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We both turned to Isla and her assistant, who had joined her with more garment bags.
“I have your sizes from Nadia Crane’s wedding team. A few designers have sent over dresses for you both to wear. I also picked up a few extras. You’ll try them on, and…” She touched the arm of the woman standing next to her. “Anna is a seamstress. She can make any adjustments.” She checked her watch. “We have only five hours… Where would you like us to set up?”
“Uhm, the spare bedroom down here?” I suggested. It had a queen-sized bed, but it was smaller than the rest of the upstairs rooms.
“Wonderful. Let’s get started,” Isla said, clasping her hands together.
Cassidy pawed up and wiggled her butt. “Sounds great. I love you, Isla.”
Isla laughed.
My phone vibrated in my hand. Cassidy and Isla turned to look at me, and I waved them forward. “I’ll be right there. Hello?”
“Hi, Adelina?” a male voice asked.
My brows lowered. “Who is this?”
“It’s Rocco’s father, Nico.”
I rolled my eyes. He was the last person I wanted to talk to. “Oh. Well, I’m about to go out, so—”
“I won’t bother you for long. I only have a question.”
I pushed out my hip. “Yes?”
“Magda told me she gave you a package from Luca in Italy.”
“Oh, yeah. She did.” There was so much going on that I had forgotten all about it.
“Can you tell me what it was?” he asked, his tone abrupt.
I rubbed the space between my brows. “No, I’m sorry, I can’t. I haven’t opened it yet. Honestly, I have no idea where it is. I have flown at least four times since then and lived in a few different places. I’ll have to find it.”
He scoffed. “Who takes a package and doesn’t open it from someone deceased?”
My cheeks heated. I hadn’t opened it because Luca was like a grandfather to me and a close friend, and I was still mourning his death, not that I owed Nico a reason.“Excuse me? I don’t have to explain myself to you. It was left forme, notyou.”
“Sorry,” he huffed. “My questions are out of frustration for Luca, not you… I’m only trying to help my son. Rocco tells us…he’s happy with you; I’d never take that from him. Understood?”
I took a deep breath. “Fine. Thank you.”
“Good. Now, while I have you on the phone. Go look for it—”
“I don’t have time—”
“You canmake thetime.Thisis more important than anything you’re doing—”
“Goodbye, Mr. Marini.”
I hung up on him and seethed. No matter what he said, he didn’t want me as Rocco’s wife. And I hadn’t forgotten that I caught him searching the bedroom where I slept in Italy after Luca died. He was determined, and I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t come over and force a search again. I had to find it.
There were two packages left, one in my bedroom and the other Magda had told me had been from Luca. He loved and trusted his house assistants immensely. He wanted me and me alone to know something that was in it.And if it could help Rocco like Nico claimed, I had to find it.
I went up the stairs to the main bedroom and straight to the walk-in closet. There were racks of clothing and shoe shelves, but I didn’t see the suitcases. I was about to ask one of the house assistants when I pushed a rack back and discovered another small cupboard at the back. Dropping to my knees, I crawled down and opened it. There were the suitcases. At the very back was my tote bag from Italy.
My hands trembled as I pulled it out and unzipped the side. My old handbag and a few sweaters were inside of it. There was also a visible lump. Strangely, no one had unpacked it or told me about it. Then again, Rocco told me we wouldn’t stay here permanently.Besides, it’s my handbag, and no one would go in it.
“Adelina?”