“The thing is,” he said, “I’m worried about Nonna’s care. If Charlie and I are keeping you from focusing on that, then we should move out.”
“She wouldn’t like that.”
“But if you hadn’t come home tonight, and known just what to do, and given her that injection, something much worse could have happened, right?”
Miserably, Lacey twisted her hands together, staring at the floor. “I’m really sorry. I can see why you think I’ve been neglectful.”
“That’s not it. I don’t think you and she ever had an arrangement where you had to be here with her 24/7. Did you?”
“No.” Honesty compelled her to add, “But part of the appeal of living here was that she’d have me around a lot while I remodeled. Which I usually am. It’s just been a week of running errands instead of remodeling.”
He nodded. “I’ve been too focused on my own stuff, too, and apparently, it’s given Nonna and Charlie too much time to get into trouble together.”
“Does Charlie understand that he’s not to do that anymore?”
“Yes. He was pretty upset when he saw Nonna passed out. He’s grown very fond of her.” He looked into her eyes again. “And of you. You’ve been very kind to him.”
“He’s a good kid.”
He nodded. “So, this arrangement is working out well for Nonna, and well for Charlie. It’s just you and me who need to manage our...interactions.”
If he could be up front and honest, so could she. “I won’t need to avoid you if you’re serious about no repeat of that. I...I’m not over Gerry, you see.” She fingered the necklace where she wore his wedding ring. “I know it’s been over a year, which some people say is enough time, but it’s not. He was everything to me.”
A shadow crossed Vito’s face, and for the first time she realized that he didn’t talk much about Gerry. She wondered why. They’d been close comrades, right? Close enough for Gerry to come home with Vito on leave from the army. “You know what he was like,” she persisted. “What a great guy he was.”
Vito nodded once. “I know what he was like.”
“So you can see why...well, why it’s hard to get over him. He’ll always be my hero.”
A muscle worked in Vito’s scarred face. “I understand. And believe me, the last thing I want is to displace that feeling in you. So please, stay and care for Nonna and don’t worry about Charlie and me.”
He stood and walked quickly out of the room.
And Lacey stared after him, wondering why it seemed that he was leaving a lot unsaid.
Chapter Eight
Vito was deep into finishing a research paper on the educator John Dewey when Charlie barged into his room. “Nonna’s bored,” he announced.
“Bored?” Vito came slowly back to twenty-first-century Ohio. “You’re bored?”
“Well, yeah,” Charlie said thoughtfully, “a little. But I came to tell you that Nonna is bored.”
That brought Vito to full attention. “Did she ask you to get her sweets again?”
“No.” Charlie shook his head vigorously. “She wouldn’t. But she wants me to play a card game called Briscola, and it’s too hard. And she wants me to watch TV with her, only I don’t like her shows.”
“I’ll go spend some time with her.” Vito ruffled Charlie’s hair. “You probably want to go outside and ride that bike, don’t you?” He’d fixed up an old one for Charlie over the weekend.
“Yeah,” Charlie said, looking relieved that Vito understood. “Can I?”
“Let’s see who’s outside. If you stay on this block and be careful of cars, it’s okay.”
After he’d walked out with Charlie and made sure there were several parents in yards up and down the street, keeping an eye on the kids, Vito went back inside and headed toward Nonna’s room. He’d stayed up late working on his research paper and spent most of the day on it, as well, and he felt like the letters on the computer monitor were still bouncing in front of his eyes. But it was all good. He was finding all the teaching theories extraordinarily interesting and it made him certain he’d done the right thing, enrolling in school.
Distracted, he tapped on the edge of Nonna’s open door and walked in before realizing that Lacey was there, sitting beside Nonna, both of them engrossed in a television show.
A week had passed since Nonna’s health scare and their talk, and they were settling into a routine in which Lacey spent more time at home. A routine that most emphatically did not include strolls to Lover’s Cave. In fact, it barely included being in the same room together.
Lacey glanced up, saw him and looked away.
Nonna clicked off the television. “I can’t believe he picked the blonde. I’m very disappointed in that young man.”
“Well, she was the prettiest,” Lacey said, laughing. “But you’re right. I don’t see the relationship lasting very long.”
“Hey, Nonna.” Vito bent over to kiss his grandmother’s cheek, conscious that it was the first time he’d seen her that day. He’d been neglectful, working on this paper. He’d do better tomorrow.
The silver lining was that Lacey was spending more time with Nonna, staying home more. He’d heard her up at all hours, working on the renovations. Now, he realized guiltily that one reason she might be staying up late was that Nonna was needing her companionship during the day. Which was partly her job, but also partly his responsibility.
Lacey stood up. “I should go get some stuff done.” It was clearly an excuse to get away from Vito.
Perversely, that made him want her to stay.
Apparently, Nonna felt the same. “Could you wait just a minute, dear? There’s something I want to talk to you two about.”
“O-kaaay.” She sat down again with obvious reluctance.
Vito focused on his grandmother. “Charlie says you’re bored, Nonna.”
“Oh, my, bored doesn’t begin to describe it.” She patted Lacey’s hand. “Although it’s not for this one’s lack of trying.”
