Sweet Italian Christmas: Three Christmas Romances

by Helen Scott Taylor

  Leo fetched a bottle of champagne and popped the cork, then poured foaming golden liquid into flutes and handed them around.

  "Best wishes for the future." Leo raised his glass to them and everyone echoed his toast.

  Emily's worries about his family's reaction to the news were obviously misplaced as they all seemed thrilled. She'd already phoned Seth and Marc, and they were pleased for her.

  "Where do you plan to get married? Are we to visit England?" Gina asked. "I've always wanted to go there."

  "We'll probably marry at Santa Trinita near my home," Savino said.

  While they ate, the conversation flowed back and forth about the wedding arrangements.

  When they'd finished, Emily started to help clear the table, but was shooed through to the living room with Savino and Signore and Signora Marin, while Claire and Gina tidied up.

  As Emily pushed the stroller into the living room, Giorgio woke and started crying.

  "I think he wants his lunch now." Signora Marin bent over the stroller and stroked a soothing hand over her grandson's chest.

  Emily fed her hungry boy while Savino chatted with his parents. Then Savino changed Giorgio's diaper and handed a satiated, sleepy baby to his nonna.

  "My little patatino. You look just like your papa." Signora Marin stared lovingly down at Giorgio and rocked him in her arms.

  Emily settled on the sofa beside Savino, cuddled against his side, a sense of peace and satisfaction warming her. She could now admit to herself she'd been more worried about the future than she'd thought before she gave birth. The uncertainty over her relationship with Savino and his role in Giorgio's life had put her under huge stress.

  For the first time in many months, her future was clear and she could relax and enjoy life. She'd never been a woman who needed a man in her life all the time, but once she fell in love with Savino, she'd known there would never be another man for her.

  She linked her fingers through his and kissed his shoulder. He cupped her cheek in his hand and smiled at her. "Happy?" he asked.

  "Very."

  "Oh dear." Signora Marin laughed and brushed a tissue over the patch of Giorgio's milky vomit on her arm.

  "Sorry. Let me get you a damp cloth." Emily dug the washcloth she kept for such accidents out of Giorgio's bag and dashed down the hall to the bathroom to wet it in the sink.

  She padded soundlessly back along the tile floor, shoeless as she had kicked her pumps off and not had time to put them back on.

  As she passed the kitchen door, she heard her name mentioned and paused.

  "Savino's getting married. I still can't believe it," Gina said.

  "I always thought he was married to his work," Claire added.

  "Not anymore, I hope, for Emily's sake. Although I'm not convinced he'll give up being a workaholic to play at domesticity for long."

  "What makes you say that? He obviously adores Giorgio." Claire again, her English-accented Italian unmistakable.

  Emily's heart pounded as she crept closer to the open door while pans and dishes clanked as the women cleared up.

  "Savino told me he'd do anything to keep his son in Italy. I just hope that's not the only reason he asked Emily to marry him."

  Gina's words hit Emily like a punch in the gut. Emily had been so sure Savino really loved her, but if his own sister doubted his feelings…

  Breathless at the hollow ache in her chest, she wandered back to the living room and passed the damp cloth to Signora Marin. As she lowered herself on the sofa beside Savino, he turned to her and frowned.

  "Are you all right?"

  "Yes," she mumbled. Now was not the time to get into a difficult conversation. She wished she hadn't overheard Gina's words, but she had, and she couldn't forget them.

  Gina and Claire joined the others in the living room, where they handed out Christmas stockings that had been hung around the fireplace. Savino laid one on Emily's lap. "Your presents from the good witch, La Befana."

  "Thank you." With forced smiles, she opened her gifts and pretended to show interest in what the others had received. But as the afternoon turned into evening, she felt more and more uncertain. Savino laughed with his family and talked of past celebrations while Emily silently turned over the events of the last few weeks in her mind, analyzing everything Savino had said and done.

  His affection seemed so genuine, his kisses and touches, the thoughtful way he behaved. But he had been just as considerate and loving when they were in Brussels and despite what he said, he obviously hadn't loved her then or he wouldn't have walked away without a backward glance.

