Chapter 20
Alessandro
21 Days Until The Wedding
T he rest of last night was fairly uneventful, a few drinks with Geno and Marco then bed. Sleeping without Luci next to me was stranger than I expected. I convince myself it’s because she wasn’t there for me to sink myself into before bed. I also know that’s a flat-out lie. After several hours of my conscious keeping me awake, I rip off my sheets, throwing on a pair of sweatpants and slippers to go upstairs to Luci.
The walk to Luci’s room is longer and more agonizing than necessary. I scan my finger to unlock the door and walk in, hoping that Luci is asleep, or at least not ready to fight with me. She’s curled up on her side, her dark waves spread around the pillow as she sleeps soundly. I walk over to her, kneeling on the floor by the side of her bed, and swipe a curl that’s fallen in her face away from her eyes. My hand instinctually caresses her cheek as guilt from the way I spoke to her shoots through my body. These last few days with her have been amazing and Geno’s words got into my head, making me lash out unfairly at her. I tell her the words I could never say while she’s awake. Words I’d give anything for her to hear.
“I’m sorry that it has to be this way, but I’d keep you locked away if it meant not losing you.” She hums in her sleep, shifting away from me as I stand and walk out of the room. I know I must be the man Geno needs me to be, simultaneously sacrificing the man I want to be for Luci.
In the morning, I toss the bag with her necessary things on the floor in her bedroom and flick on the lights. I’d give anything to be the man who had dinner with her, but I can’t let my guard down. Especially today. “Wake up. Lunch is in three hours and I expect you to be presentable. A lot is riding on this and some people could get hurt if you don’t behave.” She turns over, catching me off guard with her eyes, swollen and red, knowing exactly what I mean. “You should be grateful this lunch is still happening. Geno mentioned last night that we should cancel the lunch and called Father Angelo to marry us today instead. I only talked Geno off the ledge because I’m sure you’re eager to see your family.”
“What’s all in the bag?” Her voice is small, a defeated whisper at most.
“Makeup and the dress El picked out for you. Sarai bellissima indossandolo.” She turns her face, rejecting me when I go to touch her cheek. I deserve that. After a settling breath, I find it in myself to be gentle with my next words. “I’ll leave you be and send some coffee up. Enzo will be ready to escort you downstairs around noon.”
As I turn to leave, Luci stops me. “Alessandro?”
“Si?” I slightly turn my head, cowardly refusing to see the green in her eyes highlighted by the red surrounding them, proving how badly I hurt her last night.
“Unlike my mama and nonna, my nonno always insists on being early. He will be here at 11:45.”
Punctuality is important in my world and I respect Aldo for his insistence on being early. “Thank you for letting me know. Enjoy your morning.”
At 11:45 on the dot, I receive a notification that there’s a car at the gate. I’m impressed—Luci was right. The three of them get out of the old vehicle and I know this is my chance to make sure this goes perfectly. As Geno reminded me several times yesterday and this morning, a lot is riding on this lunch.
“Buongiorno. Aldo. Stella. Caterina. Welcome, welcome.” I take my time shaking their hands, welcoming them blindly into my home. “Come in, please. I’ll give you a tour while we wait for lunch.”
Like a true man, Aldo guides his wife and daughter in and starts the conversation. “Alessandro, is it? Why has Luci never mentioned you?”
“Fair question. As I’m sure you’re aware, Luci is a people pleaser. She’s been nervous about your reaction to our relationship, especially with how quickly it happened. I hope you understand.”
Caterina cuts in asking the next few questions. “Luci deserves someone who would take care of her. We’d like to think she has a good head on her shoulders. Alessandro, what is your last name? I don’t believe you’ve mentioned it.”
We walk into the garden as I answer her question. “You are right, Caterina, that was rude of me. My last name is Leone.”
“What?” Stella squeaks, Aldo subtly placing his hand on her arm to calm her. I do not miss their reactions, even though Caterina is too distracted by the beautiful garden Luci and I were in a few nights ago to notice herself.
Aldo takes the lead, I’m sure trying to gauge if I am who he thinks I am. “This is a fantastic property. What do you do for a living?”
There’s the magic question. “Grazie, Aldo. My mamma had a garden at her home and I’m in the process of trying to recreate it. To answer your question though, I work for my family, more specifically my nonno. Several years ago, when we saw potential in America for our business, it only made sense for me to move from Italy. He’s actually here today and will be joining us for lunch. Speaking of, I believe everything is ready.”
Aldo’s reaction is hard as he leads an anxious Stella into the house, while Caterina still has no idea what’s going on. I’m suspicious, wondering if Caterina knows about Aldo and Stella’s past.
Luci is waiting in the dining area when we walk in. She’s stunning in her knee-length purple dress and nude heels. Tears well up in her eyes when she sees her family, and all she can muster up is a small greeting. “Hi.”
Her family rushes over to her, Caterina hugging her first before Stella grabs her with regret and sympathy on her face until Aldo takes Stella’s place. I don’t miss his whispered words into his granddaughter’s ear. “We have to get you out of here. You don’t understand who Alessandro is.” She responds with a sad shake of her head as Geno’s voice comes from the other room.
“Alessandro! Where are you?”
I yell over my shoulder, making direct eye contact with Aldo. “We’re in the dining room.”
Geno’s shoes sound like a ticking clock as we wait in silence. Stella grabs onto Aldo, who’s standing in front of his family, creating a shield between us. Geno appears in the room and it’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop until he speaks.
“Hello, Stella.”