“I can’t hang out as much as I’d like,” Lacey said apologetically. “I’ve got to finish the renovations before the end of the summer, and there’s so much to do. But I was thinking, maybe you’re well enough to do more of the activities over at the Senior Towers.”
“That’s a great idea,” Vito said, relieved. “Don’t they have a bridge group?”
“Yes, and a drop-in lunch program, as well.” Lacey smiled at Nonna. “You’d definitely get more exciting lunch choices over there than you get when I fix lunch. And it would get you walking more, which would be great for your health.”
“How does that sound, Nonna?”
She shrugged. “Good, I guess,” she said. “But...” She trailed off, plucking at the edge of her blanket.
“But what?”
She looked up. “I need a project.”
“Like what, a craft project?”
“No, I want to start something new. With people.”
That made sense; Nonna wasn’t a sit-home-and-knit type of person, or at least, she hadn’t been. “Like when you started your baking club that burned everything? Or that barbershop quartet, back when we were kids?” Vito smiled, remembering the off-key singing that had emanated from the big old house’s front room when the ladies came to practice. Both groups had been disasters, but entertaining for all involved. Everyone wanted to join in Nonna’s projects because she was so much fun as a person.
It made all the sense in the world that she would want to do something like that again.
“Do you have any ideas of what you might want to do?” Lacey asked her.
“Well...” She smiled winningly.
Vito shook his head. “Nonna, when you get that look on your face, I get very afraid.”
“What’s the idea?” Lacey sounded amused.<
br />
Nonna pushed herself up, looking livelier than she’d been the past week. “All right, I’ll tell you. You know the show we were just watching?”
“Bachelor Matches, sure,” Lacey said. “But what’s that got to do with you having a project?”
Nonna clasped her hands together and swung her legs to the side of her bed. “I want to start a new matchmaker service in Rescue River.”
“What?” Vito’s jaw about dropped. “Why?”
“I don’t think—” Lacey began.
“You remember the stories from the old country,” Nonna interrupted, gripping Vito’s hand. “My Tia Bianca, she was a paraninfo. Known for matchmaking throughout our village and beyond. She continued until she died at ninety-seven, and the whole region came to her funeral.”
Vito nodded, frowning. He did remember the stories, but he wondered what was behind this.
“I need to start with some test clients,” she continued, “and because of all you two have done for me, you can have the honor. For free!”
“Oh, Nonna, no,” Lacey said. “I don’t think this is a good idea. I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”
“She’s right.” Vito moved to sit beside his grandmother. The last thing he needed was Nonna trying to match him up with some unsuspecting woman who would be horrified by his scars.
“If I don’t do this, then what do I have to live for?” Nonna’s chin trembled. “Why do I even get up in the morning? Of what use am I to the world?” She buried her face in thin, blue-veined hands, her shoulders shaking.
Vito looked over at Lacey and saw his own concern mirrored on her face.
“Nonna, you have so much to live for!” she said.
“So many people who love you,” Vito added, putting an arm around her shoulders.
“But none of it means anything!” she said, her face still buried in her hands.
Tears. Vito couldn’t handle a woman’s tears. “Oh, well, Nonna, if it’s that important to you...”
“I could maybe see it if you get someone else involved to help you,” Lacey said. “Someone sensible like Lou Ann Miller or Miss Minnie Falcon.”
Nonna lifted her head, her teary face transformed by a huge smile. “Yes, they can help, both of them!”
“Good,” Lacey said. “And not too much at once. Don’t get carried away.”
“It’ll be just the two of you to start. Now, Vito. What do you want in a woman?”
Vito blinked. How had she recovered from her tears so quickly? Had he missed something?
Or had Nonna been hoodwinking them?
“Could you get me a tablet of paper, dear?” Nonna said to Lacey. “I don’t want to miss a word.”
“Here you go,” Lacey said, handing Nonna a legal pad and a pencil. “And now I’ve got to get to sanding woodwork.”
“Oh, stay, dear. I want to talk to you, too.”
Lacey laughed. “Don’t you think these interviews should be private?” She spun and walked toward the door.
Vito watched her go, thinking of Nonna’s question. The truth was, he wanted someone like Lacey. But because of the secret he had promised to keep, he could never, ever have her.
* * *
The next Saturday, Lacey climbed out of her car at A Dog’s Last Chance, Troy Hinton’s animal rescue farm. As she stretched her arms high, she felt like a weight was gone from her shoulders.
Grasses blew in the soft breeze and looking off to the fenced area by the barn, she could see one dog’s shiny black fur, another’s mottled brown and white coat. Beside her, the creek rushed, a soothing sound, and red-winged blackbirds perched on the fence.
It was good to get away from the guesthouse. Good to do something for others.
Good to get away from Vito and the constant tension of trying to avoid him.
He’d been in her thoughts so much lately, and in a confusing way. He was so hardworking—up late most nights at his computer, making steady progress toward finishing his degree. He spent time with Charlie every evening, getting involved in the life of the town, even lending a hand with the youth soccer team when one of the coaches had a family emergency.
