Page 61 of A Chance in a Million
‘That was from Diana.’ She still couldn’t be sure what was going through his mind but she decided to go for it anyway. ‘This is from me.’ And she leant towards him and kissed him on the lips. To her delight she felt his hand reach behind her and stroke her hair, pressing her tighter to him as he kissed her back. Her head started spinning and she came close to collapsing on top of him before an apologetic voice from behind shook her back to reality.
‘The doctor said only a few minutes, signora. Tomorrow you can come back again.’
Jane glanced round and gave a little nod of comprehension. Once the nurse had left the room, she returned her attention to David. Before she left, she really had to know.
‘David, about you and me…’
She wasn’t quite sure how to phrase this. She wanted to tell him how she felt about him, how she had been drawn ever closer to him and how she wanted to spend her whole life with him, but the words failed her. She was still searching for the right thing to say when he reached out and laid a single finger on her lips.
‘You and me is the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me, Jane. If you’re sure…’ – his other hand waved vaguely towards his scarred cheek – ‘…if you’re sure, I’m sure and I’ve never been so certain about anything in my life.’
She was almost overwhelmed by the wave of joy that surged through her and it was a real struggle to restrain herself and just kiss him softly once more and then stand up, staring lovingly back at him. Tears ran down her cheek as she managed to produce a reply. ‘I’m sure, David. Just like you, I can’t imagine anything better.’ Realising she really had to leave, she took a big breath and gave him a little wave. ‘Ciao, a domani.’
‘A domani, Jane.’
She set off back along the corridor to Veronica, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose on the way, but she could barely contain the bubbles of delight effervescing through her whole body. He felt the same way about her and he was going to be all right! Her life, so sad only a few months ago, was bright and joyful once more. Whether or not she had the healing hills to thank for this monumental shift in her life was unimportant. What counted was that it had happened. When she got back to Veronica, she had a big silly grin on her face and she had a feeling it wasn’t going to leave her for a long time. It did not pass unnoticed.
‘It’s good to see the old David back again, isn’t it? How did the reunion go? Was he happy to see you?’
Jane nodded. ‘I think he was every bit as happy to see me as I was to see him.’
‘And does he feel the same way about you as you do about him?’
‘He says he does. I really think he does.’
‘That’s wonderful.’ Veronica gave her a warm smile and an equally warm hug. ‘Now, I don’t know about you but I’m starving. There’s a littlepizzeriajust around the corner from here that was always very good. I haven’t had a good pizza for ages and I’ve not been there since before Peter’s death but I think I rather like the idea of going there now. Would you care to join me? Fancy a pizza?’
The restaurant was in a little piazza less than five minutes away from the hospital and they were given a table outside, looking out over a narrow canal that edged the square. After ordering their pizzas and a bottle of Prosecco, Veronica filled the glasses before holding hers up towards Jane.
‘Cheers, Jane, thanks for everything.’ They clinked their glasses together. ‘Welcome to the family.’
It was all Jane could do not to burst into tears, but she managed to hold it together and a big sip of the cold wine helped. She was still composing a response when Veronica’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
‘I thought you might be interested to hear that I finally started writing a new book this afternoon. Maybe you might like to hear the title I’ve come up with for it.’ She caught Jane’s eye and grinned mischievously. ‘It’s a story of two people, both with tragic backgrounds, who meet up and fall in love.’ Her grin expanded even more. ‘I need to know whatyouthink of it, even though as it says in all my books: “Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental”. I do so hope you approve.’
‘How could I not? I’m delighted for you that your muse has returned at long last.’ Jane smiled back at her. ‘So… what’s the title?’
‘In view of how lucky these two people are to find each other after so much heartache and pain, I’ve decided to call the bookA Chance in a Million.’
Epilogue
The Cooper family party to celebrateCarnevalethe following February was a glittering event. The whole of thepiano nobileof the palazzo was hung with bunting and the façade facing the Grand Canal was festooned with coloured lights. A regular string of launches and water taxis disgorged guests in evening finery at the jetty, and Alvise in his smartest uniform greeted them and ushered them into the house. Earlier that day, Jane had helped the others clear much of the furniture from the living room and a string quartet was now playing at the far end, while uniformed waiters and waitresses circulated, dispensing champagne and canapés. Candles strategically positioned around the room reflected in the glass pendants of the chandeliers and the whole place sparkled.
As Venetian carnival tradition dictated, the guests were all masked and dressed in their finest and most extravagant clothes. As Jane helped to greet the new arrivals she immediately recognised the Duchess di Pontegrande by her diamond tiara, even though her face was covered by a glittering silver mask trimmed with lace. Her husband’s sinister plague doctor mask with a grotesque hooked nose failed to disguise his mop of grey hair and Jane greeted them both by name. The duchess was momentarily confused.
‘Beatrice, is that you?’ Jane was also masked, although her fair hair had been curled up into a precarious swirl and was very different to Beatrice’s. She was about to reveal her identity when the duchess realised her mistake. ‘But it’s Jane, isn’t it? Of course it is. Veronica’s been telling me your wonderful news. How lovely to see you again and how simply stunning you look. That dress is sublime.’ She waved a hand towards her. ‘Do, please, spin around for me, just so I can admire you in all your glory, would you?’
Jane did as she was bidden, rather glad that her lacy mask covered her blushes, and was relieved to accomplish a three-sixty spin without toppling off her high heels. She felt the silk dress billow out around her and heard the duchess give a little sigh of admiration.
‘Simply gorgeous.’ She leant towards Jane and lowered her voice. ‘From Veronica’s collection, by any chance?’
Jane nodded and added in similarly guarded tones. ‘Of course, and I’m still trying to get my head around whose dress this used to be. Feel like hazarding a guess?’
There was a pause as the duchess did some thinking. ‘I have a feeling I might have seen Grace Kelly wearing something similar in one of her films. Am I right?’
Jane shook her head. ‘It’s a bit older than that. Believe it or not, this dress once belonged to Greta Garbo. I’m terrified I’ll mess it up.’
‘You’ll be fine, Jane. Just enjoy the experience. We all need to dress up from time to time and embrace our good fortune to be alive and well and living in this most wonderful of cities. From what Veronica tells me, you’re going to need to get used to it, and I’m so happy for you.’ The duchess glanced over at her husband. ‘And now we really must go and say hello to Veronica and the rest of the family but I look forward to talking to you later on. Come, Sandro, we must move on.’
