Chapter 52: A moment of peace

Ana
The walls of the doctor's office were decorated with posters of tranquil landscapes, but nothing seemed to calm the storm raging inside me. Luisa was still on my mind, with her lost gaze and the weight of her situation, like a shadow I couldn't shake. The mission was tomorrow, and the tension was gripping my chest like a claw.
Paolo was sitting next to me, holding my hand. His presence anchored me, but he couldn't quite dispel my unease. We had come to the hospital for a baby checkup, something that at another time would have filled me with excitement, but now I could only think of what was to come.
"How do you feel?" he asked, his voice soft.
"A little nervous," I admitted, looking at our intertwined hands.
"Everything will be fine. We'll focus on the baby and on us."
I nodded, trying to smile. I knew he just wanted to ease my worries. Paolo started talking about our future plans, as if by evoking them he could materialize them and make them more real.
"I've been thinking about our honeymoon. How about a quiet place, maybe an island where it's just the two of us?"
"Sounds perfect," I replied, letting myself get carried away by the idea for a moment. It was easy to imagine the sound of the waves, the sea breeze caressing our faces.
"I want us to have the best, Ana. You and the baby deserve it."
"And I want to give the same to you."
We looked at each other, and for a moment, the weight of my worries faded away. Paolo had always been my refuge, my pillar in moments of doubt. But I knew he also had concerns, that he shared my fears.
"Have you thought about names?" he asked, changing the subject with a playful smile.
"A few. But I can't decide," I confessed. "I know we still don't know the baby's gender, but we have several in mind."
"We'll have time for that. I want it to be a decision we make together."
I felt a pang of tenderness. The way he included the baby in every plan, every dream, touched me deeply. He really wanted to build a life for us, far from everything that now kept us trapped.
"I've also been thinking about the house. I'd like it to have a big garden, with plenty of space for the baby to play and run around freely."
"And so you can plant your flowers," he added, remembering my love of gardening.
"Exactly."
The images he evoked filled my mind, offering me a momentary escape from the chaos I felt. The idea of a peaceful life, away from danger, was tempting.
"I promise we'll make all of that happen, Ana. I want to give you everything you dream of."
A comfortable silence enveloped us. The nurse called us in for our appointment, and Paolo squeezed my hand, giving me one last look of support before standing up.
During the checkup, the baby's heartbeat echoed through the room. It was a powerful sound, a small sign of life that reminded me of what was at stake. Paolo looked at me with shining eyes, and I knew he felt that connection too.
"It's incredible, isn't it?" His voice was filled with emotion.
"Yes, it is. It feels more real every time."
"I can't wait to hold him in my arms."
"Me neither."
The doctor gave us good news about the baby's progress, and although my heart was filled with relief, Luisa's shadow was still there, reminding me that tomorrow brought uncertainty and danger.
On the way home, Paolo kept talking about more plans, about how he wanted our life to be as normal as possible. I nodded, participating in the conversation, but my thoughts kept wandering to Luisa, to what awaited us the next day.
"I know you're worried," his voice broke through my thoughts. "But everything will be fine, trust me."
"I trust you, Paolo. But I can't stop thinking about Luisa."
"I know, and we'll be there for her. But we also need to take care of what we have here," he touched my stomach gently. "We're a family, and we'll do everything we can to protect it."
His words gave me some comfort. I knew that no matter what happened, we would face the future together, with all the strength and love that bound us.
We arrived home and he wrapped me in a hug. I felt the tension dissipate, if only for a moment. Tomorrow would come soon, with all its challenges, but for now, we were together, and that was enough.
When we got home, Paolo let go of me just to head to the kitchen. I watched as he moved confidently, taking ingredients out of the pantry and the refrigerator. I was always amazed by his ability to whip up something delicious with whatever he had on hand.
"What are you going to make?" I asked, approaching the kitchen island.
"I was thinking of a light pasta, with a touch of basil and tomato. Something simple, but comforting."
"Sounds perfect."
