“Then maybe all you have to do is wait. Once you’re feeling a bit better, he’ll let you two visit.”
“I hope so.” My heart ached with how badly I missed my sisters. “I just want to hug them.”
There was a crack in Natalia’s voice when she said, “Yeah, I know. I’ll try to figure something out, okay?”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“I think that…” Natalia’s voice trailed off and then stopped entirely.
I risked looking over at her. “Nat?”
“Shh.” She held up a hand. “Someone’s coming.”
She rolled backward out of the room and hid behind the door, leaving it open. I remained on my side, looking away until there was a quiet knock on the door. It happened so quickly – I hadn’t even heard anyone approach. I looked up and there was a petite, mousy looking woman standing in the doorway. She was dwarfed between her own shoulders and her eyes were cast downwards.
“Signore,” she started quietly, “I have a letter for you from your sister.”
“My sister?” I said. Painfully and slowly, I dragged myself out of the bed and started towards the door. The woman took a step forward but then stopped, looked up at the camera, and backed up.
Did she know the camera was there? More than that, was she not supposed to be there?
I reached out and took the letter. She bowed as she handed it over, but made no movements to leave, so I assumed she wanted me to read it while she was still there. I tore open the envelope and pulled the letter out, flipping open the tri-fold and immediately recognizing Lucia’s handwriting.
Gio,
How are you doing, Mio Fratello?
I know you’re worried about me, but I’m doing okay.
I wanted to let you know that, in a couple of weeks, Romeo and I will be wed. It may sound unbelievable but I'm excited. I know the arrangements had been made prior, but I truly do feel Romeo is the man I’m meant to be with. You may not believe me, but it’s my will to marry him. I’m writing to you to beg you not to interfere. Romeo isn’t aware I’ve sent you this letter, but there was no other way to speak with you right now.
There is good news. If you can assure me that you won’t stand in the way of our union, I’ve been granted permission to invite you to the wedding. Please tell Philippa if we have your blessing and then I can ensure you’re there by my side as you should be when I wed.
I love you dearly, Mio Fratello.
Yours truly,
Lucia
My fingers gripped the edges of the letter so tightly it was starting to crinkle. How could she say that Romeo is truly meant to be her husband within the same letter where she had to getpermissionto invite her own brother to nuptials.
“Signore,” the woman, who I imagined was the Philippa Lucia mentioned in her letter, “I was told to receive an answer to the contents of that letter before leaving your room.”
I was starting to feel sore all over from standing for so long, so I backed up and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Give my blessing?
Lucia wanted my blessing to marry Romeo, after all of the pain his family had caused ours, I was supposed to just sit back and allow them to become one - no - bless it and be okay with it? My gut reaction was to say no. That I’d rather miss the wedding altogether than willingly offer Lucia to the life that surely awaited her if she wed a Cavetti of her own volition.
But then I looked into the crack of the door and I saw Natalia’s eyes peering through. She was watching me carefully and her words about Romeo changing and being different skated across my mind. Even his own words found me. Telling me that he was there, to care for me and save me from the cruelty of his father because that was what Lucia would want.
Maybe things had changed.
Lucia was a smart woman. Surely she’d know that I would never accept this union if presented with it. That was why she wrote because she was happy and wanted to know that I stood behind her. I alwayswouldstand behind her.
And maybe, just maybe, there was hope for the Cavettis yet.
“Was my sister coerced into writing this letter?” I asked.
