Chapter 8 - THE SECRET HE NEVER TOLD ANYONE
Three months after the wedding, Giovanni told me about his past.
We were sitting in his library.
Rain tapped against the windows.
Lily was asleep upstairs in a guest room after an afternoon of baking cookies with Giovanni's housekeeper.
He looked toward the fireplace.
“I was engaged once.”
I turned.
“You were?”
He nodded.
“Her name was Isabella.”
My chest tightened.
“What happened?”
He was silent for a long moment.
Then said:
“She died.”
I reached for his hand.
“I'm sorry.”
He nodded.
“It was six years ago.”
His voice became quieter.
“She was caught in violence connected to my family.”
I looked at him.
He continued.
“I spent years believing that loving someone meant putting them in danger.”
My throat tightened.
“Giovanni.”
He looked at me.
“Then I met you.”
I swallowed.
“And Lily.”
His expression softened.
“She reminds me that the world can still be good.”
Tears filled my eyes.
He took my hand.
“I don't want to bring danger into your lives.”
I studied him.
“Then don't.”
He looked surprised.
I continued.
“You can't promise nothing bad will ever happen.”
He nodded.
“But you can choose what kind of life you build.”
Giovanni looked at me for a long moment.
May you like
Then whispered:
“I'm trying.”
