“You never saw that before. I knew when you married him that you were in total awe. Who wouldn’t be? He’s rich, charming, exceedingly handsome, and impossible to resist.” She ran a finger down Abby’s cheek. “But that’s not love. Love is deeper, stronger. You see the flaws and love him anyway. All you saw before was perfection. That’s a recipe for disaster. No one is perfect.”
A tear slipped down her cheek. “You’re right. When the fairy tale dissolved, I ran away.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You were nineteen! It probably did your marriage good to growup and come back to him as an adult. His equal. I wanted to give you that time.”
She felt her face heat. She was so not Dante’s equal. She’d never be as ruthless and cold. He wanted her for one reason only.
Her grandmother’s smile faltered. “Everything is all right, isn’t it?”
“I’m worried about you.”And the potential mess I’ve gotten myself in, she thought to herself.
Her grandmother patted her hand. “I now have the best heart surgeon in the world, and this hospital is the best in Italy. Dante’s generosity has ensured they have the best equipment and medicine, the best of everything money can buy. And if it’s good enough for Dante then it’s good enough for me.”
“For Dante?”
Her grandmother didn’t notice her flinch. “The nurse told me he comes in every few months for tests.”
Abby backed off the bed. Her legs turned to jelly and her chest struggled to draw breath. “What tests?”
“I don’t know. He sees Dr. Cavelli. He’s been tested regularly since his father died. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
The words echoed in her head and she doubled over as pain ripped through her. Dr. Cavelli had been Dante’s father’s doctor.
“Abby.” Her grandmother’s voice rose. “Abby?”
She put her hand out. “It’s okay, Nana. It’s that time of the month.” God, this was worse than anything she’d experienced before. She dropped to her knees and clutched her side, dizziness making the room swim.
Her grandmother pushed the buzzer by the bed and a nurse hurried in. She took one look at Abby and helped her to a chair.
“There’s no need to fuss. I just need some ibuprofen. I’ve got my period, that’s all.”
“How long have you been having such painful periods?” the nurse asked.
“For too long. I’ve told her to see a doctor,” said her grandmother.
“I’m fine.” She lied through her teeth. The pain was making her feel sick.
The nurse picked up Abby’s wrist and took her pulse. “No period should be that painful. You can hardly walk. If I were you, I’d see a gynecologist. Is there a history of endometriosis in your family?”
Abby could barely see through the pain. “Nana?”
“Not on my side of the family, but I don’t know about your mother.”
“Hmm. I’ll get you something for the pain and a hot compress.” She stood and left the room.
“Right, that’s it, my girl. You’re seeing a doctor.”
Abby laughed through the pain. “You’re the one about to have an operation, so why are we worrying about me?”
“I’ll always worry about you. I love you.”
Abby smiled and blew her a kiss. “I love you too.”
The nurses arrived to prepare Nana while she and Abby talked about where they would go and what they would visit while Nana was recuperating in Florence. By the time Dante discreetly slipped back into the room, the painkillers the nurse had given Abby had dulled the pain to a constant ache. Abby stood and took her grandmother’s hand. “I’ll be waiting for you when you come out of surgery.”
Nana Taylor looked at Dante. “You look after her, my boy. She’s one in a million.”
“I know. Believe me, I know.”
