Though I don’t think I’ll be doing much planning, to be honest. Carla, who works at the gallery, has become one of my good friends and she, along with Maria, have joined forces and taken over the whole wedding planning thing. Sometimes Nina, my future mother-in-law, tries to get in on it too. Once a week they try to get me to answer some questions about the wedding: where do you want it to be, how many people, when do we start looking for the dress, what color scheme do you want, and so on, and so on.
Even Jana will occasionally email me things she saw in Brides magazine or something. You know, when she’s not sending me emails wondering where the book is and if I have to ask for another extension.
Some things never change.
Speaking of Jana, while I’m nodding at the next reader while they talk to me, trying to figure out the spelling of their name, I see Jana squeeze along the side of the line, Vanni in tow. She had just taken him to a museum, I’m assuming, because he’s carrying a huge bag that says The Science Museum, which I am sure is crammed with things I won’t understand.
They go right up to Claudio and start talking, and Vanni opens the bag to show his father what he got.
My heart swells at the sight. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy coming into a fractured family like this, but if anything, we’ve all grown closer because of it, and Jana has gotten more involved with Vanni. I’m sure there’s a part of her that feels intimidated by me, which is a weird thought, since I’m usually intimidated by her, as both Vanni’s mother and my powerhouse agent. But Claudio’s theory is that she feels her role in Vanni’s life might be slipping, which has spurned her on to be more attentive.
That’s not true, at all. She’s not slipping. I’m not trying to replace her, and I think everyone knows that. I’m just an addition. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have to act like a mother half the time. I get along with Vanni like he’s a younger brother, and I adore the kid, but I do have to put my foot down from time to time and attempt to do some parenting. Luckily, he doesn’t give me much pushback about that, although sometimes he’ll pull that “but I thought you were my friend” thing.
At any rate, Jana comes and visits us once a month in Lucca, and sometimes we’ll all come up here to London, like we’re doing now, or we’ll all go up to Scotland to see my mother.
The book tour kicks off here and then all of us (except Jana) are on the road for a few weeks. With Vanni on summer vacation still, it’s the perfect time to travel as a family. Thankfully, Jana is taking care of Vanni tonight, so that Claudio and I can have some alone time and celebrate my first signing.
In fact, he went and got us a “pre-honeymoon suite” at The Ritz. I’m not sure if the hotel calls it that, but Claudio does, and even though I’ve been having fun signing, I can’t wait to stop talking and being social and enjoy some alone time with my husband-to-be.
I wave at Vanni and Jana, and then Claudio comes back to take some more pictures. Jana and Vanni wait for a bit, watching me. Jana looks very proud. Vanni looks…very bored. They only watch for about five minutes before I can tell Vanni is complaining about dropping dopamine levels or something.
Jana quickly comes around my table to me, crouching down. “Do you need anything?” she asks me. “How are they treating you? You don’t have any more coffee, do you need a coffee? They should be offering you coffee.”
I laugh. “It sounds like you don’t need any more coffee. And I’m fine. I have Claudio.”
“Okay,” she says warily. “But the bookstore should be stepping up. They should realize who you are. Grace Harper, bestselling author.”
“I think they know who I am,” I say, gesturing to all the signage around the store, pictures of the cover, and also my blown-up face from the one headshot I like.
“Oh but I did all that,” she says. And then she points to the rows of bookshelves. “See? I got you end placement on all those rows. For a romance, that is rare.”
Jana has been telling me all the things she’s gotten for me for months now, so I’m always aware of how much power she has. I’m also very appreciative.
“I see. It looks great.”
“Good,” she says, getting back up and giving my shoulder a squeeze. “I’m going to take Vanni to the zoo now. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Pause. “Remember to have fun!”
I give her a big smile to show her how much fun I’m having.
“Wait, wait,” Claudio says, whipping his phone out. “Jana, go back there.”
Jana sighs and dutifully comes back beside me and we both smile for the camera. I know she acts like she doesn’t like photos, but she secretly loves it.
Then Vanni waves goodbye to me and off they go.
I watch them leave, then turn my attention to the line.
Holy moly, did it just get bigger?
I take a quick glance at my phone. Just another hour. My hand is cramping up from signing and my mouth hurts from talking, but I get back into the zone, and welcome the next person in line.
“So where do you want to go?” Claudio asks me as we leave the bookstore. He’s holding my hand, but doesn’t know what direction to take me. “We could go to Buckingham Palace, Camden Market, walk in the steps of Jack the Ripper in Shoreditch.”
“Claudio,” I say to him with a sigh. “I’m Scottish. I’ve done these things. Let’s go back to the hotel. This is our last chance to be alone before a month of travel happens. We should take advantage of it.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he says, and we head in the direction of the hotel, which isn’t too far.
When we get there, we have a drink at the swanky bar and I take a few moments to just breathe and decompress and enjoy the quiet. Claudio keeps his arm around me, making me feel safe, but doesn’t press me for conversation.
My mind is sluggish but keeps trying to go over the day. How lucky I was to have that signing, how fortunate I am that the book actually got finished and published, and that (most) people love it. And how amazing it is that I have Claudio by my side, that we’re going to be married one day, and that I will love him forever.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks me quietly, his fingers playing with my hair. We’ve sat in silence for a long time.
“Everything,” I tell him. “But mainly you.”
He angles his face toward me, smiles his beautiful smile, and then kisses me on the cheek. His lips are soft and lingering, causing a thrill to run up my spine.
I pick up my glass and finish my cocktail. Aperol Spritz, naturally, even though it’s not as good as the ones Claudio makes for me back home.
Home, I think, and it makes me sad for a moment. I’m excited to travel, and to do these events, but I’m going to miss Villa Rosa. It really is the best spot on earth, a place that both inspires me and makes me feel grounded. A place to belong to.
Though, when I think about it, a part of me will be there even when I’m not. The marble statue of me with the roses sits just beside the bar downstairs. It was Claudio’s joke to have her guarding the wine.
I think it’s funny, but also she’s beautiful. She’s like me, but she isn’t me, and every time I pass by her I’m reminded of his days sculpting me, and how we got together. It will remind me of the beginning of our love for the rest of my life. He named the statue, “Your Precious Heart,” taken from the lyrics of an INXS song.