Miracle for the Girl Next Door (16 page)

“Mine overlooks the main street.”

“I know your sponsor has tapes, but it’s sad you never got to stand on your own balcony and see yourself driving.”

He broke into that male laughter she loved so much. “You’re priceless, you know that? Wait till I tell the guys.”

“At least you never crashed there.”

“How do you know that?” His glance lingered on her profile.

“Bianca and I watched your races and saw every crash you were in.” Each time she had almost died from fear.

“I didn’t realize that,” came the solemn admission. He reached out and grasped her hand to kiss it before letting it go again.

“It’s a miracle you’re still alive.”

“Dr. Rimbaud told me the same thing every time he patched me back together.”

She took a shaky breath. “Thank you for taking me on this trip.”

“I’ve been looking forward to it, too,
piccola
.”

“Even if there are other things you need to be doing?”

“Like what?” he demanded. “I’m your husband. This is where I need to be.”

“I’m the most pampered wife I know.” She was still so shaken by his plan to give her a kidney, she couldn’t keep the tears out of her voice. “I loved this morning’s balloon ride. How lucky was I to have the whole world at my feet?”

“I won’t forget it either.”

Her emotions were all over the place. “Tell me how it went with your father earlier, or didn’t you get to see him?”

He let out a deep sigh. “He was there. Thanks to you, this morning we talked like we’ve never talked in our lives.”

It was clear something monumental had happened. Without forethought she clutched his hard-muscled arm for a moment. “That’s good.”

“You have no idea.”

Clara turned so she could watch him while he drove. She would never grow tired of looking at him. In profile or otherwise, his masculine beauty was stunning. “I want to hear all about it. Don’t leave anything out.”

Late afternoon of the following day, Valentino left his sponsor’s office and walked out to the practice track. It surprised him the sun felt this hot. He was glad for it since he knew Clara welcomed the warmth.

He spotted half a dozen racers on his team surrounding his green-eyed wife seated in the middle of the bleachers. For the occasion she’d worn a wispy, periwinkle-colored blouse and white wraparound skirt with matching Italian sandals. Every color suited her.

Clara’s knockout looks were only superseded by a feminine charm that came from someone grateful for life and interested in everyone. She projected that rare selflessness, guaranteed to melt the most cynical heart.

“So, Signora Casali?” He loved calling her that. It was a supreme moment for him to introduce her as his wife. When all this was a new experience for her, he was proud of her and the way she handled herself. “Are the guys giving you a hard time?”

“Oh, no.” She flashed him one of her mysterious smiles.
“They’ve been entertaining me with unabridged stories about you.” Jocular laughter ensued.

Roger, a three-time world Formula 1 champion, grinned at him, giving him the thumbs-up sign. “Your
belle épouse
has so many statistics in her head, she could write her own book on you. I’m jealous,
mon ami
. You have found yourself a
trésor
.”

Valentino agreed with him and nodded before looking around. Most of the journalists who’d come to the track for a photo shoot had gone, but there were still a few left who’d been waiting to get last-minute pictures of him and Clara. They never gave up. Today had been his swan song.

Normally he would have hated the invasion of privacy, but having his wife with him made all the difference. He no longer felt defensive or uptight. In fact the cameramen scarcely impinged on his consciousness.

Pleased that she seemed to be taking it in her stride, he climbed the bleachers two at a time to hunker down behind her and put his arms around her neck. He kissed her tender nape where she smelled of flowers from her lotion. “What do you say we leave and enjoy dinner on the water?”

He felt the little tremor that ran through her body before she whispered, “I’d love it.”

A few more pictures while he helped her off the bleachers and they headed for his car. Once inside, he drove them down the zigzag streets of Monaco City to the yacht harbor. Hand in hand they strolled toward the Quai des Savants. This was a local paparazzi hangout, but tonight he didn’t care. “I thought you’d enjoy eating at a modern Parisian-style bistro.”

The reflected lights off the water from the yachts created an illusion that her eyes were dancing. After they were seated, she smiled at him. “I don’t speak French. You order for us.”

