Page 72 of Gary

“Give her time…”

“To do what exactly? To hate me more? To find someone else?” He shook his head. “She hates the name and unfortunately I cannot change who I am.” He shrugged and took a sip of his drink. “It was not meant to be. I loved and lost, eventually I will get over it.”

“Will you?” A smile ghosted His uncle’s lips. “If you manage to do that, let me know the remedy. I have been in love with one woman all my life and not even death has been able to cure me of it.”

“Thanks for the encouragement.” He walked over to the hearth and stood there staring into the fireplace. “I tried. I went down frigging memory lane where I never wanted to go and tried to explain everything.

She still would not believe me. Still told me no and that she wanted me out of her life. I tried. I would have gone down on my knees and begged, but I was not given that chance.” He took another sip. “So, I am leaving, because being in the same county, the same state, the same country as her is going to be too painful.

I guess it is my just dessert. I have been with so many women that I lost track of all of them. I thought I was damn invincible when it comes to affairs of the heart. And one look at her and I was down.” He smiled grimly. “Poetic justice, I suppose.”

“Gary…”

“No.” He shot his drink and relished the burning sensation first in his throat and then his belly. Maybe he would get drunk enough to sleep. “My mind is made up. Lock up when you leave.”

*****

She somehow managed to function, barely. Her mother had accepted his explanations and chided her for not doing the same.

“Honey, he loves you. And he is suffering. You both are.”

“I can’t be with him.”

But as the days dragged on, she felt as if he had taken her heart with him. She had to force herself to carry on. The shop that had brought so much joy to her was like an albatross around her neck. It took effort for her to get out of bed and going through the day, felt like she was wading through quicksand.

The nights were the worst. She could not sleep and felt him inside her at odd times. He had not called her, and she was telling herself that she was grateful. But it was a lie.

December crept in slowly and it was a few days after he had confronted her at home that she looked up when the bell chimed and felt her heart drumming inside her chest.

For a second, she thought it was him, the resemblance was there, the same shade of hair and eyes, but Gary was more handsome. They were of the same lofty height and the intense way of looking at a person.

The shop was empty, and she was curled on the sofa, trying to concentrate on some paperwork.

“My name is Graham Moretti. No, please don’t get up.” He moved over to sit on the sofa facing her. “He was right, you are exquisite.” A gentle smile touched his lips.

“Mr. Moretti…”

“Please call me, Graham, I understand you don’t have a liking for the name.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s leaving.”

“Leaving?”

“Yes.” The man stared at her closely. “You have made quite an impression on him, I’m afraid.”

“He’s going back to Italy.”

“Yes. Look, he is not aware that I am here. I have seen him suffer as a child and I cannot bear to see him go through hell again. This is even worse. He needs you.”

She looked away and fought the tears.

“You don’t understand.”

“I am afraid I do. He might not have told you the entire story.” He waited until she was looking at him again. “I was in love with his mother. We all were. All three brothers. But I was the one who loved her the most.

She was promised to my brother because he was the eldest and it was more of a business transaction. A combination of mutual interests.” His mouth twisted slightly as he began to tell her the sordid details.