Wife And Mother Forever

CHAPTER NINE

THE London to Naples flight left early, so the three of them spent the previous night in the airport hotel.

‘Uncle Toni knows why I’m here,’ Primo said as they sat over dinner the night before. ‘But I didn’t say anything to Mamma before I left, for fear of raising her hopes. But now I’ve called him and told him everything, and he’s going to prepare her gently. She’s dreamed of this for so long that the reality is going to come as a shock to her.’

‘Will the whole family be there?’ Evie wanted to know.

‘Everyone, but for a while the others will stay out of sight.’ He addressed Justin. ‘The two of you will need to have your first meeting in private. Then we’ll all gather.’

‘Hope really has five other sons?’ Evie asked.

‘That’s right, although not all of us were born to her. She and my father adopted Luke. Then there’s Francesco. She fell in love with his father, Franco, while still married to Jack Cayman, which is really why my father divorced her. Carlo and Ruggiero are her sons by Toni.’ He gave Justin an encouraging smile. ‘So you have five brothers, one way or another.’

He didn’t seem to notice that Justin’s smile was faint and he’d spoken very little. He went on, ‘Then Mamma will want to meet your son, Mark, her grandson. She’ll be disappointed that he’s not with you, but you were probably wise to leave him behind this time.’

‘I’d like to get things sorted out first,’ Justin said quietly.

‘Of course. Signorina-’ He turned to Evie and said in Italian, ‘I’m delighted that you speak my language.’

‘Only Italian,’ she said in the same language. ‘Not Neapolitan, except for a few words. But I want to learn more of your dialect.’

‘I shall delight in teaching you.’ He saw Justin frowning and said quickly in English, ‘Forgive me. I’m being rude in using a language that you don’t understand, but it’s such a pleasure to discover a lady who speaks Italian so well. She will be a great help to you.’

He drained his glass.

‘I think I’ll have an early night.’ Rising, he kissed Evie’s hand, saying in Italian, ‘Buona notte, moglie del mio fratello.’

He departed.

Justin regarded her. After a moment he said edgily, ‘Aren’t you going to tell me what he said?’

‘He just wished me goodnight,’ she said hastily.

‘No, he said more than that. Why should you conceal it?’

‘Because it’s a bit embarrassing. He called me his sister-in-law-wife of my brother. Forget it. I’m going to bed.’

He went up with her and they said goodnight at her door. But his knock came soon after.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked, letting him in. ‘You’ve been very quiet all evening.’

He didn’t reply at first, but walked about the room before saying abruptly, ‘Evie, let’s forget all this and go home.’

‘You can’t mean that, not after we’ve come this far. You couldn’t go away now, just when you’re on the verge of discovering everything.’

‘Am I? What is “everything”? Can you tell me that? At one time I might have agreed with you, but now I’ve met you I have another “everything”. What connection can there be between her and me after all these years?’

‘But you can’t do that to her. She’s expecting you now; it’ll break her heart if you don’t arrive. And in the years to come you’ll regret not meeting her and finding out what you need to know. Justin, you’re just making excuses-finding reasons. Why?’

He gave her a faint smile.

‘You always see through me. Of course I’m making excuses. Because I’m afraid. I always thought of myself as strong. You have to make people see you like that because if they sense weakness they go in for the kill. But the truth is that I’m a coward and I’ve only just discovered it.’

‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re not a coward.’

‘You know my weaknesses better than anyone, and you’re the only person I could say that to, the only person I could trust that much. You’re all I need. I want to spend my life with you. Nothing else matters.’

She smiled and touched his face tenderly.

‘Darling, I love you, and it’s wonderful that you say that, but-don’t you see, we can’t think about it now? What’s going to happen tomorrow is so overwhelming that it’s going to blot out everything else for a while. I’m here if you want me, but we can only go forward, not back.’

He nodded. ‘Nothing could blot you out. I’ll go forward if I have your hand in mine. Help me, Evie. With you I think I can manage anything. Without you-’ His face clouded.

‘But you don’t have to be without me,’ she said, taking him into her arms.

They made love tenderly, with her taking the initiative. She had never felt so strongly protective of him as at this moment.

Yet she could not ignore a small shadow at the back of her mind. He’d said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. It wasn’t exactly a proposal, but she knew she could have turned it into one, had she wished.

Why hadn’t she done so? Was it the old caution, that had held her back from marriage so often before? Or was it something more, something dangerous about this man, that warned her to beware, even while she felt the bands that linked her to him tighten around her heart?

