Silent tears coursed down Patricia’s cheeks, but she’d committed to assisting Doc, and that’s what she did, swiping her cheeks every few minutes.
Niccolò, Niccolò. Ruby imagined him gripping her hand, willing her on, breathing his life force into their child.
“Baby’s coming,” Doc said. And then, “Hold up!” He barked his commands like a general. Ruby did her best to follow them, but she quickly grew tired and light-headed. Her limbs and muscles grew weaker with every effort.
Niccolò, be with me.
“Umbilical cord wrapped around,” Doc muttered.
Ruby felt herself grow lighter, and she seemed to transcend her body. Floating above the scene below, she saw her wavy, dark red hair tangled across the damp pillows and her legs pale as toothpicks against blood-stained sheets. Doc gritted his teeth, working feverishly, while her mother and sister choked back sobs.
Sounds seemed muted, and the scene unfolded before her, as if in a movie. Ruby was wondering what would happen next when suddenly she felt jerked back into her body. Doc was checking her eyes, and then, as a torrent of pain ripped through her, she tilted her head back and screamed.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she heard Doc say, “Here she is.”
Her mother rose anxiously from the bed. “Is she…breathing?”
She. A girl. Ruby twisted an edge of the sheet in her fist.
Doc looked grim as he held a thin, limp form in his hands.
Ruby panicked. “No, not my baby!” Blood roared through her head, and all she could think of was how she’d lost them both. Despair as dark as she’d ever known coursed through her, and she wished she could return to that strange, in-between place devoid of pain.
“Shh,” Patricia said, gripping Ruby’s hands as she flailed. “Let Doc work.”
Tears wet her face as Ruby listened to the frantic prayer on her mother’s lips. How could her baby have slipped away while she remained? She would have gladly changed places, giving her baby girl a chance to live.
Moments seemed like hours, but finally, a tiny cry erupted, followed by a thin wail that sent shivers through Ruby. “Is she okay?”
Doc gazed at her with sorrowful eyes. “She’s premature, so her lungs might not be well-formed.”
A chilling terror sliced through Ruby. “Will she…live?”
“If she can breathe on her own, she has a shot,” Doc replied grimly, setting his jaw. “We’ll do what we can.”
Chapter 26
Lago di Como, 2010
* * *
Tucking her sketches under her arm, Ariana hurried down the stairs at Villa Fiori, excited about her plans. Today Alessandro was picking her up, and they were going to the shop she’d leased to start work on the interior. But first, she wanted to show her aunt what she’d been working on for her debut signature collection.
Ruby was already outside on the terrace having breakfast.
“Good morning,” Ariana sang out. She joined Ruby at the table, where Livia had set up a place for her and left a fresh pot of coffee. Pouring coffee, she said, “I brought some of my designs to show you what I have in mind for my collection.”
“I’d love to see them.” Ruby slid her grapefruit and granola to one side.
Ariana spread out a few sketches. “What I have in mind is a fusion of casual American and chic European style. Think Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis relaxing on a Greek island or Grace Kelly sailing to Monaco.”
Perusing the sketches, Ruby smiled. “I see the mid-century fashion influence, which looks very fresh in your hands.” She tapped one of the drawings. “I’d certainly like this outfit. A swinging bodice with a boatneck top and three-quarter bell sleeves. Paired with a slim pant. Good lines. And I love it in this shade of coral.”
“I thought you’d like that,” Ariana said. “After all those years of playing in your closets, I know your style. Bold, dramatic, rich with flair.”
“All the better to make an entrance, my dear.” Ruby folded her hands. “So, how are you planning your production?”
“I have fabric from Alessandro,” Ariana said. “And I’m having a dressmaker’s form, a sewing machine, and other supplies delivered in a few days. I’ll start by draping muslin on the form to create my designs. From that, a pattern maker can create patterns in a range of sizes. Customers can look at samples, order their size, and receive a custom fit.”
Ruby nodded thoughtfully. “What about people who are here on holiday and need an outfit for dinner?”
Ariana had thought about that. “I’ll also have some ready-to-wear in simple, luxurious resort-wear designs. Not quite one-size-fits-all, but close. Small, medium, and large. I’ll start with just a few so I can see what delights my customers.”
“Good idea,” Ruby said, studying each design. “These are marvelous. But then, I have complete faith in you and your ability.”
“There’s just so much I need to do before…” Ariana chewed her lip. Before I give birth, she thought. The funny thing was that except for having a ravenous appetite, she hardly felt pregnant at all.
“That’s wise,” Ruby said solemnly. “You want to be prepared in the event of—well, anything. Have you checked with Vera for obstetrician recommendations yet? She has a list of medical providers.”
Ariana sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple. “I will, but I feel fine. I have so much to do right now.”
Ruby reached across the table and gripped her hand. “No, you must make arrangements now. If you want, I’ll make an appointment for you.”
Surprised at Ruby’s urgency, Ariana pulled back. “I can do it, but I’d rather not broadcast my condition just yet.”
“You must be under a doctor’s care. Just in case.” Worry lines creased Ruby’s forehead. “Does this have something to do with Alessandro?”
Averting her eyes, Ariana blew on her hot coffee. She enjoyed spending time with Alessandro and the children and feared that if she told him she was pregnant, he would vanish. She wouldn’t even blame him.
“I like Alessandro for you,” Ruby said, tapping the table with her manicured nails. Her voice hardened with resolve. “But you must tell him soon. If you wait any longer, he’ll be angry and upset that you didn’t trust him enough to tell him.”
“But I’m afraid,” Ariana whispered, ashamed that she wasn’t as strong as Ruby. Her aunt rarely found fault with her, and when she did, it hurt. “Maybe next week...”
Ruby raised her brow and shook her head. “Be honest with him.” She stared across the water toward Varenna. “Otherwise, your life will become even more muddled and tangled than you think it is now. Sadly, I know this from experience.”
Before Ariana could ask Ruby what she meant by that, her aunt dabbed her mouth with her napkin and rose, drawing her shoulders back imperiously. “Your designs are exquisite, my dear, but I hope you’ll heed my warning about Alessandro.”
After Ruby had gone, Ariana finished her breakfast. Her aunt was no longer coddling her, but nor did Ariana want her to. Ruby had a strong sense of right and wrong, as well as lofty expectations. Ariana often wondered how Ruby’s will of iron had been forged.