"Diary" Secret Revealed: Simone' the Saga begins, continues, and end with Love's Triumphs Simone' the Saga begins, continues, and end with Diary: Secret Revealed and Love's Triumphs

By Carlotta Maria Shinn Russell

Simone' ran away with more than a two-decades-old mystery locked in a 6x9 Diary; nevertheless, she could not run far enough to get away from its glaring truth. Roberto', in pain and deeply in love with the woman he experienced for twenty-three years as being twofold, returns to Tuscany Valley to solve the mystery whose long arms during thos

• Language: English
• Publisher: GoldTouch Press, LLC
• Release date: Nov 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781953791399

Carlotta Maria Shinn Russell

Carlotta, mother, is a resident of the State of Alabama; she makes her home in the City of Mobile. Holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Art: Communication. She is presently a Business and Communication Instructor at Faulkner University for 22 years. A lecturer, speaker, storyteller, debate trainer, and author of ten plus books. A Southern Regional Literary competition winner in Civil Rights Category in Dahlonega, Georgia with: I Lived On the Other Side of the Line: The 1960's Civil Rights Era through the Eyes of a Ten-Year-Old. In 2017 the Book and book Trailer Simone' Tuscany: The Saga Begins was chosen and presented at Frankfurt International Festival and AJC National Book Festival. Member of Toastmasters: ACB; American Association of Women; Mobile Branch President; Stanford Who's who Among Business Professionals, recipient of an Educational Leadership Award; and a member of and worships at the University Church of Christ.

Book preview

Diary

Secret Revealed

Simone’ the Saga begins, continues, and end with Love’s Triumphs Simone’ the Saga begins, continues, and end with Diary: Secret Revealed and Love’s Triumphs

Book Three

Carlotta Maria Shinn Russell

Copyright © 2020 by Carlotta Maria Shinn Russell.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2020922482

Paperback:    978-1-953791-38-2

eBook:            978-1-953791-39-9

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Credits:

Mukesh Nigram, India - Honeymoon pre-love overtures- Book 3.

Medhi - Morocco - Romance from the male’s perspective Book 2.

Ordering Information:

For orders and inquiries, please contact:

1-888-404-1388

www.goldtouchpress.com

[e-mail]

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Bibliography

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Quotations

"There is nothing holier in this life of ours than

the first consciousness of love,

the first fluttering of its silken wings."

…Henry Wadsworth Longfellow…

For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.

And know each other here belov’d to be."

…Edmund Spenser

Prologue

D iary Secret Revealed", Book three of Simone’ the Saga, follows the journey of love through its triumphs. The love relationship’s structure continues as an associée to a poetic chiasm and ends poetically as being love’s triumphs. The Triumphs of Love are the main theme of this kinship. So fittingly written, the author clearly conveys the hearts of two people in love or the one person in love, though sometimes unrequited, love is the central point which is liken here unto a rhythmical crossover of emotions. The author describes and places emphasis on the most important element: the love Roberto’ and Simone’ has for each other.

After the secret is revealed regardless of the outliers of heartbreak, love tore them apart and could it or did love unite them again?

Pictured in this ongoing saga is the strong bond of love that exists between them, but is it enough to heal the heart or further widen the schism? Their liaisons, and those around them are also actors on that stage of life and direct extensions of their love are reverberated throughout the novel.

Heartache sits on the horizon of our lives. It can come in unexpected forms from any distance with colors and shades that are not in our vision of what life is and how it should be. One never expects sadness to come, even though we know in the smallest concepts of our emotions and mental awareness as with any love union, it lingers there.

One would like to think they could develop a Herculean toughness to those feelings and surround their heart with that resilience when the unforeseen comes from close or afar, and can manage the despair in a reasonable manner keeping this awareness within the borders of their dream. Did Roberto’, Simone’ Amelio’, Bibi ‘Ana, Vincenzo’, Charles, Carmeli’ta’, Antonia, or Jason do so? Not within the paradigm of principles, the writer describes!

