Chapter 5 - THE WEDDING-DAY PLAN|
Vanessa stared at the paper in Luca's hand.
For the first time that evening, she seemed to understand that a charming smile would not save her.
"Luca, please."
He didn't move.
"Answer the question."
"It's a misunderstanding."
"Then explain it."
She reached for the envelope.
"Let me see."
Luca held it away from her.
"Why is Westbridge expecting Benjamin on Saturday?"
Vanessa pressed her fingers against her temples.
"Because I thought it would be easier."
"Easier for whom?"
"For everyone."
I felt sick.
Saturday was only three days away.
Three days until the wedding.
Three days until Benjamin had apparently been scheduled to leave the home he loved.
Luca looked at the paper again.
"There's a driver listed."
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the doorway.
Luca noticed.
"Who arranged transportation?"
She swallowed.
"My assistant."
"What's his name?"
"Daniel."
"Daniel what?"
"Daniel Price."
Luca turned toward the security manager standing near the dining-room entrance.
"Frank, please find Mr. Price."
Frank nodded and immediately stepped into the hallway.
Vanessa let out a nervous laugh.
"You're behaving as though I've committed some terrible crime."
Luca looked at her.
"I'm trying to understand how my son became a travel arrangement I knew nothing about."
"He's not a travel arrangement."
"Then why does this document list a departure time?"
She said nothing.
Luca glanced down.
"Seven fifteen in the morning."
My heart sank.
The wedding ceremony was scheduled for five that afternoon.
Benjamin had been excited about carrying the rings.
He'd practiced walking down the aisle with a tiny velvet pillow.
He'd even asked Mrs. Carter whether he should smile or look serious.
Now I understood something that had confused me for days.
Two nights earlier, he'd asked whether his father would be angry if he forgot where to stand during the ceremony.
I told him nobody would be angry.
He'd smiled sadly.
"Maybe it won't matter."
At the time, I thought he was nervous.
Now I knew why.
He didn't believe he'd be there.
"Luca," Vanessa whispered, "I was planning to discuss everything with you after the wedding."
He stared at her.
"After?"
"Once things had settled down."
"You planned to send my son away before speaking to me?"
"I thought you'd agree eventually."
"Then you don't know me."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"You told me you wanted a fresh start."
Luca went still.
"I wanted to get married."
"Exactly."
"Not erase my child."
She began crying harder.
"I wanted us to have something that belonged only to us."
Luca looked toward the doorway where Benjamin had disappeared.
"Benjamin isn't an obstacle to our marriage."
Vanessa shook her head.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
She wiped her cheeks.
"Every time Caroline calls, you answer."
"She's his mother."
"Every time Benjamin needs something, everything stops."
"He's nine."
"And every room in this house is filled with memories of a life you had before me."
Luca's expression changed.
For several seconds, he studied her.
Then he spoke quietly.
"You knew I had a son when we met."
"I know."
"You knew Caroline would always be part of his life."
"I know."
"And you knew this was his home."
Vanessa looked away.
"I thought things would change."
Luca nodded slowly.
"Now I understand."
She looked hopeful.
"You do?"
"Yes."
He placed the Westbridge document on the table.
"You didn't want to marry a father."
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"You wanted to marry a man who could pretend he'd never had a family."
The words seemed to empty the air from the room.
I looked down.
Even though Vanessa had hurt Benjamin, there was something painful about watching a relationship collapse in front of strangers.
But Luca didn't raise his voice.
He didn't threaten her.
He simply stepped back.
"There's no wedding on Saturday."
Vanessa stared at him.
"What?"
"The wedding is canceled."
A woman near the fireplace gasped.
Vanessa shook her head.
"No."
Luca remained still.
"Luca, you can't mean that."
"I do."
"My family has flown in from New York."
"They can fly home."
"The flowers are paid for."
"Then donate them."
"The venue—"
"I'll handle it."
She grabbed his arm.
"You're throwing away our entire future over a child who misunderstood a few conversations."
