Page 56 of Once Upon a Time in Venice

‘You sound like a great big sister. I bet you’ll be a great mom too some day.’

Issy flushed, Brad’s comment felt weirdly intimate. ‘What about your plans for the future?’ she asked, trying to take the focus off her in case she revealed something she shouldn’t. ‘Are you going to carry on being a movie star for ever?’

‘I hope not,’ Brad chuckled. ‘I hope I know when it’s my time to go, though I’d like to bow out on a high. But you’ve seen my life – you know it’s not everything it appears to be from the outside. I have this dream – maybe it sounds ridiculous, but I’d love to have masses of land and a farm. Maybe a big old ranch out in Texas or somewhere, with dogs and horses and a soccer team’s worth of kids running round my ankles.’

‘You and Lexi would make beautiful babies.’

‘Yeah, well, I’m not sure if Lexi sees the same future I do,’ Brad said reflectively, a note of sadness in his voice. Then he brightened. ‘This is so nice, Iz. It’s amazing not to be recognized. It feels like having a normal life, just strolling round together, you and me …’

‘I guess it’s impossible to have a normal life when you’re Brad Redford. But wouldn’t you miss it, if it all went away?’

‘Maybe not as much as you’d think. Maybe it’s time for me to dial it down a little, start thinking about a quieter – no, not quieter – a richer life.’ Brad looked thoughtful.

‘Then I’d be out of a job,’ Issy joked.

Brad shook his head, turning to look at her, though she couldn’t read his expression behind his sunglasses. ‘No. I’d always want you around.’

Issy’s heart leapt, wondering if he’d meant it how it had sounded. They’d spent a wonderful morning together, opening up to one another and forging a deeper connection, but Brad was devoted to the beautiful Lexi Parker. Wasn’t he?

Marco, Gina and Daniela had long since lost sight of Brad and Issy, who’d gone on ahead as Daniela eagerly browsed in every shop window. Right now, the three of them were standing outside a jewellery store, as Daniela cooed over the shimmering pieces.

‘That one’s so pretty, it’s my favourite. Oh, look at that one! It’s so sparkly. Papà, please can I get something?’

‘Not today, sweetheart.’

Daniela pulled a disappointed face, but Marco knew that seconds later her attention would be distracted by something else.

‘Gina, which one’s your favourite?’ she asked.

Gina moved closer, realizing she was looking at rows of Murano glass jewellery. There were earrings, necklaces, rings, even ornaments shaped like animals. And there were bracelets. Gina’s eyes hungrily scoured the display. She couldn’t see an identical piece, but there was a beautiful bracelet in shades of blue that reminded her of the one that she’d lost on the opening night of Carnival. She was suddenly assailed by feelings of guilt and sadness, remembering her beloved father, and everything that had happened in the months leading up to his death. Gina found that she couldn’t take her eyes off the window, lost in her memories.

‘… just like the one Papà found,’ Daniela was saying.

‘What’s that?’ Gina asked, but the words were gone, and Daniela was chattering on about something else entirely now.

‘Are you OK?’ Marco asked Gina, his eyes filled with concern.

‘I’m fine,’ she insisted, pulling herself out of her reverie, forcing herself to move on. ‘How are you feeling now?’ Gina asked, as she fell into step alongside Daniela as Marco dropped back to look at some paintings in an antique shop. ‘I heard you weren’t very well the other evening.’

‘I’m OK now,’ Daniela shrugged. ‘I was really sick at the time, but it only lasted for about a day and then I felt much better. Rosina said it must have been a twenty-four-hour bug. I’m really glad, as I wouldn’t have wanted to miss today.’

‘Your mum must have been very worried about you,’ Gina said, thinking of how Marco had gone racing home after their evening together at the Palazzo Malipiero.

Daniela frowned, slowly lowering her hot chocolate cup. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I saw your dad – I bumped into him,’ Gina explained, feeling the colour rise in her cheeks. ‘And when he got the call that you were ill, he rushed home to be with you.’

‘It was my nanny, Rosina, who called him. My mamma, she’s in heaven.’

Gina felt a chill creep up her spine at this revelation, and felt horrified at her mistake, realization dawning as she put the pieces together that she should have known this all along. Daniela continued to explain.

‘There was an accident. With one of the helicopters. It was three years ago now …’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Gina apologized, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her. She searched her brain to try and recall having been told the terrible news, but she was sure no one had mentioned it before now. It explained so many things, she realized, as she began slotting together incidents and conversations.

‘It’s OK,’ Daniela said lightly. ‘It seems like a long time ago now. Sometimes I can’t really remember her any more. My dad’s still really sad about it, and so are Uncle Edoardo and Grandpa. But you make Papà smile, Gina.’

‘Do I?’ It was a lot to take in, but inside Gina something was softening, melting like gelato in the sunshine. She felt devastated for Daniela, and for Marco; it was impossible to imagine what they must have been through. But Gina couldn’t help but wonder what the news might mean for her and Marco and their blossoming friendship.