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Post by Gabriella Santino on Apr 5, 2010 14:39:31 GMT -5
Gabriella knew that it was coming. She knew that she had tell her parents about Sedona. Of course there was no way that her father was going to be pleased. She tried to think of ways she could have gotten around telling him, but he would have someone check on her. It would be her luck that that someone would report back to her father and all hell would break loose. It would be best if she just told him herself.
Of course, there was the apartment she could run to if things didn't go well at all. She had the terrible feeling that it wouldn't. So in secret, she had packed a few of her things in small bags. There would still be a few things she would need to throw together, but she could deal with that when the time came.
Closing her bedroom door behind her, she made her way downstairs. She had asked Declin to come over for dinner. Of course she knew that Declin's presence wouldn't stop her father from blowing up, but at least Declin would know how things were ending up.
Gabriella braced herself mentally for a not so good dinner. She wondered how Dante prepared himself for leaving. Hopefully she could make it. She had her life to look forward to and wasn't her father the one that was encouraging her to do what she wanted?
Swallowing, and clearing thoughts from her mind, which didn't work out so well, Gabriella entered the dining room.
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Post by Clarice Santino on Apr 5, 2010 17:47:36 GMT -5
Clarice was humming to herself as she began to set the table for dinner. While her husband ran the business and, for all intents and purposes, seemed to be in charge, this was where Clarice ruled. They had enough money that they could have had house elves and servants, but Clarice insisted on doing it all herself, even when it came to setting the table. Although, of course, if one of her children were to happen to volunteer to help, she certainly wouldn't say no.
At the sound of someone entering the room, Clarice looked up to see her daughter standing there. She straightened up and broke into a smile. "Oh, hello, sweetheart. You're just in time for dinner. Your father should be here in a minute."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on Apr 5, 2010 20:34:00 GMT -5
"Hello mum," said Gabriella smiling at her mother. Her mother had always been more of an understanding person. Although, she never breathed a word to her mother that she was going to open up shop with Sedona Rossi. Of course she knew that her mother probably wouldn't really have a problem with it, but she was sort of scared of her father's reaction.
"Do you need any help?"
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Post by Clarice Santino on Apr 5, 2010 22:11:24 GMT -5
Normally, Clarice might have noticed that something wasn't quite right with her daughter. Maybe a sigh, or a smile that was a little too bright, and Clarice would have started in with the questions. But Marcello had owled her earlier to tell her that he had a surprise for her for dinner, and that, along with the fact that Declin would be joining them for dinner, was enough to distract her.
"Yes, thank you, sweetie," she said, holding out the plates. "Would you mind setting the table? Your father said to set an extra place, because he had a surprise or something. And of course, Declin is coming, too."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on Apr 5, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
If there was something ever wrong, Gabriella always knew that her mother would know it. She always put on her mask if there was ever anything. If she could avoid certain questions, she would.
However, she was lucky when she entered the dining room. Clarice was preoccupied with something and Gabriella was grateful. "Of course mum," she replied with another smile. She took the plates and started to set the table for everyone. Hearing that there was going to be another person coming to dinner, Gabriella looked over to her mother.
"Father is bringing someone else?"
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Post by Clarice Santino on Apr 5, 2010 22:59:19 GMT -5
Clarice paused to scrub at a barely-visible wine stain on the table cloth. Really, you would think with magic, such things would be possible to remove, but somehow that stain still remained.
"That's what he said, dear," she replied in answer to her daughter's question. "He didn't say who it was... the owl was very vague. I assume it's a new business associate of your father's, but I'm not sure. I just hope everything is OK. You know how surprise guests stress me out. I like to be able to prepare my meals according to my guests' preferences. Declin is fine, of course, Merlin knows that boy will eat anything. But when I don't know who's coming... what if this person doesn't eat cheese? They won't enjoy the manicotti..."
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Post by Gabriella Santino on Apr 6, 2010 5:44:51 GMT -5
"It'll be okay mum," she replied setting the table. "I'm sure whoever Father brings will like cheese." This was going to be an interesting dinner. "Besides, if they don't, I'm sure that they will after they eat your food." Gabriella smiled again at her mother.
