There wasn’t any need for him to say those words because she remembered their conversations well enough, the times they’d said I love you, the times they’d talked about how nothing else mattered when it came down to it. But that wasn’t real life, and now, having him here, she was sure of that.
‘I don’t have everything, you’re right.’ There, she’d admitted it. But it was a moment of clarification too. She reached out a hand and put it to his cheek. ‘We both deserve to be happy but I don’t think you would be in years to come if you moved here. And I think it would ruin what was once a beautiful thing between us.’
He wasn’t listening. He’d taken a deep breath and stood up, turned around and Jade hoped he wasn’t crying but when he faced her once again, he was smiling. And then he did what she’d never expected at all, what she’d dreamed about so many times when they were together.
He got down on one knee just as Tracy came outside to do the plants in the back garden, the two pots, one on either side of the double doors leading onto the patio and the grass beyond, the hanging basket by the gravelled side path. And she was looking their way with shock written all over her face.
Dario snatched Jade’s attention back again. ‘I’m here, I want to be with you.’ He’d never minded an audience. ‘We’re good together, we work. I love you.’ And then, ‘Vuoi sposarmi?’ he repeated.
He might not mind an audience but she did. She waited until they were alone again and the wait told him the answer. She saw his hopes fade, realisation dawn.
‘You would’ve said yes if I’d asked you in Venice before you left,’ he said resignedly.
‘Of course I would. And for a time, it would’ve been perfect.’ She smiled, watching him with the love she’d once felt but with the common sense that overruled everything else. ‘But one of us would’ve made sacrifices and I don’t think we both would’ve been happy in the end – one of us would always be wanting for something else.’
After a deep breath he told her again that he loved her and pulled her in for a hug.
She let him hold her a moment longer, still alone in the garden, but when she pulled away she said, ‘I think you’re in love with what we once had, and so am I. I always will be. Those memories are ones I’ll never forget, not ever. But it was brief, it wasn’t realistic for either of us in the long term, and only now with you here in front of me can I see that.’ Before today, she would’ve been worried she’d get carried away with the emotion, let something happen when it shouldn’t, but now, after a few days apart, she knew what she wanted.
‘You were right when you said I didn’t have everything,’ she admitted. ‘I still want a family of my own and I haven’t met anyone to do that with. But I don’t want to be with someone just because the clock is ticking – nobody deserves that, least of all you.’ With a small smile she added, ‘Much as we dreamed about it and talked about it together – our part-Irish, part-Italian kids, speaking both languages and getting under our feet wherever we made our home.’
He smiled warmly at the memory too. ‘We did have it all planned in those few short weeks together.’
‘We really did.’ Her heart went out to him. ‘But I’ve changed since I came back, Dario. I don’t think I’m that same girl who was wide-eyed and in love in Italy.’ She suspected a lot of those feelings came from the buzz of travel, the freedom, the possibilities, the chance meeting with a stranger who suddenly filled her world. Yet now, every time she tried to imagine Dario being here, living the same life as her in the village, it didn’t work. The only way she could picture them working was with her as a carefree traveller, him in his native surroundings. You couldn’t go back – life didn’t work like that – you had to keep moving forwards. And being here with him now, she knew they weren’t going to do that together.
‘I should’ve told you I was coming,’ he said.
‘I’m glad you showed up unexpectedly. It didn’t give me the opportunity to overthink this before we had a chance to be together in the same place, face to face, have a proper conversation and time to talk.’ She smiled at him tenderly. ‘Could you really see yourself staying away from Italy, from Venice, for good?’
He considered his reply. ‘In the short term, definitely. But in the long term…perhaps not. You are right. It wouldn’t be good for us.’
‘No, and imagine if there were kids involved. Kids whose parents had no idea where to live to be happy.’
He nudged her. ‘I’ve missed you.’
But this was it and as he pulled her to her feet, she knew he felt it too. But he didn’t miss the chance for one more kiss, his romantic Italian blood causing him to instigate a pause where he lingered longer than was needed, remembering this forever goodbye.
He smiled down at her, his hands still on either side of her face. ‘Ciao bella.’
And she smiled before she walked away from this man for good.
Jade had kept a very low profile in the days since she and Dario said goodbye for the very last time. Celeste had worked front of shop while Jade hid away in the back baking the bread, cookies, icing buns, loading up the free-wheeling chrome trolley for Celeste to restock. She talked with Celeste, she cried on her shoulder, her grief more to do with the finality of the goodbye but also because once upon a time marrying Dario was exactly what she’d wanted.
Now, with the wedding drawing ever closer along with the ball, the event of the year for Heritage Cove, Jade took off her robe and spritzed her favourite perfume onto her décolletage and each wrist. Dario would’ve left the Cove this morning and Jade felt as though she had clarity once more, although seeing Linc in the tea rooms earlier had made her more confused than ever, her feelings threatening to become even stronger than those she’d once had for Dario. They felt more real, more immediate, but now she had made the decision to go ahead with her plan, how could she possibly get involved? Not that he looked as though he wanted to. Either he’d seen her with Dario or he’d decided he wasn’t as interested as perhaps he once was; he certainly hadn’t seemed eager to look her way or begin a conversation. And it bothered her more than she was willing to admit.
Celeste came out onto the landing when Jade emerged from her bedroom. ‘You look amazing, sis.’
‘Right back at you.’ They went into Jade’s bedroom and stood linking arms in front of the mirror. Both tall and willowy with dark hair, each of them had their own style. Celeste had gone for a sleeveless skater dress in white with a high neck and sequins that set off her emerald eyes. She looked elegant with her freshly trimmed and blow-dried pixie cut, the fringe jagged and leaving wisps on her forehead. Jade had chosen a longer dress, down to her calves, with a skirt that flowed out enough to move as she walked. In an ice blue that in some lights looked almost white, the dress was made of tulle and lace. A satin band sat high on the waist, giving her a flattering silhouette, and the sequins, beads and crystals formed tiny flowers on the bodice.
Celeste frowned. ‘I know it’s the Wedding Dress Ball and the whole point is that people either wear their own wedding dresses or buy something closely resembling what a bride might wear, but it feels odd this time when there really is a bride.’
Jade reminded her sister of Lois’s response this morning when Celeste went round to drop off the cake and the sweet treats and had voiced her concern about the outfits. ‘Lois told you she’ll only have eyes for Barney. But you’re right…’ She picked up the satin pouch that would be her bag. Easily looped over her wrist, it was much easier to carry than anything else. She and Celeste had bought almost identical ones from Tilly’s Bits ’n’ Pieces. ‘It does feel strange this year.’
‘It’s so romantic, isn’t it? After all this time, they’re finally getting their Happy Ever After.’
With a sigh, Jade agreed. ‘Their feelings never went away.’
‘Do you wish it had been that way for you and Dario?’