And he was so patient with Nonna, whose matchmaking service was going full speed ahead, obviously giving the woman something fun to do, but in the process, making Lacey uncomfortable.
A shiny new SUV pulled up beside her car, and Lacey was surprised to see her friend Susan getting out. “Nice car!” she said, remembering the rusty subcompact that Susan had driven when she’d lived for a year at the unrenovated guesthouse.
Susan made a face. “Sam. Just because we’re expecting, he thinks we need to have a huge vehicle. I had to talk him down from a full-size van.”
“How are you feeling?” Lacey could now ask the question without even a twinge of pain, and that told her she was moving forward, getting over her miscarriage and ready to celebrate other people’s happiness.
“I’m feeling great, but Sam treats me like I’m made of glass.” Susan rolled her eyes. “He didn’t want me to come today. He’s afraid one of the big dogs will knock me down. Like I haven’t done this eighty thousand times before. And like a stumble would hurt the baby!”
“He loves you.”
“He does.” Susan’s eyes softened. “And he’s a control freak. But speaking of men...how’s Vito?”
Lacey shrugged. “He’s fine. Seems busy.”
“You don’t see much of him?”
“Well, since he’s staying at the guesthouse, of course I see him. But we keep to ourselves.”
“By choice, or would you like to see more of him?”
Lacey met her friend’s perceptive eyes and looked away. “It’s by choice. He makes me nervous.”
“Nervous? Why?”
Lacey shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s so...”
“Big? Manly?”
Lacey laughed and shook her head a little. “Something like that. Come on, you’ve got to show me the ropes before all the kids arrive.”
Susan was a longtime volunteer at the Kennel Kids, and she’d talked Lacey into getting involved. Lacey’s therapist thought it was a good idea, too—a way to be involved with others and kids, not necessarily babies but with people. Making a difference.
“Speaking of Vito...” Susan said as they approached the barn where the sound of dogs barking was more audible.
Or at least, that was what Lacey thought her friend had said. “What?” she called over a new wave of barking.
“He’s here. Vito.” Susan gestured toward the barn, where Vito and Charlie stood talking to Troy Hinton, who ran the place and the Kennel Kids.
Lacey swallowed. What was he doing here?
Just then, he turned around and saw her. “What are you doing here?” he asked, sounding surprised.
“My question, too.” They both looked at each other, and Lacey saw in Vito’s eyes the same ambivalence she felt herself.
Susan nudged her. “I’m gonna go get set up. Come over when you’re ready. No rush.”
“Charlie’s doing Kennel Kids,” Vito explained.
Relief washed over Lacey, along with something like disappointment. “Oh. So you’re just dropping him off?”
“I’m...actually staying to help. Unless that’s a problem?”
She lifted her hands, palms out. “No! No, it’s fine.”
Across the barn, Troy Hinton was hoisting a dog crate to his shoulder. “If anyone has a free hand, we could use your help here,” he called.
Lacey moved forward at the same time Vito did, and they jostled each other. And then bounced apart like two rubber balls. “Sorry!” they both said simultaneously, and Vito stepped back to let her go ahead.
Lacey blushed as she hurried toward Troy. She started to lift a crate.
So she and Vito took ends of the crate and followed Troy.
“Put it down there. We like to have a few crates out here for the dogs to get away from the kids. It’s a tough gig for them. Could you two bring one more so I can get started with these kids?”
“Sure.” Vito headed back, and then turned to see if she was coming.
She followed reluctantly. Why had she and Vito ended up together? Why wasn’t it Susan over here with her?
“Hey, look, why don’t you go ahead and help Susan?” Vito said, apparently reading her mind. “I can get that last crate.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll help you. It’s too heavy.”
Vito gave her a look. “I’m every bit as strong as I used to be, even if I do have a few injuries.”
“I know that!” Then, ashamed of her exasperated tone, she followed him into the barn and took the bull by the horns. “I’m sorry if this is awkward, Vito. I wish it wasn’t.”
“You don’t want to be around me?”
“It’s not that. I just...” More seriously, she was worried he didn’t want to be around her.
“Hey, D’Angelo, c’mon! We don’t have all day here!” Troy sounded impatient.
Lacey flinched and stole a glance at Vito. That kind of thing had always made Gerry livid; he’d hated to be corrected. It was a guy thing.
Except, to her surprise, Vito laughed. “That’s rich, coming from you, Hinton.” And then he hustled over to the crate. “Guess we’d better get a move on.”
She hurried to help him, wondering as she did what it meant that Vito hadn’t gotten angry.
Had Gerry been unusually touchy?
She went to the crate and lifted the other side, breathing in the good smells—hay and animals. And maybe it was the thought of hay, but her necklace felt itchy on her neck.
“Dad!” Charlie ran over, his whole face lit up in a smile. “Can I get a dog? Mr. Hinton said they need homes.” He jogged alongside them as they carried out the large crate.
Vito went still, looking at Charlie, then at Lacey. “It’s the first time he called me ‘Dad,’” he whispered.
The Soldier's Secret Child Page 9