Chapter 16
Rosalie remained head maid.
More importantly, she stopped asking permission to bring concerns about Livia directly to me.
The first time she interrupted a capo meeting, every man at the table stared.
“Livia has a fever.”
I stood immediately.
One capo almost smiled.
I looked at him.
He stopped.
Then I laughed.
The room relaxed.
Months earlier, I would have considered interruption disrespectful.
Bianca and what happened in that bridal suite changed the rule.
People around my daughter needed direct access.
No hierarchy.
No waiting until dinner.
No fear of ruining a meeting.
Livia recovered the next day.
Minor fever.
Nothing dramatic.
But afterward Rosalie said:
“You really left.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“The meeting.”
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“Bianca used to say you only did that because Livia manipulated you.”
I looked toward the hallway.
My daughter was coloring on the floor.
“Then I hope she keeps manipulating me into being her father.”
Rosalie laughed.
Good.
I had spent too long allowing the word influence to sound suspicious.
Children influence their parents.
That is not corruption.
That is relationship.
Bianca believed love made authority weaker.
I was learning the opposite.
Authority without love becomes obsessed with obedience because obedience is the only proof it understands.
Livia did not obey me perfectly.
Thank God.
She argued.
Interrupted.
Changed her mind.
Demanded different cereal after I already poured the first bowl.
Normal.
May you like
Every irritating little act reminded me she felt safe enough to be difficult.
That was a kind of wealth no alliance could buy.
