Paola could feel the tension churning within her as they drove through the village to Giovanni’s family home.
The housekeeper was out to greet them and help Giovanni with Paola’s bags.
“Come sta? How is she?”
“She’s awake. She finished her lunch. Buonasera, Signorina.”
Paola smiled back.
The house was set well back from the road with grand views down the valley. It had been the home of Giovanni’s family forever and he was not about to abandon it now.
“Ciao mama, I told you I wouldn’t be long.”
Giovanni kissed his mother. “Mama,” he said, “this is Paola. Ti ricordi?”
“Hello, dear, who are you?”
“I am Paola, Signora Grande. Giovanni and I are going to be married. I came to meet you two weeks ago.”
“Did you, dear? Oh Giovanni! You never said you were getting married. She is so lovely!”
Giovanni smiled back.
“I know,” he said, “I am very lucky, mama.”
“Well, you better go and unpack before dinner,” said his mother, “and not in the same room, Giovanni. You have to wait until you are married before you can do all that.”
Paola watched through dinner as Giovanni fussed around his mother. “No, mama. Non ti ricordi? Non era quel giorno. Era il giorno che papà ha ucciso il cinghiale. No, mum. Don’t you remember? It wasn’t that day. It was the day Dad killed the wild boar.”
She pushed her food around her plate. She felt sick.
Giovanni offered to drive her to the station on Sunday evening, but she declined and ordered a taxi.
“Goodbye, Signora.”
“Goodbye dear, do I know you?”
“Si, Signora Grande, it is Paola.”
As the taxi pulled out of the drive, Paola was grateful for her own good judgement for having ordered it.
For all her feelings for Giovanni, she could never let him see the tears that were streaming down her face. If only she loved him as much as he loved his mother.
*
“Why is she so upset?”
“I know more than I should. It’s because his mother has always ruled his life.”
“But she has clearly lost her marbles,” said George.
“Then it’s even more necessary that he looks after her.”
“I can’t imagine the Count understanding a situation like that.”
“The Count is Italian. He pretends to understand everything.”