It had been a week since my father's passing and today was his funeral.
I sat in my vanity adjusting my black dress. My dress came to my knees, had long sleeves, and a matching black belt. I put my hair up into a simple updo. My baby hairs were curled and framed my face. I wore light make-up as my father preferred me that way. He said it only enhanced the beauty I had. I had tied a silk black ribbon around my hair to finish off the look.
But there was one last thing I had to pin next. It was the head of a peacock feather. It was my father's request to have it at his wake and burial. I pinned it to the ribbon on the side of my head. I looked at myself in the mirror and took a shaky breath.
'This is it. My final good-byes' I thought looking at the various things I had laying on my vanity. I took a second and hesitated to bring it out. But I knew I needed to hear the tune. I opened my drawer and pulled out the small music box my father had given me as a child. I turned the key and the sweet clear melody poured out of it.
I never knew what the tune was, but it rang out clearly. My eyes began to water up as the memories of my father rushed through me.
I heard a knock at my door. I quickly closed the music box and rushed to put it away.
"Just a moment" I called out as I grabbed a tissue and dried the welled-up tears in my eyes.
"Can I come in?" a small voice says behind the door. It was Isabella. I walk to the door and open it to see my little sister dressed in similar attire as me. A short black dress with long sleeves, but her skirt was more puffed out and she had some extra details of black lace on her collar.
"You may, are you okay?" I asked as she only shakes her head walked in my room and sat in my vanity.
"C-can you help me put on m-my feather?" she asked, holding out her peacock feather. My heart broke hearing her force the words out.
"Yes I can, where do you want it?" I asked as she shrugged.
"I d-dunno" she mumbled, playing with the hem of her dress. I took her feather and looked at it. It was similar to mine but it was much smaller. I grabbed a hair clip off my vanity and gently turned her head. I pinned the feather in the same spot as my own.
"There, you can match with me," I say as she looks in the mirror. Her eyes welled up and she began to cry.
"Oh honey," I whisper as I give her a big hug. She grabbed my waist and dug her face into my stomach. I felt her breathing increase as she tried to calm herself down. But it seems it was making it worse. I knelt and grabbed her face to look at me.
"Bella, I need you to breathe. Breathe in… Breathe out…" I say showing her how to breathe. She followed my lead and soon had her breathing under control.
"Now I know it's hard, but Father did not want us to be sad. He wanted us to smile, and think of all the good times together. He would want us to have a brave face to see him off," I explain as I look into her teary eyes.
"I'll try," she says as I let her face go, and she wipes away her tears. I give her a tissue and she blows her nose.
"Isabella, Irene, it's time to go," Gian says softly at the open door. I look back at my brother and notice the tears left in his eyes too.
I nod and make my way outside the theatre to see the entire staff and gang waiting for us. The day was cloudy and looked like it would rain at any moment. I got to the car and let Isabella go in first. My mother was already in the car holding onto a handkerchief. Gian helped me into the car as he was the last to get in. It felt like an hour had passed by as we went to the funeral home.
Although the place was only a few blocks away, time had slowed down. We arrived and Gian helped us out of the car. More of the men and staff were awaiting us again. Security was extra heavy today. My Uncle joined us when we got inside. The casket was open as we went to see our farewells. My mother and sister go first. I could faintly hear my mother speaking to my father.
"I will always love you my Gianni. May your soul rest in heaven and may those who damned you rot in hell" she says as she kisses his head a final time. Isabella looked over our father and whispered
"I'll love you forever Daddy. I hope you see Nonni and Nonno in Heaven," she says as Mother grabs her hand and they go to greet others at the door. I then watched Gian and Uncle Francesco say their final words.
Gian whispered a prayer to our father.
"Go forth, Christian soul, from this world in the name of God the almighty Father, who created you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you, in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you, go forth, faithful Christian. May you live in peace this day, and may your home be with God in Zion, with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, with Joseph, and all the Angels and Saints. Amen." Gian was going to walk away but he said one more thing to our father
"Thank you for everything, I will do you proud to protect this family" he says walking away to join our mother.
Next was Uncle Francesco, he said a quiet prayer to my father's hands. Then I noticed he quickly put something in my fathers jacket. I walked up behind my Uncle Francesco and put my hand on his shoulder as he looked startled. I guess he was hoping no one saw. I looked down at the casket and lifted my father's lapel to see a small bottle of my father's favorite Brandy.
I looked knowingly at my Uncle and he only smiled knowingly.
"Can't have him going to see dad without some liquor" He says as I smile and could see he was covering up so many emotions in his eyes
"You knew him best after all," I say as his eyes teared up.