“They serve a delicious veal escalope with mushroom sauce. I like a Madeira wine with it.”

“It all sounds delicious, but will you tell them to leave the sauce off mine in case there’s some dairy in it?”

He’d already anticipated doing it. After the waiter left with their order, Valentino got to his feet. “Let’s dance.”

“I haven’t done it for a long time.”

Once he’d pulled her from the chair, he drew her into his arms. “That excuse might have worked years ago, but you’re my wife now. I don’t care if you can’t.” He smiled down at her. “We’ll just stand here and hold each other.”

“Tino—”

He loved it when she blushed. While he was enjoying the moment, and her, and the night, she blew him away with some fantastic moves. They got lost in the music. He couldn’t remember ever having this much fun dancing or anything else.

“Don’t look now, but our dinner’s waiting for us,” she reminded him.

With reluctance, he guided her back to their table. “Next time, don’t be so modest. You’re a sensational dancer.”

“Bianca and I used to practice.”

Unable to resist, he pressed a kiss to her unsuspecting lips before seating her.

It didn’t take long before she moaned. “I can’t eat another bite.”

“No dessert?”

She shook her head. “But don’t let me stop you.”

He had no intention of allowing that to happen, but the time wasn’t yet…

As soon as they returned to the car, he took her past the Grimaldi Palace. At her request, he drove them around the Grand Prix racing circuit. She expressed a desire to visit the casino. He told her they’d do more sightseeing tomorrow. Though her energy seemed limitless, Valentino knew she had to be exhausted and finally pulled into the back of his empire-style villa for the night.

She hurried to their bedroom and got ready for bed fast.
“With you having to be up for my treatment tonight, we shouldn’t have stayed out so late, Tino.”

“I wanted to. We’ll both sleep in tomorrow.”

True to what she’d told him on their wedding night, she fell asleep within thirty seconds of her head touching the pillow. It worried him she’d overextended herself. He’d be more careful with her from now on. Unfortunately when she’d refused to go to Rome with him he’d been forced to pull out all the stops to get their marriage back on the right track.

For the last eight hours he’d purposely avoided any talk of kidney donors or her illness. His strategy had paid off. Tonight Clara had acted more relaxed and confident with him than he’d ever seen her.

Little by little they were settling into their marriage. From the moment he’d approached her parents, it had shocked him how right it had felt.

Once Valentino got her treatment started for the night, he pulled out his laptop. A dozen e-mails from Violetta Rapidita had been sent and needed replies. Isabella had written him, too. He opened it, wondering if this was bad news about their father.

Fratello mio, I didn’t know how long you’d be in Monaco. In case you decided to stay there longer with Clara, I thought I’d better tell you what’s happening. I don’t want you to come back to Monta Correnti and be surprised in case you should run into Lizzie or Aunt Lisa and hear something you weren’t aware of.

First off you need to know Lizzie and I have made up because we absolutely hate this war between Papa and Aunt Lisa. More than anything Papa wants the family to be reunited and we’re in agreement.

Since the two of you talked the other day, he said he’s done with secrets. After regretting that he kept quiet
about the twins, he’s told the cousins you’re not his birth son, but he loves you as if you were. He doesn’t want anyone hurting you later on.

Valentino rubbed a hand over his face.

Secondly, I know you’re upset with me for getting in contact with the twins, but how can our family ever come together if things remain as they are? As you know, Lizzie and Jack are planning a June wedding, so she has sent invitations to Angelo and Alessandro.

The amazing twins were coming?

She’s hoping everyone will show up. I do, too. Please don’t be angry with me about this. Life’s too short, don’t you think?

Talk to you when you get back.

Love, Izzy

The penultimate line gave him pause because he found he couldn’t disagree with his sister. Life
was
too short where Clara was concerned. Compared to doing everything to keep her alive, all else paled in significance, even his family’s problems.

He stared into space. Before he answered his sister and told her his plans, he needed to send an e-mail to Dr. Arno, who deserved an explanation. The situation was bordering on desperate.

