Miracle for the Girl Next Door (13 page)

She started to leave, but he called her back. “Now I’m the one who’s sorry. Forgive me for being abrupt with you.” His eyes narrowed on her face. “We’ll go over to the restaurant tomorrow only if you’re up to it.”

“You don’t have to apologize for anything.”

“Of course I do. You made a perfectly normal suggestion to drop in on my father, but there are things you still don’t know.”

There was more
?

“It meant a lot to me that he came to our wedding, but I still struggle. Bear with me.”

“You know I will. Tell me the rest.”

He nodded. “Papa and Lisa have never gotten along. Being business rivals, you don’t know what it’s like when they’re together. They have this way of going for the jugular.”

“That’s horrible.”

“Before long their squabbling grows into a major conflict
that makes everyone so uncomfortable you want to run for your life. I ran to you a lot during those times. Isabella reminded me I preferred your company to anyone else’s.”

The revelation took Clara by surprise. She didn’t know what to say.

“Growing up I had the sense that something ugly had occurred for them to be at each other’s throats all the time. Sure enough it all exploded the night of my father’s birthday party. Isabella and I heard angry voices coming from the courtyard. You’d think the party would have given them a reason to try to get along for one night.”

He sprang from the bed, unable to sit still. “We got up to investigate. I could hear my aunt announcing to anyone listening that not all my father’s children had shown up for the party. She was baiting him relentlessly.

“Isabella and I thought she meant Cristiano, but then she said, ‘It’s time the secret was out, Luca!’ Papa tried to shush her up, but she just kept talking. ‘Your children don’t know you have two older sons! Don’t you think it’s time they found out?’”

“What?” Now Clara was on her feet and moved closer to him.

His body tensed. “It seems my father had twins with his first wife, Cindy. She was an American and after their divorce went back to live in the States. Father kept the twins with him for a while, but then, for some reason, he sent them to live with their mother in America and he never bothered to tell any of us about the boys. Of course Aunt Lisa knew all about it and took great delight in exposing his secret. She’d seen the one named Angelo in the newspaper back in New York. The other one is called Alessandro.”

Twins
. “How old are they?”

“Thirty-eight. Papa gave them up at the time of the divorce. When he married my mother and the three of us came along, he never breathed a word about them.”

“No one else ever mentioned them?”

He shook his head. “I found out our cousin Lizzie knew, but she was little at the time and Aunt Lisa told her to keep quiet about it. My aunt has a cruel side. So does my father apparently. I’m not saying he wasn’t good to me, but I’m having a hard time dealing with the fact that he has two other children he’s never acknowledged.”

Luca Casali was an enigma to Clara. There had to be an explanation for a man who could accept Violetta’s love child as his own and raise him, yet abandon his oldest flesh and blood sons and pretend they didn’t exist.

Clara was desperate to ease her husband’s pain. Knowing he wasn’t Luca’s blood son had made Valentino insecure his whole life. Now to learn about two older brothers had raised all those old issues of jealousy and feeling inadequate.

Maybe one day when emotions weren’t running as high, she’d be able to talk to him about it, but right now Valentino was in no state to hear anything. All she could do was listen.

“Would you believe my sister wants to get to know them?”

Yes. As long as Clara had known her, Isabella had been a do-gooder. She’d been raised as Luca’s biological daughter, so she didn’t have the same emotional struggles as Valentino. But again Clara had to keep those thoughts to herself.

She put a hand on his arm. “Under the circumstances, do you have any idea how much I admire you for coming back home to help your family? For trying to make peace with your father? You had every right to stay away and refuse to deal with the problems. You could have excluded your father from our wedding. But you didn’t do any of those things. That’s because you’re a real man, Tino.”

Rising on tiptoe, she kissed his hard jaw and headed for the study.

W
HILE
Clara was fixing their breakfast the next morning, the long-awaited call from Dr. Arno came through. Valentino took it in the bedroom where he could talk to him in private.