It made her a little nervous that her Father was bringing someone to dinner. She never really knew what to expect when he decided to bring someone.
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Post by Declin Martin on Apr 6, 2010 20:30:42 GMT -5
Declin had been invited over to the Santinos that evening for dinner. A good thing too, since he had already eaten the frozen, ready-made meals that Gabriella had delivered to him. He grabbed his jacket and apparated to their house. They always said he could walk in through the back door, which he did, but he always knocked first.
"Hey Gabs, Mrs. Santino," Declin said, stepping into the kitchen from the back door and putting his hands into his pockets. Well, one of his hands, the other slipped through the pocket and came out the other side. It seemed that most of his clothing had holes in it.
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Post by Gabriella Santino on Apr 6, 2010 21:36:15 GMT -5
Hearing the knock on the door, Gabriella knew that it had to be Declin because the door opened up. "Hey Declin," she said glancing up from setting the table. She gave him a smile. Of course, she noticed the look on his face.
"I can fix that if you want me to," said Gabriella as she continued to finish placing the napkins and sliverware in the correct places on the table. "And any other thing you need to be fixed." She glanced back up and smiled again with a wink.
"You can go ahead and take a seat if you like. I have no idea when Father is coming in, he's supposed to be bringing someone with him."
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Post by Clarice Santino on Apr 6, 2010 22:35:15 GMT -5
Clarice was in the process of setting out a lovely but modest table display of spring tulips when she heard the knock on the door. Of course, she knew that had to be Declin, since Marcello wouldn't need to knock, and this guest of his would certainly be coming with him. Before she even had a chance to ask Gabriella to answer the door, she was opening it, letting Declin into the dining room.
"Oh, hello, Declin," she said warmly as the boy walked in. Yes, Declin worked for her husband, but in Clarice's eyes, Declin was still not much more than a boy. He was younger than her own son, after all.
"Please have a seat. We're having manicotti, I hope that's OK. And for heaven's sake, doesn't my husband pay you enough to buy new clothes instead of wearing ones with holes? I'm going to have to talk to him about that."
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Post by Declin Martin on Apr 6, 2010 23:05:06 GMT -5
"Um, thanks Gabriella," Declin said, blushing. "Maybe later, it's fine for now," he took his hand out of his pocket and crossed them over his chest instead.
"He's paying me jus fine Ma'm," Declin said honestly. "I'm just saving up money," he answerd. Not entiely sure wha he was saving for, but he was saving. "And I like my clothes," he smirked.
"I don'thave to sit right away, do you need my help wit anything?" Declin offered.
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Post by Marcello Santino on Apr 8, 2010 18:32:25 GMT -5
Marcello came up the walk way with his son close behind him. He had sent a letter ahead of them to warn Clarice that he was bringing company. He smiled to himself as he tapped the door three times, unlocking each of the locks on his front door.
Mob bosses can't be too suspicious.
He stepped inside and waved Dante to follow him. He heard voices from the kitchen and knew that his girls and Declin were already here. "Hello darling," Marcello said as he walked into the kitchen and kissed Clarise on the cheek.
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Post by Clarice Santino on Apr 9, 2010 14:08:47 GMT -5
Clarice turned at the sound of the door opening and broke into a smile at the sight of her husband. “You’re just in time,” she said, leaning into his kiss.
For a moment, she just concentrated on her husband. Although she pretended not to know what kind of work the “family” business was, she understood more than she pretended. And she knew it was dangerous. So she was always glad to see him when he came home at night; to know that he was OK.
