officially announced it yet, it’s over.”
“Since when?”
“It’s been over in my mind for quite a while. Isabella has been after me to come home, but it wasn’t until I knew I wanted to marry you that the issue was finally settled for me. Our marriage needs to take place right away so we don’t lose any more time. Something quiet and private that won’t wear you out.”
What he was saying had shaken her to the foundations.
“When we get back to the farm, I want to tell your family so we can make plans right away. The one thing they won’t be able to say is that we haven’t known each other long enough. From the age of seven to eighteen, I probably saw or spent time with you every day of your life, whether at school or church.”
Clara stirred restlessly on the seat, trying to get her bearings. “That’s true, but they’re going to ask about all the years since then.”
A smile hovered around his male mouth. “Surely your parents read about mine or watched it on TV. My last nine years have been lived in a fish bowl. The public seems to know more about my life than I do, but the one thing no one knows except you is my pain. It’s time for the pain to end for both of us. Don’t you agree?”
She knew what he was asking, but she couldn’t answer him. Bands constricted her breathing. They made the rest of the trip home in silence. When he drove them straight up to the farmhouse and turned off the ignition, she started to panic.
“I need an answer, Clara.” He turned to her, his eyes blazing. “If it’s no, I’ll still go on doing everything in my power to help you, but I’m telling you right now it won’t be enough for me.”
While she sat there trembling from the reasons he wanted this marriage, he got out of the truck and came around to help her down. He’d given her a choice. They could go on being friends as they used to be, always parting company at the end of the day. Or, they could be friends around the clock so he had the support he claimed he needed to be around his family and in return she would get the support she needed through her illness.
If it was an elaborate lie he’d concocted to make her feel better, she couldn’t bear it. Finally she turned to him. “I’m afraid the answer has to be no, but I’ll never forget your generous gesture. Arrivederci , Tino.”
While Luca was having a bad morning and stayed upstairs, Valentino got to work and finished the inventory. It had taken him until four in the afternoon.
He found Isabella in the kitchen talking to Giorgio. “The deed is done, Izzy.” He put the clipboard in her hands.
She stared at him in shock. “You’re a speed demon.”
“It’s what happens when you’re focused.” He’d kept up a frantic pace so he wouldn’t go crazy waiting for Clara’s dialysis to be over for the day. “I would tell Papa myself, but I’ll be late picking up Clara.” His glance swerved to Giorgio. “Thanks for the use of the truck again.”
“Anytime. You know that.”
He kissed his sister’s cheek and hurried out the back entrance where he’d left the Ferrari.
En route to the clinic he checked with Serena to be certain Clara hadn’t left yet. To his relief she wouldn’t be out for fifteen more minutes. That gave him time to pick up some food and drinks for them.
After he’d made his purchases, he parked in the loading zone and got out to watch people as they exited the clinic. Eventually he saw her emerge dressed in a yellow top andwhite skirt. She looked fabulous in anything, but her features were drawn and pale. To know she was so ill squeezed his heart to a pulp.
“Clara?” he called to her.
She glanced at him, then picked up her pace in order to get away from him. In a few swift strides he caught up to her and spun her around gently.
Her eyes looked tormented. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“I told you I’d be here for you no matter what.”
Clara shook her head. “This has to stop,
“Since when?”
“It’s been over in my mind for quite a while. Isabella has been after me to come home, but it wasn’t until I knew I wanted to marry you that the issue was finally settled for me. Our marriage needs to take place right away so we don’t lose any more time. Something quiet and private that won’t wear you out.”
What he was saying had shaken her to the foundations.
“When we get back to the farm, I want to tell your family so we can make plans right away. The one thing they won’t be able to say is that we haven’t known each other long enough. From the age of seven to eighteen, I probably saw or spent time with you every day of your life, whether at school or church.”
Clara stirred restlessly on the seat, trying to get her bearings. “That’s true, but they’re going to ask about all the years since then.”
A smile hovered around his male mouth. “Surely your parents read about mine or watched it on TV. My last nine years have been lived in a fish bowl. The public seems to know more about my life than I do, but the one thing no one knows except you is my pain. It’s time for the pain to end for both of us. Don’t you agree?”
She knew what he was asking, but she couldn’t answer him. Bands constricted her breathing. They made the rest of the trip home in silence. When he drove them straight up to the farmhouse and turned off the ignition, she started to panic.
“I need an answer, Clara.” He turned to her, his eyes blazing. “If it’s no, I’ll still go on doing everything in my power to help you, but I’m telling you right now it won’t be enough for me.”
While she sat there trembling from the reasons he wanted this marriage, he got out of the truck and came around to help her down. He’d given her a choice. They could go on being friends as they used to be, always parting company at the end of the day. Or, they could be friends around the clock so he had the support he claimed he needed to be around his family and in return she would get the support she needed through her illness.
If it was an elaborate lie he’d concocted to make her feel better, she couldn’t bear it. Finally she turned to him. “I’m afraid the answer has to be no, but I’ll never forget your generous gesture. Arrivederci , Tino.”
While Luca was having a bad morning and stayed upstairs, Valentino got to work and finished the inventory. It had taken him until four in the afternoon.
He found Isabella in the kitchen talking to Giorgio. “The deed is done, Izzy.” He put the clipboard in her hands.
She stared at him in shock. “You’re a speed demon.”
“It’s what happens when you’re focused.” He’d kept up a frantic pace so he wouldn’t go crazy waiting for Clara’s dialysis to be over for the day. “I would tell Papa myself, but I’ll be late picking up Clara.” His glance swerved to Giorgio. “Thanks for the use of the truck again.”
“Anytime. You know that.”
He kissed his sister’s cheek and hurried out the back entrance where he’d left the Ferrari.
En route to the clinic he checked with Serena to be certain Clara hadn’t left yet. To his relief she wouldn’t be out for fifteen more minutes. That gave him time to pick up some food and drinks for them.
After he’d made his purchases, he parked in the loading zone and got out to watch people as they exited the clinic. Eventually he saw her emerge dressed in a yellow top andwhite skirt. She looked fabulous in anything, but her features were drawn and pale. To know she was so ill squeezed his heart to a pulp.
“Clara?” he called to her.
She glanced at him, then picked up her pace in order to get away from him. In a few swift strides he caught up to her and spun her around gently.
Her eyes looked tormented. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“I told you I’d be here for you no matter what.”
Clara shook her head. “This has to stop,
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