo’s sake. Let him go.”
    The phone was placed back into the charging bay. Maybe, her mom was right. If anything happened to her baby, she’d have herself to blame. Giuseppe had plenty of family. They’d take care of him, after-all she was an outsider, at least now she was home ...safe.
     
     
     
     
    ~ ~
     
     
    The delirium lasted hours. Giuseppe didn’t know where he was, he only remembered the sounds of people talking in his head. His eyes danced around the room, searching faces for someone but not knowing who. He saw Lucia, their eyes locked and he smiled. He was being assessed, asked questions, and directed to move his limbs as if they were broken. He flexed his leg and the doctor’s joyful face puzzled him. Why did they all smile like imbeciles?
    Lucia looked worried. Giuseppe called her name when the doctor walked away to confer with a nurse. The others in the room maintained their distance in his foggy brain. They were vague visions, except Lucia who stood vivid and not a dream. Their love was strong. “Bella, I have missed you.”
    “Buongiorno Geo, I am glad you are well.”
    “Where is my kiss of greeting?”
    Lucia’s eyes widened as Giuseppe’s family looked on. They did not know the secret of teenage lovers. Giuseppe was speaking too much of the past. She sought to quiet him and kissed his dry lips. Sophie’s countenance changed at her action. Her spine went stiff as did Amelda’s in disapproval.
    Alfonzo’s eyebrow ascended. The fondness in which his brother spoke to Lucia confirmed what he suspected. She was after-all Amelda’s best friend and Matteo’s sister. And Giuseppe was quite the lady’s man. From the intimate scene unfolding, the two shared a past.
    “Your kiss is sweet. Do not worry donna…our families will embrace our child. We are young but we are in love, no?”
    Sophie gasped. Amelda yanked Lucia away by the arm.
    Giuseppe rubbed his aching head. His eyes roamed, shutting out the voices of women talking loudly. He saw a man with eyes which mirrored his and a sudden recognition occurred. “Fratellino!”
    “Grande fratello, good to hear your voice,” Alfonzo responded and stepped closer to the bed.
    “Mama…is she here