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Heidi takes her phone from her pocket, swipes across the screen, and shows me a photo of a stunning three-story mansion with Greek columns carved in pink marble. “With the money I earn here, I could buy my dream house.”
I gasp. “Heidi, it’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she says with a tilt of her chin. “I just had it remodeled.”
“Where is it?”
“Saint-Tropez. That’s where I plan to retire.” She winks. “A famous movie star wanted to buy the house, but my offer was higher.”
“Good for you,” I say with a laugh. “Is the plan to live there alone, or do you have a secret family stashed away somewhere?”
She irons out her skirt. “It’s just me.”
“By choice or because your job keeps you too busy?” I add quickly, “If you don’t mind me asking such a personal question.”
“Not at all. It’s no secret that my job has disadvantages, but I don’t mind. I never saw myself married. How am I going to have fun with all the wealthy widowers on their yachts if I’m shackled to one man?”
She says it jokingly, but I can’t help the sharp sting of regret her statement invites. A free will and choices aren’t in the cards for me. I am very much shackled to one man, and he’s not kind or good.
Her smile slips as she seems to realize her mistake. “That didn’t come out right.”
“It’s all right. I know what you mean.”
She blackens the screen of her phone and makes to put it away. I stare at the iPhone with longing, my heart shrinking as it disappears in her pocket. I can’t not try.
“Um, Heidi, do you think I can call my family?” I continue hastily, “Just to make sure they’re all right.”
“I’m sorry, dear.” Her expression is regretful. “You should ask Mr. Russo. I’m sure he’ll arrange that for you when he gets back.”
“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I just saw your phone and…” I force a smile. “Anyway, tell me more about working here.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Were they happy, his parents?”
She seems surprised. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just trying to get a better understanding of his family dynamic.” I admit with some embarrassment, “He doesn’t tell me much.” Angelo will never discuss his family with me, but like so many other things, I can’t tell her that either.
She ponders the question before saying after a while, “They were happy in their way, but I think Mr. Russo loved Mrs. Russo more than she loved him. It was an arranged marriage, you see, and she was very young when they got married.”
I take a tiny sip of the juice. “How young?”
“Sixteen.”
“Wow.” I can’t imagine being married at that age. “Why did her father agree?”
“It wasn’t uncommon to be married so young back then. There was an agreement between the families, something to do with land, and I’m guessing a lot with the dowry Mr. Russo paid.”
“He paid a dowry to marry her?”
“Her father has always been a greedy old man. If you ask me, she was better off with Mr. Russo. I’d just signed my employment contract when he brought his bride home. He wanted everything to be in place when he moved her into his house. Of course, it wasn’t this one. It was a much humbler house in the city. He only bought this mansion years later.”
“Was she okay with that? With marrying him?”
“It was very difficult to know what Teresa Russo thought or felt. She was kind and generous to the staff, but she kept to herself. She never said anything. Just did as Mr. Russo told her to do.” Her voice turns wistful. “I think it was her obedience that made the late Mr. Russo fall so deeply in love with her. She never contested him. Always treated him with consideration and respect. That’s how she wore him down and softened his rough edges. In the end, he did everything he did for her. He bought her this house and had it restored at great pains and costs. He showered her with clothes and jewelry and anything her heart could ever desire even though she never asked for anything.”
I grow quiet while listening to the story, trying to imagine how it must’ve been for Teresa to be an obedient wife who bent the knee to her husband. Did she feel victory at being rewarded with his love and wealth? Did she want the affection and gifts? Or did she have different dreams? Did those dreams fade? Did her hopes and plans fizzle out over the years like my mom’s until the house and her family became her ambition?