A
WEEK
later Clara drove to the farm early to spend the day with her family. She’d left her husband sleeping.

Since the morning she’d told Valentino she wouldn’t let him give her a kidney, she’d noticed an alarming change in their relationship. It seemed that her refusal had killed his desire for the little amount of intimacy they’d shared.

On the surface he was the model husband and still affectionate with her, but in bed he didn’t even try to hold her anymore. His behavior went beyond his fear that he might make her pregnant. They could have worked around that. To her sorrow he didn’t leave himself open to discussion of their situation. For that matter he avoided any talk of her medical condition.

Since their return from Monaco, she’d had one conversation with Dr. Arno. He’d been understanding of the reasons she couldn’t let Valentino be a donor, and he’d assured her everything was being done to find her one. Clara was trying to stay positive and stopped by the clinic for routine blood checks.

Because of Valentino’s devoted service to her, he’d made it possible for her to lead what seemed like a normal life, but she was terrified he wasn’t getting anything out of it. Not even a saint could go on like this much longer. Neither could she…

It all came down to one reality. Her husband was the source
of her joy and her pain, and this dichotomy of emotions was tearing her apart.

“I think you need to confront him,” Bianca advised her some time later while she let Clara bathe Paolito. Her poor sister was still suffering horrible morning sickness. Until the advent of her nightly dialysis, Clara had lived with nausea and wouldn’t wish it on her worst enemy.

She splashed water on the baby, who could sit up in the water if she propped him. “Any suggestions on how to do it?”

“Yes. When you drive back to town, buy yourself something sexy from that little lingerie shop on the Via Romana. Something black and filmy. You’re gorgeous in black. Tomorrow morning fix your hair different and put on a different perfume. Be lying there next to him when he wakes up. Tell him it’s time he had a treatment from you, then do what comes naturally.”

Clara swallowed hard. “Then he’ll know.”

“You mean that you’re madly in love with him?”

As she nodded their mother came in the bathroom. “Your cell phone rang while I was in the kitchen, Clara. I’ll take over here with Paolito while you find out if it was important. If it’s Valentino, tell him to come for dinner. I’m making his favorite cannelloni.”

Clara and her sister shared a secret smile. “I’ll tell him,” she assured her mamma before hurrying downstairs. Just the thought that it might be her husband caused her heart to thud in anticipation.

She reached for her purse lying on the table and pulled out her phone to check the caller ID. It threw her off balance to discover Dr. Arno had phoned. He’d left a voice message.

“
Clara
?
You need to come to the hospital as fast as you can
.
A kidney is suddenly available
.
Don’t eat or drink anything
.
The nursing staff will alert me as soon as you’ve checked in and we’ll go from there
.”

With hands trembling, she phoned Valentino. Pick up, Tino. Please pick up!

“
Piccola
?” he answered on the third ring. “Are you all right?” The concern in his voice was always there. How she loved him!

“Yes! Where are you?” she blurted.

“Getting ready to walk down to the restaurant. Why?”

“I’m coming for you. We have to drive to Rome immediately. I’ve got a donor!”

After a pregnant pause, “
Grazie a Dio
.” His voice throbbed. “I’ll pack a bag for you and meet you below the gate. Whatever you do, don’t have an accident on the way. My heart couldn’t handle it.”

Neither could hers. “I won’t.” Her voice shook. After she hung up, she shouted, “Mamma?”

“I’m right behind you and heard everything. Someone must have died, making it possible for my precious Clara to live.” She wept. “Go,
bambina
! Every second counts! Your father and I will come to the hospital as soon as we can.”

Whoever it was had to have signed a donor card while they were still living. As far as Clara was concerned, they were part angel.

Six hours later one of the nurses walked in Clara’s hospital room. “They’re ready for you, Signora Casali. You have two minutes before they come with the gurney to wheel you to the OR.”

