Chapter 23
The island of Murano, famed for centuries for its glass-making, was a short boat ride north of Venice. It was less grand than Venice, but it was certainly charming – quaint and colourful, with brightly coloured houses lining the canals. On a sunny February day, its understated beauty would almost be a relief from the headiness of Venice during Carnevale .
Issy had asked for her advice in planning the trip, and Gina had been happy to take the reins from her – it was the kind of trip she’d organized hundreds of times before. Her extensive book of contacts came in useful, but this time there were a few extra-special touches to impress Brad and, she admitted to herself, Marco too.
The day was to start with a private transfer from the White Palace in a sleek wooden speedboat, and then the party would follow Gina’s itinerary, which mixed leisurely exploration with organized events. In the morning, she’d made sure the group would be free to look around the island at their own pace. She imagined meandering by the canals, getting lost amidst the painted houses and magnificent churches, crossing the bridges that connected the seven islands that made up Murano. She was sure that Marco would have seen some of this before, but never as intimately as she’d planned.
Gina, snap out of it.
She had to keep reminding herself that she was doing this for her guests, for the White Palace, and not because she got any sort of kick out of it, or that she wanted to see Marco.
At lunchtime, they would visit the house of world-renowned chef Giorgio Bartolini, who owned a Michelin-star restaurant in Cannaregio. He had agreed to cook a tasting menu for them at his own home on Murano. She smiled to herself. His cooking would blow their minds – his ‘lobster three ways’ was world-famous.
Then, in the afternoon, Gina had arranged a private tour of the oldest glass factory on the island, established in the thirteenth century. The guests would even have a chance to try it themselves, and Gina had a feeling that Brad would love it. He had an almost childlike curiosity about the world, which was part of what made him so charming – he was genuinely interested in everything and everyone.
Gina stood on the jetty, waiting for her guests, and couldn’t help breaking into a wide grin as Daniela raced towards her, her long hair streaming out behind her, before throwing herself at Gina in a hug. Marco followed in her wake, while Daniela went to look at the launch.
Gina was also helpless to stop the excited churn of her stomach as Marco greeted her with a slow grin. He looked relaxed in light chinos and a cosy parka that emphasized his broad, muscular frame. Gina couldn’t help the crazy feeling that he held her gaze for just a little too long, and that there was a special something in his smile that was just for her.
Focus on work!
‘So, Gina, we get to spend the whole day together?’
‘Strictly business, Marco.’
‘Ah that’s true, but you can’t back out on this like you have with our dinner?’ He raised his eyebrows laconically.
‘Dinner?’
Gina hadn’t realized that Edoardo had slipped up behind his brother-in-law, and was looking from one to the other of them with a dark expression.
Marco turned around. ‘Something wrong, Edoardo?’
Gina thought Edoardo looked as if he was trying not to explode. ‘There isn’t a single thing that you won’t try and muscle in on, Marco, is there? Isn’t the entire company and my family enough for you?’
Marco frowned. ‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’
‘Sure, you don’t,’ Edoardo answered through gritted teeth.
The awkward moment was interrupted by Daniela. ‘What’s the matter, Uncle Edoardo, you look so grumpy today. Are you coming to Murano too?’
‘Nothing’s the matter, bambina . I’m always happy when I’m around you, la mia gioa ,’ he said, ruffling her hair so that she ducked away from his hand. ‘But you know what, maybe I won’t come today. Maybe I’m not wanted around here by everyone.’
‘Edoardo,’ Marco sighed, ‘come on …’
But Edoardo was gone, storming back towards the hotel, still wearing a moody expression.
‘That was awkward,’ Gina said quietly.
‘There isn’t much that won’t upset my brother-in-law,’ Marco sighed, then looked down at his daughter and pulled her to him in a brief hug. ‘Let’s forget about it,’ he said, gazing at the approaching figures. ‘Come on, here’s Brad and Issy. I’ve been looking forward to this.’ His irresistible smile was back.
They had chosen the perfect day to visit. On Murano, no one was wearing a Carnival costume, and the island was an ocean of peace compared to the city throng, just the sound of church bells ringing out on a Sunday morning.
‘This is awesome,’ Brad grinned, staring in delight from behind his dark glasses, as Issy looked around anxiously. Once again, Brad had insisted on going out without a bodyguard, donning an inconspicuous outfit along with a baseball cap, but Issy was still nervous that he might be recognized and cause a stampede.
‘Hey, Daniela,’ Brad smiled at her. ‘Do you like hot chocolate?’ The group were walking past a picturesque café, advertising its wares on a chalkboard outside, its front open for passers-by wanting to grab a takeaway. It was mid-morning – not long since breakfast, and too early for lunch – but the enticing smell of rich coffee and freshly baked sugary pastries drifted out from inside.
‘Yum,’ Daniela beamed. ‘It’s one of my favourite things in the world.’