  If she hadn't gone to find him, she was sure she would never have heard from him again. Was Gina right? Did Savino only want to marry her to keep his son with him?

  "Are you feeling unwell, Em? You're very quiet." Savino laid a gentle hand on her arm, and a sense of unbearable loss washed through her. How would she cope if he didn't love her? It would be like losing him all over again, even if she stayed with him. She must talk to him and find out the truth.

  "I'm tired. Perhaps we can leave soon?"

  "Of course." Savino stood and started gathering up their things, stuffing the gifts Giorgio had been given into a shopping bag.

  Emily joined him, and they packed up the diaper bag and put Giorgio back in his stroller.

  After the happy good-byes, they went down in the elevator and loaded the car, then drove home along the dark streets.

  Light flashed through the car as the vehicle joined the busier roads, then Savino took the route out of Naples along the Amalfi coast. They drove in silence, the tension between them mounting.

  "Tell me what's wrong," Savino said.

  Emily swept back her hair and rubbed her temples. There was only one way to approach this, and that was to be completely honest.

  "I overheard your sister talking to Claire. She suggested you might only want to marry me to keep Giorgio in Italy."

  Savino was silent for long moments, then he blew out a breath. "You still don't believe I love you."

  "I don't know what to believe. Gina's your sister. Surely she knows you better than I do?"

  "Gina doesn't know how I feel about you." Savino stopped the car on a roadside turnout and turned to face Emily. "What do I have to do to prove I love you?"

  "I don't know. I'm confused. You say you love me but you left me. If I hadn't come to find you, I would never have seen you again."

  "Emily, I've changed. My priority back then was Marin Innovations. It was everything, my whole life. I thought I didn't have room for anything that took my time and energy away from my business."

  "Like love and family, you mean?"

  "Like love and family, yes. But having a baby has forced me to take a long hard look at my priorities and what I really want out of life. You and Giorgio are the most important things in the world to me now."

  Savino reached across the center console between the seats and touched her cheek. "You helped me understand what really matters. I don't want to lose you, Em."

  "You don't want to lose Giorgio, you mean."

  "I don't want to lose either of you. Don't let something my sister said ruin things for us. Gina is very cynical about men. She's not had the best experience with them."

  Savino gripped her hand. "I've done everything I can to prove how I feel. I don't know what else to do. I'm going to say this once more. If you don't believe me, then…" He shrugged. "I love you, Emily. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you." A car came towards them, and the headlights glinted off tears in Savino's eyes.

  All the pent-up emotion Emily had hung on to since she overheard Gina's words burst out, and a sob caught in her chest. "I love you so much, Savi. It nearly destroyed me when you left me the first time. I'm just frightened because I don't think I could go through that again."

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead, cheeks, and lips. "I'm sorry. I was a fool back then. But I'm not now. Believe me. I'll prove to you I lov
e you every day. We'll be happy and together we'll watch our children grow up."

  "Children? How many do you want?"

  "Two girls and two boys."

  Emily laughed as Savino held her close and pressed tiny kisses over her face. The past was gone. Her future was with Savino and she did trust him. They would be happy together and she couldn't wait to be his wife.

  Epilogue

  With her arm linked through Seth's, Emily walked up the hill to her wedding. Local people wished her luck and clapped their hands as she and Seth threaded their way between the houses through the shady walled corridors, fragrant with trailing flowers, and up the narrow stone staircases, overhung with orange and lemon trees.

  Savino and most of their guests had gone on ahead, leaving Emily and Seth to follow. Finally, they mounted the last steps to reach the park in front of the small church, Santa Trinita.

  The hot Italian sun blazed down as they made their way across the dry, dusty square to the bench where Gina, Claire, and Violet waited for them beneath the shady branches of a huge old fig tree. The other guests had already sought the cool interior of the church. Emily flexed her fingers around her bouquet of cream and pink English roses that seemed out of place compared to the bright display of tangerine, red, and cerise bougainvillea covering the fence.

