Page 3 of Rome for the Holidays
Vincenzo looked at his father, “I will do my best. But,”
“But what Vin?”
Vincenzo dropped his gaze, “Do I have to do everything you want?”
His father raised his eyebrows, “What do you mean?”
Vincenzo shrugged, “I wanted to choose something for myself. Can’t I?”
His father asked him, “What do you want to choose?”
“My own bride.”
His father’s eyes went wide again, “The choice should be made that makes our family stronger.”
Vincenzo looked down again, “I know. But I see what you and mama have, and I want that too.”
His father put his hands on his shoulders, “Vin, mama and I were matched long before this, and it was not always easy. What we have took work. And we were not ready to do what needed to be done at first. It almost broke us. But when Lucia had you, we chose to be better for the three of you. Our marriage works because we make it work.”
Vincenzo nodded, “So I don’t get a choice?”
His father slowly shook his head, “As of right now, you are promised to a girl from another family. The Agosti’s daughter is your same age.”
Vincenzo said nothing, and his father let out a small breath, “We can always see if that’s what you want when you are older.”
Vincenzo nodded, turning away from his father, who held his shoulder still, “We do not want you unhappy Vin. It is just our world. This is how it works. We marry to create stronger family ties. We cannot be free to make our own choices when we live in this world. I worked hard to be the head of this family, but I am not unreasonable son. I truly am not, but you also have to know that life is not always what you want it to be. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
Vincenzo nodded and went up to his room, shutting the door behind him and wishing that life were different, but wishes were just wishes.
He knew life was set for him, and he had to realize that.
He looked over at the letter he had written and then looked away. He knew that he would let go of his dreams. For now.
A few weeks later
Vincenzo was sitting in class next to Giovanni, reading his book while waiting for class to start.
The teacher walked in, “Children, take your seats. We got our responses from the letters you wrote.”
She handed out the letters to each person to whom they were addressed.
Giovanni got one from a young boy named Garrett.
His was from a girl named Harper.
He pulled it open, and it said,
Hello Vincenzo,
I like your name a lot. Vincenzo. It seems so dignified. I’m Harper. I am nine, but I will turn ten in a few weeks. I don’t have siblings; it’s just my mom and me. I do have a dog; his name is Saul. He is a black lab. He sleeps with me every night. Especially if my mom has a friend over. He keeps me safe from them. I like school. It’s my favorite time of day. I like learning and try to spend as much time in the library as possible. If I can be in the library, instead of at home, I will be. Reading makes me happy. Do you like to read? Do you play any sports? I’m not coordinated enough to play. I fall when I try to run. I don’t mean to, but sometimes my feet don’t catch up to my body. Well, it was nice to hear from you. Your life sounds so cool. I bet Italy is beautiful. I have always wanted to see other places, but I only get to see them in books. Maybe one day. I hope to hear back from you again. Though I doubt it. My teacher said it was a one-time assignment. Well, thank you for writing to me. And telling me about your life. It does sound cool.
Harper Payne
While Vincenzo read the letter, it made him grin like a lunatic.
Harper was funny, and she was quirky. He liked her.
He would write her back, with or without having it be an assignment.
