CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Y ou can’t leave without having dinner,” Grandpa Marini said. He directed us into the kitchen and handed Rocco an apron. “You can cook. We’re taking a tour.”
Rocco didn’t object; instead, he took off his blazer and went to work.
My heart skipped a beat as I stared at him. “We keep changing his plans,” I half-joked.
Grandpa Marini laughed-coughed. “Don’t worry about Rocco. He knows my cook doesn’t need him. He’s just giving me some time with my soon-to-be granddaughter.” He squeezed my arm, and I felt how his hand trembled.
“So you planned our marriage for a long time?”
He stared at me for a minute, then said, “I did.”
I lowered my head and my heart sank. In a way, Mama had been right about our friendship. She believed he groomed me, and he all but confirmed it. He’d had a motive all the time. “When? Why?”
His eyes shone. “I know that makes you think badly of me.” He lowered his head, and I sensed his shame. “It was after I met you that night by the reservoir. You were so small and battered, but not defeated. I felt your good heart, and it touched me,” he coughed. “I hadn’t expected a friend, but you became one. A good one that I’ve grown to love very much.” He coughed harder, and I patted his back to try to help him. His housekeeper rushed over and gave him water. He gulped, and I waited for him to settle.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes, I am, and yes. I just have a cold,” he said, handing the cup to his housekeeper. “Thank you, Helena.”
My heart ached. Was he really okay? Worry rose and at the heart of it was love. I loved Mr. Marini. Whatever made him stay in my life I was grateful for it. He’d given me what I desperately needed—a friend. He’d never belittled or tried to control me. He gave me fatherly support and an ear to share my thoughts and feelings. He encouraged and celebrated my successes at college. I could have married someone else, but he gave me Rocco, who treated me so well.
“You do deserve more of an explanation, I owe you that,” he said taking my arm.
I nodded. “Yes, you do.”
He smiled. “So, to answer your question. Yes. I did plan for this wedding. Making it happen took a lot of things I’m not proud of now. The Belfiores I’ve known over the years were masters of deception, but here we are, joining families. It’s good we’ve all grown and changed.”
I pressed my lips together. A part of me hoped he’d share more, but the other felt embarrassed. My grandparents had been cruel to leave us with Judge Colby, however, they had changed. We weren’t banished or being harmed by my father. But what we’d traded had cost us. Mama was in a loveless marriage, and under my grandparents and Glenn’s control. I couldn’t help but think about Mama and her feelings about our friendship, but she hadn’t been there. Mr. Marini had been good to me over all these years when I had so little. But it wasn’t just the material things; I had more conversations with him than with my own grandparents. They rarely asked what I was interested in, and instead always told me what I must do.
He sighed heavily. “I’ve put you on a hard path, but you must hold on and have faith. You’ve been in our honeymoon home, and now you’re at the house I moved into after my wife’s death.”
I stopped and gave him a side hug. “I’m sorry.” The affection I’d for him had come so naturally, but at the same time, I was shocked.
Grandpa Marini’s smile broadened. “It’s kind to show you care, Adelina. I prayed trust would come from the little girl I begged to sit across from me on a bench.”
My face warmed. “It’s Rocco. He’s always giving me cuddles.”
“Good,” he said. “He’s a good man. You’re much more relaxed now. Arranged marriages are hard, but if you’re strong in commitment, yours can last for many years. Mine lasted over forty years.”
I touched my smile. Could Rocco and I last as long? I didn’t know. “What’s the secret?”
“Not holding back. Even when you’re afraid,” he said. “My wife married me knowing I was in love with another woman.”
I grimaced. “That must have been hard for her.”
He nodded. “Indeed it was. But my Aurora had strong faith. She was kind and patient. She listened, and was open with her needs. We became friends, and I found that what I thought I had before her was infatuation. She taught me there was more to life than getting even. I took her heart with care, and I gave her back love. I still feel that love and you can, too, one day.”
I placed my arm around his shoulders and squeezed. He always talked to me like an adult that can critically think about life’s circumstances. His insight was what I needed to hear. I don’t have to rush. I had a lifetime ahead in this arranged marriage, and if I was willing and open with my feelings, I could have that love one day. I could imagine that with Rocco, and given he was keen to explore what we could be, I really was in the best arranged marriage possible.
“No one hugs like you, Adelina.” He hugged me tight and long. It was warm and soothing and full of our open hearts. I treasured it.
Grandpa Marini gave me tour of his home. This villa, perched on the hills of Florence, was smaller than the honeymoon home but just as grand. It had rows of fruit trees and flowers, with gardeners working to prune and pick in baskets. “Most will go to care homes, some to family restaurants and shops.”
We went down the stone steps to a row of flower bushes.
He picked a pink rose for me. “A flower for a Bella.”
I took a whiff of the bloom. “You sound like Rocco.”
“He sounds like me. Where did you think he learned all the tricks?” We laughed together, and I squeezed his arm.
“You know, I’ve held on to those words you told me all those years ago,” I said.
“Which ones, mi suca?”
“The ones about resilience. You said, resilience will be my—”
“Superpower. And I was right, yes?”
“I’d like to think so.”
He smiled. “You are strong and resilient, Adelina. They are two of the reasons I wanted you to join our family. They suit you well and will complement Rocco, too.”
He held out his hand, and we walked on. I hoped he was right. I did want this marriage to work. And I will work hard to ensure it does.
