“I have something to say to you both,” he began, “but especially to Arie.” He was scowling again, a demeanor which was beginning to seem more like a habit than anything else. After all, what reason did he have to scowl? He was the one leading the discussion. It must be the legacy of all those business negotiations. Being tough and looking tough probably came with the territory.
“Arie,” Vittorio said, drawing her attention away from her musings and back to him, “I owe you an apology.”
That got her attention. In fact, her brows flew up and her jaw slackened, she was so surprised. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said, almost sounding annoyed. “I’m apologizing to you. You came to my home and instead of showing you courtesy I was rude and disrespectful. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m sorry.”
Arie’s eyes widened. This was getting so strange it was unreal. After the way Vittorio had slammed her the day before, an apology was the last thing she’d expected.
“We’re sorry,” Lily corrected him. “We both are. I’m so ashamed of the way we acted. If I could do it all again…” Her voice trailed off. Maybe it was because she saw the look of disbelief on Arie’s face.
Because, as much as they were saying the words, it was too good to be true. What? They’d slept on it and woken up one hundred and eighty degrees from where they’d been the day before? Whatever they were selling, Arie was not buying.
“I appreciate the apology,” Rome said and it was ironic when, standing at the other side of the room, he adopted the same stance as his father, hands behind his back. But Rome’s posture was unyielding. Feet wide apart, he stood bold and tall like he was ready to take on both his parents if they thought they could come into his territory and wreak havoc. “It’s long overdue. What you put Arie through, it should never have happened in the first place. Can you imagine how much you hurt her?”
Vittorio drew in a long breath then let it out slowly. Then he nodded. “Yes, son, I know the things I said were hurtful. I am truly sorry.”
Vittorio was apologizing and so was Lily but as far as Arie was concerned it was not enough. What she really wanted was to get to the bottom of this change of heart. Or maybe it wasn’t so much a change of heart as a change of words.
“So why these apologies all of a sudden?” she asked, not bothering to play coy. “I’m still the same Arie I was yesterday. What’s changed?”
The directness of her questions seemed to throw them off balance because it made Lily’s gaze flash over to Vittorio and he looked back at his wife, for once seeming lost for words. Then his face sagged as he looked at Rome.
“It was your brothers,” he said, his voice tight, ashamed. “They called Papa and told him what happened. He came over.”
Rome raised an eyebrow. “They called Nonno?”
Vittorio nodded. “Yes, and you know what a vicious old man my father can be. He thinks he can intimidate anyone, even me, his own son.”
Arie almost laughed but she bit down on her lip, holding the amusement in. It seemed that Vittorio had met his match. Grandfather Milano must be worse than he was in the bully department.
“He really lit into me,” Vittorio continued, “reminding me how Lily’s parents hadn’t liked the idea of us getting married but we went ahead anyway.” Vittorio drew in his breath and then let it out on a sigh. “They thought I was too much of a hothead and too arrogant but Lily and I were in love and there was nothing that could keep us apart.”
Vittorio looked over at Arie, his face contrite. “I’ve been the worst possible hypocrite. As Papa said, I should mind my own business and let you two young people make your own decisions. I’m very sorry, Arie. Can you ever forgive me?”
Caught off guard by his question Arie didn’t say anything but then, with all eyes on her as her silence stretched into seconds, she opened her mouth to say something, anything that would take the attention off her. “Why…yes, of course,” she stammered. “I forgive you. Don’t worry about it.” And when his face relaxed into a smile she let out a surreptitious sigh of relief. As much as she wasn’t one hundred percent sure she meant it, her answer seemed to satisfy him.
It more than satisfied Lily too because, to Arie’s surprise, the woman walked over and drew her into her arms in a fierce hug. “Thank you,” she whispered as she pressed Arie to her. When she stepped back she looked so relieved that Arie knew she’d done the right thing. She didn’t know if she would ever accept them wholeheartedly but despite the hurt she’d made the first step and she was glad.
Vittorio cleared his throat, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Shows of emotion either made him uneasy or embarrassed, that much was obvious. When he spoke again his voice sounded pseudo-cheerful. “Arie, Rome, to show you we mean what we say we’ve gone ahead and arranged a family dinner for tomorrow. Everyone will be there. You’ll get a chance to meet the entire family, Arie.”
She didn’t know if she liked the sound of that. After all she’d been through she would rather just hang out at the hotel with Rome. But, reluctant to dampen Vittorio’s spirit, she gave him a brave smile and nodded. “I’ll come,” she said, “as long as I get to meet your father.”
Vittorio probably guessed why she’d said that but he didn’t back down. “Deal,” he said, with a broad smile. “We’ll see you both at three.”
Long after Lily and Vittorio left, Arie sat in the sofa, curled up against Rome’s shoulder. Still in shock, her thoughts raced ahead to the family gathering planned for the next day. His parents had apologized but it had seemed too easy, even too good to be true.
Would she meet more rejection when she met the rest of Rome’s family or would they give her fake smiles while hating her the whole time? No matter how she tried she could not stop the thoughts from swirling wildly, creating a whirlwind of confusion in her mind.
Needless to say, the Milanos had messed up yet another of her evenings in Italy. With all the trepidation she was feeling there was no way she would be making love tonight.
CHAPTER TEN
"Mama mia, she is bella. Come here and give Nonno a hug.” The tall, stately man had a huge grin on his face as he held his arms wide and there was nothing Arie could do but go to him. He immediately caught her in a bear hug that threatened to snap her in two.