“It’s going to be great Mum “said Annie “Don’t forget please, Nana must bring Pete with her.”
Finally, it was time to drive to the airport. Annie was shivering with excitement, she was also worried that the surprise would be too much for Nana.
When she saw Nana and Nonno coming towards her, she lost all her negative thoughts,
Wow, Nana looks so excited, this is wonderful for her.
At last everybody was there crowding around Annie kissing and hugging, eventually she had a chance to introduce Vincenzo. She saw Mum and Nana looking at him and speculating. As they were all chattering and laughing and exclaiming, Annie noticed another figure waiting in the background. She shrieked.
“Uncle Bas, you came too.” Basil stepped forward and gave her a hug.
“Wouldn’t miss this for anything.” he smiled and turning to Vincenzo introduced himself.
Riccardo had made provision for Annie’s parents and grandparents, he also managed to make room for Basil. After their evening meal, the two families sat outside on the patio discussing the amazing events.
Annie took Nana’s arm and strolled with her down to the pool and they both sat on the chairs. Looking around Nana sighed
“Annie, my sweetheart,” Nana said, “You have done it.”
Annie smiled “Are you OK, Nan? Was it a big shock?”
´Well” replied Nan “Yes, but what a wonderful shock. Just think, I have a brother” she laughed “I am seventy years old and have discovered, I have an older brother,” She turned and hugged Annie. “I just knew there was something Cecilia was hiding, they were all in the conspiracy, Ida, my grandmother, Aunt Helena and I think my cousins knew something, but nobody would talk,” she drew a deep breath. “My Mother has certainly made up for it!” She exclaimed. “It was a shame she died on the day she was determined to reveal everything,” Catherine looked at Annie. “You know that day at the hospital, just after the machine had been turned off, I felt something on my cheek,” She sighed. “It actually felt like an insect or gentle breeze.”
Catherine looked down into the valley, it was just sunset and they could hear the silence. Then the Cicada’s chirped up, and began their nightly serenade. “Annie” whispered Catherine “She killed him, it must have been a terrible experience,” She sighed raggedly. “She did it to save her family and to avenge little Bernard, she killed that vile man. It must have been a terrible time for her,” Tears were coursing down Nan’s cheeks and she was trembling, her voice very wobbly. “She was too ashamed to tell me that she had murdered a human being.”
Annie said nothing; she put her arms around her Nana and gave her a consoling hug. She then pressed the old photo of Cecilia and Bernard into Nan’s hand.
The next day they all arrived at Bernardo’s house, exclaiming how beautiful it all was, Nana clutching her Pete. Vincenzo and Denise hadn’t wanted to accompany them, but Annie insisted, she still had not told her parents that she had made up her mind to remain in Italy.
When Bernardo came out to greet them he couldn’t stop looking at Catherine, his eyes were shining with unshed tears and Nana was openly crying. They fell into each other’s’ arms, not saying a word. Bernardo’s family were all there to meet them, he had a beautiful daughter, Nicola, and two sons. They were all married and Bernard had seven grandchildren. It was an amazing day and Bernardo wanted Nan and Nonno to stay with them. Which they were happy to do. Paulo and Bernardo took an instant liking to each other and Bernardo was pleasantly surprised that Catherine had married an Italian.
Leaving Catherine and Paulo at Bernardo’s house, and promising they would return the next day with their luggage, Annie and the others left for home. After they had supper, Vincenzo asked Annie to take a ride with him, she saw her parents looking at her, and she knew they thought something important was brewing. Vincenzo took Annie up to the little church, and there he asked if she would marry him.
“Yes, Yes, Vincenzo, I will marry you.” she was so happy.
It wasn’t too late when they finally arrived back and Louisa was waiting up for Annie.
“Ok, now Ladybird” she said, “What’s with you and Vincenzo?”
“Mum” said Annie softly “I love him. I have decided to stay here in Tuscany and we are going to be married next year.”
Louisa sighed, she wiped the tears that were gathering and whispered, her voice trembling.
“Annie, he is a good man, I know, but will you be happy here without us?”
“I will soon find out Mum, but I am pretty certain I am going to be the happiest person in the world.” They both laughed.
The next day they all returned to Bernardo’s farm; Pia had made a delicious lunch set outside on the wide veranda overlooking the valley. Annie pulled Nana and Paulo aside and told them she was going to stay in Italy and Vincenzo had asked her to marry him.
Nana smiled “I knew it. The minute I saw you two, I knew it and I told Nonno.” She turned to Paulo who was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
“Yes,” he said, “She did tell me,” He chuckled.
“It seems to me the women of this family can’t resist Italians.”
Paulo then kissed Annie and said, “You are going to be happy Tesora I know it”
EPILOGUE
Italy – Present Day
V incenzo and Annie were married in Spring. Annie’s family returned to Tuscany. Louisa and David and Uncle Basil, stayed at the farm and Nana and Nonno with Bernardo and Pia.
The day was a typical Tuscany day and the wedding was around the pool. Halfway through the celebrations, Riccardo told everybody he wanted to reveal something; it was his special present for Catherine and Bernardo. The room where Cecilia almost died had been completed and Riccardo gave the apartment to Annie and Vincenzo, combining the flat next door, which made it a large home. Denise and her father and brother were there and Bernardo and his large family. Vincenzo’s mother had also arrived.
Riccardo cleared his throat and said.
“Well, I have a surprise for Catherine and Bernardo and indirectly for Annie and Vincenzo and everybody here,” He had an old rusty battered tin in front of him on the table and taking it up he walked around to Catherine and said. “Right, now you have the honour of opening this, it is something that was found under the rubble.”
Handing the old battered tin to Catherine he stood back with a smile,
Catherine looked up at Riccardo and down at the tin and Annie gasped.
“Riccardo,” she said. “This must be the tin that Piero had that day of the bombing, the tin he went back for.” Riccardo nodded.
Catherine slowly opened the tin and she made a small sound.
“Look, look everybody.” She cried. She held up a small silver bracelet with a tiny silver coin attached to it. Catherine remembered that this type of coin had been called a tickey in South Africa
“Oh Riccardo” she whispered, “This was Cecilia’s, my father gave it to her when they first met, I remember her telling about it on the recording.” She then put her hand back into the tin and brought out a delicate gold chain with a charm spelling out the name CECILIA.
There were papers and photos in the old tin, they had long since disintegrated, but the only things of real interest were the things belonging to Cecilia.
Annie looked up and she saw Cecilia standing between Catherine and Bernardo, a hand on each of her children’s shoulders. There was a wonderful light around the three of them and Cecilia was smiling at her, Annie smiled back at her great- grandmother and mouthed.
“Thank you.”
Cecilia was a thought in Annie’s head. No Annie love, thank you.
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Cecilia's Secret Page 21