Page 2 of Little Dark Deeds
CHAPTER 2
Twenty-nine years afterI first laid eyes on Giovanni Luciana on a sunny, clear college day had brought us to this moment—our wedding day.When we first met, I was a young, impressionable college student who’d just turned eighteen.And while we became close friends during those years, when I learned he’d become engaged to Valentina Violeta Romana, I was gutted, like the light within my soul had been snuffed out.
I realized something that day: I didn’t justlikeGiovanni, I loved him.
But our courtship would have to wait.
Many years later, after Giovanni had married Valentina, his sister, Daniela, admitted he didn’t love his wife, not in the way she deserved, and the feeling was mutual.The marriage hadn’t been a match between two people in love.It had been an arrangement made by their fathers, a way to bring two powerful families together.And though Giovanni had protested the marriage, in the end, he still went through with it.
Nonetheless, I went on to marry Liam, a man I loved, though it had always felt like something was missing between us.Never a believer in the notion of soul mates, or finding my “one true love,” marrying Liam seemed right at the time, until it wasn’t.
Decades later, after Liam and I divorced, I found myself reminiscing one night about my college years and how precious time was, how fleeting.Up to that point, I hadn’t lived my best life, not by a long shot.A familiar face came to mind, and I wondered where Giovanni was, what he was doing, and if he ever thought of me.
As my curiosity grew, I located a book he’d given me all those years ago,Sense and Sensibility.Inside, he’d inscribed a message, and below it, a phone number.I figured the number had changed after all these years but decided to take a leap of faith, a decision that would change our lives forever.
It turned out he was single, and when I admitted the same, he invited me to join him for dinner at his New York City restaurant, Osteria dei Mascalzoni, or “Tavern of the Scoundrels.”
It was there our love story began.
Now, almost five years later, love felt a lot different in middle age than it had in my younger years.The young, naïve Georgiana who hadn’t believed in soul mates was far more pliant and open-minded.After all, I’d found mine.
I was sitting in front of the mirror, admiring my spaghetti-strap, floor-length, ivory-colored bridal gown.With its thousands of hand-beaded pieces, it looked like something straight out of a Gatsby novel.The bias-cut sheath design had been cut on a diagonal, a stylistic technique causing the fabric to drape, creating a slinky silhouette.It was the most gorgeous gown I’d ever worn, and I couldn’t wait for him to see it.
Down the hallway I heard brisk footsteps moving in my direction, followed by, “Yoo-hoo, pardon me.Mother of the bride coming through.”
She burst into the room, her curly, bob-style hair bouncing as she scampered my way.She looked me up and down and lifted a finger, swishing it left to right, head shaking.“For goodness’ sake, dear.Let’s get a move on.We’ve less than ten minutes before it’s time to walk down the aisle.Your shoes aren’t on, your hair ...well, is in desperate need of a touchup, and your makeup needs a bit of attention too.”
I turned, glancing in the mirror, unsure of what all the fuss was about.
She clapped her hands together.“Come on.Hop to it!”
I reached out, taking her hand in mine.“Breathe, Mom.We’ll make it on time.Don’t worry.”
“Don’tworry?All I ever do is worry.It’s a mother’s job.”
She waved me off and turned, shuffling back to the hallway and calling for Tiffany, my childhood friend.
Hands on hips, my mother muttered a frustrated, “Where on earth is she?She was supposed to be here ages ago to help you get ready.What kind of friend leaves someone on red on their wedding day?”
I tried to stifle a laugh and failed.“Leaves someone on red?”
“It’s what all the cool kids say nowadays.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Of course.Your niece says it all the time.”
My niece was only twelve, which felt a little young for her to be fluent in modern slang.