But the prospect of the guest was too intriguing not to wonder about, and soon she was casting her eyes toward the door. “But where is this guest you mentioned? Who is it? I made manicotti, I hope that’s OK…”
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Post by Dante Santino on Apr 9, 2010 14:09:27 GMT -5
Dante hung back as his father made his way through the house and into the dining room. He was home, and he should have felt more at ease. But he didn’t. He felt like a stranger in this house, the house he’d grown up in. He couldn’t even explain why… after all, the only reason he’d stayed away so long had been his father. His mother, however, he knew had wanted him home all this time. She had written to him while he was in New York. Seeing her should have been easy. But maybe he’d been away too long…
Slowly, he moved toward the door and got there just in time to hear her say “I made manicotti.” And it with was those simple words that everything seemed to click into place, like a puzzle piece that needed to be turned just the right way for it to finally fit. Manicotti—especially his mother’s manicotti—was one of his favorites.
“That sounds perfect, Mum,” he said, stepping through the door.
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Post by Clarice Santino on Apr 9, 2010 14:10:22 GMT -5
Clarice had turned back to Marcello in the split second before Dante walked through the door, but at the sound of his voice, her head turned quickly back to face her son. She knew his voice instantly, and seeing him in front of her… it was like a dream.
“Dante?” she gasped breathlessly. “Baby, is it really you?”
Without waiting for an answer, she pushed a chair aside and made her way over to him. Then her arms were around him, squeezing him tight. “Oh, my baby, I’ve missed you…” she said.
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Post by Dante Santino on Apr 9, 2010 14:10:59 GMT -5
For just a second, Dante was afraid that she was angry with him. After all, he’d run out on the family that terrible night, he’d kept in contact with her for a while, then let himself lose touch, and he’d come to town weeks ago without even telling her. Why shouldn’t she be mad?
But then her arms were around him, and what else could he do but hug her back? It felt so good to be back in his mother’s arms…
“I missed you, too, Mum…”
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Post by Declin Martin on Apr 29, 2010 19:44:31 GMT -5
Declin suddenly felt very out of place as the mysterious missing Santino family member walked in the door. Gabriella hadn't said much about her brother to Declin, except that he had run off a long time agai after a huge blow out with Mr. Santino.
Mrs. Santino nearly knocked over a chair to go hug her son, and Declin felt a small twing of jealousy. He wished everyday that he could find his brother and sister, to bring them home, and now Gabriella's brother walks in the door and their a family again.
Sure he was happy for them, but it still kinda sucked.
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Post by Gabriella Santino on May 4, 2010 15:54:13 GMT -5
Gabriella had kept Dante's return a secret at his request. She wondered if her parents would be mad or upset at the fact that she already knew and had spent time with him. A smile grew wide on her face as she looked to her brother. Things were going well for the time being. Of course it had to be a night like this that she had to decide to tell them about Sedona. Nothing could ever be smooth for too long.
She made her way beside Declin as her mother moved to hug Dante. Gabriella gently nudged her shoulder against Declin's arm and then smiled at him. Whatever family Declin thought they were were more than likely was going to get shaken. It was strange. One Santino returns and the other one was going to end up leaving.
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Post by Marcello Santino on Jun 7, 2010 0:00:32 GMT -5
Marcello stepped past his wife and Dante and walked toward Gabriella and Declin. He'd let them have their reunion before speaking up about dinner again. God knows she's missed her son. Marcello, as a mob boss, had to be cold hearted sometimes, and there were times when he'd look at his son's empty place at the table and forced himself to feel nothing. Clarise though, Marcello knew for a fact, ached that her son wasn't with them and that they didn't know for a long time, where he was.
Marcello kissed Gabriella on the top of the head and shook Declin's hand. "Good surprise huh?" Marcello asked his daughter, a smug little smile on his face like he had planned this all along.
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Post by Clarice Santino on Jun 13, 2010 0:32:04 GMT -5
Clarice never wanted to let him go. It felt so good to hold her little boy in her arms that, for a moment, the rest of the people in the room seemed to fade away. But it didn't last long. After all, she loved her husband and her daughter as well, and they were just as important to her. It was just that Dante had been away for so long, and she hadn't even been sure where he was or if he was OK.
Finally she released him and looked at him, her face wet with tears. "You look healthy, if a little skinny," she said. "I was so worried about you... I'm glad you're home. Please tell me you're going to stay?"
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