The flight to Naples next morning went smoothly, and by early afternoon they were in the car sent to convey them to the Villa Rinucci.

Evie was so entranced to be back in Italy, and in a region that she’d always longed to explore, that she almost forgot everything else. It was the height of summer and the sun poured down over them as they took the coast road, then climbed up to the villa, with the Bay of Naples falling away below them.

Her first sight of the Villa Rinucci was pure magic. Seen from below, it was like a mini-palace made of honey-coloured stone. There were several wings and around the whole building was a covered terrace, the roof supported by high arches.

Looking out of the window, Evie thought she saw the figure of a tall, slender woman standing on the terrace, looking down at the car climbing the road. But the dazzling sun made her blink, and when she looked again the terrace was empty.

At last the car came to a halt in the courtyard on the other side of the house. A man was standing there.

‘That is my Uncle Toni, and Mamma’s husband,’ Primo explained.

He was out of the car first, going forward to take his uncle’s hand, then looking back to where Justin was getting out of the car, indicating him.

And there it was again, the slight start of astonishment as Toni Rinucci saw his wife’s features in her son.

Primo introduced them quietly to each other, the men murmured something and Toni ushered them all towards the villa. As they approached, Evie could see faces at the windows and guessed these were some of the other sons, hovering nearby, but keeping a discreet distance.

When they were inside the villa, Toni Rinucci studied Justin more closely for a moment.

‘Yes,’ he said at last. ‘Primo has assured us that you are the one, and now I see that he is right. If I did not believe that I would not let you near my wife. Since I told her she has been much disturbed, but she longs to see you. She is waiting for you in that room.’

Justin glanced at Evie, but she stepped back.

‘This is just you and her,’ she said. And he nodded.

Toni opened a door. Inside, a woman was sitting by a large window. The light was behind her, making her a silhouette. She rose as Justin entered, and Evie had a glimpse of the two of them moving slowly towards each other. A pause. Then Hope Rinucci’s hands flew to her mouth in a gesture of joyful astonishment. And then they were in each other’s arms.

Gently Toni closed the door.

‘Signorina Evie,’ he said, smiling, ‘forgive me for not welcoming you properly before. Please believe that you are welcome in our home.’

He opened his arms in a huge Italian hug and she felt herself engulfed.

‘My wife’s maid will show you to your room,’ he said when she finally came up, gasping for air. ‘When you are ready, you will come down and meet some of the louts who hang around this house.’

There was muffled laughter from the gaggle of young men who had come downstairs but were still keeping a respectful distance, doubtless obeying orders.

Maria, the maid, showed her upstairs. Evie had an impression of a spacious building with warm red and brown flagstones, furnished in traditional style, with a great deal of polished wood. The effect was rustic, she noted, but the kind of elegant rustic that would take a great deal of money.

When she had freshened up Primo came to escort her downstairs, where Toni hugged her again.

‘Primo has told us everything,’ he said. ‘How you helped and encouraged Justin in the search. My wife shall know of it. For now, you must have food and wine, and soon you will meet her.’

He led her out on to the terrace overlooking the bay and she stood gazing in wonder at the beauty until Toni offered her a glass of prosecco, the lightest possible sparkling white wine.

Now the other sons came forward to be introduced-Luke, the adopted one; Francesco, the love child; Carlo and Ruggiero, the twins, in their late twenties, full of zest and young, masculine attraction. Although not identical, they were sufficiently alike to show that they were brothers.

They plied her with questions about Justin, while contriving to make it clear that they admired her for their own sake. Ruggiero winked and gave her a soft wolf whistle, which prompted Carlo to say sharply, ‘Mind your manners.’

He spoke in Italian and Evie immediately said in the same language, ‘It’s all right.’

That delighted them, and after that everyone spoke Italian. They were impressed by her and said so openly. Now the questions were about her, although only Ruggiero had the effrontery to look at her left hand and say, ‘Then you aren’t married to Justin? There’s hope for the rest of us?’

‘Behave yourself!’ his father growled.

Ruggiero fell silent, but there was nothing meek in his demeanour and he gave Evie a conspiratorial wink.

A charmer and a ladies’ man, she thought. He’ll flirt with every girl in sight and it’ll mean nothing. But he’s harmless and likeable.

‘Primo spoke as though you were already our sister-in-law,’ Francesco explained.

