Capello Brothers 3 Train My Heart

by J'aimee Brooker

  "Siamo arrivati" announced the driver, stopping the taxi and rousing Luca from his restless thoughts. We are here.

  After paying the driver, Luca walked into the hotel reception and was met with a rich sultry voice, "Benvenuto, parli Italiano?" Welcome, do you speak Italian?

  "Si" Luca replied, turning to face the curvaceous stranger. "Parli Inglese?" Yes, do you speak English?

  "Aah, yes, English, a little" she replied, holding her thumb and index finger about an inch apart to reiterate her words.

  "I have a booking, Luca Capello" he replied slowly, allowing each word to settle.

  "Aah, Mr Capello. I show you to your room. Luggage, si?" she queried.

  "No, just this one", Luca replied pointing to his backpack and falling into step behind her.

  "From Australia, yes?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.

  "Yes. I was born here, up north, and moved to Australia when I was young"

  "Aah, Australia… bella terra" she sighed wistfully. Beautiful land.

  "Yes, it is" Luca replied, bringing his thoughts back to Imogen and how hard it had been to leave her at the airport.

  "Mr Capello, this is your room; you see out here" she started, pulling the curtains back sharply, "this is Naviglio, canals, many restaurants and cafes. Down this way" she continued, pointing in the opposite direction, "this way to Milano Duomo and shopping, much shopping. Avete una fidanzata?" Do you have a girlfriend?

  Laughing and surprised by her upfront question, Luca replied, "Si, fidanzata. Lei é in Australia". Yes, girlfriend. She is in Australia.

  "Aah… I can only ask, si? Ragazza fortuna…" Lucky girl she smiled, sashaying from the room and leaving Luca alone with thoughts of Imogen, and what she'd be doing right now. Pulling out his phone, he text her: I'm here, Im. Tired, need sleep. I miss you. I love you.

  "Mr Capello, I bring you some food" came the familiar voice.

  Rising to open the door, Luca stepped aside as she walked in with a platter of bread, cheese, and fruit. "Grazie—" he said trailing off.

  "Annalisa. Mi chiamo é Annalisa" My name is Annalisa.

  "Grazie Annalisa; you are very kind" he replied, noticing the crimson blush hitting her cheeks.

  "Mangiare, riposare" Eat, rest, Annalisa replied before leaving and closing the door.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Luca woke the following morning to the buzz of the city; construction work hammering in the background, cars, buses and trams making their morning commutes, and the hypnotic smells of coffee and freshly baked bread and pastries.

  Feeling invigorated from his almost eighteen hour sleep, Luca bounced from the bed, peeling his clothes off as he headed to the shower. Standing beneath the scorching hot water dropping hard against his shoulders, he was reminded of Imogen's morning massages; a potent reminder that he'd left her 16,000 kilometres away. He should have brought her, he knew that now, but he was afraid of how his father would be toward him and certainly didn't want Imogen exposed to him either. Closing his eyes, his mind raced; tomorrow he'd be heading north to see his father, he didn't know how he felt about that: nervous, excited, and apprehensive barely covered it. He'd role-played every possible outcome in his head over and over and for all the thinking, he was still no closer to an answer.

  Stepping out of the shower and drying off, Luca walked into the bedroom to find some light clothes for the day; no doubt it'd be hot again.

  "Aah!" came the scream, as Luca reached modestly to cover himself.

  "Annalisa! Perché sei qui?" he demanded. Why are you here?!

  "Mr Capello. I bring you breakfast" she stammered, struggling to draw her eyes away from his nakedness and up to meet his.

  "You don't knock? Please, set it down over there Annalisa" he replied sternly.

  "You have no fidanzata here. I keep you company?" she asked.

  "No. Annalisa, no. Please, leave" Luca replied, standing naked bar his well-placed hand preserving his modesty.

  "Mi dispiace" she murmured, before lowering her head and leaving the room. I'm sorry.

