The Queen of Diamonds

by Raven Cavalleu

  Alex laughed as she clung to her. "You've worked hard and deserve this."

  Zaira set her on her feet, grabbed her face in her hands, and placed a quick kiss on her lips. "I can't believe it. It's really mine?"

  Alex took a step back and chuckled. "Yes, little one. Read the contract. The land is yours, and the vines are mine. The vineyard will pay you for the use of the land, and you will get a percentage of the sales of the wine from those grapes." She watched as Zaira slowly sat back down. "It'll take a couple of years to produce wine, but you'll make money from the land right away. This will help you pay off your student loans and put you through college. There are a few strings attached, but it's all spelled out there."

  Zaira looked down at the paperwork in front of her in disbelief. Alex just smiled and sat back down. As she reached for her cup, she heard Nikki ask, "What was that all about?"

  "I just gave Zaira her birthday present."

  Dani leaned forward, her brow slightly furrowed. "I thought you gave her a present last night at the party."

  "Last night there were a lot of people at the party that don't need to know my business, so I did what was expected of me. I gave the daughter of one of my employees a small necklace for her birthday." She looked over at Zaira with a smile. "Today, I have given my friend and valued employee a much more fitting present."

  "And what exactly is that?" Nikki asked.

  "Trust." Everyone looked over at Zaira. She swallowed nervously and looked to Alex for approval. When she nodded she continued. "With this gift, Alex has proven she has faith in me, and trusts me to become the next vintner of Perfetta Armonia." She wiped a tear from her cheek and took a shaky breath. "Over the years, Alex has given my father a percentage of the vineyard as thanks for his work and loyalty. This is very unusual. No other owner in the area is so generous."

  Alex stood and quickly walked over to the counter where she began to prepare more coffee.

  "Alex's generosity has allowed my family many opportunities others do not have. But what my father has is on paper only, a piece of the business. You understand?" She looked around the table and smiled at the women nodding back at her. "Alex has given me a piece of the vineyard, not just the business." She stood, walked over to Alex, and put her arms around her. "I won't let you down."

  Alex pulled her close and whispered in her ear. "I know you won't, honey. I have faith in you to lead this vineyard in the future, and take it in a positive direction." She pulled back and looked into her eyes. "But first you will go to school and learn everything you can, having a bit of fun along the way of course." She winked and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Now go. Tell your parents all about it, and then go oversee the plowing of your fields."

  Zaira grinned. "Yes, ma'am." She grabbed the paperwork from the table and practically ran out the door.

  Alex spent the morning and early afternoon walking around Lucca with Nikki, Dani, and Rachel. They visited the botanical gardens, walked through the Cattedrale di San Martino, and had lunch at a small sandwich bar. They stopped at several small shops on their way back to the car to do some window-shopping.

  Dani settled into the soft leather seat, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes with a sigh. "This country is amazing. So beautiful, and the people are so friendly." She looked up and caught Alex's eye in the rear-view mirror. "I can see why you love it here."

  She smiled and nodded her agreement. "It's an amazing place. I've been very fortunate."

  "How did this come about for you? Your love for Italy, purchasing the vineyard, and the relationship with Zaira and her family?" Nikki asked.

  Alex reached over and placed one hand on Nikki's thigh, and gave her a smile. She turned back to focus on the road as she replied, "The short version is that Maria and Ilario brought me here on a vacation one year. We stayed with Sophia, Dante, and Zaira at the vineyard. I fell in love with Tuscany and Maria's family. While we were here, I learned that Dante was afraid he would lose his job, and that the vineyard was for sale." She turned off of the main road and drove through the small village that bordered the vineyard. "I applied for citizenship and arranged the purchase before we went home."

  "Did I hear that correctly? You are an Italian citizen?" Dani asked.

  Alex laughed. "Yes, you heard correctly. I hold dual citizenship." She pulled into the garage and turned the car off. "The only good thing my father gave me was my Italian heritage."

  They walked into the house and settled into the living room, glad to be off their feet. "How does a glass of tea sound?"

