Page 7

Katie

Once I’m ready, I find Leo sitting in the outside dining area with Marco.

They’re both drinking a beer.

“Katie, can I get you—”

Leo interrupts Alga. “It’s Katherine, not Katie!”

“Katie or Katherine is fine by me, Alga.” I smile apologetically at her.

“What can I get you to drink?”

“I’m not sure. Can I come with you and take a look?”

Alga looks to Leo, and so do I. Without taking his eyes off me, he nods. I follow Alga to the bar area, giving Marco a big smile as I do. He doesn’t like me one bit. The feeling is mutual.

“Is he always this grumpy?”

“Si, he has a lot on his shoulders.”

I find a bottle of gin I like; Alga passes me a glass with ice and some tonic. I make myself a strong one.

“Do you know why I am here, Alga?”

“Si, you are Mr. Guerra’s fiancée.”

“Do you know I haven’t seen or heard from Leo for fifteen years?”

“I do not know all the details. I have only been told to treat you as a Guerra. Deep down, he is a good boy. Spero che tu possa salvarlo.” I hope you can save him.

"I'm not sure about that." I look at her, and her eyes widen.

“Sei più intelligente di quanto lasci intendere,” she says. You are smarter than you let on. “Le cose non sono sempre come sembrano.” Things are not always what they seem.

With a little squeeze of my hand, she ushers me back outside to the guys. I know my secret is safe with her.

It is a beautiful evening. It is still very warm, even though the sun is getting ready to set. The sky is a beautiful shade of pink. Leo and Marco are talking about cars, so I take a walk around the garden, feeling Leo’s eyes follow me as I do.

“Time to go.” Leo shouts, beckoning me towards him.

Marco enters the house while Leo waits for me to approach.

“How do I look?” I do a little spin, letting my white sun dress float up slightly around me.

“Like mine,” he groans, making me feel a little lightheaded.

I ignore it.

“I mean my dress. Will it do?”

“Yes, it will do. But this little pirouette you just did. You only do that for me. Understand?” A small smirk appears on his face.

Holding the door open for me, he places his hand on the small of my back and leads me through the house and out of the front to the waiting cars.

It’s a short, scenic drive from Leo’s house.

It’s a garden party—or rather, a field party.

We are at Leo’s parent’s house, and it is even more luxurious than his.

The event is a grand affair with marquees filled with finely dressed tables, waiters and waitresses walking around with silver trays, cosy seating areas with firepits, and the whole place is lit up with fairy lights.

“Come, let me introduce you to my parents.” With a light hand on my back, Leo leads me to a well-dressed couple.

“Papà, Mamma, I would like to introduce Katherine.”

His father glares at me as if my presence annoys him. I feel extremely unwelcome.

“Stai ancora continuando con questo?” You are still continuing with this?

Leo stands tall, and I sense his frustration. In a swift motion, Leo takes two glasses of wine from a passing waiter and hands one each to his mother and me.

“I need to speak to my father. You stay here.”

Mrs. Guerra is thankfully much more welcoming and, to my surprise—English.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Guerra. You have a very beautiful home.”

“Thank you. I am pleased to meet you, too, Katherine. I have heard little about you, but you have obviously made a big impression on my son. Tell me—quickly, before the men return—how did you two meet?”

Putting her arm through mine, she leads us to a quieter area of the party. Although friendly enough, Mrs. Guerra oozes power. I feel I have no other option but to tell her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth—so I do.

After telling Mrs. Guerra all about our whirlwind romance when we were teenagers, and how I had heartbreakingly lost contact with him, Mrs. Guerra seems very concerned.

“I see, and does my son know why you lost contact all those years ago?”

“No. I don’t suppose he does. We haven’t spoken about it. We have spoken very little since I got here, to be honest.”

“Mrs. Guerra, Mrs. Guerra!” We both turn towards the shouting.

A woman who is of a similar age to Mrs. Guerra pulls her into a hug.

I can't help but notice how Mrs. Guerra's body language changes.

Her back becomes straighter, and although she is smiling, it's not the welcoming smile I received.

Another woman about my age appears beside them.

Both women are extremely beautiful. Long dark, shimmering hair, big brown eyes, each of them perfectly immaculate.

“Ladies, I would like you to meet Katherine, Leo’s fiancée.”

This is so surreal. I feel a little off-balance at the title. Mrs. Guerra links her arm with mine.

“Fiancée?” the older lady says, appearing mortified .

“Since when?” the lady about my age inquires. “Isn’t this all a little rushed?”

“Not at all; in fact, Katherine was just this minute telling me how she and Leo met when they were teenagers, many years ago. Young love—it really is quite romantic.”

“Special? But no ring?” The older woman eyeballs my ring finger.

“Leo has found nothing quite special enough just yet, but he will; plus, Katherine isn’t a materialist like some people I know.” Mrs. Guerra gives both ladies a big smile. “If you’ll excuse us, we have very important people to speak to.”

We move to a seating area and are brought fresh drinks and canapes.

“Promise me, Katherine. As soon as you get the chance, speak to Leo about what happened with your mother and how you lost touch.”

“I will. I promise.”

“You remind me a little of myself, Katherine.”

And that’s all she says on the matter as we are joined again by Leo and his father. His parents dismiss themselves, leaving us alone.

“You know, Leo, you didn’t have to force me to marry you to get me here. I would have jumped at the chance to meet up with you again. ”

Leo huffs a sarcastic laugh. I ignore him and continue.

“For years, I hoped we would bump into each other. I looked online for you a few years ago, but I found nothing.”

Leo raises his eyebrow, looking at me more intensely but not saying a word.

“I have thought about you a lot. Even dreamt about you.”

Leo stands up. “Enough talking. We have people we must speak to.” He holds out his hand to help me up, I take it and decide to try and discuss it again later.

I’m introduced to many people. Leo tries to keep the conversations in English, but they quickly turn to Italian.

Most of it is boring small talk or business, but I have found out a few interesting facts.

There’s something big happening tomorrow night that Leo wants to take the lead on, and the two ladies I met while with Mrs. Guerra are the mother and daughter of Leo’s father’s business partner.

Although they all interact in a friendly enough way, I sense there is some animosity between them.

It’s late when we return to the house. I had hoped I could finish our conversation, but Leo insists on being on his own and retires to his office.

I get into bed, but my mind is in overdrive.

I need to understand what is going on. I will let Leo have tonight, but tomorrow, I will insist he speaks to me and explains.