Chapter 74 Loretta
L ORETTA
The bright ceiling light in the Taylors’ bathroom is hard on Loretta’s eyes. After yet another sleepless night, she’d give anything to crawl back into bed for an hour or two. Instead, the hotel has been inundated with phone calls and emails from people asking her to comment on the photo of her that the Irish journalist published. She’s ignoring those requests. There’s enough drama in her life already.
Loretta moves quickly, finding Elena’s make-up bag and hiding two boxes of tampons underneath the collection of foundations and powders and brushes. The suite looks like any other young couple’s – clothes falling out of suitcases, souvenirs on the table, bed unmade. There’s nothing sinister-looking about their room, which makes it even more disturbing.
Quickly, she leaves, locking the door behind her, only to find more drama waiting for her back in the kitchen. The whole family’s huddled together around the bench, and she’s faced with a multitude of accusing stares.
Santa Maria, has Alberto told them about Flavia and me?
‘Why are you all looking at me like that?’ Loretta croaks.
‘Mamma!’ Marina storms up to her. ‘What’s Luca Falcone doing out there?’ Her tone is dangerous.
Loretta exhales. It’s only about Luca. With everything else going on, she forgot all about inviting him for breakfast. She avoids Marina’s eye. ‘So what if he’s here?’ She puts her apron back on and turns to Rocco. ‘Where’s Sophie? Did she come to the market with you?’
‘She’s in her room. She’s not feeling well.’
She wants to question him about that, but Marina isn’t through with her yet.
‘I’ve told you a million times to stop interfering in my life! Why don’t you ever listen?’ Marina sounds like she might cry.
‘Why do you assume it has anything to do with you?’ Loretta replies calmly. ‘I did it to say thank you for the way he looked after your father.’
Marina points at Alberto. ‘And were you in on this little plan too?’
‘Your mother tells me nothing,’ he answers, giving Loretta a stare that turns her insides cold.
Marina slams her hand down on the bench right in front of Loretta. ‘Stay out of my business!’
‘I have to get back to the front desk.’ Chiara rubs Marina’s arm on her way out, lowering her eyes when she passes by Loretta.
The men quickly mumble reasons for being needed in the restaurant and follow Chiara out, leaving Loretta and Marina alone in the kitchen.
Loretta hoists herself up onto a stool. ‘Cara, I’m saving you from yourself. At least Luca’s a man you can have a future with.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ Marina lifts her chin, giving her a defiant stare.
‘I know about Alessandro.’
Marina takes a sharp breath in. ‘Did Rocco tell you?’
‘He didn’t need to.’
‘Please don’t make me talk about it.’
Loretta wishes she could take Marina into her arms. My darling girl , she wants to say. Do you know how special you are? Do you know that you deserve a partner to cherish you above all else? Do you know that you’re too good to be the secret lover of a priest?
Marina would think she’s lost her mind if she spoke to her this way. Instead she says, ‘Okay, tesoro. But tell me, did you speak to him about Elena? She asked me about him this morning.’
Marina nods. ‘He’s going to travel with her.’ She purses her lips. ‘It’s dangerous for him. That lunatic husband of Elena’s could track them down. What if he hurts him?’ Her eyes are full of worry.
Gesù Cristo, her daughter really does love this man.
‘The Blessed Virgin will keep him safe,’ Loretta says. ‘It’ll be okay.’
‘He wasn’t supposed to go back there. He was going to resign. He’s only returning because of her .’ There’s resentment in Marina’s voice.
‘Resign? He’s leaving the priesthood?’ Loretta can’t hide her shock.
Marina nods but her expression is closed. It’s clear she won’t be divulging anything else.
Loretta rests her hand over Marina’s. ‘I’m sorry about inviting Luca.’
‘You had no right.’ Marina’s voice cracks. ‘His mother told him the invitation came from me. You humiliated us both.’
‘I was only trying to help.’
‘Stop helping. I’m begging you.’
‘Okay, I promise. But I’m here if you want to talk. You don’t have to be alone with your worries. I understand more than you can imagine about your situation.’
‘You understand nothing, Mamma.’ Marina pulls her hand away. ‘I have to get back to work.’ She leaves the kitchen just as Rocco walks back in.
‘How long have you known about your sister and the priest?’ Loretta stares him down.
He looks at the ground. ‘Since Rome.’
She sighs. ‘Nobody tells me anything.’
‘It’s not exactly the kind of thing you rush to tell your parents.’ Rocco pours himself a juice. She’s been distracted by one thing after another this morning and only now notices that Rocco isn’t himself. He hasn’t smiled once, and his shoulders are drooping.
She pats the stool next to her. ‘Sit.’
He obeys.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Tell me.’ She ruffles his hair.
‘Sophie’s avoiding me.’
‘Why? What did you do?’
‘Straight away you assume it’s my fault.’
‘Am I wrong?’
He adjusts his glasses. ‘I told her about my past.’
She feels a surge of protective love for him. ‘You’re in love with her, aren’t you?’
He nods.
‘What happens when she leaves next week? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of following her to Australia.’
‘I could never leave you and Papà, you know that. She wants to move here.’
‘Does she? That’s wonderful! I was so worried you’d be heartbroken after she left. Sophie’s wonderful, I’m happy for you.’
‘Don’t pop the champagne yet.’ He lets out a sad laugh. ‘She locked herself in her room and is refusing to talk to me. I think I remind her too much of her mother.’
‘Why? Her mother’s an alcoholic?’
‘Yes. Sophie didn’t react well when she arrived last night.’
Loretta frowns. ‘What did you just say?’
‘Her mother arrived last night. I checked her into the free room. She’s up there now. Sophie hasn’t spoken to me since.’
‘Sophie’s mother is here, and you were planning to tell me when exactly?’ Loretta taps him on the back of the head. ‘Honestly, you get more stupid by the day! Look after the restaurant.’ She slides off the chair and walks towards the door.
‘Where are you going?’ he calls after her.
She turns to him. ‘I’m not going to let you lose her because of her issues with her mother.’
She marches up the stairs, ready to put out another fire.