  "Lovely," Dani said with a sigh.

  Alex chuckled and stood. "I'll be right back." She headed for the kitchen and was startled to see she wasn't alone. "Viviana?"

  The woman cleaning her kitchen screamed and dropped her mop. She looked over at Alex, her hand on her chest and her eyes wide. "Alexis. I did not expect you so soon. I'm sorry I have not finished yet."

  "It's okay, Viv. No worries." Alex picked up the mop and handed it to her. "Where is your mother?"

  Viviana's hand shook as she reached for the mop handle. "Momma is home. She is…" She paused as she searched for the words.

  "Is everything all right, is she ill?" Alex asked and smiled when Viviana's eyes widened at the comfortable way she spoke Italian.

  "She has been very sick for several days. I am worried."

  Alex frowned. "Has she been to the doctor?"

  Viviana shook her head. "No. You know how stubborn my mother is. She refuses to go."

  Nikki leaned against the doorframe and watched the two women for a moment before finally speaking up. "Is everything okay?"

  Alex turned and looked at her, the frown still marring her features. "Viviana's mother is ill and will not go to see the doctor. Viviana is worried about her."

  Nikki walked up to her and smiled. "Then what are we waiting for?"

  Viviana looked between the two women, her brow furrowed. "I do not understand."

  Alex smiled and took the mop away from her. "If your mother will not go see a doctor, then a doctor will go to your mother."

  Less than fifteen minutes later Alex and Viviana were in the living room of Viviana's home while Nikki examined Patrizia. Alex looked around the cozy room and smiled at the pictures of a smiling little boy at various ages. "You have a lovely home, Viviana."

  She smiled and shook her head. "It's not much, but I do what I can with what I have."

  Alex frowned. "I seem to recall your husband had a very nice job in the city when you married. What brought you back here?" She watched as Viviana's lips pressed together and her eyes narrowed.

  "He is gone. Apparently being a husband and father was too much for him. He left us right after my Rocco was born."

  She reached out and placed a hand over Viviana's where it rested on her lap. "Oh Viv, I'm so sorry." Before she could respond, Nikki walked back into the room. Viviana clutched her hand as they waited for Nikki to tell them what she'd found.

  Nikki looked at the two women and noticed how closely they were sitting as well as Alex's hand held possessively by the stranger. She swallowed before she began to explain. "I think it would be best for Patrizia to go to a hospital. I don't have any tools here to make an official diagnosis, but I believe she may have pneumonia and she is severely dehydrated."

  Viviana's eyes welled with tears. "She'll be okay, Viv," Alex said as she pulled the crying woman into her arms. "I'll call 118 for you while you get her ready."

  Viviana pulled back and nodded. "Thank you."

  Alex stepped into the waiting room and looked around. She spotted Viviana sitting alone in the corner and headed her way. She watched as Viviana lifted her head and saw her making her way across the room. Her eyes widened in surprise and the corner of her mouth lifted in a ghost of a smile.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "I came to see how you and your mother are doing. Am I not welcome?" Alex asked, startled by the question.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that the way it s
ounded. Of course you're welcome." She removed her purse from the seat beside her. "Please, sit. You surprised me that's all. I didn't expect to see you again."

  Alex sat down in the offered chair and smiled at her. "I thought you might like a ride home as soon as your mother is settled. It will be much better than a taxi."

  Viviana nodded and gave her a small smile. "Yes, that's true. Thank you." She looked deep into her eyes and sighed.

  "What is it?"

  "I think my mother was right. I never should have let you go, Alexis. I was a fool." A single tear spilled over and ran down her cheek.

  Alex reached out and gently wiped it away. "Some things just aren't meant to be, Viv. We wouldn't have made it and you know it. Things happen certain ways for a reason. Without Leo you wouldn't have Rocco." She took Viviana's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "And you wouldn't trade him for anything would you?"

  She shook her head. "No, I wouldn't. I love my son." She looked down at their joined hands. Viviana clasped the hand gently holding her own, and ran her thumb over the soft skin. "But sometimes I wish things were different. I miss how you made me feel. No one else has ever made me feel so alive, so loved."