They, like many, created in their minds an idyllic way they wanted their lives and love relationships to be, unique to the wants of their hearts. Therefore, as not to forget Heartaches and Heartbreaks unrelentingly cruel companions are pain, agony, misery, torture, and suffering.

The consequences of despair take on different forms when it becomes Heartbreak. It becomes an emotional feeling of desolation, a heavy heartiness, and emotional dehydration, which induces heartsickness and regret. It is a mournful rue of sorrow followed by immense impassioned suffering and woe. A cataclysm to the heart is hard to overcome and if peradventure, one does, it leaves deep scars of passionate cravings and melancholy triggering a cataract of pain in the heart causing perceptible results that bleeds uncontrollable remorse and disappointment.

Comparing Romance and Heartbreak is difficult; however, it is possible to contrast the two views. There are worlds of dissimilarity in meaning; nevertheless, both can operate so close within the same embodiment of our contemplations. In reality, in a nexus, one does not exist without the other, especially where love lives.

Amorousness is a juxtaposing of the heart, a fixed or definite way of visioning it. Differently so, heartbreak is a bereavement of regret. It brings with it torture and grief. In this light, romance can bring wounds of sorrowfulness, but mostly it is delightful, a banquet of delicious sensations desired and sought after by all. Quite the opposite, heartbreak is neither wanted nor desired. One will, if possible flee from the bite of it. On the other hand, with romance, one will wait patiently for the sensation of adventure to catch them or even chase after, not flee from, the castles of romance in the clouds.

Like a companion, heartbreak brings heartache, a pain that aches and deeply wounds the outlook of that individual. It bears all the characteristic of a toothache…a toothache of the heart and soul. It can and does have a domino effect to it as it did in the Bandaci, Giovanni, Moretti, and Meriwether families. It hung over these families like a jailer. Vincenzo’ caused unintentional distress and adversity on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, as did Simone’.

This type of devastation in a family is a trap door; it has nowhere to go except down. Like that trap door, the heart can feel it has nowhere to go, trapped in time unable to move in any direction except down. Unhappiness is shattering especially of the heart. Living day-to-day in wedlock, especially when you love that person with your very being will break that heart when it feels it is not getting equally that love in return or in the smallest universes of the heart’s mind thinks the one it adores so much does not adore or hold it as dear.

Continuing from Book 2, the author reminds the reader of the mental positions of romance but cannot dismiss its two first cousins heartbreak and heartache; they have deeply rooted bloodlines. Romance is a place alongside the heart a side-by-side intrigue of two hearts and minds or the one heart and mind.

In Book 3, of this engrossing novel, the epic saga continues and concludes highlighting the way that we live our lives has long reaching repercussions on the people we care for the most; as well as, people our lives touch on a daily basis, regardless of the continent they live.

The author makes several emotionally compelling and undeniable points. There are times in our lives, not just Simone’s, but all human lives, when we encounter situations as she did in this moving and tenderly expressive novel, leftovers from our yesterday’s like the flow of a stream, follows us into adulthood or throughout our lives. It is not so much the situations or events, which needs no names, oddly so, it is how we choose to handle them.

As it is poignantly stated, life’s currents sweep us along with the early stages of growth and development in our lives with no lifeline on which to take hold. However, we can rise above those events and situations and swim against that tide. In addition, accepting the indisputable fact that we are all humans and subject to lapses in wisdom. Then again, though the paths we take may be unwise, realize those hiatuses, like a pattern, when purchased, the dotted lines are pre-drawn. Mentally concluding, inexperience of youth are the pre-drawn dotted lines on the pattern of one’s life; hence, choices made at a young age are the best we can do at the time can and will affect, at some point, us as we move through remainder of one’s youth and into adulthood.

The same principle applies to adulthood. Those lines, once casted on the design of our lives are unchangeable, once we determine what we think is sensible. We must live with all stages of our lives even though we labor with the stress, pressure, half-truths, secrecy, and indulges in concealing facts of our past, can cause in the long and short of life, heartbreak.