‘Leave it to me,’ Brad grinned, as he strolled up to the counter and said with a flourish, ‘ Cinque cioccolate calde, per favore .’
The woman behind the counter stared at him for a long moment. Despite his attempts to go incognito, his muscular figure, deep gravelly voice and American-accented Italian all made him stand out.
‘ S ì , subito ,’ she said eventually with a blush, turning to get his order.
‘You’re not supposed to be drawing attention to yourself,’ Issy warned him.
Brad shrugged, looking genuinely confused. ‘I thought I was blending right in. Wouldn’t I pass for an Italian?’
Gina caught Marco’s eye and the two of them burst into laughter.
‘Sorry, Brad, you won’t be winning an Oscar for this role,’ Marco grinned, as Brad pretended to look offended.
They got their creamy hot chocolate in takeaway cups so they could stroll along the canal. Dozens of brightly coloured boats were moored on either side, bobbing gently on the undulating water, while a sleek tabby cat lazed in a doorway, luxuriating in a patch of sunlight.
Brad and Issy walked on ahead, as Marco, Gina and Daniela made slower progress. Daniela wanted to look in every shop window, and Marco was happy to indulge her.
‘That was very sweet,’ Issy commented, as she and Brad strolled across a stone bridge, admiring a pair of white swans drifting underneath. At Brad’s quizzical look, she explained, ‘With Daniela, and the hot chocolate.’
‘She’s a sweet kid. I can’t believe it’s six years since I first met her. Time flies real fast. She’s been through a lot, what with losing her mom and everything … But she’s great.’ Brad spoke about her with real affection, and Issy saw a side to him that she’d never seen before.
She wanted to ask him about children – whether he wanted them, and regretted not having them with Lexi – but she knew it wasn’t her place. There’d been rumours for years in the tabloid press about why they hadn’t started a family, and Issy felt it would be insensitive to ask. But then Brad surprised her by saying, ‘Do you have brothers and sisters? I feel like I don’t know much about you. You’ve worked for me for, what? Three years now?’
‘Exactly three years on the twentieth of March,’ Issy confirmed.
‘Our anniversary,’ Brad grinned, with a movie-star grin that lit up his face. ‘I’ll make sure my PA puts it in my diary, so I remember to send flowers.’
Issy knew he was teasing, but there was something in the way he was looking at her that made her unsure.
‘Three years, and yet I know so little about you,’ Brad mused. ‘I guess that makes me an asshole boss.’
‘No, it doesn’t. It just makes you a very busy guy. I’ve seen your schedule, remember?’
Brad smiled. ‘So, tell me all about yourself. I want to know everything – where you’re from, if you have siblings, what you want out of life …’
Issy hesitated. In truth, she felt uncomfortable speaking about her family, especially given the situation with her mom. She didn’t want to give Brad any reason to be suspicious of her, but she was happy to give him the sanitized version of her life.
‘I grew up in Reno, and I have a younger sister, Kirsten. I was … almost like a mom to her. Our own mom … wasn’t around much,’ Issy said carefully. She and Brad were in the most beautiful location, sharing a moment of connection, and her mom wasn’t going to ruin this for her. ‘My dad left when I was just a kid, so I had to make sure that Kirsten got to school on time, that she did her homework. I used to cook dinner for her, and make her packed lunch. Even when I went away to college, I was working as many hours as I could in the local diner to support myself and to send money home to Kirsten too …’ Issy trailed off, wondering if she’d said too much. She hadn’t meant to overshare like that, but there was something about Brad that had made her want to be truthful.
‘Wow,’ he said quietly. ‘I can’t believe I never knew that about you. You’ve worked so hard … I think that we’re alike, you and me. Some people in this business don’t get it – they come from privileged backgrounds, with money or connections, and don’t appreciate what it takes to work your way up from the bottom. I think that fear of having it all taken away never leaves you. It gives you that sense of drive.’
‘Totally,’ Issy nodded, trying to hide her surprise. She’d never imagined that Brad Redford, of all people, could feel insecure.
‘What does your sister do now?’ he asked.
‘She’s at college, studying law.’
‘Iz, that’s incredible.’
‘Yeah, I’m really proud of her,’ Issy said with feeling. ‘It was all worth the effort.’
‘You sound like a great big sister. I bet you’ll be a great mom too some day.’
Issy flushed, Brad’s comment felt weirdly intimate. ‘What about your plans for the future?’ she asked, trying to take the focus off her in case she revealed something she shouldn’t. ‘Are you going to carry on being a movie star for ever?’
‘I hope not,’ Brad chuckled. ‘I hope I know when it’s my time to go, though I’d like to bow out on a high. But you’ve seen my life – you know it’s not everything it appears to be from the outside. I have this dream – maybe it sounds ridiculous, but I’d love to have masses of land and a farm. Maybe a big old ranch out in Texas or somewhere, with dogs and horses and a soccer team’s worth of kids running round my ankles.’
