by Nina Singh
“Well, come then.” He guided her to the car. “I was actually headed to see that thickheaded associate of mine. He picked a most inopportune time to chase you back to the States, you know. Several things need immediate attention.”
Brianna didn’t bother to argue that point. The notion that Marco would jeopardize even the smallest business matter for her sake was quite laughable. His son, however, was another matter. Enzo was the real reason Marco had flown to New York. Not her.
She crawled into the stylish convertible and sucked in her breath as air fanned her face when Leo started to drive. It was too pleasant in the cool, comfortable car to utter more than a few words. Leo asked about her son but for the most part they rode in silence. She watched the beautiful scenery whiz by and thanked the heavens that Leo had come upon her when he did.
* * *
“Where have you been? I’ve been worried out—” Marco’s words died on his lips as Brianna stepped into the foyer followed by Leo right on her heels.
“I wasn’t gone that long, Marco.”
She was right, it hadn’t been that long. And clearly she was safe and sound. So why was his blood pounding in his veins? He had to admit it was guilt. He’d felt guilty for leaving her, even though she’d said it was all right.
The matter he’d been summoned about wasn’t even anything that pressing. He’d regretted it immediately once he’d gotten back to his study. And like the bastard that he was, he was oh, so ready to take it out on her. To make matters worse, another man had come to her assistance when he had left her alone.
Quite the husband, he was. How many instances had there been in the time Brianna had lived here that he’d been as equally inconsiderate? Downright cadlike?
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. I was simply concerned as I thought you’d be fairly close behind me.”
Leo wasn’t even hiding his smirk at Marco’s agitated state. “I found Brianna wandering by the main road. I gave her a lift on my way over here.”
“How gallant of you,” Marco stated, his voice dripping with such sarcasm that it earned a gasp from Brianna. Leo simply barked out a laugh.
“Well, thanks again for the ride.” Brianna headed toward the stairs, clearly having had enough of the both of them. “I’m going to go get cleaned up.”
Marco turned toward his study and motioned for Leo to follow. They had several items to discuss now that Marco had returned and he had to get his mind in gear.
“It’s really too bad that we have so much business to go over this afternoon.” Leo made the mundane announcement as he strode into the study and sat in the chair opposite Marco’s desk.
“And why is that?” Marco hoped Leo’s usual penchant for small talk could somehow be cut short this day. He was in no mood for it.
“Because you look like you could use a drink.”
“Thanks for that observation,” Marco said dryly.
Leo’s gaze sharpened. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can give you the New York updates later. I thought you were here to tell me about some critical issues. I’m guessing the pasta project has hit a snag.” Marco pulled a file from the corner of his desk and opened it, then punched in the appropriate keys on his laptop to call up the information.
He looked up to see Leo staring at him intently, his fingers steepled in front of his face.
“I mean with you and Brianna,” Leo said.
Marco’s first urge was to tell him to mind his own business. Especially where Brianna was concerned. He still didn’t like the way they’d looked when they’d walked in together. Nor the way Leo had come across Brianna so conveniently.
“She’s back for Enzo’s sake,” Marco said. “Nothing more. Once we figure out the best way to help him adjust to our separation, she will return to New York.”
“I see,” was all Leo said.
Marco lifted an eyebrow. Leo’s comment definitely held a certain tone to it. “Something you’d like to say?” he asked, knowing he would regret the question.
He was right. “I can’t believe you’d be fool enough to let that woman go. Again.”
Marco sighed. As if Nonna wasn’t bad enough. He really didn’t feel like taking this from Leo as well.
“Whatever the issue is, I’m sure it’s your doing,” Leo boldly added as only a lifelong best friend could. Even still, his remark bordered rather close to uncalled for.
Marco didn’t rise to the bait, he was simply too weary. “We have a few issues we need to address, if you must know.”
“Such as?”
“Such as we don’t really seem to know each other that well.”
Leo nodded with satisfaction. “See, I knew it. It is all your doing. You’re way too closed off, too guarded. Always have been.”
“How is this any of your concern?” Marco demanded to know, barely acknowledging that the other man’s comment had hit too close.
Leo shrugged. “It’s not. I just try to steer you in the right direction. But you often refuse to listen.”
He really was too much. “You’ve had your say, Leo. Now we really should get to work.”
Leo hesitated before nodding slowly. The next few hours passed at a hectic pace. Leo was right. Several details needed Marco’s immediate attention. He had to schedule an on-site visit to the Rome distribution center as soon as possible. The new project leader had been remiss to say the least. Marco realized he should have given Leo more authority before he’d left. By the time Violetta knocked on the door to announce supper, he was surprised just how much time had passed.
“You will join us?” he asked Leo, knowing Nonna would have his hide if he didn’t.
“No. I should head back. I have a dinner meeting.”
Marco stood and dropped his pen. “Knowing you, I doubt it involves much of a meeting. Or dinner for that matter.”
Leo flashed him a grin. “It wasn’t so long ago that you had those same ‘meetings’, my friend.” Leo stood too. “Speaking of which, I should like to say goodbye to that beautiful wife of yours before I leave.”
