The countryside blurred past, a road she knew so well she didn’t have to have her eyes open to navigate it – thankfully Tony was driving so she didn’t have to.  Instead, she was free to roll down the window and let the warm Sicilian sun shine down upon her.  She could smell the ocean on the breeze still, and it felt like having the gates of heaven re-open to her; beckoning her back to a place of peace and happiness.

Leaning on the door she reached her hand out, allowing the wind to sail under her flattened palm lifting her arm up – in a way it was like flying, having her hand go up and down on drafts of wind.  She could feel Tony’s eyes on her.  He was watching her out of the corner of his eyes, and it made her smile widen.  She was wearing a dress today, dressed every bit the woman she’d become, no more the girl pretending to be something she wasn’t nor denying her love for the sake of seeming tough.

She was all woman on this trip and when she would return home – she’d be all gangster; the Left-Hand Woman of a Godmother… in a country where truly anything was possible.  For as much like paradise as Sicily seemed… it was America where she found her voice and her own authority.  She and Tony would have and raise American children and everything in the world would be theirs if they wanted it – be they girls or boys.

“Are you sure I can’t talk you out of this?”  Tony asked.  “We could go to a hotel in the city and stay together if it’s about not staying with our families?”

She shook her head.  “We have to do this the Old way.  We have to honor tradition.”

Tony sighed, but she knew he was nodding without looking.  He wanted to honor tradition too, but it was hard being apart.  Even for a few days.  They hadn’t been apart since they’d reunited, not for more than hours a time.

Frankie reached across the seat and took his hand, looking at his stony face as he focused on her Grandfather’s compound fast approaching.  “The next time you take my hand, you’ll never have to let it go again.  Never.  Forever.”

Tony looked at her hand in his then he looked at her.  “When we say our I do's you will have to promise me that even when your upset with me we sleep in the same bed.  When you hate me, and want time to yourself, you sleep in the same bed with me.”

Frankie smirked.  "If I get mad enough at you and I take an axe to our bed and cut it down the middle... will that still count?"  She struggled not to laugh at the image in her mind.

Tony looked at her and without skipping a beat said, “That will work as long as we are sleeping on the same side.”

Frankie roared with laughter, bringing his hand to her lips.  "You have my word, Mr. DiCaprio... though one day you might regret making me give you such a promise.  It could be YOU who well needs a break from me!"

Pulling over, Tony turned off the car and turned to face her.  He placed both hands on either side of her face and moved closer to her, “That will never happen Francesca.  I love you far more than mere words can express, and more then I can imagine.  I breath to love you.  It has been that way since the first day I saw you dressed like a tom-boy calling yourself Frankie-Messina.”

“You would remind me of that.  How will I ever live down the shame of marrying the ugliest boy in all of Sicily?”  She winked at him and joking said, “Kiss me, my ugly boy, before I forget why I yearn for you, change my mind, and go look up one of those eligible young land owners my Grandfather kept trying to push on me.”

Tony smiled and said, “No Frank was the ugliest boy and you can look for the men your grandfather gathered, but I’ll just kill them as they come over to see you.”

“You really know the way to my heart.”  She leaned in and kissed his lips.  “Jealous murderous rage…”  She let her lips slide across his, her words spoken almost into his mouth.  “I always could get a rise out of you with just a smile to some poor sap…”

She pulled back to have a full belly laugh, “You didn’t even make it hard for me, I swear to Lord Christ, it’s the whole reason I stopped smiling and winking at other boys… it wasn’t even a game after a while.  I always knew you’d grab Vito and Frank and the three of you would stalk out to some wood-headed farmer’s field to rough up some boy who barely knew my name.  There just wasn’t any challenge in that.”

She drew a long breath and leaned back in her seat smiling.  “I’ve missed this… you… me… here.”

Tony don't smile at her words, but he explained why he acted that way, “Francesca I am the way I am because to lose you, is to lose the only thing I ever wanted.  To have another man touching what I come to love so greatly, well, let’s just say I rather die first then see that happen.”

Her amusement faded, and she turned to look at him, with something a gentle smile – one that spoke mountains about how much she adored him and his dedication to her, “You fool.”  She said as if she’d called him her darling husband with true sincerity. 

