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“Francesca,” she says softly. “I should have known Giuseppe could never say no to his brother. I’m sorry you had to start your little relaxing break by seeing him.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I say.
“It does matter. I will make sure he knows I am furious with him.”
“No, don’t please. The last thing I want to do is cause problems here too.”
She holds out her arm, and despite my reservations, I go towards her and kiss her veiled cheeks.
“Oh, my sweet child. I’m so sorry you lost your baby.”
There’s something so soft and kind about her usually stern voice that I immediately burst into tears. Her tiny claw-like hands reach out and brush away the tears from my face.
“It’s okay, little one, it’s okay,” she croons softly. “You are young and I prophesize that you will have so many children they will drive you mad and you will look up to the heavens and beg God to stop with the babies.”
I smile through my tears. “I don’t think I will ever stop feeling sad, Nonna Isadora. I don’t think I will ever forgive myself for losing my child.”
“When I lost my baby at four months, I didn’t get out of bed or bathe for a whole month.”
“You lost your baby?” I ask, astonished.
“Several,” she says quietly. “In those days it was easy to lose your baby.”
I suddenly feel like such a child for crying in her presence. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.”
“The only words of comfort I can give you are, you will continue to wonder about this lost child for the rest of your life, but the pain does get better.”
I nod. “Yes, my mother says the same.”
“Why don’t you sit down, dear child? Would you like some sweets?” she gestures to the low table in front of her that is full of platters of Italian desserts. “Or perhaps you would like to have something to drink?”
“No, nothing. I will have a shower and go for a long walk.”
“Yes, do that. The land is very healing.”
“Have you seen Valentino?” I blurt out suddenly. I couldn’t stop the words from erupting from my mouth. From the moment I stepped on Italian soil they were there waiting to come out.
“No,” she smiles softly. “He is … what do you Americans say? Like a bear with a sore head.”
“I miss him so much, but he refuses to see me.”
She sighs. “Valentino is my most stubborn great-grandchild,” she says with a smile. “People think it’s Rico. Others think it’s Matteo. No one suspects Valentino because he’s not noisy or chaotic about his stubbornness. Once he makes up his mind it is impossible to move him.”
“So what can I do?” I cry. “I can’t just walk away.”
“You don’t need to do anything, my dear. He is in love with you. When he is done being angry he will come to you.”
“He is not in love with me and he won’t come to me,” I say immediately. “I’m sure you must know that he married me so he could have that cursed piece of land.”
Nonna Isadora smiles. “Even if he has alienated us right now, he is my beloved great-grandson, my favorite. I’ve cared for him since he was an infant so I know him like I know the back of my hand. He did not marry you to get his hands on a piece of land. Only someone who does not know him could think that. He married you because he had fallen in love with you.”
I stare at her, astonished. “How could he have fallen in love with me before he married me? I only met him once when he came to my grandfather’s study.”
“It is not my story to tell you, child. You must ask him when you next see him.”
I slump down on the chair next to Nonna and frown hard.
“I can see that you have understood nothing. Your husband is not the cruel beast you imagine him to be. He is a beautiful soul who disguises his strengths behind his supposed corruption.”