Page 214 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8
‘Gio, I have that big case commencing next week.’
‘That is why we are doing it before. It is just a lunch. Are things so bad between you and Sev that you cannot stand to be in the same room for my wedding?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ He pushed out a lighter tone, while squeezing the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. ‘Of course I shall be there...’ He asked the question he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to. ‘Where is the lunch to be?’
‘At home. Mimi insists on cooking for us.’
Dante found there wasn’t the expected wave of relief that there would be no encounter with Susie at Pearla’s...
‘I have eaten rather a lot of restaurant food lately.’ Gio laughed.
‘Are you still getting home deliveries fromPearla’s?’ Dante had tried not to ask before, but today he couldn’t help but delve.
‘Sometimes.’ Gio laughed. ‘Mimi refuses to move back in till after the wedding, so I order now and then—but not as much. Things changed.’
‘What changed?’
‘Susie stopped bringing my meals. And I miss her a lot.’
God, so did he.
The hollowed-out feeling he’d had since he returned to Milan had morphed into a black hole of regret that felt as if it might consume him.
‘She’s working in the kitchen now,’ said Gio.
‘Oh?’ Dante said, as if it meant little to him. But he stood from his seat and started to pace as realisation dawned.
Susie would be in Lucca.
And not just for Gio’s wedding.
She didn’t need to go on that course in Florence. She was working in the kitchen of one of the best restaurants in Italy. Which meant every time he returned, Susie would be there.
‘Dante? About the wedding...’
Gio brought him back to the reason for his call.
‘We are not going to let anyone know—not until the wedding papers are signed.’
‘I understand.’ The whole town would be there otherwise. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’
‘Two brides to your zero!’ Gio laughed. ‘My love life is better than yours.’
‘It is.’
‘But if you want to bring a guest,’ Gio said. ‘Someone special...’
Of course he would like to bring a guest. How much easier the day would be with Susie by his side. It would make facing Sev a whole lot easier. But he was not about to use Susie as a shield.
And, of course he wanted to call Susie tell her he was returning for one night...perhaps arrange to see her after the wedding.
But that would set a dangerous precedent.
‘No,’ he told his grandfather. ‘It will just be me.’
Susie had never really been one for Valentine’s Day. And Lucca was such a romantic city that it seemed to ram home her loss as the big day approached.
Museums were holding special events and there were beautiful floral displays everywhere. Pearla’s was booked out for both lunch and dinner, with Cucou planning a special menu...