Chapter 6 - The Envelope Meant for After the Wedding

The envelope was cream-colored.

Vanessa’s name was written across the back.

The wedding planner placed it on Luca’s desk.

“She told me to give this to Mr. Moretti on Sunday morning.”

The wedding had been scheduled for Saturday.

Luca looked at Vanessa.

“What is it?”

She didn’t answer.

Victor did.

“Private.”

Luca almost smiled.

“Not anymore.”

Vanessa sat down.

Her face had lost all color.

“Luca.”

He broke the seal.

Inside were three pages.

And a key.

Small.

Brass.

The kind used for safe-deposit boxes.

Luca read the first page.

Then looked up.

“You were leaving?”

Sophie stared at Vanessa.

Vanessa whispered, “Not exactly.”

Luca read aloud.

“If you are reading this, I couldn’t go through with the marriage.”

Victor closed his eyes.

Maria looked at Vanessa.

“You were planning to run?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Vanessa pressed both hands together.

“I wrote it after the first fitting.”

“Why?”

She looked at Sophie.

“Because she cried when the stylist removed Sarah’s necklace.”

I remembered that necklace.

A tiny gold star Sophie wore on special days.

Vanessa had replaced it with the silver heart pendant.

The one tied to calling her Mom.

Luca kept reading.

The next line changed his face.

“I kept telling myself Sophie needed discipline because the alternative was admitting I was jealous of a child.”

Nobody moved.

Sophie looked confused.

Luca looked devastated.

Vanessa wiped her eyes.

“I knew.”

“You knew what you were doing?”

“I knew what I was becoming.”

“Then why didn’t you stop?”

Her answer came slowly.

“Because every time I stopped, my father told me I was weak.”

Victor stepped forward.

“That is enough.”

“No.”

Vanessa stood.

“You told me Sarah would always win if I let Sophie control the house.”

Victor’s face hardened.

“I told you not to build a marriage around a ghost.”

“You told me to make Luca choose.”

Sophie’s breath caught.

The same phrase.

Luca heard it.

He looked at Vanessa.

“Is that what you told her?”

Vanessa began crying.

“Yes.”

Luca closed his eyes.

When he opened them, the anger was gone again.

That was worse.

“What is the key?”

Vanessa looked at the desk.

“A box at Lakeshore Bank.”

“What’s in it?”

“Things I took.”

Luca stared.

“What things?”

“Sarah’s things.”

Sophie made a small sound.

Vanessa looked at her.

“I didn’t destroy them.”

“You said you did,” Sophie whispered.

Vanessa nodded.

“I lied.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted you to stop asking.”

Luca gripped the desk.

“What is in the box?”

“Letters. Jewelry. Photos.”

He waited.

Vanessa looked down.

“And Sarah’s wedding ring.”

Sophie’s eyes widened.

“My mom’s ring?”

Luca went completely still.

I had never seen Sarah’s wedding ring.

After her death, Luca kept it in a small velvet case inside his bedroom safe.

At least, that was what I had been told.

“When did you take it?”

“Three months ago.”

“How did you get into my safe?”

Victor looked toward the window.

That was enough.

Luca turned.

“You gave her the code.”

Victor said nothing.

Vanessa whispered, “He knew it.”

Luca stared at him.

“How?”

Victor’s mouth tightened.

“We have mutual business.”

Maria swore under her breath.

Luca’s voice dropped.

“You had the code to my private safe?”

Victor tried to recover.

“It was old information.”

“From who?”

Silence.

Then I remembered something.

A man had visited the house twice in March.

Luca’s former accountant.

Mr. Keane.

He had retired suddenly afterward.

Luca saw recognition on my face.

“What?”

I told him.

Victor’s expression changed.

Luca noticed.

“Call Keane.”

Marco stepped into the hall.

Victor reached for his coat.

Luca pointed at him.

“You stay.”

“You cannot hold me here.”

“No.”

Luca looked at Marco.

“But I can decide whether you leave as a guest or as a man I never trust again.”

Victor sat.

Ten minutes later, Marco returned.

“Keane won’t answer.”

Luca looked at the key again.

Then at Sophie.

Her eyes were on Vanessa.

Not angry.

Just hurt.

“Why did you take Mom’s ring?”

Vanessa’s voice almost disappeared.

“Because your father still wore his.”

Sophie looked at Luca’s hand.

He still wore a simple black band on his right hand.

Sarah’s wedding band had been his way of remembering without pretending he was still married.

Vanessa looked at it too.

“I thought if her ring disappeared, maybe his would eventually come off.”

Luca said nothing.

Then Sophie asked the question none of us expected.

“Did you ever love me?”

Vanessa looked at her.

And for the first time that night, she answered without defending herself.

“Yes.”

Sophie’s eyes filled.

“Then why did you keep trying to make me smaller?”

Vanessa had no answer.

Neither did Victor.

Luca folded the letter.

Then picked up the bank key.

“Tomorrow morning, we get everything back.”

Vanessa nodded.

He looked at her.

“You’re coming.”

Victor stood.

“No, she isn’t.”

Luca turned toward him.

Victor’s face was pale now.

Too pale.

That was when I understood.

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The safe-deposit box held more than Sarah’s belongings.

And judging by Victor’s expression, whatever else was inside had nothing to do with the wedding.