To Tuscany with Love (41 page)

49

B
ella dreaded facing Stillman, but that dread, like so much of her past, was wasted energy. Stillman knew that she had left him to run after Phillip. He also knew that Bella and Phillip had both missed dinner.

She left Phillip in her room and went to find Stillman by herself. He was at a bistro table in the outdoor breakfast area, smoking a cigar. Funny, she never knew that he smoked cigars. He looked up when she approached the table.

“I guess Phillip won,” he said. His expression was calm and noncommittal.

“Was it always a contest for you?”

“Bella, my love,” he exaggerated his Southern drawl, “I always loved you, but I have to admit, winning your love would have been that much sweeter because it would have meant I won.”

She gestured to the cigar. “How about you put that out and we walk the path around the garden?”

“Hmm. Never knew you were a bossy gal.”

Bella laughed. “What happened to the sophisticated Manhattan attorney I know? He kept only a trace of his accent.”

Stillman tapped out the cigar and stood up. He tucked her arm into his and said in his normal voice, “He’s here, too. Didn’t you ever hear that expression about not being able to take the country out of the boy?”

Bella wanted to flush out all of her thoughts, issues, and concerns; it was her new style of dealing with matters. “In chronological order, I resent you going behind my back to meet David. And using your foundation’s grant money to basically bribe your way into his good graces? Despicable. Admittedly, his clinic will help thousands of people from the surrounding villages. Because of that, I’m thrilled that he received the grant. I thank you for your generosity.”

She stopped walking and faced him. “Deceiving me, and pretending you hadn’t met David. Pretending that you didn’t know Phillip was his father. These deceptions are inexcusable, if you truly loved me and wanted me as your wife.”

“You weren’t honest with me about David.”

“Yes. I’m sorry about that. I was afraid you’d leave me if you knew the truth.”

“So little faith in me.”

“That’s not true,” Bella said. “The truth is that I was a coward. David was my little secret, and I was afraid to face the consequences of disclosing who fathered him. I was afraid to face the fallout, not only with respect to you, but also to David and to Phillip.”

She grabbed both of his hands in hers. “I love both you and Phillip, but in different ways. I told him the same thing. He’s the one I want to have as my life partner, but you’ve been my friend for a very long time, and I don’t want to lose you.” She leaned in and feathered a kiss on his cheek. “Is that possible for you? To be my dear friend, and Phillip’s friend, too?” She squeezed his hands and searched his face with her eyes.

“Only if you, and not Phillip, still decides who you hug.”

Bella laughed and gave her friend an enormous hug. “Thank you.”

Stillman hugged her back and then stepped away. “You know, I’m truly impressed by your son. You should be very proud of him. He’s responsible for showing me how gratifying it is to help someone less fortunate. It’s about time I embraced philanthropy, because without family,” he chuckled, “what am I going to do with it? Bury it with me?” He steered them back toward the courtyard.

Hope, Lee and Rune walked out of the palazzo and waited for Stillman and Bella to reach them. Rune had brought two bottles of Prosecco, and Hope had a tray of champagne glasses.

“We need to celebrate,” Hope said, placing the tray on a table. “We have to toast Lee, on taking the leap and following his passion for sculpture.”

Rune popped a cork off one bottle and let it soar out it into the garden. He filled Stillman in about how Bella had orchestrated Lee’s admission to the University.

“I hate to be the practical one here, Lee,” Stillman said, “but if you return in a couple of months for this class, what happens to your wife? Will she leave her work and tag along?”

“Truthfully, I don’t know,” Lee said. “But Merry and I will talk and then decide if we’re staying together, or if it’s time to separate. Either way, I’m coming back to study sculpture. If I don’t do it now, when will I?”

Meghan bounced into the courtyard holding Giacomo’s hand. The Italian had that telltale look and swagger of a well-satiated man.

Rune saluted Giacomo with the open bottle. “Looks like you two have some celebrating to do as well.”

Meghan giggled. “Absolutely we do. I'm staying here in Italy with Giacomo.”

