She wished his phone hadnt rung. She wished hed look up and wave reassuringly, but his dark head was bent over the phone, and he seemed so absorbed she wondered if hed forgotten her existence.
His cell phone had buzzed just after hed ordered champagne, strawberries and an assortment of cheeses, and had suggested they get into the hotels white, fluffy bathrobes and enjoy a drink on her balcony. When hed recognized the callers name in the little blue window on his phone, hed frowned. Then hed cupped Reginas chin, kissed her on the forehead, and apologized because the call was too important to ignore. Hed answered the phone with a smile and endearments in Italian and had excused himself, which had made Regina curious about the callers identity, and a little jealous.
Was it a woman? A client? Whoever it was, the call was very important to him.
Just as Regina was worrying that her attraction to Nico might be heading toward an obsessionsomething shed never experienced before in her orderly, controlled lifeLucy finally answered, her voice breathless.
Hi!
Lucy was pregnant by the sperm donor who she and her partner Beth had agreed was a perfect fit for them. They had pictures of him and his children, future half siblings to their own much-wanted child, posted all over their apartment.
Youll never believe where I am, Regina began.
She went to the closet, pulled out the painting of the little boy playing in the sand, then returned with it to her balcony.
Italy! Lucy answered.
I mean Regina stared down at Nico again where in Italy? And youll never guess what Im doing.
The little boys painted hair shone like black satin, exactly as Nicos did.
You probably just got through jogging and are about to treat yourself to some tomatoes and fat-free mozzarella while you make long lists of must-see tourist attractions for tomorrow.
Ravello! Which is the best place ever. I dont think anybody has ever heard of fat-free cheese over here, either. Are you familiar with Maxfield Parrishs paintings?
Im not sure.
Ravello is like those paintings. Regina lowered her voice. Ive met a man.
Those are the four most dangerous words any other woman could sayespecially if hes an Italian. But then youre you, so hes probably smart, ambitious
Hes not! But dont worry, this isnt serious. Hes absolutely gorgeous, the most gorgeous man Ive ever seen. But
But what? With you, when it comes to your men, there always has to be a but.
For a long moment, Regina hesitated. She almost regretted calling Lucy.
But? Im waiting!
II think he might be a gigolo.
Youve got to be kidding.
Regina remained silent.
That is such a cliché. And not a good one. Not for you! Youve got to come home now! Youve definitely been over there too long. You were supposed to relax, enjoy good food, art, pretty scenery, visit your grandmother in Tuscany.
I think the art may be part of the problem. The sculptures here are so erotic.
Pay him and then drive straight to the airport, Lucy ordered.
But hes so hot. I feel like Im burning up.
Did he slip something in your drink?
No!
Dont do it! This is all because Bobby said you were uptight and frigid and because you were pushing yourself at work way too hard. You dont have to prove youre a hottie in disguise. You dont! Now you know you called me because you wanted to hear the voice of reason.
No, Regina had called Lucy because shed wanted to share something that felt important.
I think Ive been having doubts about E-321. I think Italy has made insemination just seem way too impersonal. Im not you, you know. I canbe with a man.
We talked about this, girlfriend. E-321 has gone through numerous screenings. Use a condom with this Italian fellow if you dont come to your senses! What do you know about him except hes hot and that he charges gullible women like you a bundle for the pleasure of his body? I would think there would be plenty of free, horny Italians over there.
Not like him.
Even three stories below her, Nicos tall, dark figure in jeans and a white shirt radiated power, assurance and masculinity. And something more.
When he looked up and smiled warmly, her breath caught in her throat.
She waved, as thrilled as a high-school girl with her first crush.
II feel this weird, totally powerful connection to him.
And you havent even had your first orgasm! Not good. Run for your life! This is not a good thing.
But it feels like a good thing.
This is very, very bad.
Reginas cell phone began to beep. She saw Susanas name. Her flaky baby sister, who didnt have a digital gene in her body, never called her.
The name Susana flashed in bold blue.
