The Wedding Arrangement

CHAPTER TEN

HE WAITED to see if she flinched at Gianni’s name, but she merely gave a fond, reminiscent smile.

‘Gianni thought I was crazy but he didn’t try to stop me. Come to think of it, that was always the way. He was very easygoing. He used to say, “You do it your way, carissima.”’ She gave a brief laugh. ‘So I always did.’

‘He sounds the ideal husband,’ Luke observed, keeping his voice carefully light. ‘You said, “Jump” and he jumped. What more could a woman ask?’

‘Sure, it makes me sound like a domineering wife, but actually it was all a con trick. He pretended to be meek and helpless but it was just a way of pushing the boring jobs on to me. If there were forms to be filled in, phone calls to be made to officials, it was always, “You do it, cara. You’re the clever one.” And after a while it dawned on me that I’d been tricked into doing all the work.’

‘Did you mind?’

‘Not really. It made sense since I was a lawyer, and you know what bureaucracy is like in this country.’

‘And if you hadn’t been a lawyer?’

‘He’d have found some other excuse, of course,’ she said, smiling. ‘He was just like my father. Anything not to fill in a form! But so what, as long as one of us could do it? We were a team, a partnership.’

‘And you were the clever one, weren’t you? Cleverer than him, I mean.’

‘He used to laugh and say anyone was cleverer than him. Sometimes I’d rebel and say, “Come on, you can do that one yourself,” and he’d grin and say, “It was worth a try, cara.” But I didn’t mind because he gave me so much in return, love and happiness. We had a marriage that-I don’t know-I can’t say.’

‘Go on,’ he said when she fell silent. ‘Tell me how it was.’

She shook her head.

‘Mind my own business?’ he asked lightly.

‘We were married for ten years. How can I tell you how “it” was? Which “it” are we talking about? The first year, when we were discovering each other, or the middle years when we settled into being an old married couple?’

‘You mean when you were in your mid-twenties? That sort of old?’

‘That’s right. I didn’t mind being “that sort of old” because I knew I’d come home and found the place I belonged. I wanted to stay there for ever.’

‘But you can’t. Life moves on.’

‘I know,’ she said with a sigh. ‘At first we fitted together perfectly. I spent years going to law school and then serving an apprenticeship with a firm, not earning very much, and he didn’t earn very much either.’

‘What sort of job did he do?’

‘He drove a truck for a local firm that buys a lot of stuff through Naples and Sicily.’

‘So he was away a lot?’

‘If it was Naples he could get back the same day, even if it was quite late. For Sicily he’d have to be away overnight, maybe two.’

‘But that must have been handy if you were studying?’

‘It was. He used to say that all the other drivers worried about leaving their wives, in case they were unfaithful, but he knew his only rival was my books.’

‘What about children? Did you ever think of having any?’

Was it his imagination, or did she hesitate a moment?

‘We talked about it, but there were always hurdles to clear first. I wanted to give him children. He had such a great heart; he’d have been a wonderful father.’

She didn’t say any more and he left it there. Another show was coming up on television and they watched it for a while, making ribald comments about the quality of the contestants. She went into the kitchen to create a late night snack, then checked the curtains to make sure that they were completely closed.

‘They weren’t looking in, were they?’ Luke asked.

‘I wouldn’t put it past them. Once Netta’s set her heart on something, she doesn’t give up.’

‘Couldn’t you just be strong, and tell her that nothing on earth would prevail on you to marry me?’ he suggested.

‘I’ve already done that. It didn’t work. The way she sees it, our marriage would benefit everyone, so it’s my duty to sacrifice myself.’

‘Thanks!’

She grinned. ‘I just thought I’d warn you of the forces ranged against you.’

‘Think I can’t manage for myself, huh?’

‘Are you kidding? Between you and Netta I’d back her any day.’

‘So would I,’ he observed gloomily.

‘Don’t worry; I’ll save you from that ghastly fate. I’ll be strong for both of us.’

‘Who’s strong for you?’ he asked impulsively. ‘Who’s ever done that?’

Her shrug seemed to imply that she had no need, but he was beginning to know better.

The game show was followed by a historical film, made about fifty years ago and set in the days of ancient chivalry. It concerned a knight escorting a lady to her wedding with a great lord. They fell in love but maintained perfect virtue, symbolised by the knight laying his sword on the ground between them as they slept side by side.

People said ‘Gadzooks!’ and ‘Avaunt!’ The lady swooned regularly. The colour was lurid and the film was truly terrible. They enjoyed it immensely.

‘If you tried that sword trick in real life,’ Luke observed, ‘you’d be cut to pieces.’