“Thank you for phoning me, Doctor.”

“You’re very welcome. I’m sorry you had to wait so long. It isn’t often I get someone as famous as Valentino Casali asking me to call him back. I’m a keen fan of yours.”

“Thank you very much.”

“My receptionist told me you’re an old friend of one of my patients.”

“Yes. In fact Clara and I were just married.”

“
Married
?”

“Yes. We did it quickly so I could be with her around the clock to help her.”

“Well, congratulations. She’s a courageous young woman. A lovely one, too. You’re a lucky man.”

“I couldn’t agree more. If you have time now, I’d like to hear anything you have to tell me about her condition that Serena might not have shared. Most of all I want to know how I can help find Clara a donor sooner.”

“I understand your impatience, Signor Casali, but be assured our department is doing everything humanly possible for her.
Since her family hasn’t been able to produce one, I’m hopeful we’ll find her an altruistic donor.”

A tight band constricted Valentino’s breathing. “I’ve thought everything over and would like to be one
if
it’s possible.”

“She has Type O blood. What’s yours?”

Valentino’s heart did a kick. “The same. I’m in perfect health. No weight problem, no high blood pressure, no history of diseases, no steroid use, no tobacco, no drugs, recreational or otherwise. Dr. Rimbaud in Monaco will send you all my medical records.”

“You sound too good to be true.”

“Except that I’m not related to her.”

“That isn’t necessarily a problem. Over the last several years, immunosuppressive medications have improved to the extent that our transplant center often considers poor tissue matches between donors and recipients. Certainly a kidney matched at four, five or six antigens from a family member may do better in the long term than others, but, as I said, the new medications are proving highly effective.”

He gripped his phone tighter. “In that case, let’s move ahead immediately.”

“Can you come to the hospital in Rome for tests tomorrow?”

“I’ll be there in the morning.” He would tell Clara he had business. Maybe she could spend the time with her family.

“That’s wonderful. I’ll set everything up for you and we’ll get started on your blood work.”

“How long before the transplant can actually take place?”

“If all looks good, I’d say seven to ten days.”

“How involved is the surgery?”

“Obviously not as much for you as for Clara, but there are always those normal risks. We have a new technique that takes around three hours and is not as invasive. You’ll both be in the hospital four to five days to recover.

“During the transplant operation, you’ll both be under a general anesthesia and administered antibiotics to prevent possible infection. Once the new kidney is attached, I may or may not remove her diseased ones. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding her kidney failure. Barring complications, you’ll both leave the hospital to face a normal life.”

A normal life
.

Relief swamped him that they might be able to have a normal life and everything that went with it. “I don’t want Clara to know anything about this yet. We can tell her when the time comes, not before.”

“That’s a very wise decision for both your sakes. If it turns out you’re not a good candidate for some reason we don’t know about yet, then there’s no point in getting either of your hopes up. Before she knows anything, I’d like us to be absolutely certain of optimum results. But I can tell you this much—your being a live donor will give her twice the chance of recovery since your kidney will be healthy and fresh.”

Just hearing that made him want to get the surgery done as soon as possible. He thanked the doctor, eager to follow through with his plans.

Clara waved to the realtor as she and Valentino left the Brunello farm on the scooter under more overcast skies. “The man is besotted by you,
piccola
. In that cherry-red cotton sweater you’re wearing, I can’t say I blame him.”

“Don’t be silly.” She wished her body didn’t react every time he made a personal remark. Clara thought it was only redheads whose emotions were too close to the surface. “He’s old enough to be my grandfather.”

“Didn’t you know they have the worst fantasies?”

She chuckled, aware she was feeling different this morning. Better. For the first time in weeks she’d awakened without a
hint of nausea. Two treatments since yesterday when she normally wouldn’t have had one until today proved the effectiveness of nighttime dialysis. Only Valentino could have made this possible.