“When I found out they sent you away I ran to my Grandfather and told him the truth, that it was me who shot DiSalvo.  I told him if he didn’t bring you home to me, I’d run to the DiSalvo clan and tell them so.  I pitched such a fit about it that he had me confined to my room under guards.  In protest I refused to eat for days.  If I hadn’t fallen ill from it and been fed by my Aunties, I would have starved myself into a meeting with Saint Peter.”

She shakes her head, “When I realized there was no winning against him,” She snorted, “The Don… I became the most abominable brat you’ve ever seen.  I was a terror Tony… utterly.  I didn’t just refuse suitors… I sabotaged them.  I hurt them.  I even got a good man beaten all because I stubbornly refused to love anyone, but you.”

“I loved you from the first moment that you showed the courage to step in front of Frank and dodge my punch and that love has only grown more and more every day since.  Don’t you know that?”

Tony seemed caught off guard, which was truly rare for him.  “I know you love me, I just didn't know that you almost died.  If you had, I would have come back, and had your grandfather put me to death. Life without you is no life.”

Frankie touches Tony's cheek with her finger tips, "Well, death might be a bit of a stretch.  I was sick.  Weak, for certain, but not quite on death's doorstep... but not for lack of dramatic trying on my part."  She laughed.  "I was a stupid broken-hearted girl who couldn't bear the idea that you might go off and find some beautiful blonde American Motion Picture Starlet to be your wife.  Someone who could cook and clean and do all the things I never bothered to learn.  And the more the men came to see me Tony - oh the more stubbornly I refused to learn anything that would make me a good wife."

She looked down at her hands.  "For that part, I'm sorry.  You shouldn't have to pay another woman to do the things that a good wife should do... though, I love that you will.  I love that you're as excited for me becoming a Godfather's left-hand as I am.”  She reaches over and pats his thigh.  “They’re waiting for me.”

Tony got out of the car first and walked around to open Frankie’s door.  Taking her hand, he lifted her up out of the seat.  She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before running to her Aunts and Cousins who were the first to greet her.  The gaggle of women and girls were a sound to be heard, shrieks of joy as each took turns looking at the giant rock that Tony had put upon her hand.

Behind them a line of cars pulled in.  The cars were full of bodyguards and DiCaprio family members who had insisted on joining them in the drive out to Messina.  The whole damn clan had met them at the docks and insisted on being present for the trip out to Don Enzo’s home.  They brought pots of food, flowers, and picnic blankets to celebrate Tony and Frankie’s upcoming wedding – and, of course Don Vito would meet with her Grandfather to speak of Dowry.

Tony removed his cap as the women came to welcome him with hugs and kisses as well and instantly stories of their youth were filling the air; but Frankie’s eyes were locked on the house where Enzo was coming out slowly.  He seemed older than she remembered when she left such a short while ago.  His body stooped a bit more, paler, and while he had lines on his face before – they seemed deeper now.

Great Aunt Gina was helping him down the steps and then, from there, he walked with a cane.  Too proud to keep hold of a woman’s arm for more than a few steps where it was impossible to move without her aid.  And even then, he seemed to be pretending to be escorting her rather than the other way around.

Frankie walked to her Grandfather, kissing his cheeks and ring, intoning formal greetings of the Mafioso which he accepted coolly but the moment it was done he opened his arms to her and she embraced him.  How small he felt!  She felt as though she could lift him up and run away with him if she wanted.  Gone was the imposing gray-ghost of her youth.  “Francesca…”  He whispered into her hair.  “My sweet girl.”

“I’m home Papa.”  She said trying hard not to let her emotions get the better of her. 

As they pulled away, she could feel Enzo’s stare go to Tony – who the women had backed away from.  During her reunion with her Grandfather, Don Vito and several of the DiCaprio men had managed to make their way from the cars to stand with Tony… as if they realistically expected it was possible that Don Vito might shoot Tony as opposed to give welcome to his soon to be grandson.

“And with intended…”  He said, then turning his gaze down to the little girl that she had not noticed come scampering through the crowd to peak around Don Vito’s legs.  “As promised.”

Don Enzo drew a breath and stood as straight as he could.  “Let us speak Vito.  Bring the child… we have business she and I.  We’ll handle that first and then we’ll see if we can come to agreeable terms.”  The women of both houses cheered, as if it were done already, and immediately food was being set out for a celebratory feast.