Simone’s actions reached people on both European and North America Continents. Love for her family was so strong she went to whatever extents necessary to protect them. These magnitudes of love included living in two worlds of mendacity, veiling the facts, and letting hypothesis of false statements mixed with deception stand without amendment. With the demeanor of these strategies, the mystery surrounding her grew.

It was never her intention to be enigmatic to her family. The characteristics that defined Simone’ persona developed partly due to the soft intenseness of her nature and without consent, built the unfathomable shadow of mystery that followed her over time.

Simone’ could not leave the mystery surrounding her as a child behind; moreover, that opaque silhouette followed her into adulthood. She baffled her father, confused her mother, mystified her daughter, puzzled her husband at the same time increasing his thirst for the intense and alluring woman he married. She was thought by her daughter Carmeli’ta’ to be a perfect mother and was hungered after by Vincenzo’ Alessandro Moretti, who could not tear her from his mind and heart.

She is in Vincenzo’s mind as Juanita Madison is in Charles Meriwether’s mind, there walking constantly through the pathways of that hunger, and the yearnings tearing at him, injuring his heart, as thorns does the flesh. The lack of love, the author personifies at one point as a major paradox is like death gripping, binding, and holding the person unrelentingly, as it did Vincenzo’.

Simone’ ran away with more than a two-decades-old mystery locked in a 6x9 Diary; nevertheless, she could not run far enough to get away from its glaring truth. Roberto’, in pain and deeply in love with the woman he experienced for twenty-three years as being twofold, returns to Tuscany Valley to solve the mystery whose long arms during those years unintentionally pulled in others around them.

The Saga of Simone’ tells of danger, mystery, passion, love, and the family ties of a beautiful woman all wrapped up in the mystery held in a Diary she started at 13 years of age in 1901 and a letter written in 1905 given to her years later by a lover.

Simone’ has a perplexing mystique about her, she continued to confuse and baffle her husband, fascinate her daughter, worry her parents, and drove one man to a near madness that almost destroyed his chance for true happiness because of his love and need for her in his life.

Spiked with mystery, intrigue, heartache, despairs, and fears; this beautiful ongoing inspiring Saga written with tact, finesse, morbid love, and sacrifices; the reader can draw several senses of the aspect of the human beings that are emotional, psychological, and physical from this on-going story in the enchanting trilogy of novels. In a complex society divided by status, farmers and wine makers forbidding intermingling, remains at that time, a constant acute mentality of society towards these people, and the parents towards their children; But then again, it was a kind of love, life, respect, interest, and reciprocity among all parties.

Love’s triumphs expressed in this novel are in four ways: Eros physical love between man and woman; Storage affection parents love for their children; Philia: friendship or mental love; and Agape: spiritual, selfless love all experienced by Simone’ and Roberto’ during their life; some came at a higher price than others.

In the end, is not Love supposed to win?

The questions remains unanswered for Robert’ and Simone’. Will Roberto’ finally be able to turn the page of life he has been on for so long? Will love triumph over the pain, heartache, heartbreak, doubt, and fears that have overshadowed their lives even before he met Simone in June the mystery was there in May 1905?

The journey continues…the Saga is ongoing…

This novel remains delicious; it has a real sensuality. The imagination remains at the top of the affair; it can overwhelm the reader positioning them within the settings and scenes engaging them in the chain of events as they unfold with mental involvement, as strong, as reality.

Simone’ the Epic Saga began and continued. How will it end? Will love truly Triumph?

The mystery and saga continues and concludes with Diary: Secret Revealed: Simone’ The Epic Saga Begins, Continues, and ends with Love’s Triumphs…

Chapter

One

Sunday, December 31, 1927, at 4:00 p.m., Amelio’ and Bibi ‘Ana met Roberto’ and Simone’ at the Charleston International Airport overjoyed to see them, greeted them with hugs and kisses.