‘And they’re all so clean,’ Minnie objected. ‘Days travelling through the countryside, and not a speck. Do you want anything else to eat?’

‘No, thanks,’ he said, yawning. ‘I’m off to bed.’

‘Me, too.’

In the doorway he paused and said lightly, ‘I don’t have a sword, but I do have a bad arm.’

‘You don’t have to reassure me,’ she said quietly.

‘I’ll see you, then.’

When she appeared in his room a few minutes later he was in bed. He extended his good left arm and she tucked herself into the crook. He turned out the light, and for a while she was so still that he thought she’d fallen asleep. But then she said, ‘Thank you, Luke.’

‘Does it help?’ he asked quietly.

‘You’ll never know how much.’

She fell asleep on the words. He waited, listening to her soft breathing in the darkness. At last, easy in his mind about her, he settled down.

Only once in the night did she stir and begin muttering words that he could not discern. He stroked her hair with his bandaged hand, murmuring, ‘It’s all right. I’m here.’

She became content, and didn’t move again.

Sometimes over the next few nights, lying in the darkness of that quiet room, Minnie had the feeling of being in a small boat that was drifting out into uncharted sea. Their destination was a mystery, but she knew there was nothing to fear.

She had no idea what deep instinct had made Luke so attuned to her needs, and so willing to subordinate everything else to her. This man whom she’d once thought harsh and insensitive, seemed to have the power to look into her heart, and be gentle with what he found there.

She lost track of time. By day they talked, or rather she talked while he listened, offering the odd word or question to bring forth more memories that always looked strangely different once she had voiced them. He had spoken of letting in the light of day, and it was true. At night there was the comfort of untroubled sleep.

It couldn’t last. The passion that had briefly flared was still there, subdued but waiting. But, for now, this was the sweetest experience of her life.

She lost track of time. She only knew that one night his cellphone, which he kept beside the bed, shrilled until they woke. He fumbled for it, tried to press the right button with his left hand, and dropped it.

‘Stay,’ she said, motioning him back while she picked up the phone, pressed the button, and handed it to him.

He grunted his thanks. ‘Pronto!’

It was Toni, and Luke could hear at once that something was badly wrong. Minnie, watching, heard him say ‘Mamma!’ twice, and grow pale.

‘I’ll be there as fast as I can,’ he said, and hung up.

‘What’s happened?’

‘It’s my mother,’ he said, speaking with difficulty. ‘She collapsed suddenly and had to be rushed to hospital. They think it’s a heart attack and she might-I’ve got to get there, fast.’

‘I’ll call the airport,’ Minnie said at once.

But the flight from Rome to Naples had just left, and there wasn’t another until the following morning.

‘It’ll be midday before I land,’ he groaned. ‘That might be too late. I’ll have to drive.’

‘Not with that bandaged hand,’ Minnie said. ‘You’ll never control a car.’

‘Don’t you understand? I have to get there!’ he raged.

‘Then I’ll take you. The roads will be clear at this hour, and we’ll be there in less than three hours.’

Without giving him a chance to answer, she went to her room and dressed quickly. When she came out he’d managed to scramble into some clothes and was standing by the door, his whole being expressive of tense urgency.

Her car was locked in a row of garages further down the street. As quickly as she could, she eased it out, and soon they were on their way out of Rome, on to the autostrada that led to Naples. Then she put her foot down, driving as fast as she dared.

Only once during the journey to Naples did he speak. ‘Thank you. I don’t know how I’d have managed but for you.’

‘Anyone in that building would have done this for you,’ she said. ‘They all count you as their friend. But I wanted to be the one to do it.’

‘Thank you,’ he said again, and fell into brooding silence.

On the outskirts of Naples they came to a place where there had been an accident. Nobody had been hurt, but a truck lay on its side, blocking the road, save for one lane, and the traffic had slowed to a standstill.

Luke groaned and seized his cellphone. But his father’s phone was switched off.

‘Hospitals won’t have them on,’ Minnie said sympathetically. ‘But we’ll be there soon. The front of this queue is moving.’

He slumped down in his seat. ‘It might be too late. Why wasn’t I there?’

‘Has she been ill before?’

‘Not as far as I know.’

‘Then how could you have been on the alert? You couldn’t have known this was going to happen.’

‘That’s easy to say, but she might be dead right this minute, and I wouldn’t know. I should have called her more often. She might have told me that she was feeling bad-’

‘But maybe she wasn’t. Luke, don’t start creating “what ifs?” to torment yourself.’

‘But you can’t stop yourself creating them,’ he said sombrely. ‘You know that better than anyone. Suddenly I find myself saying all the things you said about Gianni.’