‘I’ve only known Justin a few weeks,’ Evie said.

‘But it was you who helped to set his feet on the road that led here,’ Toni said. ‘And it is you he chose to bring here with him. That means that in his heart you are his wife.’ He raised his voice to add, ‘And you will be treated as such by every man here.’

There were murmurs of, ‘Si, Pappa.’ Toni turned back to her.

‘If any of my sons offends you, please inform me at once, Signorina, and I will personally beat him black and blue.’

‘I’m sure that won’t be necessary,’ she assured him, chuckling.

An hour passed, during which Evie made friends with them all. She was at ease and comfortable among these people. If only Justin could feel the same.

She thought of him, with Hope, the mother who had influenced his whole life by not being part of it. How was he coping?

At last there was a noise from outside. Someone hissed, ‘They’re coming,’ and the next moment Hope Rinucci appeared, her hand tucked in Justin’s arm. Together they came out on to the terrace.

Hope reached out to her husband, smiling through tears.

‘He came back to me, Toni,’ she said. ‘He came back, as I always knew he would.’

‘Of course he did, carissima,’ he soothed her.

Justin kept his eyes fixed on his mother, as though what was happening had left him dazed. Evie tried to imagine what this moment meant to him, but it was beyond imagining.

She studied his face, seeking some sign of emotion, but she saw nothing. His expression was set and slightly fierce, much as it had been when he’d first told her his story.

She’d been partly expecting this. Justin would die before letting the world know how he felt. Even with her he found it hard. But surely she knew him well enough to read the signs?

Then, with a start of dismay, she realised that there were no signs. His face was the blank of a man who didn’t even know what his feelings were.

At last he met her eyes and she saw his confusion. Years of dreading rejection had left him unable to react. She smiled back, trying to reassure him that it would happen later, when he wasn’t under a spotlight.

But at this supreme moment, when there should be joy and triumph, he was once more shut out and her heart ached for him.

Now that she saw Hope more clearly Evie understood why Justin had found instant acceptance. As Primo had said, the family resemblance was remarkable.

Carlo and Ruggiero studied their new brother with interest before shaking his hand. Then the others all offered their hands, signifying acceptance.

‘Now,’ Hope said, looking around at them, ‘now I have all my sons beside me.’

Toni drew Evie forward to be introduced. Hope received her charmingly, but Evie didn’t miss the shrewdness in the clear blue eyes, and knew she was being carefully inspected. She wondered what Justin had told his mother about her, and longed for a moment to talk to him.

It was a long time before such a moment came. Hope herself showed him to his room, clinging to his arm in a manner that Evie was glad to see. Nothing would do Justin more good than to have his mother claim him possessively like this. She dared to hope that soon his demons might be stilled.

She spent the rest of the afternoon with the twins, learning Neapolitan words. Then Toni showed her his library and she delighted him by studying his antique Italian books with real interest, and being able to translate them.

‘You are an expert in my language,’ he said, beaming.

‘I hope so. It’s how I earn my living, plus French, of course.’

‘Pooh! French!’ he said, dismissing a thousand years of French culture with a wave of an Italian hand. ‘But Italian-ah, wait until you see the people I can take you to meet. How I look forward to you being part of this family.’

‘Please-’ she said hastily.

‘Of course,’ he said, throwing up a hand. ‘I understand that it’s a delicate matter. I will say no more.’

The whole family joined up again for dinner that night. Justin sat beside Hope, who engaged him deep in conversation. Evie was glad to see that there was now less constraint in his manner. He could smile at his mother and speak naturally to her.

‘When will I meet your son?’ Hope asked him. ‘My first grandchild. Indeed my only grandchild until another of my sons does his duty, which, I have to say, shows no sign of happening.’

There were grins and disclaimers around the table. Evidently this was an old bone of contention.

‘Send for him,’ Hope said. ‘Bring him here tomorrow.’

It was charmingly said, with a radiant smile at Justin, but Evie noticed the hint of command. This was a woman used to announcing what she wanted and having her wishes fulfilled.

‘Tomorrow’s a little soon,’ Justin said. ‘I shall have to go and fetch him-’

‘No, no, you were telling me about your housekeeper-Lily-she can bring him.’

‘No, she’s scared of flying,’ Evie said. ‘She told me so once. And Mark mustn’t come alone. I’ll go and collect him. I’ll leave tomorrow and we’ll be back the day after.’

