Miracle for the Girl Next Door / Mother of the Bride: Miracle for the Girl Next Door

In a surprise gesture she covered his hand with her own and squeezed it gently. “I’m so sorry you’ve carried this pain with you all these years. I often sensed something was wrong, but you never opened up about it.”

“I couldn’t.”

Her head was bowed. “None of us is exempt from problems, but somehow we deal with them because we have no choice, right?”

He marveled at her courage. “ì.”

She let go of his hand. “We’re almost to the farm.”

Valentino told the driver to turn onto the private road where you could see the sign advertising produce at the Rossetti farm. He told him to follow it all the way in to the farmhouse and pull to a stop.

The minute the taxi slowed down, Clara had the door open. He knew better than to ask her to stay with him and talk. She was probably craving her bed.

“Thank you for the food and the ride, Tino. You saved my life today.”

Would that were possible.

“I always enjoy being with you.”

She couldn’t meet his gaze. “Where are you going now?”

“Home to work on the Web site.”

“What did your father say about your ideas?”

“I’ve decided to wait until I have all the facts at hand, then present them in one go and see how he reacts.”

“I think you’ll be surprised how accepting he is of your ideas.”

“We’ll see. Your optimism gives me hope.”

“That’s good,” came her fervent reply.

He leaned toward her. “I’m going to come by for you in the truck after you’re off work tomorrow.”

Clara felt her pulse race. “What did you have in mind?”

“I thought we’d drive to Gaeta—we went there once, remember? We’ll enjoy a meal on the coast. It’s not too far. We’ll take it in stages. If you feel like sleeping on the way, you can.”

He still wanted to be with her?

“I’d love it!” she broke in. To go to the sea with him sounded divine.

His mouth broke into a satisfied smile. “I’m happy to hear it. Get a good sleep. I’ll be by about three.”

“All right. Ciao.”

Clara entered the kitchen feeling more lighthearted than she’d been in days. Who else but Valentino would have pretended to be her fiancé so he could gain access to the treatment room? She’d noticed that none of the workers at the clinic were immune to his compelling personality and looks. He’d been the talk of the place. Serena had been totally won over.

As for the taxi waiting for her, it might as well have been a golden coach whisking her away from the castle with her dashing prince while he fed her on the way. Because of his kindness, her body didn’t get a chance to feel depleted as it did when she had to walk down to the piazza and then wait for the bus.

She’d been utterly shocked to see him outside the doors. And grateful…He could have no idea how wonderful it was to just get in the car and be waited on as if she were a princess.

Though he’d told her earlier that he had no interest in knowing the identity of the man who’d had an affair with his mother, Clara couldn’t help but think his birthfather must have been an extraordinary person with exceptional looks and drive. Otherwise Valentino wouldn’t have turned out to be such a brilliant entrepreneur and heartthrob.

“What’s the great Valentino Casali doing bringing you home in a taxi?” Silvio had just walked in the kitchen. He wasn’t usually home this early.

“He was thoughtful enough to give me a lift from town.”

Her brother grimaced. “Did he think that by not bringing you in the Ferrari, the family wouldn’t notice?”

“Why would he be concerned about that?” she asked, attempting to control her temper without much success. “If he didn’t choose to drive it, it was probably because he was tired of the paparazzi following him every second of his life.”

“Why do you let him do it?” he demanded. “Don’t you get it?”

“You can stop worrying. It hardly smacks of the kind of attention you’re talking about. I’m a dying woman.”

“Don’t ever say that again!” he cried.

“But I am dying, Silvio. You have to face it. We’re all going to die some time. I just happen to know that without a new kidney, it will happen to me sooner than later.”

“How can you talk that way?”

“How can I not? You’ve got to stop being angry about it. As things get worse, Mamma and Papa are going to need your strength, not your rage.”

His eyes grew moist. “You’ve been so brave. If the almighty Casali had any idea what you’re dealing with now—”

“Actually he does. In fact he sat with me in the clinic today while I was getting my treatment.”

“I don’t believe it,” his voice shook. “You told him you have ESRD?”

“No. We met in town before my appointment. After I said goodbye to him, he followed me to the clinic and pretended to be…a relative.” She caught herself in time. “He did that so he could get in to see me. At the end of the treatment he brought me home so I wouldn’t have to take the bus. He even brought food and drinks because he knew I needed it after dialysis.”

Silvio looked dumbfounded.

“Please let’s not argue over him. He’s been nothing but kind to me and now I’m tired.” She felt his eyes on her as she left the kitchen to go upstairs. All she wanted to do was go to bed and dream about tomorrow when he came for her.

One more outing, then she’d tell him that, as much as she enjoyed his company, her illness was slowly draining her to the point that any social life had to end. She was hurtling through space toward a black void from which there could be no return. Where she was going, he couldn’t go.

She knew Valentino well enough to know his compassion for her condition would prompt him to continue making himself available to her. She also knew herself well enough to know she would cling more and more to him because he was life to her.

Clara couldn’t think of a worse scenario for a man whose freedom meant everything to him.

On the way back to town, Valentino had to admit it was getting more difficult to drive away after they’d been together. When he thought about it, he’d never liked parting company with Clara. Until he heard from the doctor, he was going to be on tenterhooks.

In the meantime he needed to keep so busy he wouldn’t be able to think. But he soon discovered that work was no panacea for his heartache. Nothing could take it away. It went so deep, he couldn’t find solace.

Every time he thought about her pain and what she was facing, he was pierced to the quick. His agony drove him to get in his car. He started driving through the countryside with no destination in mind. While he was en route, the wildflowers seemed to flaunt their fragrance in the night air as if to impress upon him the delights Clara might not be able to enjoy much longer.