Chapter 2: A Matter of Trust
July 8, 1997
Claudia Zacchara Mancusi felt shaky and unsteady as she raised her head from the toilet bowl. Her head swum and her abdominal muscle ached. She was far too weak to do anything but collapse down onto the tiles of the bathroom floor. At least they were cool.
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Roberto Mancusi let himself into a quiet house. It was only six o'clock but he knew his wife hadn't been feeling well and was likely sleeping. Unlike his mother, who was always suffering from some largely hysterical malady, Claudia rarely got sick so the fact that this latest virus had kept her laid up in bed for over a week left him concerned. For his own protection, Claudia had suggested he stay in the guest room as she didn't want to infect him. He had appreciated her concern for the first few days but then his own concern for her took over.
The night before he had held his wife as she vomited and then shivered under three heavy quilts while the thermometer registered 104.2. He had begged her to allow him to take her to emergency but she had assured him it was just a virus she was sure. Unfortunately, he was anything but sure.
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Claudia Zacchara Mancusi tensed when she heard the door open. Bobby was home! Unfortunately, try as she might, Claudia knew she was way past being able to pull herself together. She was too weak to get up off her bathroom floor so perhaps it was just time to trust him to take care of her. That was hard because far too many others had taken advantage of her. She tried to assure herself that her husband was different from all the other men. He had pledged to love, honor, and cherish her. She was just going to have to trust that because she didn't have a choice.
Claudia felt Bobby kneel down beside her and scoop her up from the floor. His lips brushed gently across her forehead. "You aren't feeling better are you, sweetheart?" he asked.
Claudia merely shook her head as Bobby gently tucked her back into their bed. She clutched at her abomen as if that might calm the latest wave of cramps. It didn't. Her head swum more, then everything went black.
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Roberto Mancini paced uncomfortably in the waiting area outside the Emergency Department at Mercy Hospital. It had only been a little over a year that he had pledged in sickness and in health. He was not ready for Claudia's death to bring them apart.
March 1, 1996
Roberto Mancusi was surprised at how nervous he was as he slipped the velvet box into Claudia's palm.
"What is this?" she asked.
"The answer to your prayers. Open it!" he said.
Slowly Claudia opened the box to reveal the ring. Her face lit up but faded quickly.
Bobby wasn't sure what to make of her reaction. Red was her favorite color. He had commissioned the ring with a two-carat center heart shaped red diamond, flanked by another five carats. Could she possibly not like it? Was she uncomfortable that a man she had known for less than a month was proposing?
"Marry me? I know it seems sudden, but I do love you, and your father will have to allow it. The optics would be horrible if he refused."
"I can't ask you to do this," Claudia said.
"You haven't. I want to do this," Bobby assured her.
"I'm not sure what to say."
"Say yes!"
Claudia took another look at the ring. "This really is beautiful," she whispered.
Bobby reached out and stroked her cheek with his index finger. "Not as beautiful as you," he said.
Claudia laughed. "If I say yes, will you stop with the lame lines?" she asked.
Bobby feigned injury. "Those are not lines but merely an expression of my admiration. I do cherish you," he said.
She had eventually accepted his proposal. They married a month later. He still loved every minute. He was still mulling over all of that when a nurse came out.
"Mr. Mancusi?" she called.
"Yes, my wife, how is she?"
"Dr. Mullens says she is in hypovolemic shock. She seems to be improving with fluids but she will need to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit."
"Of course, may I see her?" Bobby asked.
"Just for a few minutes. They will need to get her up to the ICU soon," the nurse said as she led him back into the Emergency Department.
Claudia looked so pale and fragile lying on the stretcher. Bobby gently brushed his lips across her forehead and took her right hand into both of his. "I'm right here, sweetheart," he whispered.
Claudia didn't respond to him. Bobby supposed he hadn't really expected her to. She still seemed to be burning up with fever she seemed to sleep uneasily as if she was uncomfortable. He was pretty sure she was and it broke his heart. "The doctors are really good here, Claudi they are going to take great care of you. You're going to get better. You'll see," Bobby said. He had to believe that.