Page 60 of Under Her Skin
Hero read his mind and smiled. “I know,” she whispered, “metoo.”
After she’d recovered from being stabbed, the doctors had told her that there should be no problem conceiving a child—but it had been a year and they’d almost given up hope. They’d gone back to using condoms and decided to wait a little longer, as Arturo focused on the business and Hero decided what she wanted to do with her life. She and her friend Fliss had opened another art store in Como, but Arturo knew, Hero neededmore.
They talked about it constantly. “What about going back to school? Getting your doctorate? The colleges in Milan aregood.”
Hero nodded. “That is an option, and it would work around a child … if I get pregnant, thatis.”
“It will happen. We just have to bepatient.”
So, Hero had applied to and been accepted to a college in Milan to study art restoration. Arturo had been delighted. “It’s not like Italy has a lack of resources or a lack of ancient frescos that needsaving.”
Indeed, in their own home,Villa Claudia, an old hotel they were refurbishing, they had found an old fresco on one of the walls. “It’s serendipity,” Arturo had said, and Hero had grinned, excited about thechallenge.
So,now, as they lay together, Arturo gazed down at her. They’d been through so much together but now, now was the time they had to enjoy their love, get excited about building a future together. But, as Arturo knew, they had decided to come to Chicago for another reason. To say goodbye properly to Tom and Beth, Hero’s deceased husband and child, for her to finally haveclosure.
“Are you thinking about Tom andBeth?”
Hero nodded. “And Tom’s parents. I’ve neglected them for too long. They were his parents and Beth’s grandparents. It just hurt too much to see them.” She touched his face. “I want them to meet you, not to hurt them, but to see that I have finally moved on and they need to, too. If I’m going to be in Italy most of the time, I think I have to say goodbye to themtoo.”
Arturo nodded but frowned a little. “It would be sad to cut them out of yourlife.”
“Honestly, I don’t know how they are going to react knowing I’m remarried.” Hero looked fretful, and Arturo gathered her tohim.
“Whatever happens,” he told her, “we have each other.” He felt her nod and smiled. “In the meantime, let’s just enjoyourselves.”
Deirdre Donati burstinto tears and threw her arms around her adopted daughter. William Donati, a gruff but distinguished-looking man, rolled his eyes and grinned, shaking Arturo’s hand. “You’d think she hadn’t seen her for adecade.”
Deirdre glared at her husband. “The last time I saw her, she was in the hospital with stab wounds, so you can hush yourmouth.”
Hero chuckled and hugged her dad. “Hey,Dad.”
“Hey, Munchkin. Listen, let’s all get inside; it’s freezing outhere.”
Hero shot a glance at Arturo, who grinned. The weather was atrocious, snowdrifts feet deep, and bone-rattlingly cold winds. Inside the Donati’s Kenosha home, however, it was welcoming and toasty warm. “I know you’re staying in the city,” Deirdre said, “But you will stay one night,yes?”
Hero checked with Arturo, who smiled at his mother-in-law. “Loveto.”
Deirdre giggled and flushed … sheadoredArturo and his devastating good looks. Hero teased her that she had a crush on him, and Deirdre didn’t denyit.
The Donatis’ two golden retrievers came bounding in them, greeting Hero and Arturo like old friends. One jumped up on Hero’s tiny frame, and Arturo stepped forward to save her, but she just laughed and hugged the dog around his middle. “It’s just Flea. He always did this, even from a puppy. He doesn’t get that he’s a giant now.” She kissed the dog’s head and was rewarded with a slobbery lick on the cheek. “Yuck,Flea.”
“Flea?” Arturo said, bemused, and shelaughed.
“Flea and Bag. Truestory.”
Arturo laughed too as the other dog, Bag, stuck her nose in hiscrotch.
“Bag, leave him alone, he’s mine.” Hero swatted the dog away from her husband with alaugh.
Deirdre had cooked a delicious,warming stew for their supper, with fresh-baked bread and a vat of creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. “You’re probably used to much more elegant food, Turo,” she said, a little shyly, but Arturo shook hishead.
“This is delicious, Deirdre, just perfect.” He had second helpings, much to herdelight.
Hero patted his belly. “Working on his pooch,” she teased, tickling his non-existent muffintop.
They chatted easily with her family over dinner, and afterward, Arturo and William braved the snow to take the dogs for awalk.
“Is this the time you give me the ‘Dad’ talk?” Arturo asked with a smile, and Willianlaughed.