Marco knew Leo well enough to realize the mischievous set of his mouth, and to take notice of the merriment dancing around the other man’s eyes. But try as he might, he just couldn’t resist the need to respond to his goad.
“I think you’ve spent enough time with my beautiful wife today. You are quite fortunate we’re not outside discussing that issue right now.”
Leo barked out a laugh. “For Enzo’s sake, you said. Right.”
Before Marco had a chance to comment on that, Brianna knocked and stepped into the room. “Nonna wants to make sure you invite Leo to eat with us.” She was glaring at Marco, as if she had no desire to speak to him at all. But when she turned to Leo, her face was all smiles. Marco had a sudden urge to punch Leo in the nose.
“I’m afraid I can’t stay, love,” Leo said as he walked toward her. He kissed her cheek. “I shall see myself out.”
“You do that,” Marco said.
Leo laughed and shut the door behind him.
* * *
Brianna made her way downstairs and into the dining room to join the others. To her surprise, Marco was the only other person at the table. “Where’s Nonna?” she asked, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from him.
“Apparently, she’s not feeling very well and decided to skip dinner.”
Alarm raced through her chest. Nonna wasn’t exactly a young woman. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Marco gave a nonchalant shrug. “Probably her arthritis. It always acts up before rainstorms.”
As if responding to his words, a big flash of lightning lit up the sky in the window behind him.
Marco didn’t seem all that concerned about Nonna’s health. She decided to take his cue. But then a twinge of apprehension started to take hold for
an entirely different reason. The scene she and Marco found themselves was almost intimate. Just the two of them, right before a storm, the lights of the room dimmed low. She cleared her throat and tried to reach for a topic that might make for small talk. She came up blank for an immeasurable amount of time.
Marco, for his part, didn’t make any attempt at conversation.
“The grapes seemed to have fared well,” she ventured, grabbing a crusty focaccia from the bread bowl. “Looks like a good harvest.”
He nodded. “If the weather holds all season, we should do very well.”
A flicker of pride fluttered through her chest. Her husband was skilled at so many things. “You must be so proud,” she began. “A successful winery would add yet another dimension to Dirici Foods. All thanks to you.”
“I’ve been thinking about it for years, getting into the wine business.” Brianna couldn’t help but notice that he said it with an odd laugh.
She looked at him in question. “Why do you find that laughable?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
Oh, no, not this again. She thought they’d made some strides in the vineyards earlier. Was he really going to backtrack yet again?
Marco must have sensed the direction of her thoughts. He put down his knife and fork to level her with an unflinching gaze. “It’s just that I’d planned on having so much in place for Dirici Foods before a certain...age, shall we say.”
He may have said “age” but she knew what he really meant. Perhaps she shouldn’t have pushed after all. “You mean before you started a family.”
Marco didn’t blink. “I don’t regret our son, Brianna. You must not ever think that.”
Of course she didn’t think so. But the fact had to be acknowledged that Enzo was the result of an unplanned pregnancy. Someone like Marco who planned everything out with meticulous detail, who’d had to endure the abandonment of both parents, would have certainly hoped to have a bit more control over starting a family, raising a child.
In that regard they weren’t terribly different, were they?
She swallowed down the lump of emotion that had suddenly formed at the base of her throat. “I know that, Marco. I really do. I think we both have to just admit that each of us was unprepared in a different way. That doesn’t make us less loving or enamored with our child.”
His shoulders seemed to drop with relief. Somehow, she’d managed to say the right thing. But it was her heartfelt truth.
He waited a beat before picking up his utensils once more. “In fact, I’m thinking about taking Enzo down to see the vines. I think he’ll enjoy seeing the rows and rows of hanging fruit.”
“I’m sure he’ll love it, now that he’s old enough to appreciate it a bit. Though he’s much too young to truly fathom just how fortunate he is to have all that land at his disposal.”
Marco paused in the act of piercing some gnocchi with his fork. “You were placed in mostly inner-city homes, weren’t you?”
She nodded. “Not a lot of land to run around or play. You were lucky to have it as a child.”
Marco swallowed. “Yes, well. I didn’t always feel so lucky.”
He wouldn’t have. Not as his family was falling apart around him. It was yet another lesson in looks being deceiving. A heavy silence settled between them, suddenly turning the moment awkward. Brianna cleared her throat.
“You might want to be careful while you’re out there with him,” she said teasingly, to lighten the mood.
He looked up at her with question. “Why’s that?”
She finished a bite of bread before answering him. “To a toddler, all those grapes are simply going to look like numerous little balls that he can launch and throw. I’m guessing you’ll both be quite sticky afterward.” That image prompted a giggle to erupt from her throat.
“You would find that funny, would you?” Marco asked with mock offense.
“Very.”
“If that’s the case, there’s really only one thing I’d be curious about,” he said.
“What would that be?”
“How good is his throwing arm?”