He had to be exhausted after his five-hour vigil last night, but he hadn’t shown it while they’d inspected the farmhouse. What a disappointment it had turned out to be. The whole place reeked of neglect and was in much worse shape than she’d thought. They’d left without giving the realtor any indication of their true feelings. Naturally Valentino wanted to keep looking.

While she was deep in thought, he said, “On our way back to town, I’d like to stop at your parents’ long enough to get that sample of limoncello you told me about. We’re almost there now.”

“How did you even remember?” Clara had thought he was going to suggest they find a newspaper and see what else was for sale in the Monta Correnti area.

“I’ve been salivating for a taste of it ever since you mentioned it.”

A dissenting sound escaped her lips. “You made that up to make me feel good.”

“I’m glad if it did, but, to tell you the truth, the few times I’ve been served it, I haven’t been impressed.”

“Now I’m afraid.”

“Not you—you’re the most courageous person I’ve ever known. You
are
, you know, so humor me,” he said in his deep voice. “It’s possible the daughter of Signora Rossetti, who cooks the best food I’ve ever tasted, has inherited her mamma’s special gift.”

“You’re so full of it, it’s no wonder my mother is crazy about you. She’ll be thrilled to see us.”

A few minutes later they pulled up to the farmhouse. Valentino waited for her to alight. After they took off their
helmets, they went inside. Maria was in the kitchen feeding lunch to her youngest and to Paolito, who was in the high chair.

Clara gave them kisses, then hugged her sister-in-law. “Where’s Mamma?”

“Giving Nonna a bath because Bianca is too sick.”

“Is it her nausea?”

“That and her pain. Tomaso took her to the clinic. It sounds like a bladder infection.”

“I know about those.” Clara’s voice shook.

Valentino slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I’m sure she’ll be all right,
piccola
.”

“Of course she will,” Maria assured her.

“If you and Mamma need help, Valentino and I can stay.”

“No, no. Everything’s fine.”

“If you’re sure.”

Maria smiled. “You two are still on your honeymoon.” But it wasn’t the kind Clara’s sister-in-law was talking about. “I’ll tell Mamma and Bianca you came by.”

She nodded, still uncertain.

“Where’s the limoncello? I’ll get it,” Valentino whispered.

“Oh—I forgot. It’s right over here.” She moved out of his hold and found the corked bottle in the cupboard by the door. She found a sack to put it in. After handing it to him she hurried over to give the children another kiss. “I’ll call Bianca later to see how she is.”

“She’ll probably be home in another hour.”

“
Ciao
, Maria,” Valentino called out from the doorway.

“
Ciao
, Valentino.”

Clara followed her husband out to the scooter. He gave her a kiss on the neck while she was putting her helmet back on. “Do you want me to drive to the clinic in case she’s still there?”

“No, Tino, but thank you for offering. She’d think I was crazy. It’s just that they’ve all been wonderful to me, especially Bianca.”

They headed down the drive for the main road. “You two were always close. I’m afraid I can’t relate where Cristiano is concerned.”

“I’m so sorry.” She’d give anything to help him.

“Don’t be. I shouldn’t have brought him up.”

“I’m glad you did,” Clara said, emotion clear in her voice. “You need to talk about it.”

“Now you’re spoiling
me
,” he bantered.

“It’s about time. What you need is a long nap after being up all night.”

“Only if we do it together.”

Clara couldn’t wait until lunch was over. Sleeping or waking, she craved every second being with her husband.

The next afternoon, Valentino returned from his visit with Dr. Arno in Rome and walked in the kitchen to find Clara just getting off the phone with her friend Gina. He wore an expectant look on his handsome face. “How good do you feel?”

It wasn’t an idle question. “Happy now that you’re back from Rome. Did your business go well?”

“Better than expected. I think Papa is going to be surprised when I tell him several more tour operators are considering his restaurant very seriously.”

“That’s wonderful!”

He smiled. “Feel like getting out?”

