Chapter 6 - THE KEY TO ANOTHER LIFE
"Where is this place?"
Luca stared at the brass key.
Vanessa looked as though she wanted to disappear.
"It's a small house in Evanston."
"How long have you had it?"
"Two weeks."
"And you were going to tell me when?"
She looked down.
"When I knew what I wanted."
Evelyn sat very straight.
"Vanessa, you told me you were still considering the house."
"I was."
"Then why have you already rented it?"
"Because I needed somewhere I could go if I couldn't stay here."
Luca was silent.
That seemed to hurt Vanessa more than another question would have.
Finally, he said, "I wish you'd told me you were that unhappy."
She wiped her eyes.
"I didn't want to hurt you."
He looked at the little yellow sweater.
"But you were willing to hurt my mother."
Vanessa flinched.
"I know how it looks."
"Then tell me what I'm missing."
She sat slowly.
"The house is quiet. No security guards outside. No meetings downstairs. No strangers asking questions about your business."
Luca nodded.
"All right."
"It has two bedrooms."
"All right."
"And a little fenced yard."
For a moment, her face softened.
"I thought the baby could play there someday."
Teresa smiled faintly.
"That sounds lovely."
Vanessa looked surprised.
"You think so?"
"Of course. A little garden sounds wonderful for a child."
Vanessa's expression faltered.
I wondered whether she'd expected Teresa to fight for the mansion.
Instead, the older woman was imagining a child playing outside.
Luca leaned forward.
"Vanessa, I don't object to a safer, quieter home."
She blinked.
"You don't?"
"No. But I need to know whether you were planning a home for us, or somewhere to go without me."
Vanessa looked away.
Evelyn spoke sharply.
"That isn't fair, Luca."
He turned toward her.
"Why not?"
"Vanessa has been asking you for changes."
"Then I should have listened."
"She said the security was too visible."
"I remember."
"And you told her it was necessary."
Luca rubbed his forehead.
"I did."
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"Every time I said I wanted something different, you explained why your life couldn't change."
He looked at her.
"Then I was wrong to make you feel there was nothing to discuss."
For a moment, she looked relieved.
But he wasn't finished.
"I still can't understand why you told my mother she had to earn the right to know our child."
Vanessa's expression tightened again.
"Because she represents everything about this family that I was trying to get away from."
The words hung between them.
Teresa slowly withdrew her hands.
I watched her look down at the sweater.
Luca's jaw tightened.
"Be careful how you speak about her."
Vanessa began crying.
"I didn't mean she's done anything dangerous."
"Then what did you mean?"
"She's proud of being a Moretti."
Teresa looked up.
"Yes, I am."
"She talks about Antonio. She tells stories about Luca growing up. She wants the baby to have family things."
Vanessa gestured toward the sweater.
"She even chose the same color he wore as a baby."
Teresa's eyes filled.
"Because Antonio loved yellow."
"I know."
Vanessa covered her face.
"I know, Teresa. That's why I felt awful telling you I didn't want it."
I looked at the damaged sleeve.
"You could have said that without putting it under your shoe."
Vanessa lowered her hands.
Her eyes met mine.
For a moment, she looked furious that a housemaid had dared to speak.
Then she looked at the sweater.
And said nothing.
Luca turned toward his mother.
"Mom, would you be upset if the baby didn't live here?"
Teresa shook her head.
"No."
"Even if Vanessa and I chose somewhere smaller?"
"Sweetheart, I'd help you pack."
He smiled sadly.
"Would you insist on visiting every day?"
"No."
"What if we asked you not to share photographs or our address with anyone?"
"I would respect that."
Vanessa looked stunned.
Teresa continued.
"I understand wanting your child to be safe. I worried about Luca his whole childhood."
She looked at Vanessa.
"But you never asked me whether I could accept those things."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"I thought you'd be hurt."
"I might be disappointed sometimes."
Teresa smiled gently.
"But disappointment isn't the same as refusing to respect you."
Evelyn looked away.
I watched her study the little brass key.
Something about her expression troubled me.
She seemed less angry with Luca now.
More concerned about her daughter.
"Evelyn," Luca said, "were you supposed to live at the house too?"
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Mother doesn't need to be part of this."
Evelyn looked at her.
"You told me I'd be helping with the baby."
"You can still help."
"At my house?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Sometimes."
Evelyn's face changed.
For the first time, I realized she hadn't understood her daughter's plans either.
She'd believed the baby would live under her roof.
She'd helped arrange everything around that assumption.
But Vanessa had rented somewhere else.
Luca noticed.
"Vanessa, were you planning to tell either of us?"
Her voice became very small.
"I was trying to figure things out."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because everybody has an opinion about what kind of mother I should be."
Teresa looked down.
Evelyn's lips pressed together.
Luca considered that.
Then he said, "You deserve space to make your own decisions. But this baby has two parents."
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"I know."
"And we need to be honest with each other."
She didn't answer.
I reached for the damaged sweater.
"Mrs. Moretti, may I take this to the sewing basket?"
Teresa nodded.
"Yes, dear."
I carefully lifted it.
One of the little buttons had loosened.
As I secured it in my palm, Evelyn spoke.
"There's something else about that rental, Luca."
Vanessa's head snapped up.
"Mother."
Evelyn looked at her daughter.
"I won't keep defending decisions you haven't even explained to me."
Luca leaned forward.
"What about the rental?"
Evelyn picked up the brass key.
"Vanessa told us she'd need six weeks after the birth. But that isn't how long she rented the house."
Luca's expression hardened.
"How long?"
May you like
Evelyn looked at Vanessa.
"Tell him why you signed a lease that doesn't end until next October."