‘But you didn’t quarrel with her,’ she said softly. ‘She knows you love her.’

‘I should have called her yesterday, but I didn’t. If I had, I’d have said-’ he sighed heavily ‘-probably nothing very much, but she’d have known I cared because I took the time to make the call.’

She longed to comfort him, as he had comforted her. The traffic was still for the moment, and, in her desperation to pierce his haze of misery, she took hold of him and gave him a little shake, forcing him to look at her.

‘Luke, listen to me. How many years has she been your mother? More than thirty? Do you think she doesn’t know by now how you feel about her? Do you think one incident counts against all those years?’

‘Why not?’ he asked her simply. ‘Isn’t that what you think about Gianni? All those years of loving him, and you can’t forgive yourself for one incident.’

‘But you’ve been telling me how wrong I was.’

‘I know. And you are wrong, just as I’m wrong now. And we both know it, but it doesn’t help, does it?’

‘No,’ she said, putting her arms right round him. ‘It doesn’t help, however hard we try to reason, because in the end reason has nothing to do with it. It’s what you feel.’

‘If she dies-’

‘It’s too soon to say that.’

‘If she dies before I can speak to her-then I shall really understand what you’ve been going through, instead of just talking about it. Oh, Minnie, what an idiot you must have thought me! All talk, knowing nothing.’

‘It wasn’t like that. You gave me so much-more than you’ll ever know. But it wasn’t the words, it was that you were there, all the time. That was what I needed most. Now I’m here. Hold on to me.’

His grip was painful, but she was glad of it. It was all she could do for him, to offer back a little of what he had given, and pray that in the end he wouldn’t need any of it.

‘The line’s moving again,’ she said. ‘We’ll be there soon.’

She kissed him again and again. ‘Just a little longer. Hold on.’

He nodded. She could see tears in his eyes, and it was with reluctance that he released her.

A policeman was waving them on. She started up and began moving at a crawl until at last they were past the accident, the road widened and she was free to drive on.

‘You’ll have to guide me from here,’ she said.

He gave her the name of the hospital and directed her until the huge building came into view.

‘I’ll drop you at the main door, then go and park the car,’ she said. ‘I’ll find you afterwards.’

His answer was a tense smile, and she knew he was fearing to hear the worst. As she drew up outside the main door, she reached over and gave his left hand a squeeze.

‘Good luck,’ she said.

His answer was a return squeeze, then he got out quickly and hurried into the building.

At that time of night the parking lot was almost empty. She parked without trouble and followed him into the hospital, where the man on the night desk directed her to the third floor. Upstairs she found herself in a corridor of private rooms. Turning a corner, she stopped at the sight that met her eyes.

A crowd of young men were standing, sitting or lounging close to one door. Two were young and handsome, with a definite facial resemblance, one was older, with the same resemblance, but less marked. It was enough to tell her that these were the Rinuccis.

They all seemed to notice her at the same time, and moved quickly towards her in a way that could have been alarming if they hadn’t been so clearly friendly.

‘Signora Pepino-Luke told us-we have been expecting you-you brought our brother here-grazie, grazie-’

Hand after hand clasped hers with vigour. It was overwhelming, yet powerfully attractive.

‘What’s the news of your mother?’ she asked quickly.

‘It’s good,’ said one of the men. ‘I am Primo Rinucci.’

‘Good-how?’ she asked. ‘I understood it was a heart attack.’

One of the handsome boys spoke up. ‘Mamma was breathless and then she fainted, so we got her here, fast. The doctor says it was only a dizzy spell, but she must take better care of herself in case the next time is more serious. So we’re going to make sure that she does take care.’

‘But still we thank you for what you have done.’ This was the other good-looking boy.

There was a chorus of agreement and they all swarmed around her again, this time embracing and kissing her. Now it felt like coming home, she thought. Being embraced by Rinuccis was like being embraced by Pepinos-pleasant and comforting.

The door opened and a man in late middle age appeared. Over his shoulder Minnie could see Luke sitting by the bed, his mother’s hands clasped in his. Then he was shut off from her sight. The young men called him Pappa, and rushed to introduce her. This was Toni Rinucci, whose face bore the marks of a night of strain and fear, although it was gradually clearing.

He, too, thanked her, almost fiercely, and answered her question about his wife’s health with a passionate, ‘The doctors say she will be well, thank God! And you must forgive me for dragging you on this long journey, but I am her husband-I panic because I love her.’

‘How could you not panic?’ she agreed, nodding.