Back inside, we toured the main house. It had tray ceilings, and some had Fresco paintings. There was a regal stone staircase and a fireplace that had to date back centuries. He’d adopted more of the Renaissance style of oil paintings and sculptures, with a touch of modern custom furnishings that harmonized with the antiques and lighting. The dining room was spacious, seating twelve. One of his other housekeepers was putting out place settings, and she stopped to greet Grandpa Marini warmly and shook my hand. It was the one thing I loved most about Italy—everyone went out of their way to be so welcoming.
We finally reached the library, or study, with Chesterfield sofas, a comfy chair, and an antique Art Deco glass lamp. There were books in built-in cases, but as I walked through, there was a shelf of modern stories. I picked up Lady Chatterley’s Lover . “This is a surprise.”
He shrugged. “It’s a great book. Even if I can’t partake anymore, it gives me something to reminisce about.”
We sat down, and I stared at him—a vise closing around my heart. He was paler with deepened lines on his face, and there were beads of sweat on his brow and upper lip.
“Are…are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.
He waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t you start. Let me tell you a few things that are important for you to know.” There was a seriousness in his tone, and I quieted to give him my full attention.
He sighed. “I don’t think you know, so I’ll tell you. Your grandfather married the woman I was promised to.”
I gasped. “What? You were going to marry my grandmother?”
He nodded. “Yes. I was madly in love with Constance Longfellow. She was like you, a rare beauty. Back then, her family was prominent in New York, and we were betrothed at birth. She was a proud and formidable woman, but Reginald was much more cunning back then. He stole Constance, and made it almost impossible for me to do business in New York City.”
I pressed my hand to my chest. “I knew nothing about it.”
“I’m not surprised. It’s not something any of us are proud of. But I refused to give up the Longfellow property in Washington Heights that was part of her dowry. It wasn’t expensive back then, but times have changed, and it’s worth millions now. For you, and only you, I’ve agreed to return it.”
I squinted. “You’re willing to give it back because of me? Why?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m doing it to atone. If it hadn’t been for Aurora, I’d still be hellbent on revenge. It consumed me for years, and I deserve hell for all I’ve done, but I ask for your forgiveness.”
I furrowed my brows. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
He took my hand. “You see, Adelina…I’m not the man you think—”
“Grandpa,” Rocco called from the door. “I hate to cut your visit short, but I have work early tomorrow.”
“But you will stay for dinner?” Grandpa Marini said, his eyes shifting between us.
Rocco smiled. “That’s why I’m getting you both now.”
I wanted to know more and touched Grandpa Marini’s arm. “Can’t we talk more now?”
He patted my hand. “Later.”
Reluctantly, I followed them into the dining room. We sat down and his chef brought out the first course of homemade tortellini pasta, stuffed with ricotta cheese and potatoes, pecorino, pepper, and raw shrimp. Delicious.
I cleared my plate before they stopped talking about the ACF Fiorentina football match against Frosinone, which they’d won.
“We beat them easily,” Rocco complained between bites while a housekeeper refilled his glass of wine. “It was not much of a match.”
Grandpa Marini laughed. “They were asleep. That’s what happens when they underestimate our team.”
It was the same pride and banter I’d heard from the other family members that stopped by. I was clueless about the sport, but I enjoyed their enthusiasm for it.
“How’s our wedding preparation coming along?” Rocco asked him.
“Cardinal Torino is ill, but he’ll be better soon with grace. He will be able to perform your wedding ceremony.”
“Thank you,” I said and took a sip of my drink. The second course came in: mixed grilled fish, shellfish, and squid with garden salad.
“So, tell us about Cannes,” Grandpa Marini said. “Rocco has a movie produced that will show at the Cannes Festival this year.”
“Yes, I’d like to hear about it, too.” I regretted not enquiring.
Rocco took a sip of wine and placed it down. “It’s Morgan Steele’s movie The Age of Sin , a historical, Gothic romance. I’m its producer, so I have to go.”
“Rocco’s being modest. He’s more than a producer; he has been hands-on with the production, casting, and sets, not only finding backers for funding,” Grandpa Marini said with pride. “If you check online like I have, it will be an award magnet. As his grandpa, I also got to see an advance screening. It’s the best movie of the year.”
My heart warmed at the kindness his grandfather showed him. Rocco was quiet, but there was a shininess to his eyes, listening to the elder’s praise.
Rocco put his fork down. “I hope so for Morgan. He’s worked so hard all his life. He deserves it. I, of course, enjoy producing.”
“Yes, stick to producing, you don’t need a studio,” Grandpa Marini added.
Rocco took a drink and didn’t look at him, and I empathized. He also had restrictions that were placed on him.
We ate more, keeping the conversation light about gardening and visiting the Uffizi Gallery. After a zabaglione with strawberry dessert, I was very full.
I patted my stomach. “I can’t eat anything else.”
They laughed.
“Or maybe for two soon,” Grandpa Marini joked and gestured to Rocco’s frowning face. “None of that. You will have children.”
That was something I wished I could change, but most of all, I was happy.
We stood to go and walked over to the door.
Grandpa Marini kissed my cheeks and hugged me tight. “Mia dolce, Adelina. So happy to have you here. Please know that I loved you from the start, and I’m glad you’re my family.”
“I love you, too,” I whispered, patting his back. “Thank you for everything.”
I couldn’t imagine my grandmother with him. He said he’d been in love with her. But he didn’t say she loved him back. That was the cruelty of love. Of course, if he had married her, there wouldn’t have been Rocco. Anyone who had gotten to know him would feel a significant loss. He was truly extraordinary.
And I’m an admirer.