Note: This is a work of FICTION! Although the areas this story takes place in are real; all of the landscapes depicted, the people described, and everything else this story uses to make it enjoyable reading for you are NOT REAL. As you read this story, try to remember:
THIS IS A NOVEL
70. Day Dreaming
Stephano was sitting by Patty's side, when he felt a hand touch his shoulder. He believed it was William, and stood up to give him his seat. As he turned, he thought he was dreaming; his parents standing there.
"Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?"
"Mister Free said he owed you a favor. I guess we are it."
"I had been hoping for a miracle, and this is one I never thought I would get to see. I hope I can have one more. I have tried everything I can think of to get Patty to come back to me. She will not listen to me, or anyone else. Her mother came to me in a dream. She said Patty was the smartest person she had ever known; she was even smarter than William. However, she was as stubborn as she was. She was also as insolent as William. When she and William mated, they brought into this world a wonderful little girl. She grew into a true beauty, but they also had a child that was as stubborn as a herd full of 'Mules.' Believe me dad; Patty is that and so much more. She made up her mind she wanted to die, when the men from the NSA came to kill her. Nothing I have tried, since that day has changed her mind. If I thought it would help, I would spank her again, but it wouldn't have any effect on her. I tell her a thousand times a day, I love her, and I miss her. I tell her I need her. I want to get married to her, and raise children with her. I want us to live happily ever after. She will not listen to me, because she wants a normal life. She no longer believes she can have one here on this earth."
Victoria Valentino embraced her son, who was obviously in pain. "I think you now know what Patricia felt like when you left her. You feel hollow inside; like a piece of you is missing, and you would give anything to have it back."
"Mom, you are right; but I don't need a lecture now. I want her back. Please tell me how to do it. I don't want to be without her."
"I wish I knew how, my son. It would give me the greatest pleasure to see both of you together again. Why don't you go to church? Go to confession; and ask God what to do. Maybe the Lord can help you, I cannot."
"Mom; William, and Jemma will be here soon. I will be back as soon as I can. Would you like me to bring you some food, when I come back?"
Victoria said no, but Bruno said, "If you can find a pizza place, get me a Sicilian pie, with anchovies, pepperoni, black olives, and peppers smothered with extra cheese."
"Bruno, it amazes me that you are still alive. Your arteries should have clogged up years ago, because of the kind of food you eat, when you are not at home. You should have had a heart attack and died years ago."
"Are you trying to get rid of me my dear?"
"Quite the opposite, I'm trying to keep you around. You are the one that seems to be bent on self-destruction."
"I will not eat celery and grassy things, just to get thin and make other people happy. I like my pasta, and my pizza. A cannoli every now and again never hurt anyone. Wine is the cure-all; as long as you drink enough of it, your arteries stay clear, and your mind stays strong."
"You may be right, Bruno; but it also leaves a certain part of you limp, and useless. It left me frustrated on many nights."
"You never said anything, Victoria."
"Would it have made any difference Bruno? You and your friends pushed us aside, until it was time to go home. Then you went to bed and fell asleep, with no thought of us."
"I wish you had spoken to me back then. I did love you, and I still do."
"I know Bruno, that's why I am still here."
William walked into the room, and said, "I thought I recognized your booming voice, Bruno. Hello Victoria, it's good to see you again."
Bruno replied, "Hello William; I want to thank you for sparing my son. Thank you for allowing him to marry your beautiful daughter. Let's put our heads together, and find a way to wake up this young lady."
"You're welcome Bruno. Any assistance you can offer, in awakening my daughter, will be greatly appreciated. Let me introduce you to my wife Jemma. She is carrying my son, and I am very happy and grateful to her for honoring me this way."
Jemma shook hands with Bruno and Victoria. She said, "Believe me, Mister Valentino, William made it quite pleasurable. I hardly did any work at all."
"Jemma, you are telling tales out of school. Remember: "Spare the rod, and Spoil the child."
"As you wish, daddy."
Victoria laughed, "Do you play that game often William? You shouldn't, because it makes you admit that you are twice her age, and you want to feel young for your child."
"Victoria, you remind me of my daughter. Like her, you are right, and I am wrong. I should not act my age, I should have acted her age, and made her pregnant with twins or triplets."
Jemma smacked him on his shoulder for getting too cocky.
Victoria walked over to Patty's bed, lowered the side rail, and kissed her. She sat beside Patty, and asked, "Baby girl, aren't you tired of sleeping? Aren't you tired of scaring everyone who loves you? If you wanted to lose weight, there are other ways to do it. Stephano is losing weight. He looks like a ghost. He doesn't leave your side, unless he is forced to do it. You have to make up your mind. Everyone here wants you to come back to us, safe and healthy. All your doctors say that you will be unscathed by this incident. There will be nothing wrong with you, when you return to us.
If you are so determined to leave us, and join your mother in death, do it. End our misery, because you are not being fair to us. Staying in limbo solves nothing. You said you wanted to die, because of what those people were doing to you. If you still feel that way, 'Die Already.' Instead of a having a beautiful wedding, where you are escorted down the aisle by your handsome father, and being watched by all your friends, your ashes will be in a small 6"x 6"x8" cube. Stephano, and your father will give short eulogies telling everyone how smart you were in life, and how they will miss you in death. They will sprinkle your ashes around your ranch and your horses will shit all over them. That will be your legacy Patty. You will become fertilizer, along with the horseshit. If that is what you want, 'DIE' and do it quickly. We want to get on with our lives, and we can't do it here, sitting by your side, in a hospital."