“Is life always going to be like this with you, Matteo Fausti?” Stella whispered, resting her head against my shoulder as I entwined our fingers. Stella’s new jewelry glinted when she moved, but none shone as brightly as her wedding rings.
“No,” I answered honestly. “This is just a reprieve from the wars we’ll face. But.” I turned to her and took her face in my hands, using my thumb to stroke her lip. “That’s why it’s important for us to absorb these times, truly feel them, so they give us strength to face whatever might come.”
She closed her eyes and rested her head against mine.
“Do not close your eyes, my Stella,” I said in Italian. “You are the light in my life.”
Maybe she didn’t understand my words, but she understood. She turned forward and gazed at the moon, but all I had to do was look at her to see the light she was seeing. She brightened my entire world. I couldn’t take a breath without her taking one.
One the way back to the villa, both of our phones rang, but we didn’t answer.
We only answered to each other.
And this was our time. Our time to set the stage for what was to come in our life.
After we parked behind the gates to the property in Modica, we walked hand in hand toward the villa we were staying at, Stella leaning into me, our bodies needing to be close.
I stopped short, setting Stella behind me, when I noticed a shape in the shadows. The shape detached, and Noemi held her hand up.
“Don’t shoot, or tackle me,” she said in a rush. “And in my defense, I tried to call! Both of you.”
Stella and I glanced at each other. When we looked back at Noemi, she was grinning.
“I’m so happy you have a secret language now, but I need to talk to you both. You know I wouldn’t even bother to ask ifI didn’t think this was important. I sent Stella’s picture to some people I know, and a HUGE—” she made a gesture with her hands “—studio fell in love with Stella and is considering turning one of my manuscripts into a movie! Stella the leading lady!”
Noemi didn’t squeal, but I could tell she was holding in some tremendously strong emotions.
“Wait!” Noemi held a hand up. “Before either of you say anything. I know you were about to start the rest of your honeymoon in Europe, but you live in ITALY. You can tour Europe whenever. You were supposed to go to America soon, right?”
Stella nodded.
“Maybe, just…go with me to Los Angeles for the meeting first? Then you can take care of whatever business waits in Louisiana. Then pick up your honeymoon where it left off? I mean…seriously. Opportunities like this one don’t come every day. Trust me.”
“Carlo Bondi,” I said.
Carlo Bondi was one of Italy’s most famous film producers. My family knew his well. My great-grandfather broke bread with him. Nonno still kept in touch. Carlo Bondi had always been in love with Noemi’s mamma, Gigi, but it was more of a family sort of love. Carlo was famous for saying he had eyes like a camera, and since the camera loved Gigi, so did he. If I wasn’t mistaken, Carlo was one of Ciccio’s godfathers.
Noemi nodded. “Carlo’s interested, but he keeps his films in Italy. He’s producing the documentary. Though he did say he was interested in a meeting with Stella for future projects. He was really excited about it. Said Stella gave him Gigi Dolce vibes.”
Noemi’s passion was her work. It was all she mostly thought about and talked about. She left no room for anything else. That was why I’d thought it was odd that she came to the beach withus. It all made sense in that moment, though. She was trying to work up the nerve to ask.
“Will you go out with Oscar?” Stella asked out of the blue.
Noemi opened her mouth, then closed it on a snap. She hadn’t expected Stella to ask that.
Me fucking either.
“What?” Noemi made a face.
“You said you wanted to,” Stella said. “At the beach.”
“Yeah, but I don’t have the time.”
“What about Los Angeles? If we go?” Stella looked at me, then back at Noemi. “You could make time then. I’m sure Oscar will be going with us?” Her eyes pinged back to mine and stayed there.
I nodded. “He’s one of my soldiers. He doesn’t have any attachments. He goes.” I dug deep into my wife’s eyes. “Give us time, Noemi.”
My wife turned away from me, fidgeting some.