Clara nodded, overcome by the outpouring of love from her family. All the adults were here, gathered around her bed. Silvio hadn’t left her side since his arrival with Maria. For once he didn’t show his resentment of Valentino, which was a blessing in itself.

After her father kissed her one last time, her gaze finally fastened on her dashing husband, whose brown eyes were suspiciously bright.

He squeezed her hand. “This is it, my brave Clarissima.”

“Oh, Tino—”

“I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“I know that,” she whispered in a tremulous voice.

“When you wake up, it will be to a new life.” He lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss that felt more like a benediction than husbandly.

A new fear tore at her heart as she was wheeled out of the room.

The minute Clara was gone, Valentino turned to her family. “Dr. Arno says none of us can expect to see or talk to her until at least ten or eleven o’clock tonight. Do whatever you want until then. I’ll be here the whole time and plan to catch up on some sleep while I wait.”

Clara’s mother hugged him. “You do that. No one deserves it more. We will see you tonight.”

Once they’d all left the floor, he stepped across the hall to another room prepared for him where he quickly removed his clothes and put on a hospital gown. After he got in bed, a team of medical staff came in to prep him. Soon he was being wheeled out the door and down the hall to the OR.

Throughout his racing career he’d faced surgery several times for a bone to be set, but this was different. He loved the idea that one of his kidneys would be planted inside Clara. They’d had a connection since childhood. With this transplant, that connection would be indelible. Personal. Life-giving. Eternal. Belonging only to the two of them.

One day soon he hoped to plant something else inside her enticing body that would result in bringing both of them ineffable joy.

Clara kept waking up. Each time she did, she became more aware of her surroundings. Where was Valentino?

The next time she opened her eyes, she realized she was
back in a different room with a new nurse who was taking her vital signs.

“It’s good to see you awake, Signora Casali.”

“What time is it?”

“Midnight. You’re in the transplant unit.”

“I can’t believe nine hours have passed.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Strange.”

“Strange is good.”

“Where’s my husband?”

“In time you’ll be able to see everyone. Relax right now. Let the drugs do their job.”

Between the anesthetic and other drugs being fed through the IV, she was feeling no pain, but the sight of the big machine next to her bed alarmed her.

“Did something go wrong with the transplant?”

The middle-aged woman smiled. “Don’t you remember Dr. Arno telling you it went perfectly?”

“He did? Then why is the dialysis machine here?”

“In case your new kidney doesn’t function right away. You probably don’t remember him explaining that to you either.” She gave Clara some pills to swallow. “Just take a few small sips.”

“The water tastes good.”

“Tomorrow you’ll be able to drink liquids. Depending on how you’re feeling, you’ll probably be able to eat a little bit, too. Do you have any questions for me?”

“No, but I would like to see my husband.”

“Tell you what. I’ll go back to the desk and see how soon a visit is allowed.”

“Thank you.”

Before long she heard a familiar voice say her name. She opened her eyes. “Hi, Dr. Arno. The nurse told me everything went well.”

A broad smile lit up his face. “It certainly did. You’re a very lucky woman.”

She nodded. “There are so many people I need to thank. You most of all.”

“Not most of all. Without a donor, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

“I know.”

“Before I let you talk to your husband, would you like to meet your donor?”

“Meet?” she cried softly. “But Mamma and I thought someone must have…died.”

“No. In your case this altruistic donor is very much alive and came through the surgery beautifully, too. He wanted to see the person who received his kidney, but we’ll only wheel him in for a moment.”

Now that the transplant was over, the reality of the situation was overwhelming. She was about to meet the person who’d willingly given up a kidney for her? Clara couldn’t comprehend that kind of sacrifice. Not really. What did you say to someone who’d just granted you a longer life?

Tears from too much emotion blurred her vision as she saw a woman pushing a man in a wheelchair. They came closer until she was able to make out his features.

It was the handsome face of her beloved husband.

She cried out his name on a sob. “
Why did you do it
?
Why
?”