Arriving home, gave Roberto’ and Simone’ a peaceful happiness they had longed for many days; as well, pleased to see Marianna both hugged her. She was delighted to have her family home and to know Ms. Bandaci was well; she had missed her.

Amelio’ and Roberto’ before dinner, spent time together in Roberto’s office. They discussed the growth and change in their businesses, the Military Bases in the Carolinas as new customers, additional employees hired for both farms, going over accounts, and looking at the market forecasts. Both felt a coming storm after almost ten golden years of unbelievable prosperity, were thankful their accounts are secure in Switzerland.

Simone’ and Bibi ‘Ana talked upstairs; she could not wait to be at in her comfortable bedroom suite again.

Simone’ excused herself for a few moments, went into their bedroom, opened her cosmetic case, retrieved the Diary from under her makeup, walked to the Armoire’, moved her lingerie aside, opened the secret compartment, put the Diary in the extreme back as always, closed the compartment, arranged her lingerie, and shut the door of the Armoire’ .

She returned to the sitting room, smiled at Bibi’ Ana, went and stood in front of the fireplace. Turning from the warm fire, said, Bib ‘Ana while you were in the Ladies Lounge before we left the Airport, Amelio’ told us you were baptized last week. I am so pleased that you are my sister in Christ. Roberto’ and I rejoiced at this good news.

Yes, the members of the Lafayette Street Church of Christ rallied around me with love and support after I arrived. They made me feel welcome and comfortable. I felt loved and wanted, I obeyed the Gospel after I had Bible Study with the Minister and my Amelio’ three days a week for the last two weeks. I want to inherit Heaven along with Roberto’, Carmeli’ta’, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and you; but especially with my sweet Amelio’.

After they talked for a while about the plans for the wedding, Simone’ becoming as aloof as when she was a child Bibi ‘Ana asked, Simone’ what is worrying you? Please share it with me whatever it is, do not carry this burden alone any longer. I love you my friend and want to help you as I did when we were children.

Simone’ hesitating then commented, I kept a Diary from age 13 years old and part of my Diary, probably most of it, is about decisions I made when I was a girl that have followed me into adulthood my friend. What is there will hurt my family and mostly my husband. He was supposed to read it before we left Tuscany but events and situations prevented him doing so. She paused again, looked at Bibi ‘Ana opened her mouth to say something but shook her head no.

Bibi ‘Ana said, Simone’ if it will make it any easier for you to share it with me what you tell me will be in complete confidence, I will not tell Amelio’ what you spoke about. I have kept your secret all these years. I know about Vincenzo’ Moretti my friend. I saw you two together when we were in our teens. Remember the Moretti Vineyard joined my parent’s Allevamento de Polli (Chicken Farm) before the Moretti’s bought the farm from me after my mother died, She paused and waited.

Simone’ in shock could not speak for a while finally said, I did not know you saw us. I was having a hard time when I met Vincenzo’ Bibi ‘Ana and his friendship at that time made it easier for me. I did not understand my body at that time and we became friends and then lovers only three times over those years and there is more, but I cannot discuss it with you right now it is far too painful for me.

"I understand my friend. I will keep what you told me to myself. It is a difficult place to be I am sure, but whatever it is just know I will support you in every way that I can all you need is to ask. We all have things in our past we regret and wish we could change, but we cannot my sister. All we can do is, go forward from where we are as Amelio’ and I are doing. She added, I felt you were my sister since we were children and I still feel that way now. I feel as close to you as ever. I have missed you all the years we were apart."

Simone’ walked to where Bibi ‘Ana was standing and hugged her, I have missed you too and feel that you are my sister. I wish I had shared with you then what have haunted me over the years, I did not know how; because, at that time, I did not understand it myself.

Downstairs Roberto’ and Amelio’ ended their meeting, asked Marianna where their sweethearts were. She told them they were in the sitting room upstairs, Juyannata and she had taken them tea earlier. Roberto’ looked at the clock on the wall it was 6:00 p.m. remarked, I promised Franco I would call him when we arrived. It is 11:00 p.m. their time, they are finishing or have finished their coffee and dessert.