  Once the door was shut, Luca walked over and locked it, securing it with the chain lock to prevent any more unexpected visitors. Sitting on the bed, he had to laugh out loud to himself, perhaps at himself. He'd always had women throwing themselves at him; in fact all three of the brothers did. Before meeting Imogen, he had have had Annalisa naked and writhing on his bed within minutes, after all, why look a gift horse in the mouth, particularly a young, beautiful one. Now, with Imogen, he couldn't bear the thought of being with anyone else. The shift had happened so gradually he hadn't noticed it; but now sitting here alone, naked, and having just declined an otherwise perfect proposition by a gorgeous woman, Luca realized it'd only ever be Imogen again. The thought made him smile and in that moment he knew where he was heading for the day and what he needed to do.

  "Sir, this ring holds a one carat diamond, of flawness clarity and exceptional whiteness—this is one of our specialties here at Van Cleef & Arpels" spoke the articulate saleswoman.

  As a child, Luca had heard of his grandparent's engagement countless times. His Nonno had scrimped and saved enough money to travel to Paris and purchase the finest engagement ring he could afford. It had been quite an adventure for his Nonno who had never strayed outside of Italy; yet his Nonna was left bereft believing he'd snuck off with another woman. Of course, when his grandfather had returned with a diamond engagement set from the finest European jeweler of the time, and his grandmother became the envy of all the women in the small Italian village, all was forgiven quite quickly.

  "Yes, this is the one" Luca smiled to the assistant, "grazie".

  "Aah, your lovely lady will not be disappointed, Sir. Is she expecting your proposal?" she asked, gently polishing the ring before sliding it safely into the small white box and tying it with signature Van Cleef & Arpels satin ribbon.

  "No, I think this will certainly surprise her" Luca laughed, the enormity of what he was doing only just starting to set in.

  "Sir, this will be one very pleasant surprise!" she exclaimed, handing Luca the boxed ring in a shopping bag that now held his future.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Settling into his seat, Luca took one last look at Milan Central Station as the train pulled out into the daylight. The station itself was exactly as he remembered; a foreboding, solid white entrance leading through to a welcoming and immaculately designed arched station.

  Letting out a lengthy sigh, Luca's mind ran through the chaos that had been his morning. If he'd believed in destiny, he'd likely accept that the universe was working to have him avoid this leg of the trip. Every step he'd taken all day had been the wrong one; sleeping through an alarm clock for the first time in his life, the disastrous taxi trip to the station complete with a flat tyre and every red light imaginable, then to be greeted with a ten-deep queue for tickets and only minutes to spare before his train left.

  His anxiety had been rising steadily since arriving in Italy; now with the train heading north to the sleepy village of Sondrio, there was no backing out. By the end of the day, Luca would meet his father for the first time since fleeing Italy with his mother and brothers as a child.

  Trying desperately to dismiss his fears and nerves, Luca focused instead on the passing scenery. Slowing to a stop as they pulled into Lecco station, the breathtaking curve of Lake Como appeared. The lakeside town housed dated almost dilapidated homes which set against the pristine waters of the lake offered an intriguing contrast. As the train slowly picked up speed, Luca's thoughts drifted again to his father; his doubt about meeting the man gaining as much momentum as the speeding train. It's not too late to bail; Luca thought to himself not for the first time since announcing his plans to Imogen.

  Reaching for his pocket, Luca felt for the ring box and found it safely in place. Since buying the engagement ring his thoughts had been dominated by when and where he'd propose; the thought of making Imogen his wife bringing a smile to Luca's weary face every time.


  Looking up, Luca realized the train was pulling in to stop at Colico station, the last of the Como stops before turning and heading east toward Sondrio. Colico itself was breathtaking; the Italian Alps standing at attention fiercely in the background with the sparkling waters of the lake sitting calmly before them. From here, the Alps would guide them imposingly the entire way to Sondrio, a realization that filled Luca with both strength and fear.

  Stepping off the train in Sondrio had offered a harsh reality; easily forty degrees Celsius, no breeze and a breathtaking dry heat that instantly transported Luca to his childhood. He was home; the brutal heat reiterated that without compromise.

