Glancing in the mirror, Ariana saw that her aunt was right. The cheerful print also masked the turmoil Ariana felt inside. “I’ll be down in a moment.”
“I’ll wait,” Ruby said. “We can walk down together.”
Ariana blew out a breath. Disagreeing with her aunt was useless. “Let’s go then.”
“Like that?” Ruby arched her eyebrow. “You look like you’ve been rolling around in bed. We have company downstairs. So brush your hair, put on a little lip gloss. Now is not the time to seclude yourself.”
Ariana groaned. “Isn’t that what women used to do? Hide their pregnancies? Sounds like a good idea to me.”
“Stop it.” Ruby’s vivid green eyes flashed with annoyance. “Having a baby is nothing to be ashamed of. That was an archaic attitude. Think of your child. Your growing baby needs good food, fresh air, and a positive attitude from you. Now let’s go.”
Ariana couldn’t argue with that. She ran a brush through her hair and touched gloss to her lips before following Ruby downstairs. Her aunt’s silk print caftan flowed behind her on the stairs as she tossed her fiery red hair over her shoulder. Pure elegance.
Pausing on the landing, Ariana surveyed the crowd in the salon below. Villa Fiori was full of laughter. Gia and Vera were there with their husbands and four children between them. Alessandro and Paolina and her husband were chatting with them, while little Sandro and Carmela were playing with the other children. Matteo and his wife were there, and a few other people that Ariana didn’t recognize.
“Ariana, I’d like you to meet a few people.” Ruby steered her to a new group and began the introductions to two couples. “Our neighbors, the Colombos and Vernates.”
Feeling Alessandro’s eyes on her, Ariana greeted their guests, who were actually quite interesting. In a few days, Ruby had managed to meet the neighbors—an artist and a writer—as well as local officials and an opera singer. People were naturally drawn to her aunt, even if they didn’t recognize her or weren’t familiar with her films. Ruby’s charisma and exuberance for life were irresistible.
The children soon raced outside to play tag in the garden. Ariana strolled out to watch them as they skipped through the orchard and played under the pergola. As much as she had wanted children, it was nearly inconceivable that she was about to take such an important step by herself. She leaned against a stone balustrade and ran a hand over her abdomen. This certainly wasn’t how she’d once imagined her family would unfold.
Had she made a mistake by leaving Phillip at the altar? Yet, his harsh words still rang in her ears. No, she thought, setting her jaw. Marrying him was no longer an option. She wanted a husband who was all in, not someone who would grudgingly throw money at her little problem.
This was her child.
As the magnitude of this dawned on her, Ariana blinked into the breeze. The children’s laughter wound around her, sounding sweeter than the wind chimes that tinkled in the gusts off the water. Her world would have to change, but maybe that wasn’t the disaster she’d imagined.
“May I join you?” Alessandro stepped beside her, casting a shadow across the terrace in front of her.
Ariana felt a flush spread across her chest, and she shifted against the stone railing. “I owe you an apology.”
His lips quirked to one side. “You made your position known. I can’t fault a woman who has strong values.”
“But, I was wrong.” She slid a glance toward him.
“Sì, that you were.” Alessandro nodded toward his children. “Now you know my story.”
Ariana turned toward him. “Is this where I’m expected to share mine?”
“Not at all. You don’t owe me anything.”
“Other than an apology.”
He grinned. “You already did that. And I thank you.” With a quick little bow, he turned to walk away.
“Wait.” Ariana tucked her windblown hair behind her ears. Why does he have to be so attractive?
“Yes?”
“I, uh, appreciate your fabric suggestions.” Ariana stumbled over her words. “You know, we could start over.”
He shrugged. “Not if you’re uncomfortable.”
“I’m okay. Really. It’s just that, well, it’s been a week from hell.” When he didn’t reply, she went on. “I’m supposed to be on my honeymoon right now, but I didn’t go through with the wedding.”
“I’m very sorry for you.”
“No, don’t be. It was my decision. And I’m fine with it.” She blinked into the breeze, feeling more confident of her choice now that she spoke it aloud.
Alessandro nodded. “It takes a strong will to know when a relationship isn’t right.”
“A marriage is forever, right?”
“Ideally, yes, but…” Alessandro coughed and cleared his throat.
At once, Ariana realized her mistake, and another apology tumbled out. “Please forgive me. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” How could she have been so thoughtless?
Swallowing hard, he shook his head. “If it weren’t for Serafina, I wouldn’t have Sandro and Carmela now. That is how I have to look at the situation. People come into our lives for different reasons. What we want and what God has planned for us…well, it’s often different. What good would it do to question that?” He gazed after his children. “Especially when I am so blessed. Serafina would not have wanted me to suffer.”
Ariana grew quiet, watching the children. She wondered how his wife had died, but now was not the time to ask.
Moments later, Sandro and Carmela raced to their father and flung their arms around him, chattering with excitement. She tried to follow along, and although it had been quite a long time since she’d take Italian in school, she discovered that she understood some of what they were saying. Maybe she could practice her Italian while she was here.
“They’re hungry,” Alessandro said, grinning. “Kids are always hungry.”
Carmela tugged on Ariana’s skirt and turned her sweet little face up to her. “Ho fame e sete.”
Fame. Hungry. Sete. Thirsty. Ariana took the little girl’s hand. “If you don’t mind, I’ll get them something to drink and make a plate for them. Is there anything they can’t eat? Because of allergies, I mean.”
“No, and they like almost everything. I’ll help you.” Alessandro guided his young son toward the kitchen.
As Ariana led the children into the house, she caught Ruby’s eye. Seemingly satisfied, her aunt turned back to the conversation. Ariana had to admit that Ruby was right. Hiding in her room wasn’t a solution.
Ariana arranged sliced tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, cheese, and bread onto plates for the children. Within minutes, they were happily eating at the kitchen table, swinging their little legs.
“They seem like such sweet children,” Ariana said.
Alessandro smiled. “I’m lucky. They’re good kids.”
Before long, Livia began to put out the main meal. An assortment of antipasti, several types of salad and soup, pasta, fresh fish, and meatballs. Everyone gathered around the tables that Emilio and Livia had organized outside on the terrace.