The Inheritance: Chapter 5 - Part II (Updated 11/14)
dnog86:
Great video!!! Definitely, I love your story ^_^. It's excellent.
Starwish001:
Good story:)
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter 4 - Prologue
There are moments in life that change everything.
A single moment can turn a man into a victim...
...or turn friends into family.
A single moment can change a woman's mind...
...and break her heart all over again.
Every so often in a lifetime a moment comes along that changes everything. But the things that change aren't as important to life as the way the people in our lives react to those changes.
And the most important thing is the way we react to the changes life throws at us. At the end of the day, that means everything.
southernwomanOK:
Quote from: CuriousSimmer;1371975
The Inheritance
Chapter 3 - Part I
March 1964
Ever since Dante's victory in the election that everyone, including both of us, had expected him to lose, he had become quite a busy man. He had to set up a whole new life in Rome, coming home some weekends but spending most weeks away.
At first, we called each other at least once a day--I would call him in the morning after getting the children off to school, and he would call me in the evenings when he was done with his legislative duties. But lately it had occured that I was doing most of the calling.
"I'm sorry, darling. I can't come home this weekend, we have a budget meeting that I have to go to. Perhaps next weekend?"
"Well, all right," I said, half-expecting yet another governmental obligation that would keep my husband away. "Andre was so hoping...well, it doesn't matter. He'll understand."
"Apologize to him from me, would you? I wanted to make his recital but things have just gotten too busy here."
"I will."
"Are you having the ladies over tonight?"
"Oh yes, in fact I have a meatloaf in the oven."
"I won't keep you, then, darling."
"All right. Good night, Dante." I paused for a moment. "I love you."
"I love you too, Betty. Good night."
I hung up the phone and looked around my bedroom. Everything was neat and tidy, so much so that it felt like it was unused. It felt like no one even lived here, and indeed, I couldn't remember off the top of my head the last time I had spent the night here with Dante.
But I would have plenty of time later to dwell during the dark of the night. At this moment, I had a ladies' social gathering to host.
We met that night as we frequently did, in the sunroom of the villa, eating and chatting and gossiping. But that night was different: a cloud hung over the gathering. Lady Esther Thornycroft was very ill. Her mental condition had, in the past several months, been accompanied by a striking, wasting illness.
The empty chair that belonged to Lady Thornycroft stood empty, and Eleanor was gone as well, caring for her mother. But present were Mrs. Capricia Volante, Mrs. Adela de Luca, Judith O'Reilly, who had been granted an annulment after her husband fled from the authorities, and Angela Giorelli, who was technically still married despite the fact that her husband had been in a coma for two years.
"I can't understand why the real estate company is causing such trouble," said Judith, who had been wanting to buy a building downtown with her savings in which to open a new business. "They keep saying it's administrative work, but it's been going on for weeks!"
"I've heard that," said Adela. "Rumor has it some new group of investors is trying to buy up some of the properties. Maybe they're holding out on closing your sale in hopes of getting a better deal."
"Whatever it is, I'm tired of it," Judith confessed as the phone rang. I excused myself to go and answer it.
I hung up the phone a few moments later, feeling stricken. I couldn't put thoughts to words, nor convert the words I had just heard into actual meaning.
Slowly, I turned and walked back towards the sunroom.
"Ladies," I said. Something in my voice must have told them that I had something to say, and their voices died down.
"Ladies, I'm afraid...I'm sorry to have to tell you... Esther--Lady Thornycroft--died just a few moments ago."
DUM DUM DUM
I love the meetings though, so Desperate Housewives:worship:
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter 4 - Part 1
September 1964
Donovan O'Reilly walked under a leaky canopy along the train tracks at the train station. It was almost midnight, and a late storm was blustering over the French town that spread around the train tracks.
Donovan passed a community notice board that advertised lost pets, odd-job opportunities, and bicycles for sale.
He walked by the large gray statue that made up the war memorial for a battalion of nurses that had come from the nursing school in the college nearby and had perished in the Second World War.
But he stopped short at a bench where a young woman was sitting. He knew that face; he knew that girl. His heart gave a leap when she looked up. "Donovan? Donovan O'Reilly?"
