Page 34 of A Very Italian Wedding
‘Of course you’re not, you never are, but it doesn’t hurt to ask,’ Luna said impatiently. ‘You worry about everyone else all the time – someone needs to start worrying about you.’
Aurora drew in a long breath as she stared into the ball again. Rose tried to look into it too, but all she could see was a deepwrinkle on her forehead, the sparkles from the lights dangling around the olive grove and Isabella’s frown.
‘It is not going to be a smooth path to love. But nothing worth having is easy,’ Aurora said carefully.
‘Sunshine is easy,’ Isabella grumbled. ‘So is music and the brush of the wind on your cheeks. Love should be easy. It should endure. No one and nothing should replace or interfere with what was once good.’
Aurora patiently puffed out her cheeks. ‘Not everything should be easy. Aldo and I have fought our whole marriage, but he was the best thing that ever happened to me.’ Her smile expanded. ‘Still is.’
Rose gritted her teeth. Suggesting that love wasn’t easy was the opposite to what she usually preached. Love should be easy – it shouldn’t be filled with conflict or fights. That was a clear path to misery.
But it didn’t matter what the clairvoyant said. The crowd were happy; the buzz of voices surrounding them were excited. This was about Luna enjoying her moment. This wasn’t the time for Rose to spoil it.
‘Do you know who the person is?’ Luna whispered. ‘The one Rose will fall for?’
‘Whoever it is, she should avoid him,’ Isabella spluttered and was immediately shushed by the crowd.
‘I can guess who it might be,’ Francesca chuckled. ‘Opposites attract, you know…’
Rose shut her eyes and tried not to shake her head. She knew what was coming, knew it was just part of the theatre. A new happy ending for everyone to get excited about.
Aurora shrugged. ‘Sì,leonessahas met her future already.’ She looked up and fixed her steely gaze on Rose who immediately lowered her eyes to the table. It was obvious to herand probably to everyone else, that Aunt A was talking about Ben.
She’d been match-making them since they’d picked her up. Rose pondered whether she should be angry before settling for resigned. People enjoyed the idea of a shiny new romance – especially at an impending wedding. It’s why they were here, to enjoy the fantasy of the happily ever after. The idea of a relationship that would thrive without work.
‘Tell us more about Luna and Marco,’ someone in the crowd yelled. ‘Will their marriage be passionate?’ A roar of laughter erupted, and Luna began to cough, looking embarrassed.
‘Will there bebambini?’ Isabella asked out of the blue and everyone stopped laughing and fell silent. ‘Because that is the reason for marriage. Will there?’ she repeated louder this time.
‘I don’t know.’ Aurora frowned before leaning closer to her crystal ball. She searched in it for a long time before pulling a face. ‘It is unclear, all I can see is mist. Aldo says this can happen. We can’t always see. It is not a problem.’
‘Bambinosare important,’ Isabella growled. ‘When you are disappointed by your love, you have them to look after you.’ She gave Leonardo a sharp look.
‘I’m really not sure if that’s what—’ Luna began.
‘Why don’t you try to read her palm?’ Marco interrupted. ‘See if it has anything to say.’
Luna frowned at her fiancé but still offered Aurora her hand.
‘Sorry,cara,’ the clairvoyant said. ‘This is not – what do you say? –poof.’
‘Proof,’ Ben corrected.
Despite Aurora’s words, she took Luna’s hand and studied it. ‘The palm tells of potential – it is not a way to predict what might be in your future. I myself have three lines, but, after Aldo died—’ She shrugged, looking sad.
Luna pulled her hand away and frowned down at her palm. ‘I don’t know what I want but?—’
‘It’s just superstition,’ Rose whispered. ‘You can’t let it worry you; it’s obviously not real.’
‘I know.’ Luna sighed, but she still stared glumly at her hand. ‘I’m being silly. I just hoped?—’
‘Don’t let it spoil the evening,’ Marco said as he strode to stand beside Luna and squeezed her shoulder in a show of solidarity Rose was reluctantly grateful for.
‘Aldo says your marriage will be a long and happy one,’ Aurora chimed in, perhaps trying to lift the dark cloud that had settled over the crowd.
‘There are ways to help with these things,’ Marco’snonnasaid ominously, stepping closer.
‘Mama!’ Leonardo shook his head. ‘This is not the time,’ he said gruffly.