“Don’t you understand yet?” He was pushed as close to her as his wheelchair would allow. His intelligent brown eyes blazed with light. “I’m in love with you, darling. I think I was in love with you when we were children, but didn’t know it.”

To finally hear those words from that deep, silken voice…

More tears flowed down her cheeks. “I’ve been in love with you forever, but what if something happens one day and you’ll need the kidney you gave me?”

“Then I’ll give him one of mine.”

Clara lifted her eyes to the woman who’d just spoken and received a second shock. “Isabella—” She hadn’t realized.

“Yes.” His sister smiled. “And if I find I need one, then Cristiano has pledged his to me. Because of you, Clara, our brother has found his happiness at last. This is what families are for, right? The Rossettis and the Casalis stick together.”

On the fifth morning Valentino finished showering in preparation for leaving the hospital. Since their surgeries, he and Clara had been walking together, doing all kinds of exercises. They were more than ready to go.

Dr. Arno made his rounds after breakfast and released them. Within the hour a hospital van would be driving them back to Monta Correnti. This day seemed to have taken forever to get here.

As he was pulling on his tan chinos and a blue sport shirt he heard her call to him but it sounded muffled. He couldn’t tell if she was excited or upset about something.

He emerged from his bathroom on a burst of adrenalin and found her standing by his bed.

“Look!” She turned around, giving him an eyeful of her womanly figure. All the tubes and catheters were gone. No more IV stand. She looked incredible and was dressed in the same outfit she’d worn to the track in Monaco. Those green eyes glowed as if they were on fire.

“Your kidney’s been working inside me from the time it was transplanted. No more dialysis!”

It was the best news he’d ever heard. He took another step and wrapped his arms around her, careful not to apply too much pressure while their incisions were healing. “I’m glad I’ve been good for something around here,” he teased to cover his emotions.

“Oh, Tino, I’m so happy and so terribly, terribly in love
with you!” She raised her hungry mouth for his kiss. They were starving for each other. Dr. Arno had told him they had to wait two weeks to make love. Valentino didn’t know how he was going to hold out that long, not with a wife as passionate as Clara, but her comfort had to come first.

They had other rules to follow. Exercise every day. Walk. The longer the walks, the better. No driving a car or motor scooter for three weeks. No heavy lifting until after four weeks.

The fear that her body might reject his kidney had plagued both of them, but no longer. Naturally there was the possibility it might be rejected months or years later, but he refused to think about that right now. The different drugs she was taking were working.

“Signor Casali? Signora? When you’re ready, the van is waiting for you at the south entrance downstairs.”

Clara pulled away from him in embarrassment. Her face had gone a charming pink color. He would never tire of looking at her. Valentino had definitely come down with a serious case of love for his wife.

The nurse had brought two wheelchairs.

“Do we have to use them?” Clara asked her.

“It’s hospital policy.”

“Oh, all right,” she grumbled and sat down in one. Valentino sank into the other one and reached for her hand. When she looked at him, they both saw the humor in their predicament and started to chuckle. Soon she was laughing. The sound filled him with an excitement he’d never known in his life.

After a short elevator ride, they were wheeled out to the van. The interior felt nice, comfortable. They thanked the staff for everything. Soon the attendant closed the sliding door and they were sealed off from the world for a while.

She darted Valentino a mischievous glance. “I feel like I did
when we were little children. I would wait and wait for the end of school so I could run outside and hide from you. Somehow you always found me when nobody else could.”

“It wasn’t that hard.” He grinned. “Whenever I got close, your laughter gave you away. I was attracted to it.”

“My laugh?” she asked in an incredulous voice.

He nodded. “It has a happy quality. I liked being around you because of it. Don’t ever stop. I couldn’t take it.”

“
Tino
—”

They were seated across from each other. He wanted to pull her onto his lap, but he didn’t dare. After the hell she’d lived through, the thought of anything happening to her before they reached home was anathema to him.

Being a race-car pro, he had a problem letting anyone else drive him. The one hair-raising experience with his wife had been the exception because he adored her. At the moment he needed to have faith in the van driver’s skill.