Chapter 47
GIANNA
We spent another perfect family day together.
Even the boat ride wasn’t so bad, although Dad had let Chiara drive and I literally feared for my life—for all our lives—more than once.
But we returned safe and sound and are watching the sunset on the big terrace, Mom and Dad sitting together in one of the love seats, my sisters and I bunched up on another.
Mom is leaning against Dad’s shoulder and they’re holding hands, something I hadn’t seen in so long, I’d forgotten they used to hold hands and be affectionate to one another all the time.
Will Matteo and I ever sit like this?
Of course we will.
But will it be anytime soon?
That is more doubtful.
He’s been on my mind all day, despite all the fun we’ve been having with the family.
I’d planned out our lives all the way to the time—far, far in the future—when we’re grey and old, watching our grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren splashing around in the sea where we first made love.
We wouldn’t tell them that, of course, but we’d know, and we’d smile at each other and relive that magical night in our minds.
Maybe I should just tell my parents that he’d taken my virginity last night. They’d have no choice but to let me marry him then… or at least they’d have a hard time finding a different husband for me, if everyone knew I’d already given myself to another.
But my curse… I’m still not willing to risk him dying as all men who intend to marry me have so far. Even though I can’t even imagine that as a possibility, not with how happy I am now.
I’m almost certain love broke the curse. My love for him and his for me. But I’m not completely certain. And I’d have to be to risk it.
But of course, I won’t tell my father about last night.
That would mean Matteo’s death even more certainly than my curse.
We’ll have to find some other way to be together forever. And I’ve had some ideas about that too…
“Why don’t you stay the night?” Mom asks Dad.
He smiles at her sadly. “You know I would… “
“I just don’t want this day to end,” she says. “It was just like old times. I’d forgotten how much fun we could all have.”
Dad squeezes Mom’s hand, leans over and kisses her forehead. Chiara and Lidia, both let out an identical, “Ooooh.”
“We’ve all forgotten how to just have fun,” Dad says. “But it’s what Antonio would’ve wanted for us. I’m sure of it.”
A tense silence, filled with tears that have already fallen and those yet to fall, descends on us at the mention of my murdered brother’s name. It’s Mom who breaks it first.
“You’re right, he wouldn’t,” she says. “So how about it? Stay.”
For the first time since my brother died, I get the feeling she might be getting better at dealing with her grief. For a long time, she was inconsolable and until right now, she was always sad, but she sounds almost happy now.
Dad nods. “Yes, I’ll stay. So, what do we do? How about a nice game of Monopoly?”
He beams at me and my sisters. Our games of Monopoly are never nice. We’re all far too competitive for that. But Lidia already flew inside to get the game, so it’s decided.
He calls in Raffaelle and tells him that he’s not going back to the city tonight.
I’m happy that Dad is staying the night, I am. But with all the extra guards he brought with him, I might not be able to sneak away tonight. And Matteo might not be able to sneak in.
We’ve been out here for a while. The afternoon was golden, the ocean stretching out before us seemingly made of pure molten gold.
I almost told everyone about Matteo then.
But now the sky is dark red and black with patches of pure white here and there.
The color of blood, bandages, and death, Dad said.
Then laughed it off when Mom told him to stop being so morbid.
That’s exactly what would’ve happened if I told them about Matteo—the beautiful golden landscape would have turned into blood and death. It might also happen if I try to see him tonight.
The game of monopoly we’re playing starts out slow and boring, but soon the first mini arguments start.
Mom is trying to keep the peace, as always, but Lidia is already showing her more competitive side, which is usually well hidden in her, and Dad and Chiara are making no secret of the fact that they’re in it to win it.
They’ve both said that exact thing several times already. The sky is mostly just black now.
As for me, my head’s not in the game. I never much cared about winning or losing.
There was never any point. As my father’s eldest daughter, I always understood my life would in large part be decided for me and I would have to do as I’m told, go where I’m told to go, and have no life outside the family.
But I care about winning Matteo. And I dread losing him more than I’ve ever dreaded anything else in my whole life.
And just as I think it, I see his reflection in one of the wide-open doors leading onto the terrace. For a moment, I’m sure I’m seeing his ghost, and my heart starts banging so hard in my chest, I actually gasp for air.
Do they know?
Is he dead already?
Has my dad already had him killed?
But then he moves, and I see it is him in the flesh. I actually sigh in relief, I can’t help it. I cover it up with a cough and try to look at anything but him. A feat much harder than it should be.
“What’s wrong with you?” Chiara asks and both mom and dad are looking at me with concern.
I cough again, shake my head and smile. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
And that’s the truth. Everything in my life is just perfect right now. Because he came. Because I’ll see him tonight. We won’t even have to leave the house. And because I’m finally living the life of my dreams.