Ruby slid her hand over Niccolò’s arm, and they walked to the church. Golden orioles chirped overhead, and the sun was warm on her face. All signs pointed to the happy promise of a sweet future ahead.
When they arrived at Chiesa di San Giorgio, Ruby saw that the man Niccolò had spoken with was there with an elderly couple who would serve as witnesses. The woman was agitated, shaking her head.
“What’s the matter?” Ruby asked.
“Agosto,” Niccolò said. “She thinks it’s bad luck to be married in August.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Ruby said, although the woman was making her nervous.
The man with her pressed an object into Niccolò’s hand, motioning for him to put it in his pocket.
Niccolò looked at it and chuckled. “It’s a broken piece of a tool. But it’s made of iron, so that’s good luck.”
“Hope that offsets the curse of August,” Ruby said.
The priest motioned for them to join him. Ruby could hardly believe this was happening, and she wished she could understand the priest. Yet the Italian language was an exquisite melody to her, and she loved the romance of it. She understood the essence of the priest’s words and the solemnity with which he spoke.
Most of all, she understood that this commitment was for life, forever and ever, until the day they died.
When the priest motioned for a ring, Niccolò blushed and shook his head. Seeing that he was embarrassed, Ruby whispered, “Unfasten my necklace.”
“Why?”
“I’ll show you,” she said, smiling. “And take off yours, too.”
Niccolò did as she asked. With trembling fingers, she divided the heart. Taking the thin, silver chain he wore, she threaded one side of the heart onto it. After clasping the chain around his neck, he did the same for her. Each of them wore one-half of the heart crowned with a small ruby.
“Ti amerò per sempre.” Niccolò kissed her hand. “Always, I’ll always love you, amore mio.” He slid a finger under her chin and kissed her with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes.
“And I will always love you,” she murmured.
As the priest joined them together in matrimony and blessed their union, Ruby felt transformed by the love Niccolò had for her, and the love she had for him. What they felt for each other was rare and beautiful, and Ruby was sure that they would celebrate their love every day of their lives.
“I can hardly believe we’re married,” Ruby said as they left the church.
“Evviva gli sposi,” called out the older couple who had acted as witnesses in congratulations.
Ruby and Niccolò turned and waved.
After the ceremony, Ruby and Niccolò were famished. Still wearing their wedding finery, they boarded the ferry to Bellagio to go to one of Niccolò’s favorite restaurants. Once they arrived, they strolled to the café arm in arm. When other patrons realized Ruby and Niccolò had just married, people surrounded them, wishing them well and showering them with champagne and food. Strangers became friends, and Ruby fixed every joyful face in her mind.
Although they were celebrating their vows without their family, Ruby cherished their wedding day. She promised herself she would remember every detail forever.
Yet, even as they kissed and toasted to their future, she couldn’t help but wonder how their parents would react to their news. Would they be as happy for her as these strangers were? Would they see the love in their hearts—or only the impediments to their union?
Chapter 16
Lago di Como, 2010
* * *
Ariana tipped her face to the sun, feeling the warmth on her cheeks as Alessandro steered the yacht across the lake. It was such a glorious, sunny day, and when Alessandro had suggested a ride on the lake, she thought, why not?
After all, she had been scheduled to be on vacation. Without the intended husband, but still, she deserved to enjoy herself.
As her aunt had told her this morning, You can stay in your room and cry, or you get on with life and enjoy yourself. Despite Ariana’s complaints, Ruby had then pushed open the curtains in her bedroom to let in the morning rays.
When Alessandro turned up just after lunch, she had been properly nourished by the purple-haired Livia, who was an extraordinary cook and kept insisting that Ariana was too thin.
Here on Lake Como, Ariana was starting to feel better than she had in years.
“Have you heard of Villa d’Este in Cernobbio?” Alessandro eased off the throttle and guided the vintage Riva yacht toward the dock.
“I once saw it featured on a travel channel.” Ariana ran her hand along the restored wood trim, which glimmered in the sun. “What a beautiful boat this is.” There was another row of cushioned seats behind them, as well as an area where people could sun themselves.
“We call these yachts here,” Alessandro said, smiling. “This one is almost sixty years old. Restoring it helped me keep my sanity after Serafina died.” With a practiced hand, Alessandro guided the yacht toward the dock. “So, do you and your aunt holiday together often?”
Ariana had to think about it. “It’s been a couple of years.” Four, actually, since any kind of vacation. “I went with my aunt to London so that she could accept a lifetime award.” She laughed. “She told them she wasn’t through yet and gave out her agent’s number from the podium.”
“And did that work?” Alessandro asked.
Ariana chuckled. “That’s how she got her last movie role. And she won another award for that one.”
“Maybe she’s not ready to retire.”
“Ruby loves to work. But she also likes to enjoy life.” As they neared the shoreline, Ariana could hear laughter rippling from the outdoor restaurants and the nearby swimming pool that stretched out into the lake.
Alessandro tilted his head. “That’s the Italian way. My work is important, but my family is more so.”
Ariana grew quiet, thinking about that. Ruby often asked her to travel with her to different events, but Ariana seldom took time away from work. Phillip had expected her to make time for him after they married, and she’d thought he was unreasonable. While she didn’t regret leaving him at the altar, perhaps the scales had tipped too far in favor of her grueling job.
Not unlike her mother.
Ariana turned to Alessandro. “You left the factory to pick up your children from school the other day.”
“Every day,” he said, smiling. “I love to meet them after school and hear how their day went. It’s a special time for each of us.”
“Do you have an au pair?”
Alessandro shook his head. “I want to spend as much time with them as I can. Seems like yesterday that they were babies.”
Ariana thought of an executive woman she worked with who hired an au pair to pick up her children from school, make dinner, bathe them, and tuck them into bed. If she were lucky, she made it home to read a story to her children before kissing them goodnight. Most nights, she wasn’t. Which left the weekends. Sunday, at least, because she often had to work on Saturday, or go to the gym, or have her hair done.