Miracle for the Girl Next Door (9 page)

“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 and
white 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, Tino.”

“Let’s argue about it in the truck. Come on. I brought food. I know you’re starving and so am I after putting in a full day of work at the restaurant. You’ll be pleased to know I got the inventory done for my father.”

“I’m sure that made him happy.”

“We’ll see.” He helped her into the cab, then walked around and got behind the wheel. “I thought we’d eat at the park by our old school before I take you home. It’s on the way.”

As they drove off she stared out the passenger window not saying anything. “Was it a bad day,
piccola
?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Then we won’t.”

Before long they wound around to a grassy section of the park. He slowed to a stop beneath some shade trees. “I think you’re too tired to get out, so we’ll eat right here.” He handed her a sandwich and drink from the bag sitting between them.

Her hunger won out and she ate. After they’d both finished their food he turned to her. “I didn’t get to say all I needed to say to you last night.”

“You said enough and I told you no.”

“Five more minutes is all I ask. If your answer is still no, I won’t bring it up again.”

She lowered her head. “What is it?’

“I want to tell you the secret I couldn’t tell Father Orsini.”

“Tino—”

“It’s about the details of my mother’s death.”

Here came his tentacle hooks, grabbing hold of Clara so she was a captive audience, but she kept telling herself she was going to wake up at any second and find herself at home in bed, or at the clinic.

“Did I ever tell you Mamma was a diabetic?”

“No.” She hadn’t heard that.

“She suffered from dizzy spells, a lot, and was battling a severe one the day she slipped on one of my toys and fell down the stairs. We were alone in the house. I was only five at the time and tried to get her to breathe again, but she wouldn’t wake up.”

Stop talking, Tino.

“I can still remember my terror because I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to use the phone and there weren’t any neighbors close by. A helplessness went through me the likes of which I’d never known. I loved her so much and remember lying down next to her, sobbing. Cristiano was supposed to be home. I prayed for him to come.”

You’re breaking my heart.

“The second I heard him come in the house, I ran screaming to him and told him what had happened. He took one look at Mamma and called for the ambulance, but when it came, it was too late. The look he gave me made me want to shrivel up and die.”

A moan escaped Clara’s throat.

“Her death has plagued me all my life. I always felt the family blamed me, especially since I wasn’t Papa’s real son.”

Her head flew back. “But you
were
his son in all the other ways that counted.”

He shook his head. She still couldn’t reach him on that point.

“From then on I stayed away from the house as much as
possible. You were always kind to me. You were so good and pure and you accepted me for the way I was. I found myself clinging to you.”

“Oh, Tino—” Clara had had no idea of the depth of pain he’d suffered.

“I figured that one day when I was older, I would go away so no one would have to be reminded of what a terrible person I was.”

“But you didn’t do anything wrong!” she cried, shaking her head in despair.

“When I grew to adulthood, I gained an intellectual understanding of what had happened, but emotionally…? To make matters worse, my long absences from home did a lot of damage to the rest of the family. My aunt Lisa took great satisfaction in letting me know I’d let everyone down.”

She held her head in her hands. “All this was going on inside you and you never said a word.”

“I couldn’t. I felt too frozen inside. Isabella kept begging me to come back and help with Papa, but I was too torn apart by my fears to do what she asked. I know Cristiano hasn’t come back because deep down he still blames me and would rather not be around to be reminded of what happened.”

“That couldn’t possibly be true!”

“She was our mother, Clara. He adored her, too. I should have done something—I should have been able to find a way to get help—”

She couldn’t stand to hear him go on like this. The torment in his voice was too much. His features were etched in the kind of pain and deep-seated sorrow she wished she could take away.

“Let me ask you a question, Tino. If it had been Cristiano instead of you who was home that day, would you still be blaming him?”

He took a fortifying breath. “You already know the answer to that. He was older and could have prevented her death.”

“How do you know she didn’t die on impact? If that’s the case, then no one could have saved her. Did you ever see the coroner’s report?”

Valentino stared at her as if he’d never seen her before. “No,” he whispered.

“Then I suggest you ask to see it before you go on crucifying yourself.”

Before she could countenance it, he grasped the hand closest to him. “You see how much I need you? How good you are?” He squeezed her hand tighter. “There’s only one reason I told you about Mamma’s accident. When I saw you lying there getting a treatment the other day, that same feeling of helplessness and despair swept over me. Do you know why?”

She shook her head.

“Because
you
are part of that part of my life, Clara.”

