An Insignificant Case

Chapter Thirty-One

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Charlie drove into the barnyard at a little after three. The police officer who came out of the barn told him that Guido was working on a painting. Sabatini turned from his easel when Charlie walked into the barn.

Charlie said, “Hey, Guido. How’s it going?”

“ Molto bene! ” Guido answered with a wide smile.

Charlie guessed that meant that Guido thought he was doing just fine.

“Can you take a break and go for a walk? It’s nice out, and I wanted to have a talk about something important that just came up.”

Charlie walked into the sunlight, and Guido followed a minute later. They walked around the barn and into the field behind it. One of the police officers followed at a discreet distance.

It had rained earlier in the day, and the grass and the air smelled fresh and clean. Neither man spoke for a while, enjoying the hot sun and the clear, blue sky. After a while, Charlie broke the silence.

“I’m a pretty lucky guy, Guido. I was no superstar as a kid, but my folks were there for me while I was growing up. We’re close. I see them when I can.”

Charlie noticed that Guido was suddenly tense.

“I mention this because I know it’s not that way in a lot of families.” He stopped and turned toward his client. “I know it wasn’t that way in your family.”

“I am finding this conversation uncomfortable,” Guido said as he turned back toward the barn.

“I knew you would, but don’t run away. Let’s talk.”

“I do not want to talk about my family.”

“I know that, and I know why. Your mother saw you on TV, and she called me.”

Guido froze.

“She told me about the way your father treated you. Your mother divorced him as soon as you left, and he passed a few years ago, so he can’t hurt either of you anymore. She loves you, Guido, and I could tell that she regrets not protecting you when you were little.”

“Too little, too late,” Guido said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t blame you for thinking that, but you’re an adult now, not a weak child. When you were small, were you able to defend yourself when your father beat you? I only talked to your mother on the phone. I didn’t see her. Was she strong enough and big enough to fight off your father when he was drunk and in a rage, or was she as weak as an adult as you were as a child? You can’t blame yourself for not fighting back when you were small, and you can’t blame your mother for not protecting you if she wasn’t strong enough to do it.”

Guido turned toward Charlie. He looked furious, and Charlie suddenly realized how big and powerful Guido was.

“I could have killed him. I should have killed him for what he did to me. And she never said a word. She ran away when he…”

Guido stopped. His shoulders sagged, and his anger drained away.

Charlie reached out and laid a hand on his client’s shoulder. “She was powerless, just as you were powerless until you grew big enough and strong enough to defend yourself. She couldn’t grow, so she was always powerless, until you destroyed your father and set her free. Can you see that?”

Tears ran down Guido’s cheeks, and his chin fell to his chest.

“This is a lot to handle, so let’s stop now,” Charlie said. He handed Guido an envelope. “Your mother’s phone number and email address are in here. Think about what I said. Think about whether you can forgive your mother. If you can, think about whether you want to talk to her. I’ll respect the decision you make.”

Guido didn’t answer, and he looked lost as he headed back.

“Are you going to paint?” Charlie asked.

“No, I have no heart for painting right now,” Guido answered. “I think I will rest for a while.”

Guido sounded so sad it broke Charlie’s heart. He said goodbye when they reached the front door to the farmhouse. When Charlie left, he felt awful. He also hoped that he’d done the right thing and that Guido would start taking his case and his future seriously.