"Josephine," he said with a grin. "I don't believe it. Can I sit?"
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm going home. Um, Mrs. de Luca called, apparently there was some..." Josephine's voice trailed off. "My dad has been hurt."
"Oh, no. Is he okay?"
"It's serious," Josephine said. "But they don't know anything yet. Or she didn't when she called me. She just wanted to tell me, I guess."
"Was anyone else hurt?"
"Your mom is fine," said Josephine, squeezing Donovan's arm gently. "There was another lady, but nobody we know." Josephine looked up as a train whistle sounded in the distance. "That's my train. But it was so nice to see you."
Josephine stood and embraced Donovan. He picked up her bag as the train eased into the station and offered it to the porter. As she stepped onto the train, he smiled and waved. "When are you coming back?" he called. "I'll be here."
"I'll call you!" Josephine shouted above the roar of the engine.
And despite the tragedy of the circumstances, Josephine allowed herself an indulgent smile.
Back in Italy...
The gurney, escorted by the medical team, burst through the doors. "Hold the elevator!" one of the orderlies shouted.
I followed in a daze, trying to keep up with my husband. I was jostled by nurses and technicians and doctors each trying to tend to my husband's injuries.
"Signora Moretti, please! You have to step off the elevator," Dr. Mediate said as the doors started to close. "There's nothing you can do. Please, stand back. I'll find you after we've stabilized him."
I stood back, a lump rising in my throat. I didn't want Dante to leave my sight. But I had to trust the doctors to do what was best; as the elevator doors closed, the last thing I saw was my husband's battered face.
An hour later, Dr. Mediate came to find me and said, "Signora Moretti? You can see him now."
As we walked the hospital's hall, he said, "Your husband suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. The woman that came in with him was shot through the neck before the bullet entered your husband's chest."
"Will he...is he going to be all right?" I asked, afraid of the answer.
"We don't know. He's stable, but he's lost a lot of blood. We'll need to operate before we can take him off bypass, and then we'll see whether his heart is strong enough to beat on its own."
"What about... Chiara?"
"She's in surgery now. The damage was quite extensive."
"We'll keep you informed, Signora. If you want to go home you can leave a number, or...there's a waiting room down the hall."
"I'll stay," I said.
I didn't know how long had passed as I sat in the waiting room. I tried flipping through the magazines there, but nothing held my attention. The noise of the hospital continued around me until the door opened.
I looked up to see Adela standing there in her party clothes with a small tote bag. "Adela...what are you doing here?"
"I thought you could use some company," she said, giving me a compassionate smile. "And some fresh clothes. I just grabbed some stuff out of your closet, I hope it fits."
"Thank you," I said.
"The nurse said you can use the staff room to shower and change. How's Dante?"
"They don't know yet."
We both changed our clothes and sat down. "What's happening at home?" I asked wearily.
"The police have sealed it off. They questioned us about what we saw, but nobody really knew anything. What was there to tell?"
"I didn't see it," I said quietly. "I was upstairs looking for some seltzer."
Adela touched my hand. "There was nothing to see," Adela said. "One minute they were standing there; the next they were both on the ground."
We talked for hours, about everything and about nothing. I knew she was trying to distract me, but there was nothing that could distract me from the situation that was unfolding.
At least, there was nothing until I heard clicking footsteps in the hall. A moment later, the door opened.
Josephine stepped in and I finally realized how long it had been. Dawn was breaking outside; it had been almost eight hours since we arrived at the hospital.
"How's daddy?" she demanded, embracing me immediately. "I came as soon as I heard."
"But...how?" I stammered.
"Aunt Adela," she said by way of explanation.
We sat down on the sofa near the window, and Adela stood up. "I'm going to go home for a few hours, darling." She kissed us both on the cheek and headed for the door.
"Capricia and Judith said they'd come by later," she said.
I knew they would come. But for now, I was content to be with my daughter. Josephine was with me and the dawn was coming.
Meanwhile, at the Villa...
As the sun was coming up, the pair of detectives that were investigating the shooting were hoping that they too could shed a little lite on the crime that had shattered our community.
What would they find? Would it matter? They were questions that I didn't have the answers to. And I certainly didn't know that their attempted murder investigation...
...was about to turn into a murder case.
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