“I—I don’t understand.” Her voice faltered.

“In my mind I can’t separate you and our memories from those early years. Since we met again in town and I felt you push me away, a sense of panic took hold of me until I could get to the bottom of your behavior. I swear it was like the angels had shoved me away from heaven’s door.”

“I’m sorry.” Clara bowed her head, her emotions in utter chaos.

“Maybe what you’ve said is true and no one could have helped my mother stay alive. It’s all in the past now anyway, but if I’m your husband, I can help
you
stay alive. I can be there night and day for you to do things no one else can do to ease your burden.”

What Valentino was saying went through her like a thunderbolt.

She wasn’t prepared for him to pull her into his arms. He buried his face in her hair. “Let me do for you what I couldn’t do for my mother,” he begged with tears in his voice. “I need to do this, Clara.”

His entreaty reached down into her soul. Given the option of being with him all the time, there was no other choice for her, not now that he’d opened up all of his soul to her. He was tortured by his mother’s death and the guilt that went with it, but then her soul was tortured, too.

She stayed in his arms for a long time. Last night she’d been so tormented, she hadn’t been able to sleep. Though she’d been tempted to accept his proposal, she’d kept remembering her mother’s comments about being Valentino’s crumbs.

But just a little while ago she’d felt the terrible guilt he carried over
his
mother’s death. It went so deep she couldn’t ignore his plea.

“While your father’s alive, you need to make peace with him, Tino. Otherwise you’ll always be unhappy.”

“I know,” came the surprising admission. “Because of you, I’ve already begun.”

Eventually she lifted her head. Pulling out of his arms, she moved herself next to the door. There was something else he had to understand before things went any further. “You do realize that if we were to get married, you could be a widower within the next six months.”

The blood left his face. “That’s how long Dr. Arno has given you if you don’t get a new kidney?”

“Yes.”

His features hardened. “I need you in my life, Clara, so that means we’re going to have to find you a new one fast!” Valentino’s declaration exploded with a ferocity she didn’t know he was capable of. He was a fighter; she’d give him that. To have him on her side was like being handed a precious gift. She felt the blood pounding in her ears.

The next thing she knew he started up the truck and they headed for the road leading out of town. He didn’t speak again. They eventually turned into the farm and he pulled up to the house.

“Forgive me for keeping you from your bed. I know you’re exhausted.” He got out of the truck and went around to help her down. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

As he started back to the driver’s side of the truck she cried, “Don’t go yet—”

There was a sharp intake of breath before he wheeled around. She saw a flare of light in the recesses of those dark brown eyes. His reaction astounded her. “I take it that’s a yes.”

He
knew
it was.

“Shall we go inside together, or do you want to alert your parents first that they’re about to have company?”

Her family would be gathered around the table for the evening meal. She couldn’t believe this was really happening and moistened her lips nervously. “I’ll tell them you’re outside waiting to talk to them.”

“I swear you won’t regret this.” Before she could think, he cupped her face between his hands and pressed a warm kiss to her mouth, the first one he’d ever given her. It brought heat to her cheeks she could feel as she broke away from him and hurried inside.

Everyone greeted her as she walked in the kitchen filled with noisy conversation. Her mother eyed her with an anxious expression, probably noticing her heightened color. “You were gone so long, we got worried you missed the bus.”

Silvio cast her a questioning glance. Her father patted the empty chair next to him. “Come and eat.”

“I’ve already had dinner, Papa.” Her heart thundered in her chest. “Valentino is outside and wants to speak to you and Mamma. Is it all right if he comes in?”

She watched her parents share a surprised look before they nodded.

On less than sturdy legs, she hurried back out to the hall and opened the door. “Tino?”

He came inside and followed her through to the kitchen. After all these years the moment was unreal to see him enter her parents’ home at last. Her father stood up. Silvio and Tomaso followed suit.

“Please sit down,” Valentino urged them. “Good evening,” he said to all of them. “Excuse us for this interruption, but Clara and I decided our news couldn’t wait.” He moved closer and put his arm around her waist. “Today she agreed to become my wife.”

Immediately she heard gasps from everyone, her mother’s the loudest.

“There’s nothing I want more than to take care of her. With my help, I’m hoping we can find her a matching kidney donor as soon as possible.”

She saw her father cross himself.

“You have a right to know my plans. I’ve given up racing. From now on I’ll be helping my father at the restaurant and doing consulting work for my business. For the time being we’ll be living at the villa here in Monta Correnti. That way Clara can remain close to all of you.”