  From here, Luca needed to travel to Arquino, the closest village to his father's home; a twenty five minute drive from central Sondrio and a relatively isolated location. Imogen had been particularly concerned about this leg of the trip and had suggested Luca hire a car to give him more flexibility whilst visiting his father. Luca had dismissed her research of the local car hire company and assured her he'd be fine catching a taxi to his father's home.

  However standing in the vaguely familiar surrounds of Sondrio, memories that Luca had long buried began to surface. Like a show-reel playing through his mind, Luca began to see and hear the shouts and screams of his mother telling them to hide, the dull thump of his father's fist as he forced his way from room to room, person to person annihilating the house and everyone in it. Memories Luca had so carefully locked away unraveling before him, sucking the air from his lungs as certainly as the heat did.

  "Signore, volete un taxi?" Sir, do you want a taxi? came the shout from across the road.

  "Si" Luca called in reply, loading his backpack into the vehicle before passing the driver Imogen's handwritten note detailing the address of the car hire business.

  Driving in silence, Luca worked to steady his breathing and clear his mind. For this visit to be useful, he'd need to go in with an open mind and make judgment as a grown man not as the petrified and naïve little boy he was when he last saw his father.

  Having stopped at a small greengrocer on his way north to Arquino, Luca had done a small shop and stocked up on essentials for his stay. As the road wound its way through the hillside, the houses became scarce and the roads narrower. He was almost there.

  Surely not, Luca thought as he pulled into the overgrown driveway. "This cannot be the place" he spoke aloud as stepped out of the car and looked back in the direction he'd just come. Looking over his mother's directions, he mentally checked off the landmarks she'd written: go past the last house on the right, drive across the bridge overlooking the creek, it's the first house on your left.

  Luca side-stepped through the overgrown weeds and trees that were strangling the path to the house, the old place looked unlivable. Though his mother had assured him otherwise, it dawned on Luca that it was possible his father had moved on. He still wasn't convinced that this was even the right place—it was nothing like he remembered.

  Walking to the back of the property, Luca could see into the house and recognized the old kitchen; this is the place he smiled to himself. The old stove stood in the corner as it always had, and a small wooden bench that he recalled watching his father build sat just to the left.

  On closer inspection, he realized that what was once a place of comfort and togetherness now housed just a single wooden chair being held together with bounds of twine. Other than clutter and mess, the kitchen was completely bare. Plates of half-eaten meals stacked on the bench provided the only clue that the house was still lived in; there were no photos, no personal belongings, nothing. So, he's still here.

  A sheet of tin stood precariously as Luca rounded the perimeter of the house. Feeling instantly guilty that no one was around to help keep the place tidy, Luca pushed and pulled to jimmy the tin out of its place and set aside somewhere safer. As it came away, Luca stilled; the world around him slowed and he could hear each beat of his racing heart. This was where Roman and Dominic used to hide him, where he used to listen for the screaming and shouting to subside; the crying he learned took longer to stop.

  The first night that Roman had hidden him and Dominic here he had made them promise to stay put until he came for them. He and Dom had sat there for what seemed like hours, Luca crying uncontrollably at first, scared and confused until Dominic had warned him to be quiet or their hiding spot would be discovered. Later that night, they'd heard heavy footsteps circling the house; afraid they'd been found out Dom had pushed Luca further under the house resolute to take the punishment himself, when the weary and concerned face of their neighbor, Joseph Giavinni, came into focus. Having heard the prolonged shouts and screaming, Giavinni had come to help. After a brief tussle that rendered their father incapacitated, he then helped bandage Ma and Roman before heading out to find Dominic and Luca. From that night on, their father's temper worsened, and Dominic would hide Luca first then head back into the affray to help Roman.

  "CHI SEI?" boomed the familiar voice behind him. Who are you?

  Steadying himself, Luca turned to face his father, "Papà, sono io Luca". Dad, it's me Luca.

  "I know no Luca" his father replied resolutely in broken English.

  "Tuo figlio, Luca". Your son, Luca.