Luca gently removed her hand.
"No."
His voice was firm.
"I'm ending an engagement because you made decisions about my son's life without his parents, frightened him into silence, and lied about his mother."
Vanessa began sobbing.
"You promised you would never abandon me."
Luca's expression softened slightly.
"I promised to be honest with you."
He paused.
"And I'm being honest now."
She looked around desperately.
"Arthur, please say something."
Judge Whitcomb folded his hands.
"Miss Bellini, I don't think there is anything I can say that would change the central problem."
She turned away.
A few guests quietly rose from their chairs.
Others stared into their glasses.
The engagement dinner had become something nobody would ever forget.
Then Benjamin appeared in the kitchen doorway.
He was holding a little chocolate cake.
Mrs. Carter stood beside him.
"Did I miss the singing?"
His hopeful voice broke the silence.
Luca immediately turned.
"No, buddy."
Benjamin smiled.
"Good."
Then he noticed Vanessa crying.
His smile disappeared.
"Did I do something wrong?"
I felt my chest tighten.
Vanessa opened her mouth.
But Luca reached his son first.
He crouched until they were eye to eye.
"No, Ben."
"Then why is everybody sad?"
Luca hesitated.
I could see him searching for words that would not make a nine-year-old feel responsible for an adult's choices.
Finally, he said, "Vanessa and I have decided not to get married."
Benjamin froze.
"Because of me?"
"No."
"But we were talking about my birthday."
Luca took his hands.
"Your birthday helped me understand something important."
The little boy stared at him.
"What?"
"That I need to listen better when you tell me something is wrong."
Benjamin swallowed.
"Are you mad at me?"
"Never for telling me the truth."
The boy looked down.
"Will Vanessa be lonely?"
Luca's eyes filled.
"That isn't something you have to fix, sweetheart."
Benjamin considered this.
Then whispered, "Okay."
Vanessa watched the exchange.
For a brief moment, something like regret crossed her face.
But then her expression hardened.
"You've ruined my life."
Luca stood.
"I'm sorry you're hurting."
She laughed bitterly.
"Sorry?"
"Yes."
He glanced toward Benjamin.
"But my decision is final."
Frank returned to the doorway.
"Mr. Moretti, Daniel Price is here."
Vanessa's head snapped up.
"No."
Everyone turned.
She took a step toward Frank.
"Daniel doesn't need to be involved."
Luca frowned.
"Why not?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"Because he only follows instructions."
"Whose?"
She didn't answer.
Frank hesitated.
"Sir, there's something else."
Luca turned.
"What?"
"Mr. Price says the Westbridge transportation arrangement isn't the only booking Miss Bellini made."
Vanessa's face drained of color.
Luca looked at him.
"What other booking?"
Frank glanced toward Benjamin.
Then lowered his voice.
"A hotel suite near the airport."
Luca frowned.
"For whom?"
Frank took a breath.
"For Caroline Moretti."
I stared at him.
Caroline hadn't mentioned a hotel.
She'd wanted to spend her son's birthday with him.
Nothing more.
Luca's voice hardened.
"Why would my ex-wife need a hotel suite?"
Frank looked uncomfortable.
"Because the reservation notes say she was supposed to meet Benjamin there before his transfer."
The room became silent.
Vanessa whispered, "Daniel misunderstood."
Luca didn't look away from Frank.
"Who wrote those instructions?"
Frank held out a printed email.
"Miss Bellini's office."
Luca took it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he stopped.
I watched his expression change.
"What is it?" Mrs. Carter asked.
Luca looked toward Vanessa.
"Caroline didn't know about the hotel."
Vanessa said nothing.
He turned the paper around.
At the bottom was a note.
If Mrs. Moretti refuses the arrangement, tell her that Mr. Moretti has already approved it.
Luca looked up.
"You were planning to use my name to make Caroline believe I'd sent our son away?"
Vanessa stepped backward.
May you like
Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"That's not the worst part."