The Italian beamed and threw his arms around Meghan.

Rune filled the flutes with sparkling wine and passed out the glasses. They raised their glasses in a toast and took a celebratory swallow of Prosecco.

Phillip entered the courtyard and smiled when he saw the festive crowd. “What are we celebrating?”

“You,” Rune said, “for bailing me out. Bad news is that then all of you,” he added, pointing to the others with his glass, “will be stuck with me for a while, because, with your help, Phillip, I’m going to beat this cancer.”

“You sure as hell will,” Hope said. “Besides, I need you to help me talk Stillman into producing a documentary in Colorado. He’ll probably need a director, you know.”

Stillman laughed. “I probably will.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Rune downed his glass of Prosecco. He set it on a table. “Don’t worry,” he said, patting the glass, “I’ll be back.”

Everyone laughed.

Rune moved to Hope and put his hands on her shoulders. “What about you? How are you going to be, returning to asshole-land?”

Hope nodded. “I’ll be fine. No, scratch that. I’ll be damn fine, because I’ll be divorcing the asshole. And if he gives me any trouble, I’ve got a bunch of successful, kick-ass friends,” she grinned, “who I’m counting on to come to my aid.”

Everyone cheered and seconded her remark. Rune opened the second bottle of wine and refilled his glass.

“I have a toast,” Bella said, handing Phillip a glass of bubbly. She raised hers to the sky. “I’d like to toast a remarkable man, the one of us who had the courage, and the money, to bring us all here for this reunion. To you, Stillman.” She smiled at Stillman and then at Phillip.

“Thank you,” Stillman said.

Bella took a sip of her Prosecco. “Not to be presumptuous, but do you imagine there might be another reunion?”

“Why?” Stillman asked, smiling.

Bella wrapped one arm around Phillip. “Well, because I haven’t told everyone about my son, David, yet. And that can’t happen until Phillip gets to meet him, since he’s David’s father.”

All of their eyes were on her now.

She clinked her glass against Phillip’s. “Phillip and I are just beginning our lives together.” She smiled and sipped her wine. “I love being a rule-breaker. And what did the invitation say, Stillman? ‘No spouses, children, or friends allowed.’ That rule is begging to be broken.”

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

M
y special thanks to my editor, Patti Thorn, whose knowledge and kind but firm wisdom allowed my characters to follow their true paths. My sincere gratitude to Nick Zelinger, who created the beautiful cover and interior that transports us to Tuscany. Thank you, copy editor Michael Rudeen, for keeping me honest and grammatical. Judith Briles, you guided the process with expertise and clarity, and for this I am truly grateful.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to dear friends Susie, Greg, and all of our Vespa group, and you know why. I sincerely thank the charming and hospitable people of Tuscany for their warmth and kindness.

My writing life wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of my friends and family. Making time to write with four remarkable sons, Brandon, Justin, Nathan, and Damian, and their loved ones was a challenge, but they were always there for me, with encouragement and understanding. I offer all of my friends and family, as well as those who watch and applaud from the next life, my immense gratitude for their love and constant support.

Most of all, I offer my profound thanks to my dear husband, Ray, best friend and soul mate, inexhaustible reader and unwavering cheerleader. You are my world.

Last, but certainly not least, my heartfelt thanks go to you, my readers, who make this possible.

G
ail Mencini is the award-winning author of the debut novel
To Tuscany with Love
. A frequent visitor to Tuscany and a homegrown gourmet cook, she has toured Italy by car, train, bus, Vespa, and foot. She lives in Colorado with her family and dogs, where she cooks up dazzling dishes and spectacular stories. Look for the
To Tuscany with Love
companion recipes—
Bella’s Tastes from Tuscany
—on her website. You can find reader discussion questions and book club enhancement ideas on her website, as well as contact information to arrange your own book club chat with Gail.

Watch for the 2nd novel in Gail's Tuscany series, which returns to Italy with a new cast of characters and more hill towns to discover. Updates on the release date will be posted on her website.

To learn more about Gail or schedule a book club chat, visit
www.GailMencini.com
.