Why couldn’t she communicate with Luca herself? She almost told Mr. Heidelman to pass along her email address but stopped short. She didn’t know Luca. Maybe, for the time being, it was best to have an intermediary. It provided just enough distance while she struggled to adjust to this new development. “I’ll send my itinerary as soon as I have it.”
After she hung up, she heard movement in the doorway behind her and turned from her desk to see her mother bracing herself with one hand on the doorjamb. She was in a robe and slippers and had dark circles under her eyes.
“Do you want to talk?” Penny asked, her voice reedy thin.
Charlotte knew her father must have told Penny that she’d learned the truth. But her mother hadn’t come out of her room since Charlotte had opened the letter last night.
Obviously, Penny wasn’t feeling well. She looked pale, seemed almost too weak to stand. But Charlotte could easily imagine that, besides suffering from lupus, she’d been putting off this moment. As shocking as the truth was for Charlotte, it had to be equally shocking for Penny to learn that the secret she’d hidden for so long was out—just when she’d probably begun to believe it was safe.
The sense of loss that had to engender, and the fear of how Charlotte might react, certainly wouldn’t have been conducive to helping her get back on her feet.
Although Charlotte hadn’t gone in to see her mother, either—had been trying to come to terms with what she’d learned first—seeing the situation through her adoptive mother’s eyes brought some compassion.
Getting up, she beckoned her into the room. “Yeah, I’d like to talk. Why don’t you come over so you can sit down?”
She helped her mother across the room before sitting on the bed beside her.
For a moment, neither spoke. They could see each other in the mirror over the dresser, but Penny didn’t seem to know what to say until Charlotte smiled and took her hand. Then her mother began to cry. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said.
Penny finally looked her in the eye instead of at her reflection. “Your father and I... we didn’t know what would bebest for you. We just knew you were perfect and happy the way you were.”
“I know.”
Her mother searched her face. “You’re not upset?”
“I’m hurt and confused. But I know you love me, that you’ve always loved me and that you did your best to give me everything you could.” Charlotte couldn’t promise she wouldn’t feel resentment in the future, but she’d been close to her parents and that made it easier to forgive them. Had she known, maybe she would’ve insisted on finding and meeting her birth mother, and maybe that would’ve changed the dynamic of her childhood—made her less content.
“What will you do now?” her mother asked.
“Didn’t Dad tell you I have a sister?”
She nodded.
“I’m flying to Italy to meet her.”
“We’ll travel with you,” she said decisively. “I don’t want you going to face that alone. We’ll do it as a family.”
Her mother started to stand, but Charlotte put a hand on her arm. “Mom, look at you. You don’t feel well enough to go anywhere. And Italy is a very long trip. You and Dad need to stay here.I’llgo. I won’t be alone. Sloane and Julian are going with me.”
Her eyes widened. “They are? But... what about their own lives? Sloane’s married. Is her husband going, too?”
“No, but Ben doesn’t mind her being gone for a few weeks. If it turns into a problem, she can always come back early. And Julian can work from anywhere. He’s been to the Amalfi Coast before, knows what to expect and has already mentioned a few places he’d like to photograph. He might even take a weekend here or there to go to Venice or Lake Como.”
“That sounds ideal. But where will you all stay?”
“Right in Praiano. I’ve already booked an Airbnb.” Shedragged her laptop closer to show Penny the listing. “Check it out.”
“Wow!” Penny said on a breath. “That’s going to be lovely.”
Italywouldbe lovely—and, she hoped, serene. But Charlotte couldn’t say what kind of turmoil would be going on under the surface. That would depend on what she found when she got there.
chapter 8
Sloane was leaving for an entire month. Rory had agreed to take care of the design business while she was gone, and Ben had been surprisingly supportive of her going. He said Charlotte needed her, and he could get by for a few weeks without her—even though he’d miss her.
His attitude made Sloane feel even guiltier for the relief that consumed her at the thought of having thirty days to herself in a place like the Amalfi Coast. Surely, with the sun and the sea, the charm and great food of Italy, the companionship of her brother and best friend and the time to heal and reflect, she’d be able to figure out what to do—whether she should agree to have children, or give Ben up so he could have children with someone else.
