Chapter 18 - SOFIA’S GARDEN
On the second anniversary of the investigation ending, Carmine took Leo to the lake.
Not the lake where Sofia died.
Another one.
A quiet place north of the city.
Leo was five now.
Taller.
Louder.
Healthy.
He still disliked gray buckets.
He still hid food occasionally when stressed.
But those days were becoming rare.
Carmine carried a small box.
Inside were Sofia’s letters.
Photographs.
And the silver necklace recovered from Vittorio’s property.
They walked toward a garden Carmine had built in her memory.
White roses surrounded a small stone bench.
Leo ran ahead.
“Mommy garden!”
“Yes.”
Carmine sat.
Leo climbed beside him.
“Tell story.”
“Which one?”
“Mommy.”
Carmine smiled.
Leo always asked.
So Carmine told him about Sofia dancing barefoot in the kitchen.
About how she burned pancakes.
About how she sang off-key.
About how she refused to let Carmine choose Leo’s middle name because every option he suggested sounded like an eighty-year-old banker.
Leo laughed.
“What name?”
“Augustus.”
Leo made a face.
Carmine laughed.
“Exactly what your mother said.”
Then Leo became quiet.
“Mommy scared?”
Carmine knew what he meant.
He had begun explaining Sofia’s death in age-appropriate pieces.
“Yes.”
“But brave?”
“Very.”
Leo looked toward the flowers.
“Like me?”
Carmine’s throat tightened.
“Exactly like you.”
Leo leaned against him.
After a while, Carmine opened the wooden box.
He removed Sofia’s final letter.
He had read it hundreds of times.
But one line mattered most.
Protect Leo first.
Carmine folded it again.
Leo pointed toward the necklace.
“Can I?”
Carmine hesitated.
Then placed it around his son’s neck.
Leo touched the silver pendant.
“Mommy?”
“Her necklace.”
Leo smiled.
“I keep safe.”
Carmine looked at him.
“No.”
Leo frowned.
Carmine touched the pendant.
“It keeps a memory.”
“You keep yourself safe.”
Leo thought about that.
Then nodded.
It was a small distinction.
But Carmine knew how important it was.
May you like
Leo would not grow up believing objects, names, or money were his responsibility.
He would grow up knowing he was allowed to simply be a child.