Oh, my God! Todays the day the twins are being christened. Susanas calling me! Shes actually calling mein Italy! Ive gotta go! I totally forgot to call Susana!
One word! Airplane!
Ill call you right back.
That sounds like a plan!
Regina punched a button and took Susanas call. There was a loud wail on Susanas end, which meant either Reginas niece, Gina, whod been named after her, or one of her twin nephews was unhappy.
Hi, there, Regina said, feeling guilty. How was the christening?
Its you! Its really you! Gina, she answered! I cant believe I really got youon my fourth try even! All the way to Italy. Not that you know where that is, Gina, sweetie!
Hows the christening going?
Everybodys hereexcept you.
Reginas guilt deepened.
Were all out in the backyard. Its so hot. But you know Daddy. He had to grill. Mamas hovering to make sure he doesnt burn the steaks like he did last time. She keeps saying maybe youll meet a man in Italy. Shes still upset that you dumped Bobby. She hasnt given up on you meeting an Italian even though we all know thats not why you went. Dont tell her I told you, but she made me call you. She even dialed. She wants to know if the love bug has bitten.
Regina stared down at the extraordinarily good-looking man on the terrace and then swallowed. Right.
It has?
No!
Shell be so disappointed. She was sure Italy would do the trick.
Regina swallowed, her throat feeling extremely dry all of a sudden.
Gosh, I miss you, Susana said. Gina asks about you every single day. When are you coming home?
Three days.
Ginas crying her head off. She wants you here. We all do. Especially since Daddy just said the most awful thing to her.
What did he say?
I dont know what gets into him. I quote, Now that weve got two new cute baby boys, we dont need you anymore.
Oh! He didnt! Not again!
Again?
Nothing.
Nothingonly
Time whirled backward. Instantly, Regina was transported to the day when a darling, bald Susana had been brought home from the hospital in a flurry of parental excitement. Flushed with pride at being a big sister at last, three-year-old Regina had run to the baby carrier.
Her father had knelt, and shed climbed into his lap and had thrown her arms around him.
They say you dont remember things when youre three, but theyre wrong. His words had been like poisoned darts wounding her soul.
Now that Ive got a new, cute daughter, I dont need you anymore.
Regina had backed away from him, and hed picked up Susana.
Why dont we sing Rock-a-bye Baby?
Regina had raced to her own room and had hidden in her closet. Ever since, shed been jealous of her sister and had doubted her fathers love. Instead of abating with maturity, her dark feelings had grown more intense since Susana had married Joe and had given birth to her precious trio.
Her father didnt care about any of Reginas accomplishments. All he could talk about was Susana and the grandchildren. Not that Regina wasnt smitten by the children herself. Not that she didnt hate herself sometimes for feeling the way she did.
The green monster, especially when it involved a sister, had to be one of the most hatefully twisted feelings ever.
Put Gina on, Regina whispered, biting her lips.
Ginas racking sobs got so loud Regina had to hold the phone away from her ear.
The poor, poor darling.
Gina. Its Aunt Reggie. Listen to me, sweetheart. Papaw loves you. He was just teasing.
I hate the baby brothers!
Regina remembered all the times shed felt as though shed hated Susana just for being cute and petite and blond and adored, when Regina had been beanpole skinny in middle school. Not to mention flat-chested and too tall for all the boys.
No, youre a good big sister. You love your little brothers. Dino and David need a good big sister. Papaw is being a bad Papaw! He does that sometimes. Everybody has a weak moment once in a while.
Bad Papaw!
Youre beautiful and adorable! Everybody loves you, darling. Especially me.
And Pawpa?
And Pawpa, Regina said, even though shed always secretly believed that once Susana had been born, he hadnt really needed his oldest daughter anymore.
I love you, Aunt Reggie! Chocolate cake! Bye!
Theyre about to cut the cake, Susana said. Shes just like you when it comes to chocolate. Just like you in so many ways.
You know Im her biggest fan.
Im just glad I caught you.
Me, too. Kiss all your darling children for me. Ive missed them so much. Ive bought two suitcases full of clothes and toys for them.