‘All of our sons will be here soon,’ he told her. ‘Justin is coming from England, Franco is in America and will be here later today. My wife will feel better for having her whole family around her. She will want to meet you, too, but in the meantime you’ll be wanting to get some rest. Carlo and Ruggiero will take you to our home.’

‘Can we see Mamma first?’ Carlo said.

‘No, she can’t have too many people in there at once, and this is Luke’s time. Be off now, and look after our guest.’

‘Let Carlo take your car,’ Ruggiero said as they left the hospital, ‘and I’ll drive you in mine. It’s not far. You’ll see the house before we’ve gone a mile.’

She did see it, high on the hill, gleaming with lights that seemed to reach down to them as they climbed. As they drew into the wide courtyard a middle-aged woman came out to wait for them.

‘That’s Greta, our housekeeper,’ Ruggiero said. ‘Pappa will have called ahead and she will have prepared a room for you.’

Inside the house they thanked her again for bringing Luke, and she followed Greta up the stairs to her room. She accepted the refreshments the housekeeper offered, but she was longing to be alone to sort out her thoughts. It had all happened so suddenly that she was almost dizzy.

She had a shower in the little bathroom. It washed off the worst of the night, but she still felt the need to lie down for a nap.

When she awoke the sun was high in the sky, and her window showed her a car gliding up the hill. When it drew to a halt below she saw Luke and his father get out. They were smiling in a way that confirmed the good news. For a moment her instinct told her to rush down into his arms, but then she saw the others hurry out to them, heard the cheering, saw them all clap each other on the back.

She wasn’t needed there, she realised. Luke was back with his family, where he belonged. His mother wasn’t seriously ill after all, and the moments when they had clung to each other, full of intense, despairing emotion, seemed to come from another world.

She sat down on the bed, feeling a bleak sense of anti-climax.

Since her job sometimes called for her to travel at a moment’s notice Minnie kept a bag always ready, containing clean clothes and toiletries. She’d snatched it up before leaving and was glad now that she could dress smartly.

Greta came with coffee and a message to say that lunch was being served below. Luke was waiting for her as she descended the stairs. He looked unshaven but happy, and he enfolded her in an exuberant hug.

‘She’s all right,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘She’ll be home later today, and she’s longing to meet you.’

‘She must have got a shock when she saw your bandages.’

‘Yes, but I played it down, and she could see I’m all right. She’s mad at me for not telling her before, but I’ll be forgiven. She’ll probably try to pump you for more details-’

‘I’ll be the soul of discretion,’ she promised.

Now she must be introduced to the others, including Primo, whom she had briefly seen in the corridor that morning. She remembered Luke saying, ‘Primo had an Italian mother, so he calls me Inglese, as an insult.’

And there, with Primo, was Olympia, the black-haired woman of the photograph in Luke’s wallet. Meeting her now, Minnie saw that she only had eyes for Primo, and she embraced her willingly.

Carlo was missing and Luke explained that he’d gone to the airport to meet Justin, his wife and son.

‘I told you about him,’ he reminded her.

‘The child who was taken away from her at birth,’ Minnie remembered. ‘And she thought he was dead.’

‘Yes. They were married here a few weeks ago, and now they’re barely back from their honeymoon.’

‘The house is going to get very crowded. I should be going soon.’

‘No way, not until Mamma has met you. She-’

The shrill of his phone interrupted him. He answered impatiently and she heard him say, ‘Eduardo? Sorry I had to leave unexpectedly. I can’t talk now-I’ll call you back.’

He hung up quickly. Minnie was about to ask who Eduardo was when a noise outside caused everyone to rush to the windows to see Justin and his family arrive.

They had to be reassured that Hope was well and would be home later that day, and Minnie stood back while Luke was once more sucked into his family.

It was a fascinating sight, she thought, like watching the missing piece that completed a jigsaw puzzle. Always before she had seen him as an outsider. Now she saw the niche where he fitted. Even so, she could see deep into him now, and tell that the fit wasn’t perfect. In part he was still an outsider, from choice.

When she could escape she returned to her room and called Netta, who had been agog with curiosity at finding the two of them missing. She was all sympathy when she heard of Luke’s trouble, but added anxiously, ‘You will bring him back, won’t you, cara? You won’t let him stay there?’

‘Of course not,’ she said mechanically, and hung up quickly.

She felt winded. She should have seen this coming. And she hadn’t.

It hadn’t occurred to Minnie that Luke wouldn’t return with her to Rome, but now she saw the danger. For him Rome might be no more than a passing mood, to be put behind him once a convenient opportunity presented itself.

The closeness that had seemed to unite them could turn out to be no more than a chimera now that he was back with his family. They would still correspond about legal matters, but essentially it was over.