Chapter 6 Scarpati’s Story

Rosalie

To say I’m taken back by how dangerously handsome Ben’s brother Julius is would be an understatement. It’s not fair that he is 100% off limits being Becca’s soon to be brother in law. He is tall, maybe 6”2, dark brown wavy hair that falls a couple inches below his ears. His eyes are the most dangerous feature on him. They are a stormy grey. Rare. Intriguing. His voice is like a murky strong whiskey. When he lets out a husky laugh I can’t help but shiver in delight. Wait a second. Haunting good looks, melodious laugh, grey eyes? If he didn’t have a tan I’d be sure he was a fucking vampire. Drawing in any unsuspecting woman. This off limits thing sucks. It’s like dangling the clearest, cleanest coldest water in front of me in the burning hot desert. And I am parched.

“I have all the time in the world Rosalie, tell me a story.” God I swear his voice just dropped an octave. And possibly, my panties.

“Okay, I’ll start from the beginning. So, one night when I was about 7 and the boys and Becca were about 5, we stayed up watching The Shining.” I began

“Was that your idea?” He laughed.

“Yes.” I confirmed. “They were getting on my nerves and I wanted to scare the little shits.” We chuckled. “But I also ended up scared myself. Anyway, the next day we went riding our bikes in town and we came across this old spooky huge house and I heard the most beautiful music. I didn’t know at the time but it was of course, the cello.”

Julius set up and moved a little closer. I went on trying not to get distracted.

“So the little shits dared me to knock on the door. We Valentino’s are incapable of turning down a dare.” Its starting to lightly rain around us. Anymore and we’ll have to go in soon.

“So I knock and out steps this Einstein looking mother fucker with wild hair and that’s when I noticed the cello- The Mona Lisa behind him and he had a bow in his hand. Then he yells at me and says “I don’t want your damn Girl Scout cookies.”

“ I don’t know what overcame me. Immediately I said teach me how to play that music and he said “what do you know about music?” I said “nothing” Well he went quiet for a while and said “I’ll tell u what, if you can answer me this I’ll teach you.” Then he said “how do you play the cello?” I paused.

“And?” Julius asked

“I said the first thing that came to my mind. The heart” In a way it was like therapy going down memory lane with Julius. Telling me and Scarpati’s story.

“So he said “okay lose the dorks” and he pointed to the twins and Becca. Then he said “we start in the morning.”

“So he became your instructor?” Julius asks.

“Yes, Roman Scarpati, the best kept secret of all time. He was very hard on me but he was preparing me to face the egos of men dominating the music field. It took me 6 months just to walk up to the cello correctly and even though I learned to play on The Mona Lisa, he never let me use his bow. I loved that cello but Scarpati didn’t just give her to me. He told me if I ever learned to play as well as him, I could have her.”

“Oh?” Julius lifted his dark brow and I felt hot all over so back to the story.

“Yes, we’re getting there. He taught me on music that an accomplished cellist spent their lives learning and by the time I hit my teens, my technique was unstoppable but I still lacked something. “Passion, love, emotion!” Scarpati would yell. “Without it you sound like a fucking robot!” He would scream. In anger, I asked him what some old burnt out devil like him would know about love? I still regret saying that. His eyes glossed over and he told me he knew love that many would never dream to find.”

Julius eyes clouded over like grey smoke. He was intrigued. Perhaps a secret romantic? I continued...

“You see, a young 18 year old Scarpati found himself giving lesson to a generals son in Germany during WW2. He fell in love with a beautiful Jewish girl named Mary Ann. He hid her away and they made passionate love in the secrecy of Scarpati’s apartment. The way he would just describe her would make Shakespeare seem like a blabbering fool.”

“A man in love.” Julius interjected.

I sat up straight and looked at him sideways.

“Precisely my boy. But when Scarpati left one day to give lessons.. the Nazi’s found her and took her to a nearby camp. When Scarpati got home he was frantic. He found they had taken her and he would let nothing stand in his way to get her back. So, he went to the General whom he was giving his son lessons to, and pleaded that they had taken the wrong girl. That she was his apprentice and he demanded to be taken to the camp immediately come hell or high water. So the General got him into the camp.” I paused.

Julius looked as though he was hanging on every word. “Did they get her back?” He asked impatiently.

“No. As Scarpati was on his way with the General, they had already stripped her of her clothes and dignity and marched her into the gas chambers.”

“Awful” Julius replies looking down.

“Scarpati said they had thrown her naked body in a pile and he could see her dark hair and green glassy eyes looking up at him. He said he’d never forget the smell when they sat fire to the bodies and he watched his love go up in flames.” I give a sad sigh. “After he went mad with grief he came to America and dove into his music. Composing his greatest works. The balled of Mary Ann but he was so sad, he never finished it.”

“He taught you these ballets?” Julius asked.

“Yes, from a child he taught me but I could never finish it for him. Until one day.” I chug the champagne and hand it to Julius who does the same.

“After hearing Scarpati’s heartbreak I was determined to fall in love.”

“Is that so Rosalie?” Julius smirked.

“Yes. When I was 18. It was a forbidden love. My fathers bosses son Matt Muller.”

“Wow wow wow.” Julius interrupts. “Matt Muller? Like Muller Interprises?” I shake my head yes. “Holy shit we grew up with him and his brother Josh.”

“Small world.” I reply. “Anyway Matt and I were going to run away together but I got cold feet the day before. I felt guilty for him to leave behind his millions just to run away with a poor girl like me. So, I went to his house. I think his brother Josh was having a birthday party.” I narrowed my brows in thought. “And I went up the stairs and told Matt it was over. Then I walked down the stairs broken hearted and....”

“WAIT!” Julius yelled. His eyes wild.

“You’re the girl...You had those red shoes..CONVERSE!...and your hair in a high ponytail...” he continues

I gasp. That was me. I loved those shoes! I can’t believe that was him on the stairs that day almost 10 years ago.

Julius continues......

“And you you ran into ME...and then you said...”

“Watch where you’re going pretty boy.”

We say together laughing.

“That is so crazy.” He says and I agree.

“Okay so then what happened?” He persists.

“I walked straight to Scarpati’s with my heartbreak and emotions and before I knew what hit me, I finished his balled to Mary Ann. He handed me his bow and said the Mona Lisa is yours.”

“Wow, That was amazing. Why did you quit playing for a year?” He asks.

“Scarpati died... I joined the symphony after I inherited the Mona Lisa at 18 and he came to see me play every performance until his death. He’d sit in the balcony like my proud grandfather.” I smiled at the memory.

“When he passed, I never realized it, I always thought I was driven by owning the Mona Lisa but I discovered I really just wanted Scarpati’s approval. I loved him way more than that priceless cello.” A stray tear rolled down my cheek. Just to be clear, I’ve cried a handful of times in my life. Not because I’m a bad ass but because the emotion physically hurts to me.

Julius notices and takes my face in his big hands. He wipes the tear with his thumb and says “I’m sorry Rosalie.”

The rain comes down hard soaking us and lightning strikes close by interrupting our intimate moment.

“We better get off this balcony. The storms here.”