Frankie looked first to Tony, who she could see was anxious to depart having important business of his own to attend to before the wedding and then to Don Vito.  Don Vito merely nodded, as if it were usual for a Don to have business with a child… even more strange, a little girl who was barely old enough for school. 

“Come with me Katy.”  Don Vito took Katy DiCaprio by her tiny pudgy hand and lead her behind Don Enzo, who paused to kiss Frankie’s cheek again. 

“I love him.”  Frankie whispered urgently to her grandfather.

He patted her cheek and nodded, as if to say he understood, and he would do whatever was necessary to make Don Vito happy and agreeable to the match.

Vito and Neri hovered protectively around Katy as they started toward the house.  While Vito had not changed since he last saw Tony, Neri had grown a whole two inches.  The boy was 17 now and looking more and more a man every day.

“Must you go this moment?”  she asked turning to Tony.  A slight pout on her lips.

“I must, but I’ll see you again soon.”  He took her face between his hands and kissed her.  Children laughed and made scandalized noises at the sight of the unmarried couple sharing a private moment so publicly.  Her face broke into a smile at the sound of it.  Taking his hand, Frankie walked Tony back to his car and watched as he got in and drove away.

Vendetta had waited too long.

Music and dancing continued through the long hot day and into the dark of night.  The stars were shining, and the face of the moon was just peaking over the tree tops when Enzo and Vito finally came out of the house. 

Upon seeing the two eldest members of both families the music stopped and talking quieted to a dull roar.  Frankie leapt up from where she was seated wishing that Tony was here to share in this moment with her.

“Tomorrow morning,” Don Enzo said loudly enough to be heard across the yard.  “I will send my nephew with a generous donation to the local perish and we will entreat a Priest to come to our home the Sunday next.”

Little Katy ran to her and threw her arms around her. “You’re going to be my Aunt!” She squealed.

“So it would seem.”  Frankie said hugging the child in return.

“Francesca, you will remain here until the day of your wedding…”  Enzo began.

“And Tony will come to us when his work is finished.”  Vito finished.  It was just as they had expected.  Once the arrangements were made, they would be kept separated to live in prayer and contemplation with their family – and to stop ‘living in sin’ before the union.  As if the Church would believe she hadn’t been with him after all this time!  Frankie wanted to laugh about it – but tradition needed to be honored.  As they had decided and so she demurely inclined her head.

Celebrations began with renewed vigor as wine flowed like the rivers over the rocky earth of Sicily herself.  Frankie was surrounded by family and well-wishers, but with Tony not here she felt as though she might as well be with strangers.

It felt like lifetimes since she’d been back to this place and broke bread with these people.  She listened to their stories of life since she’d gone to America and it was as if nothing had changed… nothing and everything.  She supposed it was she who had changed.  For so many years she wanted to be free of the women in her family and now she was – other than to receive their well wishes the women did not pay her attention at all… seeing her as one of the Mafioso.  And yet, when she wandered towards the Made Men they doffed their caps and went silent.

If felt as though she had no place here, not anymore, because she would not conform to the offered position as wife and mother – and they would not recognize her American Mobster titles, she was an oddity with no place among them.  Even as they celebrated her joy, she was apart from their world.  Frankie wandered to the front yard and looked down the road in the direction Tony had driven.  She wished she had gone with him on this Vendetta of his.  She was his family now.  Shouldn’t his vendetta have been hers as well? 

She sighed.  Some things had to be done alone and this was a great weight that Tony had obviously carried for far too long.  He had to finish this chapter of his life, of which she had not been apart, alone.  Frankie looked up the road towards to a place with no lights, a place she could not see, but knew was still there.  Quietly she went to her bags in the car and took them inside.  Changed into a green dress, of which she packed two, she began walking off towards her father’s home with only a couple of Tony’s best men following close behind.  The sounds of her party fading into the distance the further and further away she got until she could hear and see it no more.

MANY YEARS EARLIER

“STOP IT!”  Frankie, age 12, screamed.  “YOU’RE KILLING HIM!”  Gritting her teeth, she ran as hard as she could and knocked Matteo Ricci to the ground, landing atop him. 