He picked up the phone and called the operator to ring their home. After two or three minutes the operator informed him the line was ringing. Franco and Catarina after finishing their dessert sitting chatting waiting for the call heard the phone ring Franco said, It is no doubt our children calling they arrived at 4:00 p.m. today their time.

They both rushed down the hallway to the office, Franco picked up the receiver on the fifth ring, Franco Giovanni speaking.

Franco, it is Roberto’ my beauty and I arrived safely and on schedule at 4:00 p.m. It is good to be home again.

Hello my son, I am sure it is; home is always desirable. Mother and I were waiting for your call before we retired. I am glad you arrived safe. Take care of my sweet daughter and granddaughter. We enjoyed your visit even with everything that took place.

I will take care of my beauty always and my sweet daughter. Thank you again Franco, we enjoyed being there. We will talk soon. Goodnight.

Thank you my son, kiss my daughter for me; goodnight.

Chapter

Two

They hung up and Roberto and Amelio’ continued upstairs. Roberto’ opened the door to their suite, Simone’ and Bibi ‘Ana were standing together hugging each other and talking quietly when they heard the door they both turned Simone’ said, Here are our darlings my sweet sister.

Roberto’ and Amelio’ came and stood behind them content to be together and celebrate as a family their first night back from Tuscany. Roberto’, said quietly in Simone’s left ear, I called father and mother to let them know we were home as we promised.

Simone’ turned, looked at her husband, pushed back the lock of hair dancing on his forehead, and smiled, Thank you my sweet thoughtful husband. I did not want them to worry.

They were waiting my beauty, and I promised Franco I would give you the kiss he sent you. Do you want it now or later?

She stood on her tiptoes and whispered, Later my love, many kisses later.

Amelio’ and Bibi ‘Ana, standing a few feet away, did not hear the whispers of love in the air between them for later.

At that moment, Marianna knocked at the door and announced dinner. They enjoyed the Braised Lamb Chops with Garlic, Herb, and Butter Sauce, Roasted Potatoes, Green Salad with Oil and Vinegar, Fresh Baked Bread with Butter, and Ice Tea in chilled glasses.

Roberto’ as usual smiled and said, Dinner was delicious as always Marianna and Juyannata, thank you. We have missed your dinners Marianna. Ms. Bandaci and I regret not getting the chance to call you while we were away.

She smiled and replied, Thank you Mr. Bandaci it is good to have my family home again. It is okay, Mr. Amelio’ kept me informed. Somehow Mr. Bandaci, I am thankful I did not know about my baby being hurt, I don’t believe I could have stood knowing she was in critical condition and so far away from me and I could not help care for her.

Simone’ walked over to Marianna and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled at Simone’ and turned to continue her work.

After dinner they went back upstairs to Roberto’ and Simone’s Suite to visit and catchup with community news. Marianna and Juyannata bought Sugar Cookies and Coffee for Dessert at 9:00 p.m. as Simone’ instructed. Amelio’ noticed Simone’ and Bibi ‘Ana looked as if there was something unsaid between them. He would ask her later at home. They left for their home at 10:00 p.m. and Simone’ and Roberto’ prepared for bed, Marianna would unpack their luggage on Monday.

Amelio’, Bibi ‘Ana, and Juyannata arrived home five minutes after they left Roberto’s, Juyannata said goodnight, Amelio’ pushed up the fire, reached for Bibi ‘Ana, Thank you for making our Simone’ feel welcome she has been gone for a long time. Did you have a good time catching up my lovely future wife?

Amelio’ waited to hear her response hoping she would mention the serious part of the conversation between Simone’ and her.

Yes, my love, we remembered how much we missed each other over the years, and still think of each other as sisters nothing has changed from our childhood. I am overjoyed to be with Simone’ again she is still one of the best people, I know in the world, besides you my sweet future husband.

