A Forever Family Collection

Leon nodded. “Sit down, Papà, while I tell you a story about Belle Peterson.”

A few minutes later his father was wiping his eyes. “I can’t even begin to tell you what this is going to mean to Luciana when she finds out.”

“Except that Belle doesn’t want Luciana to know anything.” For the next few minutes he told his father what had been contained in that pamphlet, and Belle’s fear of hurting her mother.

“Hurt her?” Sullisto cried out. “It would have the opposite effect! I know what I’m talking about. The one thing in our marriage that has kept us from being truly happy has been Luciana’s soul-deep sadness. We tried to have a baby, but weren’t successful. She’s always believed God was punishing her for giving up her child.”

“Incredibile—”

“Not until two months ago did we learn that Valeria’s death was ruled accidental. That very day I begged Luciana to call the orphanage and find out what had happened to Belle. At least inquire if she’d been adopted. But she said she didn’t dare, because she was afraid her daughter would hate her. I told her I’d hire a private investigator to locate her, but Luciana was convinced Belle would refuse to talk to her, after she’d given her up.”

“Belle has the exact same fear, that her mother won’t like her.”

His father rubbed his hands together. “To know she has come all this way looking for her mother will be like a dream Luciana never thought could come true.”

“Then you don’t have a problem if they’re united?”

“Mind? How can you even ask me that?” he cried. “It’s my dream to make Luciana happy, but it has always been out of my hands.”

That was all Leon needed to know. He could only imagine Belle’s joy when the two of them finally met. “I have a plan. Bring Luciana to the villa for dinner this evening. Tell her the baby is better.”

His father nodded. “She’s been waiting forever for an official invitation from you.”

“I know. I’m sorry about that, but it’s something I plan to rectify.”

It was regrettable, but true, that though his father had come by the villa on occasion, Leon had never invited them over as a couple. His cool attitude toward Luciana had prevailed all these years. He wished he’d known early on that she’d given up her child. It wouldn’t have changed his feelings over his father’s remarriage at the time, but he might not have been so quick to judge her because of false assumptions and the many rumors that had reached his teenage ears.

“It doesn’t matter, Leonardo. I know how much your mother meant to you and Dante, and I’ve understood. As for Luciana, we both know how much she loves your Concetta and will rejoice at the opportunity to be with her in your home.”

Leon did know that. “Come at seven. By then Concetta will have been fed.”

His father seemed more alive as they walked to the door. He gave Leon the kind of hug they hadn’t shared in years. It wasn’t just the fact that Leon had broken down and invited them both over for dinner. Only now was he beginning to understand how much his father had suffered in his second marriage because of Luciana’s pain.

Once Leon left the bank, he alerted Simona about the plans for the evening, then drove to the pension. Ruggio was parked two cars behind Belle’s rental near the entrance. Leon walked over to thank his security man, and told him he wouldn’t need him any longer for surveillance.

A feeling of excitement he hadn’t known in over a year passed through him as he went inside the pension and pressed the buzzer to announce his arrival. Before long Rosa appeared. “Signore?”

“Forgive me for not introducing myself before. My name is Leonardo di Malatesta, signora.” The older woman’s eyes widened in recognition of his name. “I need to see Signorina Peterson on a matter of life and death.” He’d spoken the truth and felt no guilt about it. “I know she’s here. Ask her to come out to the foyer, per favore.” He put several bills on the counter for the woman’s trouble.

After a slight hesitation she nodded and hurried through the alcove. Leon didn’t have to wait long before Belle appeared, with a tear-ravaged face and puffy eyes. He wasn’t surprised to see her in this kind of pain.

“Leon?” Her breathing sounded ragged. “What are you doing here? We’ve already said goodbye.” Maybe he was crazy, but he had the gut feeling she was glad to see him.

“Yes, we did, but something’s come up. Let’s go to your room and I’ll tell you what’s happened.”

She nodded. “All right.” Any fight she might have put up seemed to have gone out of her for the moment.

Leon thanked Rosa before trailing Luciana’s daughter into the alcove and down the hall to her small room. She was still dressed in the white dress she’d been wearing, but it looked wrinkled.

When they went inside and he’d shut the door, he saw the indention on the single bed, where she’d been sobbing. Leon knew she couldn’t bear the thought of having to leave Italy without meeting her mother.

He came straight to the point. “I went to see my father after I left you.”

“Oh no—”

“Before you get upset, hear me out. I learned that he knew all about you before he married your mother.” Belle’s eyes widened as if in disbelief. “I asked him if Luciana had wanted to give up her baby, or if she’d had to.”

Belle’s fear was palpable. “W-what did he say?”

“I’ll quote you his answer. He said, ‘She had to, but she wanted her little girl more than life itself. A day doesn’t go by that she’s not missing her, wanting to be with her.’”

Belle turned away from him to hide her emotions. Without considering the ramifications, he grasped her shoulders and turned her around to face him. Her body trembled like a leaf in the wind. Earlier when he’d held her, it hadn’t been long enough. This time he drew her against him and wrapped his arms around her.

Her gleaming dark hair tickled his jaw as he murmured, “Whatever plans you’ve already made to fly back to New York will have to be put on hold, because he’s bringing her to my villa tonight for dinner so you two can meet.”

An unmistakable cry escaped Belle’s lips. She tried to get away, but he wouldn’t allow it, and crushed her to him. “She won’t have any idea you’re going to be there. My father believes this is the best way to handle it, and I do, too. He wouldn’t want this if he didn’t believe she’ll be overjoyed. If you need more convincing, I’ll phone and tell him to come over here.”

Belle’s head was burrowed against Leon’s chest, reminding him of the way Concetta sought comfort when she was upset. He rubbed his hands over her back.

“How can you possibly leave and not see her?” he argued. “This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for all your life. You’ve been so strong. You’ve survived an existence that would have defeated anyone else. Don’t you realize how proud your mother’s going to be of you and what you’ve accomplished?”

“I want to believe it.”

“Would it help if I told you I’m proud of you? When the head of your company sang your praises, I could have told him what a remarkable woman you really are. How you survived in that household is beyond me. The methodical way you’ve gone about trying to find your mother in a foreign country, with no help from anyone but yourself, defies description.”

He heard sniffing. “Thank you for those kind words.”

Belle…

“I’ll wait while you gather all your belongings. For the rest of the time you’re in Italy, you’re going to be my guest. Don’t worry about your rental car. If you’ll leave the key at the desk, one of my staff will return it to the agency. When we arrive at the house, you’ll have the rest of the day to get ready for this evening.”

“You’re far too good to me.”

He pressed his lips against her temple. “Why wouldn’t I be? For you to find your mother with my help after all these years brings me great happiness.” It’s a gift I couldn’t give my daughter, but I can give it to you. “You wouldn’t deprive me of it, would you?”

Slowly she lifted her head. One corner of her lovely mouth lifted. “No. Of course not, but I’m so nervous. What if—”

“Don’t go there,” he interrupted in a quiet voice, kneading her upper arms. “I can promise you that if she knew what was ahead for tonight, her fear would be much greater than yours.

“Papà told me that for years she has grieved because your case was sealed when she gave you up. Even if she could get a court order for information, she’s been afraid you would find it unforgivable, what she did, and would reject her out of hand.”

“Is this the truth?” Fear mixed with hope in Belle’s voice.

“Ask my father. He wouldn’t lie to me and is excited for the two of you to meet. It can’t happen soon enough for either of us.”

“Then he’s truly not upset?”

“Anything but. He believes this reunion will help solve certain problems in his marriage.”