Chapter 7 - THE YEAR SHE HAD PLANNED
"Next October?"
Luca looked toward Vanessa.
The baby wasn't due until early spring.
A rental lasting until the following October was nothing like six weeks of recovery.
"How long were you planning to stay away?"
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
"I didn't know."
"Then why commit to an entire year?"
"Because I couldn't get a shorter lease on that particular house."
Evelyn shook her head.
"Vanessa, the property agent offered you a six-month option."
Her daughter looked furious.
"Mother, please stop."
Evelyn's voice softened.
"I don't want to embarrass you."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because I thought we were helping you make a temporary plan. I didn't know you were preparing to leave everyone out."
Luca leaned forward.
"Vanessa, I need you to answer me."
She swallowed.
"The house gave me a choice."
"A choice about what?"
"Where the baby and I would live."
He nodded slowly.
"All right."
She looked surprised.
"That's it?"
"No. But I understand wanting a choice."
"Then why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you were planning our child's future without telling me."
Vanessa looked down.
"Every time I tried to talk about leaving the mansion, you acted as though I was rejecting your family."
Luca thought about that.
Then nodded.
"I did take it personally."
Teresa looked up.
"Sweetheart, you do love this house."
He turned toward her.
"I know."
"Your father loved it too."
"Yes."
"But neither of you would have wanted a baby growing up afraid inside it."
Luca's expression softened.
"No, Mom."
She glanced toward Vanessa.
"Perhaps we should've listened sooner."
Evelyn shifted in her chair.
"That still doesn't excuse what happened tonight."
Teresa nodded.
"No. It doesn't."
I was standing beside the sideboard, holding the yellow sweater.
I'd found the loose button and wrapped it inside a clean linen napkin so it wouldn't disappear.
The damaged sleeve hung over my arm.
Vanessa noticed.
"Emily, please put that away."
I looked at Luca.
He shook his head slightly.
"Emily can finish what she's doing."
Vanessa's cheeks reddened.
"I'm not trying to order her around."
"Then ask instead of commanding."
The words were quiet.
But they made Vanessa look down.
After a moment, she said, "Emily, would you mind putting the sweater somewhere safe?"
"Of course, ma'am."
I placed it in Teresa's knitting basket.
The older woman smiled gratefully.
Then Evelyn spoke.
"Vanessa, I've been wondering something."
Her daughter sighed.
"What now?"
"Why were you so insistent that the baby's welcoming celebration be held at my house?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Because it's quieter."
"Then why did you tell me not to invite Teresa?"
Luca looked sharply toward her.
"What?"
Evelyn continued.
"You told me there would be enough people already. You said Teresa would be uncomfortable around a newborn."
Vanessa looked at the floor.
Luca's voice hardened.
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want another argument."
Teresa's face fell.
"I wouldn't have argued."
Vanessa covered her eyes.
"I know that now."
Luca shook his head.
"No. You knew she wasn't someone who would fight you over holding a baby."
Vanessa looked up.
"How can you be sure?"
"Because when you told her she might not be allowed to, she didn't threaten you or demand anything."
He gestured toward the sweater.
"She spent three weeks hurting her hands trying to please you."
Vanessa began crying.
"I didn't understand what she was doing."
"She told you."
"I thought she was being dramatic."
I looked down.
Those words were familiar.
I'd heard Vanessa use them whenever Teresa became emotional.
Dramatic.
Oversensitive.
Too attached to the past.
I'd started to hate how easily those words turned someone's pain into an inconvenience.
Evelyn looked at Teresa.
"Mrs. Moretti, I'd like to apologize for the invitation cards."
Teresa seemed surprised.
"You don't have to—"
"I do."
Evelyn swallowed.
"I believed you were demanding a role Vanessa wasn't comfortable giving you. I didn't understand how much of that came from her fear."
Teresa nodded slowly.
"Thank you."
Evelyn touched the cream-colored card.
"I shouldn't have described you as a family guest."
Teresa's eyes filled.
"No, dear. You shouldn't have."
It was the first time I'd heard Teresa disagree with someone without immediately apologizing.
Luca noticed too.
He gave his mother a small smile.
Then he turned back toward Vanessa.
"There's something I still don't understand."
She wiped her face.
"What?"
"You say you wanted the baby away from the reputation of my family."
"Yes."
"And away from the mansion."
"Yes."
"But you also wanted my mother to stop calling herself Grandma."
Vanessa looked down.
"Because the baby would still be connected to the Moretti family through her."
Luca frowned.
"How?"
"Family gatherings. Photographs. People asking questions."
Teresa looked confused.
"About what?"
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"About the name."
Luca went still.
"What name?"
Vanessa looked toward Evelyn.
Her mother closed her eyes.
I realized they were approaching something neither woman had wanted discussed.
Luca leaned forward.
"Vanessa, are you talking about our baby's name?"
She nodded.
He looked at his mother.
Then back at his fiancée.
"Do you think I haven't considered what the Moretti name means?"
Vanessa whispered, "Not enough."
He took a slow breath.
"I know my world isn't ordinary. I know there are things our child shouldn't have to carry."
"Then why do you keep insisting everything stay the same?"
"I haven't."
"But your mother will tell the baby about Antonio, and about this house, and all the Morettis who came before."
Teresa looked wounded.
"Those are family stories, Vanessa."
"I know."
Vanessa wiped her face.
"But I don't want our child growing up believing a dangerous family name is something to be proud of."
Luca stared at her.
Then he asked quietly, "What did you plan to do about the baby's name?"
Vanessa said nothing.
Evelyn looked toward the folded welcoming cards.
Then she whispered, "You haven't told him?"
Vanessa shook her head.
Luca's expression changed.
"Vanessa, what surname were you planning to give our child?"
She pressed a hand against her stomach.
May you like
And finally answered.
"Bellini. Only Bellini."