“FRANKIE!”  Vito screamed, running towards the place where she’d fallen to the ground.

Frankie scrambled across the ground to the place where the riding crop hand landed and snatched it up before Matteo could get to it.  “Let’s see how you like it!”  She switched him again and again, righteous fury blinding her to the insanity of her actions.

“FRANCESCA, NO!”  She heard Tony and Frank’s voices. Tony’s arms wrapped around her to stop her from hitting the well-loved local military Captain’s son. 

“You wait until my father hears about this!”  Matteo taunted, coming at Frankie who struggled in Tony’s grip.  “I’m gonna butcher that goat!  And I’ll mount his head on my fence.”

“I’LL GUT YOU LIKE A FISH!”  She snapped back.

Even though he had tried to stop her from attacking Matteo, he had no love for the boy, and so Frank threw out his leg in front of him. Matteo fell face first at Tony’s feet, who while pulling Frankie away from the other boy, ‘accidentally’ kicked dirt in his face.

“Better go find your Daddy before you have any more accidents.”  Vito advised the boy who was pulling himself up out of the dirt.

“This isn’t done!”  He pointed a finger at Frankie, but heeded Vito’s advice and stormed off.

Tony finally released Frankie who rushed the side of her girgentana goat, “Oh Uffa, how many times do I have to tell you, you shouldn’t eat other people’s thing!”  She hugged his neck and then fussed over the gashes in her pet’s side.

The DiCaprio boys had come to help Frankie look for Uffa because he had long had a terrible habit of getting away from the Don’s compound and find his way onto neighboring properties to eat belongings of others.

For the most part, as the beloved pet of a Don’s granddaughter, this afforded Uffa a great deal of protection, but today Matteo had taken matters into his own hands and the goat’s flank was scored severely for it.  Had they not found him, it was entirely possible Matteo would have killed the goat.

“I think I figured out what he was eating.”  Vito said picking up the remains of what appeared to be a soldier’s hat.

Frank winced.  “If that’s his dad’s… Francesca, it’s possible Uffa’s eaten his last meal.”

“Uffa belongs to me.  And I’m the Don’s grand-daughter!  I don’t care who his dad is or WHAT Uffa ate, no one is killing my pet.”  That was her words, but her eyes welled up with tears.  She knew Frank was right.  Her Grandfather was growing weary of the goat indebting him to local farmers.  It most likely was only a matter of time before Uffa ate his way into a grave.

“We’ll think of something.”  Tony said putting a hand on her shoulder. 

She looked up to him and smiled.  “You will?”  She said, her eyes sparkling in the summer sun as if he had offered a way to save her own life.

“We will?”  Vito said arching an eyebrow.

“Yea.”  Tony repeated.  “We will.”

Frank simply snickered.

“I can always count on you guys.”  Frankie said wiping her eyes of tears.  “Let’s take Uffa to my house.  We can hide him there until you come up with your plan.”  Frankie slipped the rope around the goat’s neck and began walking through the field of high grasses towards the abandoned house she was born into – a home she hadn’t been inside in years.

PRESENT

The long grass brushed up across her thighs as she marched her way across the fields, deep in memory.  She hadn’t thought about Uffa and his troubles in years.  Perhaps it was the feel and smell of the grass in this place that brought it all back to her as if she’d only just lived it.

“Where exactly are we going?”

“Home.  It’s tradition to wear green and live in your parent’s home until the wedding.”

“But the Don said…”  the bodyguard began to speak, but she gently cut him off.

“I know what he said.  He’ll understand.  This is something that has to be done.”

“Won’t they worry?”  The other bodyguard said.

Frankie nodded.  “Always.”  She pushed onward, moving towards the vague outline of her family's home shining in the light of the silvery moon that hung full and fat above the earth.

EARLIER

“Forget the goat Tony, her Grandfather is going to kill us!”  Frankie could hear Frank urging Tony that it was well past time to go as the sun disappeared over the horizon. 

“He’s exaggerating but not by much, Tony.  She’s a girl, alone with boys, after dark… to say Vito will whip your ass is putting mildly – you know this.”

“If she goes back with the goat, they’ll kill it.”  Tony reminded them.  Frankie realized he wasn’t disagreeing with them, so much as he was pointing out that nothing had been resolved.  He hadn’t fulfilled his word to her and Frankie knew how much his word meant to Tony.

