Chapter 19
Hanna
Nervously, I turn the Olivettas’ family album in my hands. I can't believe I did it. But when Vico left, I couldn't resist going back upstairs to retrieve it. Carefully, I cleaned it from dust, cobwebs, and dirt, restoring the golden inscription, though the chewed corners remained untouched. It's not my place to look through it, and I have no intention of doing so. I just wanted to save it. If it had been left there, it might have been lost during the renovations. It's probably filled with beautiful memories, deserving of a special place.
Not with Vico, who probably cares little about family. But maybe with Camilla, whose house I'm heading for right now.
I find her on the Hollywood swing in the shade of the bungalow. She’s fanning herself with a magazine, and her belly appears to have grown even more.
"Hanna, how nice of you to come." She waves me over. "It's terribly boring just sitting around." Her rosy cheeks rise.
Instinctively, I hide the album behind my back and take a seat beside her on the green-and-white-striped cushion of the swing. "How are the babies doing?"
"I think they're doing well." She lovingly strokes her belly.
That's great news. "You must be excited," I say.
"Mainly, I can't wait to see my legs again." A bright laugh escapes her lips, then her gaze softens. "I can't wait to hold the two little ones in my arms."
I can't help but swallow hard. There's nothing more beautiful than a stable family, where everyone supports and stands by each other. Since my disastrous incident at school, I've yearned for it. But the way my mother was ashamed of me changed our relationship. And because I refused to give up my daydreaming for far too long, we drifted further apart until we barely knew each other.
I shouldn't dwell on that now, so I force a smile. "When's the big day?"
"In three weeks. But I really hope they come out a bit earlier." She reaches for the glass on the side table and takes a sip. "Would you like something to drink too?"
Quickly, I shake my head. She should rest instead of entertaining me. "I wanted to talk to you about something." After all, I'm here for a specific reason.
Her brow furrows. "Did Vico let you down again?"
"Don't worry, he's…" Yes, how is he, actually? An exciting mix of aloofness and free spirit is the first thing that comes to mind. Of course, that's nonsense. "He's doing a great job," I say. Before she can respond, I take out the album. "He found this."
For a moment, she freezes, then with a tender smile, she reaches for the album. Lovingly, her finger traces over the inscription. "Where was it?" she whispers reverently.
"Upstairs. Second-to-last room on the right side of the hallway."
As I speak, she turns her head toward me. "Vico entered that room?" She looks at me in disbelief. "Unbelievable," she murmurs so softly I can barely hear it.
Now I should ask her. But her wistful expression holds me back. "I thought you might like it. For the memories."
Suddenly, her eyes well up with tears. "Yes. Thank you, Hanna. This is really…" She clutches the album to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks.
I move closer to her and wrap my arms around her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"It's okay," she presses out, followed by an extended sniffle. "It's not your fault."
Helplessly, I stroke her back until she calms down a bit. "Family means a lot to you, I understand that all too well."
She nods against my shoulder. "It comes first. Our roots define us, after all."
"Like this estate is one of your roots." It hurts to say the words because suddenly, I know they're true. No one here wants to harm me. I should trust my instincts more than Florian's fears and not be so suspicious. "Why do you want to sell your home?"
"We don't want to," she replies with a trembling voice, "we have to."
I hear how much this fact torments her. I see it in her expression. And I feel it in my heart. Even during our dinner together, I noticed the deep sadness the sisters carry within. Now I finally know for certain what their silent glances meant.
"Why can't any of you save the estate?" I ask but not to report back to Florian.
At this moment, I wish for nothing more than for this family to continue their tradition. Camilla wriggles out of my arms and sets the swing in motion. Her gaze wanders into the distance, over the tall meadows and the cypresses rising on the horizon.
