Chapter Four

Camilla

She was quiet for a moment before she said, "Michael? Perche?"

"I had a dream. You know I haven't talked to him since he moved to Vegas. Why is that?" I tried not to sound worried. I didn't want my grandmother to be concerned about me, but the truth was that I was worried.

"Oh, I don't know dear. He's a busy man, working you know. He has kept your father’s import business going just like he was taught." I wasn't sure if I believed exactly what she was saying, but I didn't want to call my grandmother a liar.

"Nonna, I need to speak to Michael. It's important."

"Camilla, Cosa puo essere cosi importante?"

"What's important is a memory Nonna. A dream I keep having that I want him to explain to me. I don't understand why I haven't heard from him and why you can't tell him to call me?" I was getting annoyed. Our family had been close, and now it's been nearly  five years since I had spoken to my brother. It wasn't normal and the longer it went on, the more worried I became. I was sure that if my brother was in trouble or dead, she would tell me.

"Vedo," my Nonna replied. (I see.)

"I don't want to worry you Nonna, please have Michael call me. I think it's important. Something is happening with me and I've been seeing strange things. Before you freak out, I don't mean I'm hallucinating. I'm actually just observing some odd behaviors that are concerning. Please ask him to call me." I was nearly begging at this point.

"Ok piccolo. I will ask him. Now tell me, how is school? Do you have a boy in your life?" She was trying to change the subject.

"School is great, I'm getting closer to being finished. I think Mom would be proud. And no there is no boy. Who has time for that?" I laughed.

"Yes, I'm sure you're too busy. Did you do something nice for your birthday?" She asked me.

"Well, I went out dancing with Natalia and some of her friends." I stopped with that, remembering the mafia boss who had bought me a drink. I wasn't telling Nonna about that. The man had watched me for the rest of the evening. He didn't leave his seat or attempt to talk to me; he just watched me. I finally told Natalia that I wanted to leave. We had requested an Uber on my uber app and made our way home. As we walked out the door of the club, I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Mr. Mafia was watching us leave. It gave me the chills, and I wasn't sure if it was in a good way or a bad way. I didn't want to stick around to find out either.

"That sounds nice dear. You be careful there. New York is such a big city."

"Nonna, do you forget that we lived in Chicago before I came to live with you?" I chuckled at her.

"Of course not." She sighed. "I wish I could have moved you back to Italy, I would have loved to go back to the countryside where our family is. You have aunts and uncles there you know?"

"Yes Nonna, I know. I don't know any of them though."

"Well, you should get to know them, Camilla. I will be going back there soon. I want to spend time with my daughters and other grandchildren before I die." I hated it when she talked about dying. I couldn't stand to lose the only family I had left. At least the only family that I actually knew.

"Nonna, you can move if you want to. I would come visit." I have told her this a hundred times. She would always insist she needed to be here for me. We lived far apart now, and I honestly couldn't see the difference if she lived in Iowa or Italy. I'd rather visit her in Italy than Iowa any day.

"Yes well, un giorno presto."

"Nonna, please have Michael call me. I'm going to go. I have homework to do." I was lying. I didn't have any homework to do; I just didn't want to hear her talk about dying anymore. I only hoped she would convince Michael to call me.