Bibi ‘Ana as promised was discreet in what she told Amelio’ about their conversation. They said goodnight and each went to their suites to retire.

A few streets over, Roberto’ as always waited for Simone’ sitting at the foot of their bed. Coming from the bathroom with her robe on, walked to Roberto’. He opened it, she had on a negligée pulled her to him, let the robe slide to the floor, removed her negligée, and they slipped between the sheets, Simone’ snuggled near him and said, I am ready for my many kisses my husband, I have thought about you all evening.

He put his arms around her, hugging her too him without speaking, they kissed, and loved each other taking pleasure in being home and back in their private suite, yet fear raised its ugly head again.

In London, early Monday, January 1, 1928, Jason, Carmeli’ta’, and Mr. de Antoine met; his Attorneys had fine-tuned the process, contracts in place, the location of the warehouse on the Langley property decided, Madison Steel & Iron and Langley Textiles Mills became partners. During the process, Jason spoke often with his father and their Attorneys for guidance. Jason signed the contracts for Madison Steel & Iron Corporation.

In Charleston, Monday night January 1, Roberto’ and Amelio’s for their holiday gifts to their beautiful sweethearts reserved Rochelle’s Blue Room for an intimate evening of dinner and dancing to celebrate Christmas and the New Year’s together.

Tuesday, January 2, with the celebrations over, life for the two couples continued in their normal day-by-day way; also, January 2, Simone’ and Bibi ‘Ana began making plans, for Amelio’ and her wedding, January 20, 1928.

Citizens of Charleston and surrounding cities received invitations to the wedding, their Church family; Amelio’s closest friends; Roberto’s friends; their business associates; and even Charles Meriwether; were invited. Amelio’ felt he needed to keep an eye on him if possible. He did not want to give him any reason to be suspicious of the coming power play to stop him from hurting his family by not including him on his list of invited guests.

Furthermore, he was his first customer when he arrived in Charleston in 1906 and still one of his best; as well Meriwether, gave him a list of potential clients, private and business, as well, called ahead to recommend him as their vegetable supplier, saving Amelio’ the initial boots-on-the-ground work.

Back in Tuscany, Dominique, Dr. Panniche’s Nurse, called January 2 to arrange an appointment with Vincenzo’ to see the doctors January 6, Concetta informed her he was out of the country and would return January 7, adding another delay for the conversation he wanted to have with the doctors about his health. Dominique asked Concetta to let Vincenzo’ know it would be in February or later before he could get another appointment, the doctors were leaving January 8 for a three week seminar in London and their appointment schedules were booked until the last of February into the first weeks in March, she would call back again when there was another opening.

Meanwhile in Paris, January 3, while Antonia was alone with her mother wanted to know the mystery of her face decided to question her again about her resemblance to Simone’ Bandaci.

Hono’ree Beauchene never felt comfortable enough to contact her sister whom she has never seen just heard about. She was as elusive in her life as the mysterious Biblical Unicorn. Antonia Beauchene Amoretti’s mother, Hono’ree, at 21 years of age, married Antonia’s father, Pierre Amoretti 30 years old, a wealthy man and France’s Ministres d’état (Ministers of State). Hono’ree was never involved in her sister’s life.

In June 1880, a few years, after his wife died, Alfonso De’ Luca, traveled to Paris on holiday and met Hono’ree Beauchene’s mother Celes’tine Beauchene. When she met Alfonso De’ Luca, she was 16 years old, young and unmarried, living at home with her parents. He was in Paris for a month.

During that time they had a brief romantic interlude. When he returned home all the years he lived after returning to Tuscany Valley and his farm on the Northside where his daughter grew up never mentioned seeing a woman, who the same year was carrying his child.

Hono’ree Beauchene was born nine months later March 9, 1881. There were rumors

De’ Luca daughter in Tuscany had a sister in Paris. She never knew whether it was true or not but it was rumored as true. Her father, Alfonso De’ Luca, traveled to Paris in March 1881 for the birth of his daughter and many times over the years as she grew, through the entire time, he never mentioned Hono’ree Beauchene, to his daughter in Tuscany and he has since passed away many years ago.

