Matteo’s phone rang. “Scusi,” he said, and he tapped his earpiece. He spoke softly into his headset. “Prego?”
Ariana gazed out the window. “It’s not like I could change my world overnight.”
“Of course not.” Ruby smiled. “We have a whole month.”
When Ariana started to protest, Ruby held up her hand. “If you tell me how terribly old you are again, or how your options are limited, I’ll have Matteo turn this car around, and I’ll send you back to the States. Time is relative. We might have a day, a year, or decades left. The beauty of not knowing means anything is open to us—if we have courage and creativity. Live and do what you want right now, at this very moment in time. Because it will never, ever come again.” She choked a little on her last words as she thought of Niccolò.
Ruby pulled a handkerchief from her purse. Even as she had cherished her time with Niccolò, she hadn’t dreamed it would prove so fleeting. The tragedy of their union shaded her outlook on love for the rest of her life. No one had ever compared with Niccolò.
Instantly, Ariana looked stricken. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She reached out to clasp her aunt’s hand. “Aunt Ruby, are you feeling well?”
Ruby dabbed the corners of her eyes, studiously ignoring her question. “It hurts me when you sound so defeated.” If only she could make Ariana understand. Gazing into Ariana’s bright green eyes, she spoke again, more forcefully this time. “Life can change in a moment. You can change it. You must grasp the tremendous power your decisions have in your life.” Realizing the tight grip she had on Ariana’s hand, she released it.
When Ruby had left Italy so many years ago, she had been sure she would see the man she loved again. Ever since then, she’d thought of everything she wished she’d said. If only she could have seen Niccolò just once more. How different her life would have been. Everyone’s life, for that matter.
In ways known only to her, Ruby had made a mess of her life. Her most fervent desire was to make sure Ariana didn’t. She let out a soft sigh. So many important life decisions were flung at people when they were young and inexperienced—and far too trusting. At least Ariana wasn’t as young as Ruby had been.
Ruby was determined to set things right now.
As the countryside slipped past, Ruby reached out to Ariana. “I’m proud of your decision about Phillip.”
“I might not like to hear it, but I can always count on you to tell me the truth.” Ariana shook her head. “Imagine what Mom is going to say.”
“You still haven’t spoken to her?”
Ariana shook her head. “I wasn’t in the mood to hear her gloat or remind me how the trip would’ve been a waste of her time.”
“It’s never a waste of time to support those we love when they need us,” Ruby said. Even when they don’t realize it, she thought.
They grew quiet, taking in the views. As they climbed into lush, verdant hills, Ruby waited for the first view of the lake.
“There it is,” Ruby cried. “Matteo, please pull over when you can. I want Ariana to take this all in.”
“Si, Signora.”
A few moments later, Matteo pulled off the road, and Ruby and Ariana stepped from the car.
“Here she is,” Ruby said, filling her lungs with fresh air and linking arms with Ariana. “Just imagine…for centuries this view and this region have captured the hearts of artists, writers, and musicians.”
From their position high above the lake, the view was breathtaking. Deep, sapphire-blue water lapped the hillside footings. Lush green mountains soared behind sherbet-colored villages and stately villas tucked against the shoreline. Boats skimmed across the surface, parting the water and leaving streamers in their wake.
Ruby watched Ariana’s reaction.
Her niece pressed her hand to her chest and sighed. “Now I understand why you wanted me to come here. Photos can’t capture all of this.”
Ariana didn’t really understand yet, but in time she would. Ruby opened her arms to the broad vista as if to bring it all into her heart. There were few afflictions worse than broken hearts that had never healed.
If anything could heal her, she would find it here.
For now, Ruby smiled to herself in anticipation. She couldn’t wait to tell Ariana about her surprise.
Chapter 5
Rome, 1952
* * *
“Places, everyone,” an assistant director called out, and Ruby hurried to her designated spot. Hundreds of people had gathered around the avenue in Rome, where the filming of a brief café scene would take place. Despite the pervasive heat, happy chatter and laughter floated across the crowd.
Ruby sat at a table outside the café, surreptitiously dabbing perspiration from her upper lip. For the actors and crew from California, the summer heat in Rome was stifling, but having grown up in Texas, she was more acclimated.
Niccolò slid into the chair across from her. “Buongiorno.”
Ruby suppressed a laugh. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the other table?”
“I switched.” He took her hand. “I don’t trust that Vespa scooter. I need to protect you.”
“They’ve choreographed that part. We’ll be fine.”
“No, no, no, no.” He shook his head, then tapped his temple. “You see, I know things.”
“Excuse me?” Ruby extricated her hand from his. “That’s spooky. Don’t kid with me.”
He dropped his voice to whisper. “No, really. I know I can trust you. Sometimes, before things happen, you know?”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, stop. Now you’re acting creepy. The good Lord will strike you down for saying that.” She shrugged and flipped the scarf that David, the wardrobe assistant, had tied around her neck.
Niccolò’s eyebrows drew up like her old hound dog’s when she threatened to put him outside on a rainy night. He looked genuinely hurt. “You’re teasing me now,” she said. “Or you’re a better actor than I thought.”
“I’m an excellent actor. But I’m not acting.” He reached for her hand again.
The couple stationed at the table next to them frowned at them. “Shh. Mr. Wyler is watching you. We’re about to begin.”
“Oh, swell.” Ruby flicked his hand away. “Don’t get me in trouble. I need this job.” The director, William Wyler, liked people who were prompt and prepared, like Audrey Hepburn, who was always on time and knew her lines. Ruby was trying to emulate her.
Niccolò pulled his hand back, but he continued to stare at her. A smile touched his lips, and his eyes were as blue and bright as the sky.
Ruby couldn’t look at him for fear her heart would burst through the thin cotton shift she wore.
Since the evening Niccolò had taken her to see Aida, they’d spent most of their free time together. On set, it was often a hurry-up-and-wait proposition, so they’d had a lot of time to talk and play cards.
Many of the cast passed the time playing gin rummy, including Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, and her fiancée James. They often gathered around the outdoor, marble-topped tables at Caffè Greco on the Via Condotti. Crowds collected just to watch them. And Audrey clearly loved her fans. She joked with them, signed autographs, and even turned cartwheels for fun.