Chapter 22: The Chair

Mirella's POV

On the third night, I sat at the head of the table in Bay Ridge, and this time nobody had to be told to look at me.

There were thirty-one captains in the dining room, from every borough and one from Newark.

The three grey men sat at my right hand, where my grandfather's counsel had always sat.

Leandro stood behind my chair with his left arm strapped across his chest.

The doctor had told him to stay in bed. He had told the doctor where she could put the bed.

Father was brought up from the cellar between two captains and set in a chair at the foot of the table.

He had not shaved. For the first time in my life, his collar was crooked.

Gaetano sat beside him with his head down.

Mother sat on Father's other side, and Fiorella sat at Mother's elbow in grey wool, with her hands folded and her scar covered.

"The lawyer who read the will three years ago is here," I said.

She came in at my nod, a small woman in a dark suit, and she did not look at Father.

"I was given a will to read," she said. "I read what I was given."

"I'm told now that it was written the week after Don Ugo's funeral. I swear I did not know."

Nobody said a word.

I turned to the old captain with the mustache.

"Who was at the funeral?"

"The whole family, signora. Your father stood at the grave, and he sent for the lawyer that same week."

A sound went around the table, low and angry.

Father lifted his head.

Keep reading free with an account. Start My Sister Popped The Bubble Of My Happy Marriage from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.