Chapter 6

Before I left the next day, I put the silver eagle and the blue key in my bag.

My mother changed my bandage. She noticed the bag beside the bed.

“You're seeing him again?”

“He promised to withdraw the confession. And he won't stop Anthony from speaking.”

She pulled my sleeve into place without answering.

I fastened my bag. Eight years ago, when debt collectors blocked the entrance to the laundry, Luca had asked me to wait for him, too. That night, he'd come back. He'd changed the lock and stood guard outside until morning.

“I want to hear what he's going to do.”

My mother squeezed my hand.

“All right. Call me when you want to come home.”

At the bridal shop, the first thing I asked was whether Luca had arrived.

Rosa shook her head. “He asked us to have you start trying things on. You don't need to wait.”

She took my bag and led me into the fitting room.

“Mr. Vito called first thing this morning. He wanted us to replace the buttons down the back with a zipper, so you wouldn't hurt your hand. It's all ready.”

She lifted the skirt and helped me onto the platform in front of the mirror.

I looked pale, but the dress fit perfectly at the waist. I'd kept a photo of it on my phone for two years. Even now, wearing it for the first time, I couldn't help looking toward the door.

It stayed closed.

At ten past three, Rosa brought me a cup of warm water.

At half past three, she stepped out to take a call for the third time.

When she came back, she was carrying a robe.

“Miss Bennett, let's get you changed.”

The rim of the paper cup buckled in my hand.

“He's not coming?”

“His assistant just canceled the appointment. He asked us to hold the dress until we're told where to send it.”

I called Luca.

He answered almost immediately.

“Do you like the dress?”

“You're not coming?”

“We need to put this off. Sera's right. Carlo's men are downstairs. If I walk into a bridal shop with you now, they'll know I never meant to give you up.”

“What about what you promised last night?”

“Eve, my capos are here. They want an answer. I can't take my word back before the sit-down tomorrow night.”

“Yesterday, you promised me today.”

“It's one more day. Don't make me fight this on both sides.”

I stared at the veil I was still wearing in the mirror. My free hand slowly dropped to my side.

Someone called his name. He answered, then came back to me.

“Have Rosa take a picture. I'll look at it tonight.”

I touched one of the pins in my hair.

“Okay. I'll let you go.”

His voice immediately brightened.

“Wait for me for dinner. We won't go to the estate tonight. Just the two of us.”

I hung up and took the pins out of my veil, one by one.

Rosa held up her phone, waiting for me to turn around.

“No pictures. Could you help me out of this?”

She came closer and gently undid the zipper.

I changed back into my own clothes and put my card on the counter.

“Charge me for the alterations. You don't need to hold the dress.”

Rosa took the card and hesitated before nodding.

When I left the shop, I asked Paolo to drive me to the home I shared with Luca.

Luca wasn't back yet. Upstairs, the closet lights were on. A maid had laid my everyday clothes across the bed. She asked whether they should all be shipped to Sicily.

“Who told you to pack?”

“Mr. Vito. He called this morning to make sure we included your pillow.”

I stood in the doorway for a long time.

At that same hour, Rosa had been altering my wedding dress at his request.

I put the clothes back, one piece at a time. I took only my personal documents, my old camera, and the letters my adoptive mother had written me.

At the back of the closet was a pair of bridal shoes Luca had bought me two years earlier. When I'd asked when I could wear them, he'd kissed my forehead and promised it would be soon.

The stickers were still on the soles.

I closed the box and put it back.

Footsteps sounded downstairs.

Luca opened the bedroom door. He spotted the suitcase on the bed and draped his coat over a chair.

“Packing already?”

I put my camera in the case and fastened the lock.

He took a thick cardigan from the closet and laid it on top.

“It gets cold by the sea at night. Take this.”

“Put it back. There's no room.”

“Then we'll have it sent separately.”

He didn't argue. He handed it to the maid in the doorway, then looked down at the suitcase.

“Is that everything?”

“Everything.”

He picked it up and put his other arm around my shoulders.

“Let's eat. I'm glad you're getting ready early. It's one less thing to worry about.”

At the bedroom door, I looked back.

The perfume he'd given me was still on the vanity. Rows of dresses still hung in the closet.

Only my camera was missing from the nightstand, my documents from the drawer.

Luca didn't look back. He turned out the light.

Downstairs, the table was set for two. Beside a lemon cake stood a small bouquet of my favorite flowers.

He left the suitcase in the entryway and pulled out my chair.

He poured me some water and turned the handle of the cup toward my left hand.

“Have a drink. The bread's almost ready.”

I stayed on my feet. I took the eagle and the blue key from my bag and set them beside my plate.

“Please have my mother's things sent back from Sicily. I'll give the housekeeper the address.”

He picked up the key and looked down at the ceramic tag.

“Are you still upset about Sera staying there? I've already had the bedding changed.”

“It's not about the bedding.”

“All right. If you don't like that house, we'll find another one. Sit down and eat. The cake's fresh.”

I slipped off the ring I'd worn for eight years and set it beside the plate. Then I unhooked the last key from my key ring and laid it next to his hand.

Metal struck porcelain with a soft clink.

Luca went still.

It was the key to our front door. Six years ago, he'd put it on my key ring himself and told me I'd never have to ring the bell again.

“Why are you taking that one off?”

I extended the handle of my suitcase.

“We're over, Luca.”

He stared at me. Several seconds passed before he put the key down.

“Is that why you came back today?”

“Yes.”

He glanced toward the stairs.

“Eve.”

He came around the table and stepped into my path, taking a small box from his inside jacket pocket.

Inside was the diamond ring I'd once tried on at a jewelry store.

“I was going to give you this tonight. After the dinner tomorrow, we'll get married.”

I looked at the ring without reaching for it.

“No.”

He held the box out a little farther, then stopped.

The oven timer sounded in the kitchen. The maid appeared with the warm bread, saw us, and stopped in the doorway.

Luca sent her away. When he turned back to me, his voice was much quieter.

“Don't decide yet. Once tomorrow is over, I'll take you to city hall. I'll book the appointment in front of you.”

I wheeled my suitcase past him.

He caught the handle, just as he'd taken it upstairs.

“At least have dinner before you go.”

“I'm not staying.”

“Then wait for the driver.”

“Someone's here for me.”

Outside the window, Paolo opened the car door.

Luca saw him. His hand stayed on the suitcase, but he didn't mention Sicily again.

I waited until he let go before pulling it over the threshold.

As the door closed behind me, he called my name once more.

I didn't turn around.