“Oh, Mamma. It is not your fault.”
“No, it happened. I chose. And I did not tell you because…I feared you would hate me for not saving your sister, and for not being careful enough with the two of you. I thought we were helping by telling you your memories were nothing but fantasy. I was wrong, I know now. I just did not want you to stop loving me.” She wept softly into Sofia’s shoulder.
“Oh, Mamma, I would never feel that way. I love you no matter what.”
“You forgive me?”
“If I had anything to forgive you for, I would without hesitation. I could never blame you, especially knowing the truth. Thank you for telling me.”
By the time Papà came home the rooms were quiet. Sofia’s brothers were off at work and Gabriella was in the neighbor’s kitchen feeding their children.
“Why are you here so early?” Papà asked her, glancing between Sofia and Angelina.
“The woman who owns the library had a baby. Two babies. Twins. She was visiting me at the factory when she realized the babies were coming. They let me go home to help her.”
Papà threw his hands upward, as though this was a ridiculous thing.
Sofia silently reminded herself to explain the offer for work to Carla and Luisa as soon as things calmed down in the Falcone household.
“I saw Joey today.”
Mamma’s face brightened and Papà raised his brows. Sofia explained how her brother was going to help make the neighborhood safer by testifying in the murder case of Ernesto Baggio. “I cannot tell you where he is. It is safest for you if I do not, for now. But do not worry. He is well.”
Mamma breathed deeply. It seemed the weight of a freight train had been removed from her shoulders.
“I have news, too,” Papà announced, making them all sit around the room and pay attention. Sofia already knew about the returned money, of course, but she did not say so. Papà was proud that Mamma would be getting the treatment she needed, and just in time for Carla to take on a new position.
“What about your young man?” Mamma said suddenly, surprising everyone.
“My young man?”
“Gabriella told me you have a young man, Sofia. I only hope he is as good as your father.”
Mamma would get better. She was talking normally again. The time to tell about Antonio’s family’s origin in Italy would come later. If there was a future for them at all. “He is going away to college in the west.”
Papà nodded and the topic was closed.
Chapter 38
One week after receiving financial endorsement from Paderewski, Antonio sat on a bench in Grand Central Station to wait for a train departing westward. He told himself he wanted to go. He needed to. He should be grateful for the opportunity. Detective McNulty assured him the trial would not happen for months. He had plenty of time to audition and return home. The murder trial should be over by the next term. Nicco was getting better and, with Luigi to keep him in line, he would be fine. Everything was falling into place.
Or so it seemed. His heart told him otherwise.
He gazed up at a round white globe light under which sat a mother, father, and baby. A family. In Ohio, he had no one to greet him. Not even his dog. It was normal to be a little homesick. He glanced up to see someone marching toward him. Sydney, otherwise known as O. Henry. He sat down on the bench next to Antonio.
“I heard you turned down Paderewski.”
“You came out here to say that?”
“I might have.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Stopped by your place and your uncle told me.”
“I don’t know if I’m making the right decision. He told me I could use the money he sent for Oberlin.”
“So you are on your way to Ohio?”
Antonio laughed, knowing the man held distain for the place for some reason. “Don’t say it with such displeasure. Oberlin is the best music college I could find, one that teaches all academics.”
“Fine, fine. And why is that important again?”
“My father—”
“No, what about you, Antonio? Don’t pin this decision on your deceased father.”
Was he making excuses? Running toward a dream that he didn’t even want?
“Nicco, your uncle? He said you are leaving a girl behind.”
The woman with the baby lifted her nose at them and the family hurried away.
“My uncle talks too much.”
The writer crossed his legs at the knee. “I had a wife once. I ran away, too, but it was necessary, circumstances being what they were. I didn’t want to leave her. I’m sure you feel the same.”
“Perhaps. I’m not sure.”
“Listen, kid. Take it from me. There are always choices. If you don’t take the Oberlin route, Paderewski will still be around. For a time, anyway. Going on one European tour with him would teach you as much as the college, I would guess. And if I’m wrong, you still have the girl.”
“What happened to your wife, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Fair enough. I brought it up, didn’t I?” He set both feet firmly on the floor and rubbed his hands on his knees. “She died. I returned just in time but the years we lost being together, well, I will regret them forever. There were consequences to my returning, but to be with her in the end was well worth it. Have you purchased your ticket yet?”
He hadn’t.
***
Sofia decided to stay at Hawkins House. Mamma was being looked after. Gabriella and Luisa had become good friends. Joey would be home soon and Fredo and Frankie had secured him a job working on the subway construction. Carla had moved into with the Adamses, and Sofia enjoyed seeing her in the evenings at Hawkins House. Life was settling in comfortably. She was even beginning to learn to read some of the books in Annie’s great library. She should be happy. But she wasn’t.One evening she decided to pay Stefania another visit. She found her listening to her phonograph and tapping her fingers together as she sat in the kitchen waiting for visitors. “Father Lucci gave you the most appropriate job,” Sofia told her.