  As they approached, the women stood, Claire with her hand on Violet's shoulder, Gina striking a pose that showed off her figure.

  "I think you have an admirer." Emily bumped her shoulder against Seth's arm and grinned.

  "Hmm. Not my type."

  "I thought Gina was every man's type. She's so beautiful."

  Gina sashayed over to meet them as they reached the welcome shade of the fig tree.

  "You look gorgeous, Emily." Gina pulled a makeup kit from her handbag and patted some powder on Emily's nose. "There. Perfect again after your trek up the hill."

  "We'd better go in. The others are waiting," Seth said.

  They strolled towards the church door, excitement tingling along Emily's nerves. In a short while she would be Signora Marin, and she could hardly wait.

  Violet jumped up and down, her cream dress dotted with a pattern of pink rosebuds flapping around her legs. Pink silk rosebuds that matched the flowers in her posy trimmed a band holding back her long dark hair.

  Claire stooped and brushed the dust from the hem of Emily's ivory silk wedding dress. Emily had chosen a simple sheath dress, one layer of satin caught at the waist with a small beaded panel. It was too hot for lots of flounces and petticoats.

  Stepping back, Claire brushed her hands together and smiled. "You look lovely."

  "Thank you." The two women embraced. Emily had helped Claire improve her Italian, and in the six months since Emily had moved in with Savino, she and Claire had become fast friends.

  Claire crouched and adjusted Violet's hair band. "Stay a few steps behind Zia Emily, sweetie. Make sure you don't step on the back of her dress."

  "I know, Mamma. I did this when you and Papa were married."

  "So you did." Claire smoothed Violet's hair with an affectionate smile. "Gina and I had better go inside and take our seats."

  Claire touched Emily's arm. "Good luck."

  "Thank you."

  In her usual demonstrative way, Gina kissed both of Emily's cheeks and then kissed Seth's cheeks as well, leaving red lipstick marks on his skin.

  "It's so wonderful to have a new sister, and you are nearly part of the family now, Seth. I hope you'll visit us often."

  Claire met Emily's gaze, and they both suppressed grins at Gina's blatant infatuation.

  A moment later, Gina and Claire stepped in through the church's bronze door, and the organ started playing.

  Laughing, Emily rubbed the lipstick off Seth's cheeks with a tissue while he rolled his eyes towards the heavens. When she put her hand on his arm, he covered it with his own. "Savino's a good guy, Em. You did well."

  "Thanks." She reached up and kissed his cheek. All her life, Seth had been there for her. One of her earliest memories was of him carrying her back from the beach after she'd fallen on the rocks and scraped her knees. He'd been eleven and she was four. He'd seemed so much older than her back then, that he'd been like a father figure.

  Her brother or her uncle Ron could have escorted her down the aisle, but for Emily there had been no doubt that Seth was the man who should give her away. With her hand on Seth's arm, she glanced over her shoulder to check on Violet.

  She smiled at the little girl. "Ready, Violet?"

  The child nodded and they stepped inside the church door. The fragrance of flowers and lemon polish mingled as they entered the cooler interior of the church and walked over the gleaming blue-mosaic-tiled floor.

  Emily's heart leaped at the sight of Savino. He stood at the front beside Leo, illuminated by rays of sun shining through a high window, so elegant and handsome in a dark suit with a pink rose in his buttonhole.

  As they passed down the aisle, Emily's gaze homed in on her darling little boy, held in his nonna's arms. His eyes had turned dark brown, and he was now the image of his papa. When they drew level with him, he held out his hands to Emily.

  "Ma ma ma ma."

  "You stay with Nonna, Giorgi."

  Emily longed to hug him and kiss his dear little face, but if she did that, Giorgio would not want to let her go.

  At Seth's touch on her hand, she continued towards the altar. Her gaze collided with Savino's and they shared an amused smile at their son's antics. This man was not just her lover; he was her best friend and confidant. She couldn't wish for a kinder, more caring husband.