Antonia’s mother, Hono’ree only told her when she questioned her why she bears a strong facial resemblance to Simone’ and her mother Catarina. Hono’ree showed Antonia a picture of Alfonso De’ Luca, her father and her mother Celes’tine taken in Paris, France beneath the Arc de Triomphe, July 17, 1880.

Hono’ree told Antonia her mother said, Alfonso De’ Luca was in his 30’s, a very handsome man, and I was attracted to him. We were both having lunch at le café d’ été (The Summer Café) at tables on Le trottoir (The Sidewalk) at the same time. He walked over to my table asked if he could join me, I smiled and said yes; from that moment, we spent every day together the remainder of his time there. I cannot tell you of the sweetness of the love we shared for the rest of his life. The passion and the desire passing between us, with the intenseness of the love we shared bought feelings to surface I was not aware was in me. I never knew I could feel the way he made me feel. Being in love is a beautiful feeling and having someone who returned my love, filled my heart to the point I did not need anyone else. She continued and my mother said, And it was summer and school was out, so I met him each day and we slowly fell in love during that month.

Hono’ree told Antonia, My mother never married, but raised me by herself in another city away from Paris. My Father relocated us to avoid the scandal of a single woman with a child and no husband. The citizens in the town of Toulouse, France thought my father worked away from us and only came home two or three times a year. My mother received support from my father Alfonso De’ Luca every month and he visited us many times over the years until he died when I was 18 years old.

She smiled and said, My mother went to the Tuscany Valley to his funeral when he died. My father and I were very close; therefore, she did not allow me to go, thought it would be too hard emotionally for me; therefore, she left me with my grandmother Jacqueline Beauchene in Paris City. At the funeral she saw her sister, knew she was my father’s daughter; she looked just like him just prettier; but at that time did not speak with her for fear that she would reject her. Pausing, She also told me she wore a black veil so I doubt anyone noticed me.

Alfonso’s daughter in Tuscany was like him. Hono’ree did not look like her father Alfonso De’ Luca but her mother Celes’tine; the De’ Luca likeness skipped one generation and became noticeably distinct again when Antonia was born.

Celes’tine did not want her daughter, Hono’ree to suffer any mental or emotional stress due to the fact she was never married to Alfonso De’ Luca therefore, she used her family name Beauchene. The people in the little town of Toulouse thought Hono’ree father’s name was Alfonso De’ Luca Beauchene and Celes’tine never corrected their thinking, she allowed it to stand to protect her daughter.

During the services, his daughter in Tuscany remembered seeing a woman wearing a black veil, but at that time did not put a lot of mental energy into it because of the pain from the heartbreak; she felt losing her father at a young age, of 55 years old. She knew everyone else at the funeral that day except that one person. The image stayed with her for a while; but; she after a period-of-time pushed it out of her mind.

She wondered during those times if she was the woman in her father’s life whispered about behind closed doors; but then she never had any proof there was a woman or one ever existed. She did know her father traveled a lot during the last eighteen years of his life, never questioned him, because she wanted him to find happiness after the sudden death of her mother. Her father raised her alone, worked hard to make their farm a success, and took delight in his granddaughter while she was growing in her younger years.

De’ Luca’s daughter, in Tuscany, was 15 years old at the times she married her husband at 18 years old, shared her thoughts with him about the rumor floating in the valley. Her husband, wise even at a young age, encouraged her to put it aside and concentrate on their life since there was no way to prove or disprove the rumor about her father having another child, and naturally, it was not her place to ask.

Antonia sitting across from her mother in the evening room asked, Mother how do you know the Moretti family since they live in Italy and you are from Paris?

"My Father Alfonso De’ Luca told the Ministres d’état and me about the Moretti Family years before and that their son Vincenzo’ was a possibility for a husband for you. Your grandfather said the Moretti family was one of the best in Tuscany, though we were not Winemakers, it would be a good match for his granddaughter, because she deserved the best and that family in his opinion is one of the best."

