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He reached for her arm and they gravitated toward the painting. Nico studied it for a long moment. Fausta knew he’d gone back in time. “How remarkable. Nothing here has changed after all.”
This was where he’d spent his early childhood. Pain stole through her for his heartache. “I’m thinking about the children in the other part of the orphanage, Nico. I’ll pray they grow up to be happy and become as successful as you are.”
He squeezed her arm before letting it go. By tacit agreement they walked through to the office. Nico approached the nun still seated at the desk.
“Thank you for letting us visit. We’ll be leaving now.”
“Come anytime. You’ll always be welcome.”
Fausta left with him. They walked out of the church in silence. She feared this visit would trouble him for a long time. But when they got in the car, he turned to her, his dark blue eyes alive.
“There was an old doctor who came from Biella once in a while when one of us was sick. He seemed like a magician to me and could fix anything. Every time he showed up, I followed him around and asked questions. I thought how wonderful if I could do something like that one day.”
Realizing that Nico had been thinking about the doctor who’d set him on his course, she could hardly swallow for the boulder in her throat. “So, he’s the reason you became a physician. Do you think he’s still alive?”
“I wish he were so I could thank him, but no. He too died after I left the orphanage.” Nico started the engine. “Are you ready to visit some pigs? I come here every couple of months. The Barsotti farm is about two miles from the main square here.”
“I’ve been thinking about playing with them ever since you mentioned it at the hospital.”
His good spirits were contagious. Nico would never know what it meant to her to be let into his life, allowing her to see beneath the surface. He drove on while she drank in the bucolic landscape.
When they came to the Barsotti farm, Nico pointed out the farmhouse and the many outbuildings. The large property looked well kept. Several long buildings housed the pigs.
Nico pulled up to the office. “I’
ll run inside and see if I can find Angelo. Be right back.”
“Take all the time you need.”
She got out to wait, loving seeing the place where he’d worked, loving being with him like this.
A few minutes later Nico reappeared with an older farmer who was dressed in overalls and wore a huge smile on his mustached face.
“Fausta? I’d like you to meet Angelo Barsotti, the man who transformed my life after taking me out of the orphanage. I owe him and his wife everything. Today she’s visiting their daughter who just had a baby, so you won’t be able to meet her.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
The farmer removed his cap. “Princess.” His gaze swerved to Nico. “Looks like you’ve done right well for yourself.”
“Nico has sung your praises, signor. I’m very happy to meet you. Last week we went out for roast pig. He told me about life with you and how kind you and your wife were to him.”
“Nico was a good boy and a hard worker.”
“He’s an excellent doctor now, but it’s obvious he hasn’t forgotten those years with you. Would it be possible to see some of your piglets before we leave?”
The farmer grinned. “He said you wanted to play with them. One of our sows just had a litter. Come with me.”
Delighted, she followed them to one of the long buildings containing the individual grilled stalls to house all the pigs.
Inside she saw several workers walking up and down the aisles. He led them to a section where the new mother was tending her litter. There were seven spotted piglets who stuck their noses toward them.
“Oh—look, Nico! Aren’t they adorable?” She ran over to the fencing. “Can I hold one, Signor Barsotti?”
He laughed. “Go right ahead.”
Fausta leaned over and picked one up from the straw. “You sweet little thing,” she crooned as it made snorting sounds. Soon all the piglets were making noises, causing her to laugh. The men laughed too. Her gaze fused with Nico’s. This was a moment of pure joy she’d never forget.
She walked around with it for a minute, but before the sow got too upset, Fausta lowered the piglet back to the straw. “If I could, I’d take all of you home with me.”