Joe says hi.
Joe. Regina chewed on her bottom lip. What if Joe had married her? And shed had children?
Susana hung up.
Her eyes misting, Regina couldnt stop thinking about her father and the hole hed carved in her heart.
Now that Ive got a new, cute daughter, I dont need you anymore.
For a long time, she stared at the dark gulf and the huge white yacht in the harbor.
Before Susana, her father had adored her. Regina had worked hard in an attempt to regain her number-one position in paradise. Always, always, shed had to be a high-achiever, hoping against hope. But it hadnt worked.
Susana had been charming and flaky, intuitive as she put it, and so adorable that nobody minded her bad grades or lateness. They hadnt cared when shed dropped out of college to marry Joe Hunt. Or even noticed that shed stolen Joe from Regina, and Regina had been brokenhearted.
Hed been gifted, too. Law Review. Killer work ethic. Hed been her beloved boyfriend, but the moment hed set eyes on Susana, the numerous things hed had in common with Regina hadnt mattered anymore.
Too bad for Regina that Joe had been the only man shed ever really loved.
Everybody in the family thought she was over him.
And shed told herself constantly that she was. Just as shed told herself that all her orgasms with Bobby had been real, too.
She didnt want to think about the fact that Nico was tall and dark and looked a little like Joe.
Did you call Viola?
Nico frowned. His mother, Principessa Donna Gloriana Lucia Romanoto mention only a few of her illustrious names and only one of her numerous titleswhose close friends called her Glory, was speaking Italian to him over his cell phone and quite rapidly, of course. Not that she liked Italian.
Shed been educated in Paris because her mother, Nicos grandmother, with whom Princess Gloriana was bitterly estranged, had had a French mother and had preferred all things French.
Both Nicos grandmother and mother loved the French language more than any other, but he preferred Italian or English, so his mother was humoring him. Because, as always, unlike Grand-mère, who wanted only his happiness, his ambitious mother wanted something from him.
Not yet, he said.
Nico, tesorino, why do you keep putting this off?
Maybe its my gypsy blood.
She ignored his comment. She never liked being reminded that their original ancestor had been a gypsy king.
You did promise to call the Principessa Donna Viola Eugenia di Frezano today when we lunched, she said. You did say that youd court her and that youd ask for her hand in marriage as soon as possible.
I did. And I will. You have instructed me as to my duty for my entire life. Have I ever failed in my duty?
The silence between them was suddenly filled with tension.
You know that the two families have already talked, that the marriage is practically arranged.
Of course, he knew. It would have already happened if he hadnt been dragging his feetgrieving. His heart was in the grave, as the saying went.
You know that today marks
I know, she said, trying to sound sympathetic. But its been two years.
His family and the family of his intended, Viola, were modern aristocrats with lineages dating back nearly a thousand years. Both families valued influence, power and money above all. Next, they counted culture, pedigree and tradition, not to mention titlesthe grander and more illustrious, the better.
Nicos parents, whod left much of his upbringing in the hands of countless nannies, tutors and chauffeurs, had taken the time to teach him and his sister that what really mattered was money, power and luxury, in that order. Personal wishes were to be sacrificed to strengthen the family.
A young mans dalliances with different types of women, even actresses, were regarded as necessary, perhaps even a healthy diversion. Even after marriage, such playing around was tolerated, although not advisable.
But one did not marry just anyone.
Youre thirty-five, his mother reminded him again, just as she had this morning when theyd driven along the narrow roads high above the coastline. Its time you settled downagain.
I did settle down.
Shes dead. Youre alive.
Was he? Every time the paparazzi caught him with another beautiful actress, the tabloids referred to him as the merry widower. But they didnt know about the guilt that tore at him over his treatment of Simonetta. How could they, when hed been blind to what was in his heart until a month before Simonetta had died? At her death, love had overflowed inside him until hed felt as though he were drowning.
The principessa is very beautiful, his mother said.
Like a jewel with icy fire.