“You shouldn’t have promised we could save the goat.”  Vito chided Tony. 

“We need to get her home.”  Frank urged.  “They’re worried by now, I’m sure.  Her Uncles are probably on their way here right now and when they find us alone with her…”

“Fine.”  Tony said standing up from their huddle, walking over to Frankie.  “I’m going to your Grandfather’s home to tell him that you’re safe.”

“You’ve gone mad!”  Frank exclaimed.  “He must have hit his head earlier when we were swimming.”

“What will you tell them when they ask where I am?”

“I will tell them you are safe, that my brothers are protecting you because you refuse to come home until you can be assured the goat won’t be killed.”

“They are never going for that, they’ll make you talk Tony and if you don’t they’ll march you back to Mom.”  Frank insisted.

“This isn’t a well thought out plan.”  Vito commented, “But since everyone knows it’s you who’s sweet on her… it’s far better you go than us.  I mean, if we leave you alone with her, Frankie’s reputation will be ruined.”  Vito looked to Frankie and added, “No offense intended.”

“None taken.”  She replied calmly.

“At least if you I go, they’ll know we weren’t out here doing something ...”  Tony said to her, not filling in the empty ‘something’ with a better explanation.  Frankie was glad that it was dark in the house.  This way no one could see the red in her cheeks.

“Mom is going to hang us by our toe nails and that's to say nothing of what Uncle Vito is going to do when he finds out we had Don Messina's granddaughter out after dark without a chaperone.”  Frank repeated his objection, I just think if we were really putting our heads together we’d come up with something better than this.

“Sorry Frank, you & Vito usually come up with good plans and I was hoping you’d have one up your sleeve this time… but our time us up.  Keep …”  He stopped himself from saying ‘keep Frankie safe’ and instead adjusted his statement, “Frankie’s goat from going anywhere.  I’ll be back as fast as I can.”  Tony said adjusting his cap and went out the front door and began running across the field towards the Don’s compound.

PRESENT

A loud creaking noise and the wood door came open, fairy dust light debris floated in the moonlight at the entryway and beyond lay a deep darkness full of shapes of an indeterminable nature.  A hand upon Frankie’s shoulder causes her to gasp and reach for her gun which she isn’t wearing. 

“Easy.”  Vito’s familiar voice calmed her. 

She smiled at her soon-to-be brother. 

“Let us check the place first, eh?  Could be some pretty large rodents inside.”  He was clearly joking about the rats comment.  Tony had likely told his little brother to make sure she stayed safe and here he was, following her to the middle of nowhere.

She nodded and stepped to the side letting Vito and Tony’s bodyguards pass her by.  She stood on the porch looking out into the once well-kept property, her eyes stopping at her mother’s headstone.  Walking out to it she picked a few wild flowers and brought them over to her.  Crossing herself before the stone she knelt and put them atop the cold earth and touched the name etched into the stone. 

“Hello Ma’ma.”  She whispered.  “Sorry I’ve been gone so long.  I’ve been to America.  I found Tony DiCaprio and we’re going to be married.”  The wind through the leaves of a nearby tree seemed her reply from heaven.  Frankie smiled. 

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to stay here with you for the week.  Collect my thoughts and finalize details with the family.  I promise to visit you from time to time… and help our children bring you flowers after they come to be with us.”  She leaned down and kissed the stone.  “I love you, Ma’am.”

“The house is clear.”  Vito called out across the yard.  “I’ve lit a lamp.  We’ll get a fire going in the hearth.  You can’t stay in this place without one tonight.  It’s going to be cold before long.”

Frankie rose up and crossed the yard to Vito.  Silent, she gave him a hug.  “I’m glad you’re here with me, Brother.”

EARLIER

“FRANCESCA!”  She could hear them calling her name before the boys could see more than their lamps coming towards the old abandoned farmhouse. 

Frankie stood up and went to the window and looked out beside Frank and Vito.  “No… he… he said he was going to save Uffa – not give me over!  How could he!?!”

Frankie ran to Uffa and threw her arms around the goat’s neck and wept unabashed. 

“It’s just a goat, Francesca.”  Frank tried to stop her from weeping.