The young men exclaimed over the idea of losing her, but Hope thanked her in a way that allowed no further discussion. Justin threw her a look of gratitude.

When the meal was over Evie announced that she would retire at once, to make an early departure next morning. She would have liked to talk privately to Justin, but that could wait. This time belonged to Hope.

But later that night she had a surprise. As she was about to put out her light there came a knock on her door. It was Hope.

‘I hope I don’t come too late, but I had to have a brief word with you,’ she said. ‘We’ve had no chance to get to know each other, but I believe that nobody knows my son-’ she lingered over the two words ‘-better than you.’

‘I don’t think that’s really true,’ Evie said hesitantly. ‘I’ve known him only a few weeks.’

Hope gave an expressive shrug.

‘Is time what really matters? Something tells me you know him better after a month than anyone else in a lifetime.’

‘I don’t believe he’s let himself get close to anyone,’ Evie agreed, ‘except Mark.’

‘Ah, yes, Mark. How I long to meet him. How generous of you to make it possible. I’ll leave you now to get your sleep, and wish you a safe journey.’

She enfolded Evie in a scented embrace and departed imperiously.

Mark was waiting for her, eager to hear everything that had happened. Justin had given him part of the story and now Evie filled in with the rest.

On the flight back to Naples he kept looking at his watch.

‘Counting the minutes?’ she teased.

He nodded. ‘Thirty minutes until we land, and thirty to get through Customs.’

‘And then you’ll meet your new family.’

‘And you’ll be there too? I mean, you’re part of the family now, aren’t you?’

‘Well, not really.’

‘But you and Dad-you know.’

‘I’m not sure I do.’

‘You know! He always used to cheer up when you wore your bikini.’

There it was again, the assumption that she and Justin were together for good. She tested the idea, wanting to know if the old alarm at commitment would start up. Instead she felt as if a smile was growing deep inside her.

As she’d expected, Justin and Hope were waiting at the airport. Hope kept her eyes on the boy as he neared her and Justin said, ‘Mark, this is your grandmother.’

Mark and Evie had been practising this moment all the way on the plane and now he was ready. Gravely he offered his hand, saying, ‘Buon giorno, signora.’

Hope gave a cry of delight and was about to embrace him when she caught his eye, remembered how boys felt about being cuddled in public, and shook his hand instead, a piece of tact that won her Mark’s goodwill.

While they sized each other up Justin drew Evie close, laying his cheek briefly against hers.

‘Hope has been in agonies waiting for your return,’ he said, adding softly, ‘and so have I.’

In the car going home they were alert for Mark’s needs, ready to smooth his path with this new and strange relative. But it was unnecessary. Hope and Mark were instantly on each other’s wavelength and in a few minutes he was calling her Nonna, the Italian word for Grandma.

After that it was like a replay of their own arrival a few days earlier. Toni and the sons were there at the villa, this time offering a boisterous greeting that Mark seemed to enjoy. Evie could see that he was going to fit into the family even more easily than Justin.

Justin escorted her upstairs to her room and closed the door firmly behind them before taking her into his arms.

‘I’ve missed you,’ he murmured between kisses. ‘Where have you been all this time?’

‘All this time?’ she teased him happily. ‘One day?’

‘You know I need you.’

‘Don’t tell me you’ve been thinking of me with all your new family to get used to. How are you getting on with your mother?’

‘Well enough.’

‘Well enough? Is that all you can say?’

‘For the moment, yes. It’s all a bit much-it’ll hit me later, I dare say.’

‘Yes, I suppose it’s a lot to take in.’

‘I know Hope is my mother. You’ve only got to look at us to see it. And yet-there’s a part of me that doesn’t believe it. I keep expecting to wake up and find that it was a dream.’

‘But you won’t,’ she said tenderly. ‘It’s real. She’s truly your mother, and the best part of all is that she didn’t give you away. You weren’t rejected. You were loved from the first moment. And you still are. That’s what’s so wonderful about it, that her love has been like an arc, stretching over the years from that moment to this, linking them.’

‘Yes, of course,’ he said. ‘You put things so well. It takes me a little longer.’

‘That doesn’t matter. Things are coming together in their own good time. That’s what counts. It’s going to be all right, my darling. Everything’s going to be all right.’

Later she was to wonder how she could have been so blind and stupid as not to see the pit opening at their feet. He had seen it but, in his inarticulate way, hadn’t known how to tell her until it was too late.