Chapter 13 - THE GIRL WHO FOUND HER OWN VOICE
Nora didn't become a Gallo overnight.
She didn't move into the family mansion.
She didn't accept expensive jewelry.
And she refused Salvatore's offer to pay every debt she owed.
Instead, she asked for something different.
A chance to return to school.
Before Pietro became ill, Nora had studied social work at a community college.
She wanted to help families navigate medical debt, housing insecurity, and complicated public systems.
But caring for her grandfather forced her to leave.
Now she wanted to finish.
Salvatore listened.
Then nodded.
“What do you need?”
Nora smiled.
“Nothing I can't earn.”
He looked offended.
Dante laughed.
“Papa, she's serious.”
Salvatore sighed.
“Stubborn family.”
Nora returned to school part-time.
She continued working at La Cattedrale.
But now she had a written contract.
Fair wages.
Proper tip distribution.
And a manager who understood that touching employees without permission was unacceptable.
Paul resigned after a workplace investigation uncovered wage violations and intimidation.
Nora also began spending time with Agata.
They cooked together.
Shared photographs.
Visited places neither had seen in years.
And learned how to be mother and daughter.
Some days were easy.
Others weren't.
Agata struggled with guilt.
Nora struggled with anger.
But they kept talking.
One evening, Agata found Nora sitting beside the kitchen window.
“What's wrong?”
Nora looked up.
“Nothing.”
Agata smiled sadly.
“You sound like me.”
Nora laughed.
Then whispered:
“I keep thinking about all the years we lost.”
Agata sat beside her.
“So do I.”
Nora's eyes filled.
Agata took her hand.
“We can't get them back.”
“I know.”
“But we can stop losing the ones we still have.”
May you like
Nora leaned against her mother.
For the first time, she allowed herself to believe that the future might be larger than the past.