“HE’S NOT JUST A GOAT!”

 Vito and Frank exchanged glances and Frank shrugged.  “Whatever he is, your family is coming for him and you and we’re all gonna be in trouble if Tony didn’t do some fast talking so…”

“Stuff it for once, Frank.”  Vito, uncharacteristically said, clearly feeling some empathy for Frankie.  He came down beside her and put a hand on her back.  “What do you mean he’s not just a goat?  You mean he’s like your friend, right?  I have a dog that…”

“No.”  She sniffled, turning her tear-filled doe-eyes towards him.  “He was my mother’s dowry.”

Vito’s mouth hung open.  No words came.

“My mother’s family are simple goat herders from the foothills.”  She shook her head.  “I barely know them.  We see them at festivals.  They’re very poor but my father loved my mother so much that… my Grandfather would only take a goat for her.  THIS goat.  Ma’am called him Uffa because he was forever eating things he should not and any time my father wanted to cook him up in a stew my mother would remind him … that if not for the goat he wouldn’t have her, or me.”

“Maybe your Grandfather won’t kill the goat then…”

Frankie scoffed.  “He’s angry at Papa.”

“The DiSalvo’s killed him, why would…”

“I don’t think he’s dead Vito, he just can’t be… I’d know.  I would KNOW.”  She hugged the goat again.  “I can’t let him go.  Don’t you see why now?”

Frank sighed audibly and then took a large knife from his belt and walked over to Frankie.  “You keep saying you wanna be Mafioso?”  He offered the knife to her.  “That goat is yours.  It’s your family and no one has the right but you.  You can make it quick… painless, better than what Matteo would give him should your Grandfather let them have it.”

Frankie stared at the knife and looked to Vito, as if asking his opinion.

“Your goat did a bad thing Frankie, your family… messed up.  Better that you should do it.”

Frankie sobbed as she took the blade.  The goat jerked away from her, as if he knew what she intended to do.  “Shhhhh.”  She tried to soothe it, brushing its hair with her fingers.  “I’m so sorry Uffa.  I’m so very sorry.”

Vito rubbed her back in a similar motion, trying to comfort her and support her even as she tried to help the goat.  Frank walked around to the other side of the goat.  Looking her in the eyes Frank pointed to a place on the neck of the goat.  “When we slaughter them, this is where we strike.  They bleed out fast.  Don’t make a noise.  I promise.”  He said taking hold of the goat’s body.  “You can do this, Francesca.  We’re here with you.”

PRESENT

Frankie went through the house, taking down anything reflective and putting it into a closet.  Tradition was quite clear.  From here on out, she was going to be living without seeing her face, until after her wedding.  Her maids would come to dress her on the day of and that would be the end of it.  It was just as well, out here, few would see her. 

“We’ll bring food and supplies out to you tomorrow.”  Vito said as she settled down onto an old rocking chair near the fire. 

“You’re not going to try to talk me into leaving?”  She asked him.

He shook his head.  “I learned a long time ago what comes of standing in your way.  Best just to help as I can… I’ll let your Grandfather’s men come for you if they think they’re man enough.  Besides,”  He took off his hat.  “I hear you’re a Boss these days… I don’t want a beef with your Don Dovahkiin.  I hear the Queen of Thieves is vicious to those who don’t pay her the respect she’s earned.”

Frankie laughed.

Vito took off his coat.  “I hope you’ll accept this as a blanket tonight though.  I’ll be staying inside with you while those other guys keep patrol out there.  I’m worried their a bit soft living the high life in America with you and Tony as they have been.  A nice fire, a quiet night like tonight, they’ll be asleep like babies in an hour.”

Frankie’s laughter died down and she looked back to the flames imagining Tony’s face there.

“He’s okay.”  Vito said as if he read her mind.

Frankie nodded.  “I know.”

“Oh?”  Vito's eyebrow arched high.

“If he were dead, if something happened to him... I'd just know.”  She looked up to Vito, realizing that she really did have a gut for knowing such things as it had turned out.

Vito just nodded and went to the windows to keep watch.  Frankie curled up under Vito’s coat and watched the flames licking upward and let her mind drift back to the last night she was in this room.

