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“Please don’t say anything, Nico. I get it that you’re on a quest for your life. Interestingly enough, so am I. More than ever in fact.” She couldn’t stay in Domodossola as long as Nico was still here.
The second he pulled up to the side entrance, she opened the door and got out. Before she shut it, she said, “I hope to heaven that one day your dream will come true. Addio per sempre.”
CHAPTER SIX
AFTER TELLING NICO goodbye forever, Fausta rushed past the guard and up the stairs to her apartment. No sooner had she entered her room than her cell phone rang. In her heart of hearts, she wanted it to be Nico. She pulled it out of her purse. To her surprise the ca
ller ID said it was her sister Lanza.
She picked up. “Lanza?”
“I’m glad you answered.”
“I just got home.”
“I know. Stefano and I had taken Ridolfo to visit with the parents when security let them know you’d arrived. I’m afraid you’re going to be getting a visit in a few minutes, and I’m sure you know why.”
Fausta had told Lanza she was dating a doctor from the hospital, but she hadn’t told her anything else. “I do.”
By now Enzo would have told Lorenzo about her visit to the castello with Nico. It had been only a matter of time before the news reached her father’s ears. Fausta drew in a deep breath. She was ready for them.
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
“If you want to talk later, call me.”
“You know I will.”
“Remember I’m on your side.”
“Love you, Lanza. Give little Rufy a kiss for me.” That was her nickname for him.
“I’ve already given him dozens when Stefano has given me a chance.” She laughed.
After clicking off, Fausta changed into a nightgown and robe while she waited for her parents. Until they talked, she didn’t have the luxury to break down sobbing. Not yet.
Before long Fausta heard a familiar knock and hurried to the door to let them in. She gave them both a hug. “Lanza told me you were on your way up. Come in.”
They walked into her living room and sat down on the couch opposite her. Her father smiled. “We haven’t seen a lot of you lately. When we learned you’d come home, we thought we’d drop in for a few minutes.”
“I presume you’ve had a talk with your cousin Lorenzo, so I can guess that’s why you’re here.”
Her parents glanced at each other before her father said, “I must admit we’ve been surprised to learn you’ve been dating a Dr. Nico Barsotti from the hospital for some time.”
Her mother sat forward. “We were even more surprised to learn that you drove to Biella with him and spent time with Enzo and Pippa. It would have been nice if we’d known about your association with this doctor before hearing about it from cousin Lorenzo. How did you meet him?”
Fausta sat on her legs in her favorite chair. “I’ve been doing a little part-time volunteer work at the hospital four days a week on the pediatric ward. He’s a family practice doctor who was checking up on a patient and we became acquainted.” That was the simplified version.
“I’d say it’s more than an acquaintance at this point,” her father asserted. “I understand you spent time at his apartment in town this evening.”
“Yes. Nico made dinner for us.”
A frown marred his features. “If the press finds out, the publicity won’t be good for the doctor, whom Lorenzo tells me he helped get taken on at the hospital last year. As for you, any mention in the media could color your prospects for the kind of royal marriage we’d like to see for you.”
Her cheeks grew hot. “Don’t worry, Papa. You don’t have to find a new position for Nico in Rome to keep us apart. He would never accept your money to get him settled in order to salvage his reputation or mine.” Once he had a lead on his parents, Nico would leave the country on his own.
Her mother looked pained. “I can’t believe you spoke to your father like that, Fausta Rossiano.”
Neither could she, considering his heart condition. For the first time since she learned he had heart trouble, she’d forgotten because she was in so much pain over Nico. But never again!