  Alex was startled at the confession and sat quietly for a moment. When Viviana finally looked up, Alex tilted her head slightly to one side as she took in the beauty of the woman before her. Her long light brown hair had chestnut highlights, and her green eyes sparkled with mischief when not filled with worry. She gave her a tender smile and said, "You are a very beautiful woman, Viv. The Viviana I know is a warm, gentle soul that deserves to be loved. Believe in yourself and you will find love again, my friend." As if drawn by a string, Alex's head turned and she stared into Nikki's eyes from across the room. A smile lit up her face and the love she felt was obvious to anyone who cared to see.

  Viviana followed her gaze and saw Nikki walking toward them, a cup of coffee in each hand. "You are in love with her."

  "Yes, I am."

  Viviana gave her a wry smile and squeezed her hand before releasing it. "She's a very lucky woman."

  "I'm the lucky one, Viv, because she loves me, too."

  Minutes after dropping Viviana off, Alex and Nikki walked into the villa and were greeted by Dani and Rachel. "Is everything okay? You were gone much longer than I expected." Dani said as they walked into the living room.

  Nikki sat on the couch and leaned her head back. Alex sat beside her and snuggled into her side before responding. "Patrizia has pneumonia. We called an ambulance and followed them to the hospital in Lucca. We waited with Viviana while the doctors got her mother settled, then we took Viv home."

  Rachel's eyebrows rose as she watched Nikki's expression when Viviana was mentioned. "So, it sounds like you know this Viviana fairly well, Alex."

  "I did once." Alex felt Nikki's body stiffen slightly. She ducked under her arm and snuggled into her side as she placed her head on her shoulder. Her hand came to rest on Nikki's stomach. "I spent quite a bit of time here right after I bought the place. I was overseeing the renovations on the villa, and working with Dante on the running of the vineyard." She felt the muscles under her fingers begin to slowly relax. "Patrizia came highly recommended as a housekeeper. It was through that relationship that I met Viv."

  The corner of her mouth lifted slightly when she felt Nikki's arm tighten around her. "I was young, quite full of myself, and I was completely smitten the very first time I saw her." She slipped her hand under the hem of Nikki's shirt, and ran her fingers over the tense muscles of her abdomen. "Viv was a good catholic girl and resisted my charms for a long time."

  "I take that to mean she eventually gave in?" Nikki asked, a touch of jealousy in her voice.

  She leaned back and looked into Nikki's eyes. "Of course. I'm impossible to resist."

  Nikki pulled her close and whispered, "Yes, you are." She captured Alex's mouth in a searing kiss that left them both breathless.

  Alex pulled back and looked into Nikki's eyes. "You have nothing to worry about, mia cara. You are the only one I want."

  "What happened between you and Viviana, Alex?" Rachel asked.

  She snuggled back up to Nikki, placing her head on her shoulder. A small frown marred her features as she thought about the past. "Looking back, what Viv and I had was purely physical. We failed to connect on a deeper level, and I was blind to what Viv needed." Alex sighed as she pulled away from Nikki, stood, and headed over to the bar. She pulled a bottle of Limoncello from the small freezer below the bar. "From the moment Viv said yes, until it ended, was just a few short months." She poured a double shot of the cold lemon liqueur into a small glass and leaned against the edge of the bar. "One day she failed to show up at our usual meeting place. I waited all weekend." She took a sip of the cold liqueur.

  "What happened to her?" Dani asked.

  Alex looked up, startled at the question. "She couldn't meet with me because she was on her honeymoon." She shrugged and downed what was left of her drink when Dani gasped.

  "So, you were just an experiment?"

  "That's what I always thought. Tonight I realized that wasn't the case." She pushed off of the bar and sat beside Nikki. "I told you she was a good Catholic girl. Turns out she took her religion far more seriously than I thought. She turned her back on love and married to please her family and her church."

  "How terribly sad." Dani frowned as she grasped Rachel's hand. "I can't imagine."

