Page 135 of The Unraveling of Julia
“No worries,” Julia said, as Gianluca sat down, raking back his curls. Psychologically his recovery had been hard on him, too, because he hadn’t been able to return to work yet. He and his father were talking about helping her restore the villa if she chose to stay in Tuscany permanently, but Julia’s plans were up in the air. She’d been with Gianluca every step of the way during his rehab, taking him to his various appointments and cheering him on, and he’d been with her every step of the way during these cases, meeting with the prosecutors and translating on the Italian side. But they both knew that they hadn’t had a fair chance at a normal relationship. In a way, they were in suspended animation, too.
Both turned to watch the jury come in, and Julia knew that Gianluca was feeling as tense as she was. He took her hand, and held it, and she gave him a squeeze back but they didn’t exchange a word. He’d been such a support during the trial, but he shared the prosecutor’s fearthat the verdict could go either way.
Julia watched the jury shuffle into the box, twelve faces that she had come to know from watching them while testimony came in. There were seven men and five women of all shapes, sizes, and races, and they’d been remarkably attentive during the trial. But none of them made eye contact with her as they came in and sat down, which worried her. The courthouse lore was that if the jury didn’t look at you when they entered, they were going against you.
Judge McAfee turned to the jury. “Madam Foreperson, have you reached a verdict?”
“We have, Your Honor,” she answered, her expression impassive. She held out a sheet of paper, which the bailiff accepted, walked to the dais, and handed it up to the judge.
Julia held her breath, trying to read his expression, but she couldn’t. Gianluca’s hand tightened around hers.
“Mr. Nardini, will you please stand and face the jury.” Judge McAfee handed the verdict back to the bailiff.
Nardini and his counsel stood up. So did Valerie, at counsel table.
The bailiff brought the verdict to the foreperson, who accepted it, read it, and stood tall, as if to shoulder responsibility for what she was about to say.
Julia held her breath, her heart pounding. Gianluca placed his other hand on top of hers, joining them as if they’d be stronger that way, better able to absorb the impact together.
The jury foreperson cleared her throat. “In the Common Pleas Court of the County of Philadelphia, in the Matter of theCommonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Ciro Nardini, Case Number 25-9383. We, the jury, in the above-entitled action, find the Defendant Ciro Nardini guilty of the crime of murder in the first degree, upon the person of Michael Aaron Shallette, pursuant to 18 Pennsylvania Crimes CodeSection 2502(1).”
Julia’s hand flew to her mouth. She wanted to shout for joy and relief. Gianluca gasped, putting an arm around her and hugging her close, and she could feel his body shudder, as if he was experiencing everything she was at the very same moment, sharing it with her completely.
Julia buried herself in his chest, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude that the jury had done the right thing, that Nardini would pay for his crime, that all the trials, proceedings, statements, and investigations were over, and that the horror that had begun on a cold October night, when her husband had been cut down before her very eyes, was finally ended, and every day of the struggle since then had been worth it, because it had all come down to this:
Justice.
Epilogue
It was a superhot afternoon, or maybe Julia just felt that way because she was extremely pregnant. They were in the nursery, which used to be a guest bedroom but was now one of the few rooms completed in the restoration of the villa. She sat with her feet up and watched her vision come to life, but it wasn’t like the ones she used to have. She met with Helen off and on, but she was still too busy to develop her gift, though she’d learned to trust herself and her feelings, at least most of the time.
Gianluca, now her husband, was sketching on the nursery wall, drawing a mural they’d envisioned together, their unconventional version of a family tree, which included all the people they loved and wanted their baby to know, whether alive, dead, or somewhere in between. Its branches would be green, leafy, and full, containing portraits of Mike, then Julia’s adoptive parents Melanie and Martin, and Gianluca’s late grandparents Letizia and Raimondo, and even Caterina herself. Courtney and Paul would be depicted, too, as well as Fiamma and Julia’s biological father Roberto. She’d reached out to him, and he’d been delighted to get to know her. She’d come to like him and didn’t find him too serious-minded. On the contrary, she thought her wacky and wonderful family could use adult supervision.
She sipped her water, happy to watch Gianluca, who was back to himself after a long rehabilitation, which included clearing the vineyard with his father. He worked on the mural next to Fiamma, Sherry, and Tonio, while Raffi told them all what they were doing wrong. Julialoved belonging to a family of artists and had already finished her portraits because she didn’t leave everything to the last minute like these Florentines. Plus she had a baby to deliver. Next week.
Whoa.Julia felt a sharp pain in her belly and set down her water glass. She’d had Braxton Hicks from time to time, but this was stronger. It was early for a real contraction, but it sure felt like one.
“Julia?” Gianluca turned around, alarmed. “Are you okay?”
“Um, I don’t know.” Julia tried to breathe through the contraction, but it wasn’t helping. The hospital was over an hour away. “I think—”
“It’s time? My God!” Gianluca rushed to her, and everybody exploded into talk and action. Fiamma helped Gianluca get Julia to the door. Sherry ran for Julia’s purse, Raffi for her hospital bag, and Tonio for the Fiat Panda. Only Bianco stayed put, raising his head, determining he wasn’t needed, then going back to sleep.
Julia made her way to the stairs, where Raffi met her with the hospital bag. Gianluca supported her one arm, and Fiamma the other. They descended the stairs, and Sherry met them with purses and water bottles.
Julia had another contraction in the entrance hall and stopped, clutching her belly and glancing up at the astrological fresco.It’s a Leo!she thought, delighted. The baby would be fierce, loving, passionate, and creative. Basically, Tuscan with a splash of American.
Gianluca helped her to the idling car, gentled her into the back seat, and got in beside her, holding her and counting her breaths like they’d learned in class. Fiamma locked the house and jumped in beside him. Sherry climbed in the passenger seat, and Tonio hit the gas. They took off with Raffi jumping on her Vespa, zooming ahead like a police escort.
Julia tried to breathe through her contraction, listening to Gianluca’s calm voice amid the loud and animated chatter in Italian andEnglish, everybody excited to be adding new life to an already lively clan. Tears sprang to her eyes, not from pain but from happiness, and she realizedthiswas her dream, not a painting of a family tree but a flesh-and-blood family, filling a tiny car with noisy love for a baby they had yet to meet but already adored.
Julia felt flushed with joy and wonderment, about to become a mother to a daughter of her own, a little girl named in honor of the mother who was always there for her.
Melanie Pritzker Moretti was about to enter the world.
Taking her place among the stars.