Read Online The Incident at Montebello by P. A. Moed - Free Book Online

next to Amelia and held his head in his hands. “A man works hard his whole life. He takes care of his family. He tries to rise above the others. And now this. From my only daughter. I told Prefetto Balbi that she’s young and foolish. That’s the truth. And I told him I’d deal with her.”
    â€œThen will they leave us alone?” Amelia asked.
    Lelo shook his head with uncharacteristic gloominess. “You should have seen how he treated us. Like criminals. I was outraged, but what could I say? We’re already in enough hot water. And that pompous donkey, that son of a jackass kept rattling on that we’re still under investigation. If you ask me, he’s using the accident as an excuse to weed out all the anti-Fascists in town. But he’s looking under the wrong rock. I have nothing to hide. I joined the party before he did. And I brought in more new members than anyone else in town. Twenty all together, including your brother Donato. And I’d do it again if I had to.”
    Isolina’s mind worked furiously, trying to reconcile what she had just learned about the fascisti with the fact that her father was far more involved with the party than she had thought. She was seven when Il Duce rose to power and had paid little attention to the political rants in the piazza, caffè , and her kitchen. Even at school, she learned to memorize her lessons about Il Duce with as little thought as her catechism exercises. “Who is Il Duce?” “He’s the supreme leader of the Italian people.” “Who are we?” “We are the seeds of the revolution.”
    Amelia lifted her face, blotched and shining with tears. “Isolina needs to confess. She needs to tell Padre Colletti everything.”
    â€œI don’t trust him,” Lelo said.
    â€œYou don’t trust a man of God?” Amelia cried.
    â€œHe puts on his pants just like any other man. And he likes to talk.”
    â€œIf you went to Mass with me, you’d see how close he is to the Lord himself.”
    â€œI pray to God in my heart. That’s enough.” Lelo stood up and shoved his hat on his head. His eyes were red as if he hadn’t slept. “Don’t wait up for me.”
    â€œLelo,” Amelia cried, but he kept walking, slamming the door behind him. She wiped her eyes. “All my prayers, all my novenas. For what? Didn’t I know deep in my heart this would happen one day? Dearest Mother of God, look with favor upon your daughter, who has sinned.”
    â€œBut I just kissed him, mamma.”
    Amelia grabbed the hairbrush off the dresser. “How am I supposed to believe that? Hold out your hands.” With a shudder and a sob, Isolina flipped her hands over and exposed her palms, roughened by scrubbing clothes, kneading bread, and mopping floors. As Amelia raised the hairbrush, a lone tear ran down Isolina’s cheek and Amelia lost courage. With a sigh, she abandoned all pretenses of stern parenting. “Don’t lie to me, Isolina. I remember what it’s like. Such a handsome boy that Rodi. And you’re a pretty young girl. I know how it feels. You’re on fire. You’ll find any excuse to be together.” She sighed. “I tried to teach you right from wrong.”
    â€œYou did, mamma.”
    â€œI’ve tried to be a good mother.”
    â€œYou are, mamma.”
    But Amelia shook her head. “The sins of the parents are visited on the children. It was my shame. Now it’s yours. I’ve tried to hide it from you all these years, but I should have known my sins would be inherited by my daughter.” She broke off and blew her nose.
    Her mind whirling, Isolina stared at her mother and rubbed her forehead, trying to summon one clear thought, but it was hopeless. In one day, everything she thought she knew about her parents had been turned upside down.
    She sank onto the bed next to her mother. Shadows filled the room as they