‘You and Lexi would make beautiful babies.’
‘Yeah, well, I’m not sure if Lexi sees the same future I do,’ Brad said reflectively, a note of sadness in his voice. Then he brightened. ‘This is so nice, Iz. It’s amazing not to be recognized. It feels like having a normal life, just strolling round together, you and me …’
‘I guess it’s impossible to have a normal life when you’re Brad Redford. But wouldn’t you miss it, if it all went away?’
‘Maybe not as much as you’d think. Maybe it’s time for me to dial it down a little, start thinking about a quieter – no, not quieter – a richer life.’ Brad looked thoughtful.
‘Then I’d be out of a job,’ Issy joked.
Brad shook his head, turning to look at her, though she couldn’t read his expression behind his sunglasses. ‘No. I’d always want you around.’
Issy’s heart leapt, wondering if he’d meant it how it had sounded. They’d spent a wonderful morning together, opening up to one another and forging a deeper connection, but Brad was devoted to the beautiful Lexi Parker. Wasn’t he?
Marco, Gina and Daniela had long since lost sight of Brad and Issy, who’d gone on ahead as Daniela eagerly browsed in every shop window. Right now, the three of them were standing outside a jewellery store, as Daniela cooed over the shimmering pieces.
‘That one’s so pretty, it’s my favourite. Oh, look at that one! It’s so sparkly. Papà, please can I get something?’
‘Not today, sweetheart.’
Daniela pulled a disappointed face, but Marco knew that seconds later her attention would be distracted by something else.
‘Gina, which one’s your favourite?’ she asked.
Gina moved closer, realizing she was looking at rows of Murano glass jewellery. There were earrings, necklaces, rings, even ornaments shaped like animals. And there were bracelets. Gina’s eyes hungrily scoured the display. She couldn’t see an identical piece, but there was a beautiful bracelet in shades of blue that reminded her of the one that she’d lost on the opening night of Carnival. She was suddenly assailed by feelings of guilt and sadness, remembering her beloved father, and everything that had happened in the months leading up to his death. Gina found that she couldn’t take her eyes off the window, lost in her memories.
‘… just like the one Pap à found,’ Daniela was saying.
‘What’s that?’ Gina asked, but the words were gone, and Daniela was chattering on about something else entirely now.
‘Are you OK?’ Marco asked Gina, his eyes filled with concern.
‘I’m fine,’ she insisted, pulling herself out of her reverie, forcing herself to move on. ‘How are you feeling now?’ Gina asked, as she fell into step alongside Daniela as Marco dropped back to look at some paintings in an antique shop. ‘I heard you weren’t very well the other evening.’
‘I’m OK now,’ Daniela shrugged. ‘I was really sick at the time, but it only lasted for about a day and then I felt much better. Rosina said it must have been a twenty-four-hour bug. I’m really glad, as I wouldn’t have wanted to miss today.’
‘Your mum must have been very worried about you,’ Gina said, thinking of how Marco had gone racing home after their evening together at the Palazzo Malipiero.
Daniela frowned, slowly lowering her hot chocolate cup. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I saw your dad – I bumped into him,’ Gina explained, feeling the colour rise in her cheeks. ‘And when he got the call that you were ill, he rushed home to be with you.’
‘It was my nanny, Rosina, who called him. My mamma, she’s in heaven.’
Gina felt a chill creep up her spine at this revelation, and felt horrified at her mistake, realization dawning as she put the pieces together that she should have known this all along. Daniela continued to explain.
‘There was an accident. With one of the helicopters. It was three years ago now …’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Gina apologized, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her. She searched her brain to try and recall having been told the terrible news, but she was sure no one had mentioned it before now. It explained so many things, she realized, as she began slotting together incidents and conversations.
‘It’s OK,’ Daniela said lightly. ‘It seems like a long time ago now. Sometimes I can’t really remember her any more. My dad’s still really sad about it, and so are Uncle Edoardo and Grandpa. But you make Papà smile, Gina.’
‘Do I?’ It was a lot to take in, but inside Gina something was softening, melting like gelato in the sunshine. She felt devastated for Daniela, and for Marco; it was impossible to imagine what they must have been through. But Gina couldn’t help but wonder what the news might mean for her and Marco and their blossoming friendship.
Daniela ran off ahead, her long, dark hair streaming out in the breeze behind her, as Gina turned to Marco who had caught up and met his eyes, filled with questions.
‘Marco … Daniela told me about your wife, I’m so sorry.’
‘It sounds like we have a lot to talk about,’ Marco said softly.
‘Yeah, I guess we do …’
‘So, are you free tomorrow night?’ he asked. ‘Can I take you out for the evening?’
‘Sure,’ Gina replied, feeling hope and possibility spring inside her. ‘I’d love that.’