“Oh?”
“There is no one more welcoming, more hospitable than you.”
Stefania kissed her cheek. “Have you listened to the Master’s voice, dear?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know you can hear him calling, if you will just listen.”
“You mean God calling to me?”
“I do mean that.” A shout from the door sent the woman away to give bread to a beggar.
Sofia thought about what she’d said. She had petitioned Our Lord. She knew he heard and answered. But was she missing something? She quickly said good-bye and headed home to Hawkins House.
Before she reached the front stoop, she saw the dog. Someone was instructing him. Antonio had left for Ohio. Perhaps this was a different dog. As she came closer, she noticed the animal waiting at attention, just the way Luigi always did. She called out. The dog looked at her. It was Luigi. “Hey, Lu. Come here!”
The dog wagged his tail and whimpered, but he did not come.
The man returned, motioned to the dog, and Luigi immediately scrambled up the steps. The man turned toward her. Antonio!
“I was looking for you.” He came toward her, Luigi at his heels. The dog would only listen to his master’s voice, not hers, even though he had obviously wanted to come to her. If only Sofia’s faith in God was that loyal, that strong. She would work at it.
They embraced.
“I am not going to Ohio. I realized I have opportunities for my career right here. I reminded myself that the concert halls in Europe would always be there, when I’m ready, but right now I want to be in New York, because you are here.”
“You changed your tune.”
“I what?”
“An old English poem in Annie’s library about Robin Hood. It speaks about changing your tune. I asked Annie about it. It means to change your mind, to alter the direction of your life.”
> “Well, then that’s what I am doing. I might even take up the accordion.”
“Truly?”
“A story for later.”
“Me as well. I am listening to God and changing my tune.”
His lips met hers, firm and with passion. Her legs felt feeble. Her head light. Though the day was dreary and damp, she barely noticed. What was inside her heart was far more soothing. She vowed never again to stop listening.
They linked arms and headed to the house where they could already hear babies crying. Her spirit warmed in a way that assured her she would never be cold again.
Author’s Note
I concluded the Ellis Island series by featuring Italian immigrants because by this time the Southern Italians were coming over in large numbers. For most Italians, family is central to their lives, so I wanted to explore how my characters might expand their definition of family while still keeping their immediate family ties.
As with my other novels, there are some historical characters and some fictional. Readers have told me they like to know the difference, so here’s a summary. Most are figments of my imagination, but O. Henry and Ignacy Jan Paderewski, of course, were real people who were in New York City during this time period. O. Henry did visit Healy’s Café, which is now known as Pete’s Tavern, and legend says he wrote The Gift of the Magi in one of the booths. Paderewski was known for supporting struggling musicians. Their friendship, as far as I know, is fictional.
Also fictional are the priests and ministers in this story. The Italian churches do exist, but the aid society at St. Anthony’s and the abbey at The Most Precious Blood are fictional. First Church and Rayburn Street, which are continued from my earlier novels, do not exist in real life. Neither does Hawkins House or The Benevolents, but they are based on the many charitable organizations of the era in New York City.
Mental illness, alcoholism, and emotional trauma treatments were evolving during this time period. Unfortunately, many people were locked up and not given much help. Some received treatments that were hurtful and even destructive. New and more effective approaches were emerging as Father Lucci says in the story.
While some padroni were abusive and many Italian workers suffered under their control, the padroni in Sofia’s Tune are fictional. The Free Library and the Salvation Army in Sofia’s neighborhood did exist. I always try to stay true to the historical time period, so there are many other elements in the story that either could have happened, or did in fact, such as the colossal rainstorm that saw over 11 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.
When I heard about the Twinless Twins Support Group (http://www.twinlesstwins.org) and spoke to one of their members, I was inspired to share the special challenges and emotional trauma some experience when forced to carry on while missing a twin. As someone who is not a twin, I gained an understanding of how difficult that must be.
I have enjoyed writing about Ellis Island immigrants. If you have ancestors who came through Ellis Island, be sure to visit www.ellisisland.org.
Discussion Questions
Family was most important to Sofia at the opening of the story. What do you think was the most important to her at the end?
What do you think was the biggest betrayal, that Sofia’s parents hid the fact that she had been born a twin or their insistence that she move out of the home?
Why do you think Antonio wanted to be a concert musician?
Have you ever had to deal with a loved one’s addiction? Do you agree with the way Antonio handled his uncle?
What do you think Sister Stefania meant by instructing Antonio and Sofia to “listen to the master’s voice?” Why do you think she did not tell them directly about the padrone’s extortion scheme?
Why do you think Luisa resorted to sending Antonio anonymous notes?
Have you ever felt a loss as severe as Antonio and Sofia? How was your reaction different or the same?
How do you think Sofia’s definition of “family” changed throughout the story?
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