“You mean you’re in Ravello?” he bellowed.
“I was able to catch a military flight with some others guys and got here in the middle of the night. It was too late to disturb you and Maria. Unfortunately I fell by accident after letting myself in the farmhouse. So I loaded up on pain pills and have mostly slept. Would you believe I found an American woman named Annabelle sleeping in my bed?”
He’d managed to take his father’s breath away. “You must have frightened her out of her skin!”
“Such beautiful skin, Papa. Actually she frightened the devil out of me when she started to call the police. I understand she’s doing some modeling for a new ad campaign for you. To be honest, I can see why you picked her.”
In spite of all the shocking news, his father managed to chuckle. “She’s not as helpless as she looks.”
“It’s the nurse in her. When she found out I was your son and why I’d come home, she couldn’t do enough to make me comfortable in my own home. I have to admit I like all the attention she’s giving me. That’s because she’s crazy about you and upset that I took until tonight to call you. She’s so loyal to you, I’ve been in the doghouse.”
“That’s gratifying to hear, but you have to understand something, Lucca. She’s not like the other women who’ve come in and out of your life. This one is different.”
“I know. As soon as she found out I’d come home, she registered at the Casa Claudia.”
“You mean she has already moved out?”
“Not yet. She was planning to go in the morning, but I told her I hoped she would stay on. You know. Finders, keepers.”
“Lucca—”
“Seriously, I like having her around and she loves this place. Since you installed her here first, I’d like her to stay. You can trust me to treat her like a princess.”
“That’s exactly what she is,” his father grumbled. Shades of a lecture were in his voice. “Annabelle is a lady, just like your mother.”
He blinked. Rare praise coming from his father. “I’ve already found that out, Papa. For one thing she wears her divorce like a shroud.”
“She’s been hurt.”
“It’s time she got over it. He didn’t deserve her.”
“A men.”
“Since the rooming arrangements have worked out for her so far, I’ve asked her to stay on, Papa, but that’s up to her.”
“If she’s still with you, then it sounds like she’s agreeable.”
“I guess I’ll find out tomorrow, but I’ll be asleep most of the day. The medication I’m on for pain puts me out for hours at a time. She makes sure I take it.”
“It sounds like a nurse is exactly what you need. Under the circumstances I’m going to fly to Milan tomorrow and get some business out of the way.” Lucca was surprised, but relieved, too, since i
t gave him another day to recuperate from his fall. “When I get back Monday morning, we’ll spend the day together.”
“Good. I want to buy those properties and settle down to work.”
Again there was no outburst.
“Papa, remember that I’m not going anywhere.”
More silence. “Do you have any idea how many years I’ve been waiting to hear those words?”
The lump in Lucca’s throat grew a little larger. “Forgive me for waiting until I got home to call you?”
“What do you think?” he blurted in a voice gruff with emotion.
Tears smarted Lucca’s eyes. “Ti voglio bene, Papa.”
“I love you, too. Grazie a Dio you’re home in one piece.”