I leaned against the counter, watching him start chopping the ingredients. The aroma of fresh basil filled the kitchen, and I allowed myself to relax, if only a little. The problems with Luisa and the growing power in the mafia were still swirling in my mind, but this moment was our refuge.
"You know?" Paolo began, without stopping chopping, "I've always enjoyed cooking for you. It's a way of showing you how much I love you."
"And you do it very well. I've always said you could open a restaurant if you wanted to."
"And give up the fun of torture and power? No thanks."
We looked at each other, and we both knew that this meant the life we had built amidst the chaos. The mafia had given us power, yes, but also a weariness that was ingrained in our bones.
"Do you remember the first time you cooked for me?" I smiled, remembering. "It was a disaster, wasn't it?"
"Totally. I burned dinner and we ended up ordering pizza, thank goodness your parents didn't find out at the time that I burned the tablecloth."
"It was one of the best nights, even though then Mom asked about that tablecloth, we made up the lie of the year, seriously."
Paolo smiled, his expression softening. That was the Paolo I loved, the one who made me feel safe and loved, away from the shadows of the mafia. He continued cooking while I set the table, something simple but cozy. The sound of boiling water, the aroma of sautéed garlic, created a warm atmosphere.
"Wine?" he asked, raising a bottle and I raised an eyebrow. "Just kidding, darling."
We laughed, and he poured some water into my glass. I appreciated that he knew exactly what I needed to relax. We sat down at the table, and Paolo served the pasta, adorned with grated cheese and fresh basil.
"This looks amazing," I commented, savoring the first bite. "As always, you've outdone yourself."
"Thank you. It's my pleasure to cook for you."
We talked about trivial things while we had dinner, stories from the past, anecdotes that always made us laugh. The conversation flowed naturally, taking me away from the dark thoughts Luisa had planted in my mind. For a moment, it was as if the outside world didn't exist, it was just the two of us.
"I've been thinking about what we could do after the mission," Paolo commented. "Maybe we could take a few days for ourselves, get away from all this."
"I'd love that. I think we both need it."
"Yeah, lately everything has been so intense... It's like power comes with a very high price."
I nodded, feeling the weight of our responsibilities. Being leaders of the Italian mafia had brought us power and respect, but it had also left us exhausted, always on alert. I knew Paolo shared my concerns about Luisa, how she was still manipulating me to expand her influence.
"I can't stop thinking about Luisa," I confessed, my voice a whisper. "I feel like she's using me for her own purposes."
"I know, Ana. But remember, you're stronger than she thinks. We won't let her control you."
"It's hard. She's my mother, but at the same time, I feel like she's only looking out for herself."
"We'll always be in this together. You're not alone."
I took his hand, finding comfort in its firmness. Paolo was my strongest ally, my partner in this dangerous life. I knew that with him by my side, I could face anything.
"Thank you, Paolo. I don't know what I would do without you."
"You don't have to find out, because I'll always be here."
We finished dinner and decided to wash the dishes together. The warm water and the soap bubbles felt comforting, almost therapeutic. Paolo splashed some water at me, making me laugh.
"Hey!" I complained, pretending to be indignant.
"I had to do it, you looked too serious."
Laughter filled the kitchen, and for a moment, all the weight we carried faded away. This was our life, with its ups and downs, but always together. I knew we would face whatever came our way, supporting each other.
After cleaning up, we went to the living room. Paolo put on some soft music, and we settled on the couch. I leaned against his chest, listening to his heart beat calmly.
"This is my favorite place," I whispered, feeling safe.
"Mine too."
We sat in silence, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. I felt the warmth of his body, his arm wrapped around me securely. Paolo started talking again about the plans we had, about how we were going to run the mafia with integrity, trying not to let ourselves be consumed by power.
"Sometimes I think about what our life would be like if we weren't in this," he confessed, his voice soft.
"Me too. But I think, in a way, this has made us stronger."
"Yes, and it has brought us closer together. But I would like a future where we don't have to worry about betrayals or power."
"We'll get there, Paolo. We'll find a balance."