He nodded at someone who took my bags, then he tucked my arm through his and urged me to start walking.
I hesitated, but when I saw my driver, Vinni, take the bags from the other guy, I felt a bit better.
“It’s lovely to see you, Sienna.” He gave me that warm smile that made me feel like I hadn’t lost him years ago. “I’m sure the past two days have been a bit overwhelming for you.” When I didn’t respond, he kept going. “I’m sure you’re very confused and have a lot of questions, but Elio—”
“Not really.” I cut him off, not wanting to cave in public.
“Oh.” He gave me a quick glance, no doubt trying to read my mind. “Well, when or if you do have questions, I would hope you would come directly to us rather than speaking to Mariano. We like our privacy, and he doesn’t know everything, and we’d like to keep it that way.”
“Privacy,” I repeated as the word bounced around inside my chest, playing ping pong with the sides of my heart. “You wouldn’t want someone getting too close. I understand.” I couldn’t help my clipped tone.
He stroked his chin as he watched me intently.
“You really surprised Elio yesterday.”
I raised an eyebrow to express the feeling was mutual. He stopped and motioned for us to sit at a table near a fountain. He stared at me for a moment, and I felt my feisty side kick in because that was all I had for a defense system.
“How did you and Mariano meet?” He waited for me to answer and studied my face when I didn’t. “Sienna, please, put aside everything that has happened for one moment. Can I just say how much I missed you?”
Damn, that put a creak in my heart.
“You weren’t the only person who lost someone that day, Sienna.” He paused to gather himself. “I lost a daughter, too.”
I pressed my fingers to my lips to stop the quiver that threatened.
“Hate us if that helps.” He cleared his emotions from his throat. “I hate us too sometimes, but there are reasons for what happened. Just know that we never once stopped loving you.” He reached for my hand.
“Please.” I pulled away, not wanting to hear it. It was too much.
He reached out again and took both my hands in his and squeezed them gently.
“Sweet girl, I know we’re not worthy of it, but can I ask you for one favor?” My tear-filled eyes found his. “Please don’t let Mariano know your history with Elio or our family.”
I tugged my hands away when I realized they might be ashamed to be associated with me. The poor little orphan girl who fell in love with the rich boy was back, and perhaps it would screw up their image. I quickly dried a pesky tear.
“I need you to be careful, Sienna. He isn’t who you think he is.”
Confusion and hurt swept through me, and my backbone went up at the conversation. I stood quickly, and I knew he caught my mood.
“I have dreamt of the day I would once again see the man I considered my father.” I paused to choose my words carefully. “Never did I think he would ask me to pretend I didn’t know him.” I had more to say, but that was enough to make my point.
“It’s not like that.” He tried to explain, but I was done.
I turned on my heel and rushed away from him to where I knew Vinni was waiting.
“Ready?” he said as he opened the car door for me.
“Yes, I’d like to go back to the house now.”
“Of course.” He squinted at me then looked over my shoulder and gave a nod to someone.
I hated that my market trip was ruined, but I hated even more that after all these years of trying to make something of myself it was still not enough. Well, that was fine. It was enough for me, and that was all that mattered.
“Would you like to stop and see the sunflowers?” Vinni drew me from my thoughts.
“Perhaps another day.” All the joy the flowers had brought me had vanished.
“Very well.” He glanced at me and seemed to want to say something but thought better of it, and we drove in silence.