Chapter 5 - THE MOTHER WHO HAD KEPT A SECRET
My mother was the first person I told.
She was sitting in her hospital room, recovering from another difficult treatment.
Her face was pale.
Her hands thin.
But when I told her I was pregnant, her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, Evelyn.”
I smiled nervously.
“I know.”
She reached for my hand.
“Are you happy?”
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
“I think so.”
She studied me.
“And Luca?”
“He's frightened.”
My mother smiled.
“That usually means something matters.”
I laughed softly.
Then grew serious.
“Mom, there's something strange about his medical history.”
I explained the diagnosis.
The missing records.
Vittorio's reaction.
My mother listened carefully.
Then asked:
“Do you know why Luca agreed to marry you?”
I frowned.
“To help with your treatment.”
She shook her head.
“No, sweetheart. I mean why he chose you.”
I stared.
“What?”
She hesitated.
“Before the wedding, a woman came to see me.”
My stomach tightened.
“What woman?”
“She said her name was Teresa Varenna.”
I froze.
Luca's aunt.
His father's younger sister.
“What did she want?”
My mother looked toward the window.
“She asked whether I remembered a hospital called St. Agnes.”
I frowned.
“Should you?”
My mother swallowed.
“Evelyn, I worked there when you were little.”
My heart began pounding.
“And?”
She looked at me.
May you like
“I was a nurse on the night Luca Varenna was brought in after his accident.”
The room went silent.