Brianna smiled at the silly question. “Quite capable actually. He likes to throw slightly bigger objects, like his sippy cups usually. But tiny orbs that explode on impact would provide him immense entertainment, I’m sure.”
“Good to know. As an Italian, I would have preferred a football—sorry, soccer—playing son but baseball’s a respectable sport for you Americans.”
That comment led to a particularly heated discussion about the merits of one sport over the other. By the time they finished eating and started clearing the dishes, Brianna was relieved to find that the awkwardness of earlier had completely dissipated.
In fact, it had been a surprisingly enjoyable dinner overall. She was discovering more about Marco since returning to Italy than she had the entire time she’d lived with him.
He was finally opening up to her. She could only hope it would last. She had to admit, after all this time, it was nice finally getting to know her husband. Even if it was much too late to save their marriage.
* * *
Bright sunshine flooded into the room from the window across the bed. It didn’t seem right, Brianna thought, slowly coming awake. Not after listening to the rain and thunder for most of the night.
Someone had brought in a pot of coffee sometime during the early morning hours. She stood and poured herself a cup, drinking it quickly. It had gone completely cold but the caffeine nevertheless did its job.
Scenes from the previous day ran through her mind like a movie. Marco’s look as he’d talked about his mother leaving when he was just a small child.
She remembered the way he had opened up to her earlier in the day, and the lighthearted banter during dinner.
The way she’d bared a bit of her soul so that he may offer a glimpse of his. Brianna sighed and poured herself another cup, walking to the bathroom as she drank. A long, hot shower would feel like heaven. She felt like she’d lived about a year in the last few days alone.
After that, she wanted to go find Enzo. She couldn’t even remember the last time he’d woken up to anyone else besides his mama.
When she made it downstairs she found Nonna on the front veranda sipping tea and nibbling on her usual light breakfast of toast and fruit with a full pot of espresso. Brianna felt a sense of relief that she was feeling better. When she saw her, Nonna welcomed her with a large smile.
“Brianna, darling. Please do join me.”
“I’d love to. Where’s Enzo?”
“Marco took him out about half an hour ago, dear. They’re walking to the pond. He said he wanted to show Enzo how full it gets after a storm such as the one last night.”
“Oh,” Brianna said with disappointment, realizing she’d dearly missed her son.
Brianna pulled out a chair and sat. Violetta immediately appeared with a full cup of coffee and a basket of the baked goods Brianna enjoyed so much. The comfort and luxury of the Dirici estate was not something she’d gotten used to even while living here.
“We missed you at dinner yesterday,” Brianna said, peering at her over her cup. “Are you all right?”
The older woman gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “It was nothing. Just feeling a little weary in these old bones. I’m good as rain.”
“Glad to hear it, Nonna. We can’t have you not feeling well.”
“And I’m glad we have a chance to speak, dear. It’s been ages since I’ve been able to really talk to you.” She set her cup down. “How have you been? Truly?”
Brianna shrugged. Despite not having known her all that long, Nonna was as dear to her as anyone. More of a maternal figure than any other lady in her life, Nonna was just one of those people who always made others comfortable. But Brianna’s emotions were too close to the surface to risk
a heart-to-heart chat right now.
“We’ve been adjusting,” she answered.
“You both seem terribly worried about Enzo. He seems like a perfect little boy to me.”
Brianna sighed. “For the most part he is, Nonna. He just has some...issues. Disciplinary and otherwise.”
“You mean about his nannies.”
Brianna nodded. “Among other things. He’s only a baby really. But once he decides he doesn’t like someone, he’s pretty much made up his mind. It’s becoming embarrassing how many sitters I’ve had to employ.”
“Tell me, then. In the beginning, does he give these nannies a chance?”
Brianna squinted in the early morning sun. “I suppose.”
“Ah,” was all Nonna said.
Brianna waited for her to continue. For several moments, it didn’t appear as if she would. Finally, Nonna spoke.
“Don’t you understand then, dear?” she asked.
Brianna shook her head. Understand what?
“Enzo isn’t overly rambunctious. He just isn’t terribly forgiving after a transgression.” She patted Brianna’s hand. “Perhaps at some point these nannies uttered a harsh reprimand, or ignored a plea, or any number of things that a small boy wouldn’t understand. It’s a genetic trait, I dare say.”
“You’re saying it might be enough to color his impression of that person.” Brianna put her pastry down and leaned back into her chair. “It’s a trait he gets from Marco, isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid so, dear. He also doesn’t tolerate transgression very well.”
Did Marco see her leaving as such a transgression? And what did that mean for her if he did?
“Well, no matter now,” Nonna declared. “All that matters is that you and Enzo are back.”
“I only came back because of Enzo.” Nonna had to realize this wasn’t meant to be a reunion between man and wife.
Nonna smiled slightly. “So you both keep telling me.”
Brianna found she didn’t have the stomach to try to belabor the point right now. Nor the desire to continue eating. And the third cup of coffee on a relatively empty stomach was starting to make her insides churn. She wiped her lips with her napkin and stood. “Please excuse me, Nonna. I really would like to go find my son.”