Honestly, I didn’t want to be apart from her, which sounded crazy even to me. For years, I quietly hated her.
Of course, I didn’t want to be forced to marry a woman I didn’t know or loved. It was the late 80’s and in this modern age we should get to pick whom we married.
But no, not in our old-world Italian families. My father was determined to bring peace to our country, and an arranged marriage was the only way. He had some strict requirements, too. Giovanna had to be a virgin, and she couldn’t have a seriousboyfriend. If my father found out she’d been spoiled, the deal would die, along with her.
My father was known for being ruthless. Nobody defied him. Everybody feared him. His demands were respected.
The day Mr. Amano signed the arranged marriage agreement Giovanna belonged to me. She’d been mine long before we would ever meet.
Now, I didn’t want to let her out of my sight. It was crazy. Absolutely crazy to feel emotions I’d never had for a woman I’d only known one day.
An hour later, we were finally out riding. Clouds were rolling in and I worried it was going to rain. On a cool day like today, getting wet would be awful.
“She’s beautiful, Alessio. Thank you so very much.” She hadn’t stopped smiling since meeting her new friend. “Or should I thank your mother?”
“No, no. The horse was my idea.” It appeared I’d done something good for Giovanna. “I’m happy you like her.”
“It’s the greatest gift you could give me. I love her already.”
“Did you pick a name for her?” Jealousy spread throughout my chest. She loved the horse and barely liked me. Patience didn’t come naturally to me, but it was clear I would have to find some with Giovanna.
“I think so.” She rubbed the side of the horse. “What do you think of Valentina?”
“Valentina is a lovely name.”
“I thought so too. With our marriage, andLa Festa degli Innamoraticoming up, it just fit. Yes?”
“Yes. It’s perfect.” I appreciated her name choice and how it would be a reminder of our wedding. At least it would be for me. “Tell me some of your favorite things.”
“I’m a simple girl.” She bit her lip and seemed to be thinking. “Horses, of course.”
“Of course. And what else?” I genuinely wanted to know what she liked so I could lavish her on special occasions and on any day I wanted.
“Books are another thing. I love to read. It’s an escape for me from reality.”
“Interesting. Is your reality so awful that you need to escape?”
“Sometimes. You know how our world is. My mother and I have gotten death threats and for months at a time, we’ve been in seclusion. I’m sure my father agreed to this marriage so you would protect me.”
I nodded as my stomach tightened. Marrying me would put an even larger target on her back. The best way to take down a Don was by breaking him, starting with murdering those he loved dearly.
“But I also like to garden and bake bread. I’ve also been known to spend the whole day playing piano and not eating because I’m so caught up in my music.” Missing meals might explain why she was so thin.
“Well, I forbid you from missing pranzo and cena. You can’t wither away to nothing.”
She laughed, her eyes glittering with joy. “It’s not every day that I miss lunch and dinner. Just sometimes so I won’t wither away as you say. You don’t want me to get fat, do you?”
“I only want you to be healthy, no matter your size.” Talking about her weight wasn’t a topic I enjoyed. Yes, I would like a little more meat on her bones and curves. But I was falling for her just as she was and that was all that mattered.
Just then, a rain drop landed on my forehead. Hopefully it was only a random drop and no more would follow. We hadn’t been out for very long and I had a grand picnic prepared for us to enjoy.
“Did you feel that?” she asked, wiping her cheek and looking up at the sky with a frown. “Rain is coming.”
“Yes, maybe we should head back.” As the words left my lips, the skies opened and poured down on us. Cazzo!
“I’ll race you back!” Without waiting for my reply, she was gone. Her giggles echoed through the rain, and it was a delightful sound; one I looked forward to hearing every day.
We didn’t laugh a lot in my family. We were all so serious. Giovanna’s laughter and playfulness were a breath of fresh air and precisely what I needed in my sometimes grim and dark life.