“I’ve got lots of energy if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Then I’m going to let you do the honors.” He put the Ferrari keys in her hand.

She blinked. “I wouldn’t dare drive your car.”

“
Our
car,” he corrected her. With his hands spanning her waist, he held her a few inches above the ground. “Say it.”

“Tino—put me down.”

“Say it!”

“All right.
Our
car.”

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He pressed a surprisingly hungry kiss to her mouth before walking her outside to the driver’s side of the Ferrari. After he opened the door for her, she was so dizzy with reaction she almost fell into the black leather seat.

He joined her in a minute. She stared helplessly at him.

“Get into the harness first.”

After she managed to do that, he fastened the lap belt, then kissed her lips again. He was no stranger to intimacy, but this was new to Clara. He needed to stop doing that or she wouldn’t be able to concentrate.

“Tino—I don’t know what to do—”

“Sure you do. You’ve driven a truck before. You can drive this. Feel down the side of the seat and press the button forward until you’re close enough.”

Going on faith, she reached down. To her surprise it worked just the way he’d said.

“Bravo. Now put the key in the ignition and turn on the power.” As soon as she did it, the car came alive like a beautifully tuned instrument. “It’s automatic. Just put it in drive. No clutch to worry about.”

Pressing her lips together, she did his bidding. The car crept forward. She turned right at the end of the alley and joined in the mainstream traffic. At first she was terrified, but after a few minutes of navigating through the center of town she started to feel braver.

“You’re doing fine,
piccola
. There’s the sign for Lake Adrina. Let’s head that way. If you get too tired, I’ll take over.”

Tired? What was that? This was so thrilling, she felt that any second now they were going to take flight.

Little by little they left the traffic behind until she couldn’t see any cars, then she pressed on the accelerator. The car took
off like a rocket, causing her to cry out in sheer delight. Valentino’s face had broken into a broad smile. For the moment he looked so carefree, it filled her with joy.

“Oh—I can’t believe it! This is the most fun I’ve ever had in my life!” The car hugged the curves. Her confidence grew as she passed slower cars and trucks. Clara could see the needle on the speedometer climbing, but she didn’t care. In no time at all the lake appeared in the distance. They’d already come fifty kilometers!

Valentino leaned closer to her. “Do you want to stop for a drink?”

“No!”

More laughter poured out of him.

She could have gone around the lake, but the drive back to town would allow her to go a lot faster, so she turned and headed back toward Monta Correnti. “I never understood your love of speed, but I do now!” Already she was addicted.

Halfway back she heard sirens, but didn’t associate them with her driving until two police cars pulled alongside her. “Uh oh. Tino—” The officer in front motioned to her that she should pull off the road. “How can I stop when the road is this narrow?”

“Do it anyway,” he answered in a calm voice. “It’s their problem, not yours. After you’ve stopped, put the window down and start looking for your driver’s license.”

Valentino had obviously been through this experience before. Hot and flustered, she pulled to the right as far as she dared, then slowed to a stop. Immediately four officers got out. Two waved the traffic past them, while the other two approached the car.

“Do you have any idea how fast you were going,
signorina
?” the older one with the moustache demanded, but the second he saw Valentino a look of shock altered his fierce expression. He
turned to the other officers. Soon everyone knew the famous Valentino Casali was in the car.

“
Mi dispiace tanto
, Signor Casali. We didn’t realize it was you.”

By this time Valentino had put down his window. “That’s all right. My
squisita
bride has been dying to drive my car. Today she took it into her head to take off with it when I wasn’t looking. I had to run to catch up with her.”

That brought a roar from the men.

“It’s a good thing you stopped her when you did because I was starting to get nervous. I was never this nervous at the track.”

“Tino!” His comment had the officers reeling with laughter.

They each took turns going around to his side to talk to him about his last race. One of them got a camera from his police car and started taking pictures. She could tell they were ecstatic to have met their favorite hero. Finally the same officer tore himself away long enough to talk to her.