  "She hurt you." Nikki reached out and gently lifted her chin, looking into her eyes. "Then I did essentially the same thing."

  Alex shook her head. "You can't compare the two. Not really. You both left for very different reasons, and I played a big role in yours."

  Nikki brushed a tear from her cheek. "That doesn't make what I did right."

  Alex reached for her hand. "How about we both learn from our mistakes, and promise to do our best never to repeat them? Only then can we move past this."

  Nikki clasped her hand and used it to pull her closer. "I promise."

  They sat quietly for several moments before Dani asked, "So, what's the plan for tomorrow?"

  Alex pulled away and sat up. "A surprise. I suggest you go pack a couple of day's worth of clothes. Don't forget your bathing suits, comfortable walking shoes, and your camera." She chuckled at Dani's narrowed eyes and pursed lips. "We have several hours of driving ahead of us tomorrow, so I'd like to leave early." She pushed off the couch, walked over to Dani, and held out her hand. Alex pulled her to her feet and slipped an arm around her waist. "Humor me. This is a business trip and the reservations were made weeks ago. I was going to take Zaira, but now I want to take all of you instead."

  Chapter Twenty

  "Why did we have to get up so early?" Dani grumbled as she leaned her head back against the soft leather seat.

  Alex pulled onto the A11 and headed west towards Florence. "It will be worth it, I promise. I'm hoping this will help us avoid some traffic. I'd like to get to our destination early enough for all of you to take a nap before lunch."

  "What will you be doing while we nap?" Nikki asked.

  Alex reached over and placed a hand on Nikki's thigh. "I hope to convince Pia to meet with me. I'd like to finish my business early so we can enjoy the rest of our time in the city."

  "I like the sound of that."

  They spent the next hour flitting from one topic of conversation to another as the scenery flew past the windows. They discussed Dani's job, how she felt about working at the Wellington Center, and what a great boss Kelly had turned out to be.

  Alex's eyes widened and her grip on the steering wheel tightened. She looked up into the rearview mirror and caught Dani's eye. "If you're working, that means Maddy's in school." Tears filled her eyes as she saw her nod. She quickly dropped her gaze back to the highway as a single tear slid down her cheek.

  "What's wrong, Alex?" Rachel asked as she watched her wipe the tear away.

  "I missed it. I wanted to be there. How did she do?"

&n
bsp; Rachel chuckled. "She had a rough couple of days, but has since made friends. It's gotten easier for her."

  Alex sighed. "I'm glad to hear she's gotten over the rough patch. I wanted to write her a story that would excite her about school, but I just couldn't find the words." She changed lanes and prepared to merge onto A1 and head towards Bologna.

  "You will, Alex. And when you do, the books will flow." Dani squeezed her shoulder. "Just relax and let it happen."

  Alex gave her a wry smile. "Maybe I'll have it done in time for her first day of college."

  Dani huffed as she slumped back in her seat. "I don't even want to think about college. Do you know how expensive college is these days? She'd better get scholarships because we're never going to be able to send her to a good school."

  Alex chuckled as she looked over at Nikki. "I do know how expensive college is, and I also know that it's something you don't have to worry about."

  Rachel looked between Nikki and Alex through narrowed eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "The trust covers college. Didn't my lawyer explain everything to you?"

  Rachel looked at Dani who shrugged. "Frankly, I don't remember. I was too stunned to really listen to everything he had to say."

  "I see. Well, you can rest easy knowing college is covered for Maddy and any future siblings she may have."

  They drove in silence for several minutes before Dani spoke again, her voice filled with emotion. "Tell me, Alex, why did you set up the trust?"

  She bit her lower lip as she thought about how to answer. "When I realized that Nikki wasn't going to answer any of my phone calls, I chose to write the book. I had to explain myself to her somehow. After seeing her that night at the Bluffs, I knew I was too late." Nikki entwined their fingers, lifted her hand to her lips, and gently kissed it. "I was devastated. I knew that I couldn't stay in the same city and risk running into her again. It hurt too much. I knew I had to leave."