  When the music stopped, the priest welcomed them to the church, his words echoing in the ancient rafters. Emily spoke when she was prompted and Savino recited his vows, then they exchanged rings. At the old priest's nod and smile, she stepped into Savino's open arms and pressed her smiling lips to his, her heart dancing with love and joy to be his wife.

  As they held each other, Giorgio cried out, his plaintive voice filling the church.

  "Someone doesn't want to be left out," Savino said.

  "How unusual." Emily grinned. They'd quickly discovered that Giorgio didn't like to be ignored. Savino joked that Giorgio was a male version of Gina—both wanting to be the center of attention all the time.

  Holding hands, Emily and Savino turned to face their smiling families. Emily gathered her demanding little boy into her arms. He promptly dug his chubby sucked fingers into her hair, which Gina had so carefully styled, and grabbed a handful, clearly not wanting to be separated from his mamma again anytime soon.

  "Congratulazioni!"

  With the good wishes of their relatives ringing in their ears, they walked down the aisle and stepped outside to be greeted by the hot Italian sun and the panoramic view over the Bay of Salerno. Emily could not ask for more than a home in paradise, the love of the most wonderful man in the world, and her darling Giorgio. She was the luckiest woman in the world.

  Italian Christmas Wedding

  Chapter One

  Seth Trevathan crouched and opened his arms as his giggling godson scampered towards him. "Hey, Giorgio, what have you got there?"

  The little boy snuggled close and handed Seth the soft toy monkey he'd just unwrapped for his first birthday.

  Seth held the toy at eye level and made a show of examining it. "Wow, he's colorful. I've never seen a blue and red monkey before."

  "Me, me." Giorgio grabbed the toy and dashed across the living room of his parents' villa towards his aunt Gina.

  "Ah, my bambino. What do you have to show me?" Tall and slim yet with curves in all the right places, Gina Marin folded her long legs and crouched, balancing on impossibly high heels as she held out her arms and caught Giorgio, kissing him and fussing over him.

  Seth straightened, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the railing of the covered veranda, enjoying the warm Italian sun on his back. In the distance, the Mediterranean gently lapped the pebbly beach of t
he Amalfi coast, such a change from the unruly Atlantic Ocean a mile from where he lived in Cornwall.

  It was a few weeks before Christmas and when he'd flown out of Gatwick Airport to come here for Giorgio's birthday, England had been in the grip of snow and ice. The mild Italian weather was a pleasant respite from the bitterly cold British December.

  Seth tried not to stare at Gina, but the vivacious Italian beauty drew his gaze. She talked a little too loudly, clearly wanting to be the center of attention. Dressed in designer clothes that probably cost a small fortune, she appeared to be the definition of high maintenance from her perfectly applied makeup to the tips of her scarlet fingernails.

  Despite that, she was the most beautiful woman Seth had ever met, with a cascade of thick black hair, laughing brown eyes, and a ready smile. No doubt, she could have any man she wanted, and she probably changed boyfriends as often as she changed her shoes. She was definitely not Seth's type, yet she attracted him like a kamikaze moth to a bonfire.

  "Come here, Giorgi." Giorgio's six-year-old cousin, Violet, called him back to open some more presents.

  Giorgio trotted across the tile floor in his new blue shoes and plopped down on a mat beside the little girl.

  Seth watched with a smile as the lad unwrapped the plastic child's toolbox he'd bought him. In his opinion, it was never too early for a guy to learn how to fix things.

  Giorgio's eyes lit up as Violet helped him unlatch the box, and he dug through the plastic tools. Then he grabbed the hammer and whacked Violet on the arm with it.

  "Oops," Seth whispered under his breath as all hell broke loose.

  Violet's very pregnant mother, Claire, hurried to her side as fast as her size would allow, and rubbed her daughter's arm as she cried.

  Giorgio's father, Savino, swept his son into his arms and relieved him of the offending toy, while his wife, Seth's cousin Emily, came over with the cardboard carton that had contained his present and tapped a corner. "The box says age three and up, Seth."