"I did, and you will make him proud, but this isn't the day to be sad. It's the day he is to be remembered." my uncle says giving me a quick hug as he goes off to some of his friends waiting for him by the food table.
I had my hand on the edge of his casket and looked at my father's serene face. I adjusted his lapel to cover the liquor and smoothed out any wrinkles in his jacket. He has a peacock feather sticking out of his pocket and the hat he would always wear sitting next to his head.
This is how I want to remember him. Serene, almost asleep like. Wearing his pinstripe grey suit, dark blue tie, and white button-up shirt. He had on his wedding band, and his Rolex Oyster watch.
I put my hand on his and quietly made a promise to my father.
"I promise to be a great boss like you, and all who have come before me. I will find the one who wronged you, and they will know my wrath. May God rest your soul and I pray that you bless me to become greater than what I can be" I whispered to my father and kissed him on the forehead like my mother.
I turned to find the faces of my friends but was met with the whole gang waiting for me to finish saying my goodbyes. I nodded at them as they bowed their heads and quietly lined up to pay their respects.
I walked to see Red, Alice, and Carlos talking by the stained glass window. I made my way through the crowd and everyone seemingly parted seeing my path.
Carlos was the first to notice me.
"Hey boss," he says as Red and Alice turn their faces to me.
"Hey, what got you three all chatty?" I ask as Alice looks nervous at the other two.
"It's about the cast, Red has been hearing some things that don't sound too good," Alice says as I lift my brow at the words
"What kind of things?" I sternly ask. I could feel my temper blooming in my chest.
"I think we may have a somewhat lead on you're father's murderer Irene" Red told as my muscles tensed up
"Who?" I spat out locking eyes with Red.
"We'll discuss it after the funeral. You need to focus on your family right now," Alice gently reminded me as my gaze softened as I rubbed my head. I took a deep breath and felt my temper slowly going away.
"You're right. When this is done we will meet in my new office" I say as I walk away to help my mother greet others at the door.
It felt as if the whole town was in attendance. Many of the crew and cast had come. I was a little hesitant especially hearing Red's words echo in my head.
'I need to focus on that later' I thought as I thanked them for coming.
As everyone was settled my Uncle made his way to the front and clinked his wine glass with a fork as the room went quiet.
"I want to say thank you to all who came today. It has been a very long week for us all, and I know my brother would be glad to see all these familiar faces again. But unfortunately, he was taken from us too soon." He paused as I could tell he was losing his composure a bit.
"Gianni Pavone was the great director this theatre has had since my father. Hell, even my Nonno may their souls rest in peace. Today is a day to celebrate his life. If you have any stories you wish to share. Please share them now, let's celebrate the great man we lost…" My uncle finished as the room erupted with claps.
One by one other mobsters, cast, and crew would tell their stories about how they met my father, and how he helped their lives one way or the other. I knew a few were fibbing as they had been in a great deal of trouble and my father gave them a way out. Not the legal way mind you.
After about 2 hours the wake had ended and everyone had gone home, as the funeral home prepared my father's casket to be buried in the morning.
I decided to walk back to the theatre. I need time to think.
My heels clicked against the pavement as I made my way back home. The streets we're barren as the sun was starting to set. Just as I was passing the park I noticed I was being followed. More specifically I was being followed by the police. I kept walking, I didn't want to give them a reason to stop me.
I decided to go through the park. The car couldn't follow me there. I sped up my walking a bit, I needed to get some space between us. The police have been quite the pain for the last week. They had questioned half the theatre and had gotten no answers. Knowing them they were becoming impatient, and sloppy.
'Typical, they never can get things done right.' I thought as I felt my arm getting grabbed.
"Hey! Let go!" I yell at the figure behind me. I turned to see the same detective from this week, Samuel Carter. He was dressed in a blue uniform. All stiff and ridged it made me gag seeing the shine of his badge every time.
"I have some more questions for you, Ms. Pavone," he says as I pull my arm out of his grasp
"You chose a hell of a time to show up. I have told you everything I know. What else do you want from me?!" I exclaim he only frowned
"I will get more answers, you Pavones have been the leeches in the town for too long. I know your real secret and I will reveal it even if it kills me" He says with a dark look in his eyes.
I glared at the man, I could feel my temper coming back in my chest.
"Well then you better watch you're back detective," I say as I step forward causing him to step back at my gaze. He falters at my tone and is left speechless. I held our eye contact as I gave him a warning.
"I am not a patient woman, if you know what's good for you, you better stay in you're yard and I'll stick to mine," I growled as I whipped my figure back around and marched off through the park leaving Samuel stunned in place.