EARLIER

“STOP!”  The door flung open wide and hard, breathless Tony stood there – backlight by the approaching lights carried by her Grandfather’s men as they fast approached.  “THAT’S MY GOAT!”

Frankie stammered, “Wha… what are you…”

“I BOUGHT HIM.”  Tony crossed the room and took the knife from Francesca and cast it aside pulling her into his arms as Frank and Vito stepped away from them with the goat in tow.  “I bought him from your grandfather – no one is ever going to hurt Uffa.  I promise.”

Frankie cried like a baby in Tony’s arms, it was the first time she’d ever let him see her soft… vulnerable; though he had no idea why a goat should bring this much emotion out of her, he simply comforted her as best he could petting her hair and back.  And then, most unexpectedly, she looked up at him.  She saw his beautiful smile and kind eyes watching her.  Her heart filled to bursting she moved towards his face and locked upon his lips in a way that was something more than the peck on a cheek or quick stolen thing she’d given him before. 

This kiss felt as though she was releasing some small part of her soul, as if kissing his lips were akin to a mother kissing a wound on her child’s body.  As if every pain she felt were lessened by his arms around her and the feel of his lips on her own. 

Frankie could hear Frank outside talking louder than was needed, “Crap there goes the goat!  Catch him!”  The group of men outside worked to catch the goat noisily so that Frankie and Tony had a moment to finish their kiss.

“You are a man of honor Anthony, and I will love you until the day I die for this.”  She whispered.  “If you dare marry another woman, I will hate her until man walks upon the moon and Sicily sinks into the sea.”  She touched his cheek, and he kissed her again, much quicker than the last as they could hear Vito making a fuss about the goat being captured. 

Tony stood up and offered Frankie his hand.  “Come see the goat as soon as your Grandfather will let you… and any time you like.”

She nodded as her Uncle came into the room and began scolding her, giving Tony a brief thank you for having located her for them.  Tony took off his cap and nodded. 

“Glad I could help.”  He said in reply to her Uncle, but his eyes were on hers and she was sure that he watched her walk off into the night, until he could see her no more.

PRESENT

HERE LIES UFFA.

He was a bad neighbor.

He was a good goat.

He was a great keeper of secrets.

He was family.

“That took Tony two weeks to make.”  Vito said walking up behind Frankie, her green dress and raven hair blowing in the early morning breeze. “Soon as that thing took sick, he started working the wood over, shaping and carving, then burned the words into it…”

“He hated Uffa, didn’t he?”

“Hate’s a strong word.”  Vito said non-committal.  “He loved you.”

“What did he mean by secret keeper?”

Vito chuckled.  “He never told you what we did to Matteo, did he?”

She shook her head. 

“Perhaps some secrets are taken to the grave then… let’s just say that Goats really will eat anything, and that goat was our accomplice on a few things we’re glad he couldn’t talk about.”

Frankie nodded.  

“He loved that you had a reason to visit all the time.  Hell, we all did.”

“Even Frank?”  she said looking to Vito with an arched eyebrow.

“Frank adored you… he was just never good with the fact that you had eyes only for Tony.  He was very use to every woman in the world telling him that he was God’s gift.”  Vito laughed.  “But you only ever had eyes for Tony and we respected that.”  He put a hand on her arm.  “My brother is getting a good wife, and I am getting the Sister I always wanted… be sure of that.”

She nodded and then looked towards the long drive, over grown with weeds, as two black cars made their way to the house. 

“Your Grandfather’s men, maybe a few of your Cousins by the look of it.  Just the same, why don’t you go in the house and find your gun – to be on the safe side?”

She nodded and pecked Vito’s cheek.  “Thanks.”

I was excited. Franky invited me on this trip .. her homeland... I did not know what to expect, something about goats or something like that. I had heard they eat your clothes off your body if you let them. So was her family farmers or something? I did not know, but I do not really have any family, so I jumped at the chance, though tried to contain the excitement. I also knew this was a special trip for her and Tony too. I kbew i could find other stuff to do, as I would not want to invade on their special time either..but I would be lying if I said I could contain myself. I had not been out of this country ever in my life, that I recalled. You know I should really find out where my family originated from too. I called  Frankie and Tony about the details, and left my number to be reached, as they had not answered the phone. Should would be nice if there was a phone you could have on the go.