I felt the sternness in her tone, so I didn’t press it. “I understand.”
My father moved his hand from her back and grabbed her hand on the table. I didn’t fail to see the similarities between them and my relationship with Bones. My father was silent and stern just the way Bones was. They looked nothing alike, but their natures were identical. “I think one of the reasons I’ve fallen for Griffin is because he’s very similar to you. Aggressive, protective, domineering…stubborn as hell. You always wanted me to be with a strong man. You’ve been around him long enough to know he’s the strongest man out there.”
“But I’m afraid he’ll use that strength against you—all of us.” My father finally spoke after a long bout of silence. “I’m also looking for a man that’s loyal. Loyalty is the most important thing in this world.”
“He is loyal,” I said quietly. “Extremely. And he’s honest. He’ll tell you the truth—even if it hurts you to listen to it. He doesn’t care for bullshit, and he won’t change himself for anyone. That’s what I love about him. He’s not afraid to be who he is—all the good and the bad. You know exactly what you’re getting from him, so if he says he’s loyal, then he’s loyal.”
My father gave a slight nod. “I need more time to decide how I feel about him.”
“Me too,” Mama whispered.
It’d been almost six weeks since I’d introduced Bones to them for the first time. It seemed like a lifetime. I wanted to let my guard down, to finally be happy knowing I got to keep the man I loved. This torture never seemed to end. “How much more time?”
Instantly, the rage exploded out of my father. “Are you in a hurry?” my father snapped. “You’re lucky we’re even considering him. Don’t push it, Vanessa.”
“I wasn’t trying to sound pushy. I just want to know if you’ll ever come to a decision. Because it seems like you’re going to distrust him no matter how much time has passed.”
“You’re right,” Father said. “We probably will never really trust him.”
“But we may be able to accept him and give him a chance to earn our trust,” Mama said. “We’ll take it one day at a time. You don’t have to stay here in the process. Griffin has been a tremendous help at the winery, but proving how hard he can work isn’t what’s important to us. You’re what’s important to us.”
“No, we’ll stay a little longer,” I said. “He’s not working hard to prove how strong he is. He’s trying to prove how much he’ll sacrifice for a real chance, for the possibility of sharing a drink with you and having a real conversation. That’s what he’s trying to prove…that he’ll do anything for me.”
Eight
Bones
I sat in the truck and watched the sun move to the horizon. The heat was a lot more apparent in Tuscany than it was in the northern part of the country. I could feel it in the rays that pierced through the window. With my arm hanging out over the side, I watched the Tuscan fields move gently in the soft breeze.
I knew what they were discussing inside the house. Vanessa already knew about her mother, but the conversation would be painful to endure. At least the secret would be out, and they could move on with their lives—as a family.
An hour went by, and she finally came out and walked to the truck. She got inside and then immediately scooted over until she right up against me. She rested her head against my shoulder and linked her arm through mine. Without saying a single word, she expressed her sorrow.
I started the engine and drove home. I let her lie on me, use me as a crutch. I let her enjoy her silence without being interrogated. I was just grateful she didn’t hate me because of what my father did to her mother.
We reached the house then walked inside. Vanessa obviously didn’t seem interested in dinner because she went straight to bed. She pulled on one of my t-shirts then crawled under the sheets.
I undressed and joined her, skipping the shower because I knew she wanted me beside her. I lay next to her, staring at her grief-stricken face as my hand moved to her neck. I watched her with a look full of pity, a heart heavy with sadness. I’d never felt anything close to empathy, but this woman brought out sensitive qualities I didn’t think I was capable of feeling. When she was in pain, I was in pain. Just as deeply as we were connected when we made love, I was connected to her sadness when she was unhappy.
I could feel it all the way down to my bones.
She stared at me through her thick eyelashes, her green eyes vibrating with pain. Her breathing was slow and deep, pain in every breath she took. Her hand snaked to mine on her neck, and she held it there, feeling my pulse as I felt hers.