  "Vada via!" Go away! came the mumbled replied, before he turned unsteadily and walked away from Luca and into the house.

  Go away? He'd just flown from the other side of the world to see him and this was the greeting he received? Storming after him, Luca caught his father's arm as he walked through the front door.

  "Vada via? Really? That's what you say to a son you've not seen in decades?" Luca retorted.

  "Vada via" his father smiled back, the stench of whisky on his breath stinging Luca as hard as his words, "how you say it… Get lost!"

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Luca woke from an uneasy sleep; the temperature already stifling and the surrounds of his old bedroom offering no respite from the onslaught of bad memories that had been hitting him since arriving. Reaching into his backpack, Luca pulled out his phone and switched it on hoping to find a text from Imogen. Nothing, no signal, no reception, no message and his heart sunk a little further.

  After their shaky start, his father had invited him to stay albeit ensuring that Luca was aware that he wasn't to get "too comfortable". Though he'd been uncertain about staying given his father's abrasive attitude and obvious drunkenness, Luca had reasoned that at almost a foot taller and easily 50 kilograms heavier, he was more than capable of holding his own if his father did lose his temper.

  He'd asked after their mother and though Luca had glossed over the details, his father still seemed annoyed at her ability to move on and create a new and better life. Conversation had turned to Roman, Dominic and himself and rather than his father being proud of what they'd achieved, the positive news served only to infuriate him further. His drunkenness hadn't helped and as his composure had begun to slip and his abrasiveness became less tolerable, Luca had feigned tiredness and hit the sack. His father turned in not long afterward and Luca had listened as his cried himself to sleep.

  His fathers' shout, "MI STAI OFFENDENDO!" broke Luca's train of thought abruptly. You are offending me!

  The groceries Luca thought to himself. He'd brought them inside yesterday but given his father's inebriated state it was hardly a surprise that he'd only now discovered them.

  "It's just food" Luca called back, rising from his bed and reaching for a t-shirt.

  "You think I can't provide? Proprio come tua madre!" just like your mother! came the bellowing response as his father barged through the door and came face to chest with Luca. Taking a step back, his father sized him up, his eyes taking inventory of Luca's rippled torso and well defined shoulders and biceps before stepping backwards from the room. "Non ho bisogno del tuo aiuto" I do not need your help he hissed before turning his back to Luca and disappearing into his bedroom.

  "Benvenuto" came the warm welcome from the visitor standing on the fr
ont landing juggling dishes and bowls of delicious smelling food. "Italiano o Inglese?"

  "Entrambi" both Luca replied.

  "Aah, Inglese is easier, yes?"

  "Yes. Are you here to see my father?"

  "Your… father?" she replied questioningly.

  Luca felt the sting of disappointment; his father had never mentioned them to his friends.

  "Margherita, this is Luca" his father announced from behind.

  Stepping aside, Luca welcomed the woman into the house unarming her of the dishes that were now threatening to fall from her shaking arms.

  "Your son?" she whispered again to his father.

  "Si, si" his father replied, dismissively with a sweeping motion of his hand.

  "You… you never mentioned a son"

  "Three actually, and an ex-wife that he probably hasn't mentioned either" Luca chimed in, his temper suddenly taking over. "Why would you get messed up with him anyway?"

  "Messed up…?" she asked quietly, though as her eyes dropped to the floor Luca realized she understood what he’d implied.

  "LUCA! Go!" his father boomed, as he opened a cheap bottle of whisky and poured himself a glass.

  Leaving the house, Luca slammed the door closed as forcefully as he could before hearing his father and Margherita begin arguing in such heated, fast-paced Italian he didn't dare try to follow the discussion.

  An hour later, Luca heard Margherita's car leave the driveway and his father calling his name. Let him wait Luca thought to himself and carried on basking in the sun on an old deck chair he'd fixed up with some twine and spare materials.

  "You offended her" his father accused, as Luca squinted up into the direction of the voice.

  "You offend me by pretending we don't exist. We are your family. Famiglia!" Luca shouted.