She continued, Your grandfather was one of the wealthy Farmers in the Valley as there were wealthy Winemakers in the valley. He wanted to try to break that system of separation existing in Tuscany Valley at the time. He did not think it right to categorize people by profession or status. We considered many eligible men as a possibility of a husband for you, but in the end, you were the one who made the decision for us.

I don’t understand Mother, how did I make that decision? It was up to Father and you not me.

It was up to you more than you think Antonia. Your father and I noticed every other eligible man you met you brushed-off. But from the moment you met Vincenzo’, we could tell by your reaction you cared for him it was evident by the light we saw in your eyes when you looked at him or his name is mentioned. It is their in your eyes now and that light has not gone out in all the years that you have been married to him my sweet Daughter.

Antonia smiles, I do love my husband with all my heart. However, I had no idea Mother, father and you considered my actions. I prayed when I met him that he would be the one that father and you choose for me. At that time, I did not think I had a choice.

I know my sweet Antonia, but you did. Remember, you nor I were a resident of Tuscany Valley and did not live under that almost caste system of thought; even though your father and I wanted to help guide your success in life, you had a choice. My mother allowed me to make my choice; therefore, I could not do any less for you.

Thank you Mother, I am glad father and you allowed me to make my choice in a husband. She added, There are other facts equally important Mother and none of what you shared with me up-to-this-point have answered my question about my resembling Simone’ Bandaci. Where are the De’ Luca’s? I have never heard of them; they must live in another part of the Valley or in the North where I never go. The look on Antonia’s face told her mother she did not understand her point and still did not know of whom she was referring.

Hono’ree smiled and said, Antonia my darling Daughter, Catarina De’ Luca Giovanni is your grandfather’s oldest daughter.

Antonia sit in shock for a moment before she could speak, Mother, Ms. Giovanni is my Aunt and Simone’ Bandaci is my cousin? Mother, why have you not told me this all these years, why?

I attempted to many times my Daughter, your father and I thought it best to wait until it was necessary, that is why you look like Simone’ and my sister. I did not look like my Father, but my mother, the De’ Luca’s family trait skipped me and appeared in you my darling Daughter.

Mother you cannot keep this to yourself any longer, your sister has a right to know you. She is my Aunt, Mother, and you are Simone’s Aunt. They live right down the street from us. I have no other family except father and you and now I have an aunt, and I am Simone’ and Carmeli’ta’ Bandaci’s cousin, I have longed for family, Mother how could you keep this from me? Why Mother why? Antonia stopped short as if a sobering thought presented itself and asked, How does father feel? This being known could hurt his position as well.

I thought it wise at the time; we all do things we think is best at the particular moment or period-of-time. Our keeping it a secret was to protect you not hurt you. My mother was not ashamed of her love for my father, not am I; however, talk can cause censure. Creating a scandal of that magnitude is nasty and can be detrimental to the reputation of that person or family. You are well aware of how things of this nature fare in society now. We are not that far in years from the turn-of-the-century that societal thinking has changed; this system of thought still stands head-and-shoulders above modern society. People’s class and stations in life still divides them. We have not progressed far enough yet where it will go unnoticed.

She continued, To answer your question about your father, your father said, He was not concerned about scandal hurting his position. If the powers-to-be thought it was an embarrassment, they could have the job. You are his daughter and I am his wife we are more important to him than a position. He commented that he knew about my father and mother when he married me; it did not bother him then nor will it in the future; nothing can change his love for me."

Mother how did grandmother survive after my grandfather died? She had never worked that I remember.

No she never worked, my father left her financially solvent; remember, I told you he was wealthy. After he grew ill, he told my mother, he divided the money between his daughter and her. He also left his daughter in Tuscany the farm. My sister’s husband combined their farms after our father died.

Looking at her mother smiled, Yes, Franco Giovanni has the largest vegetable farm and is one of the wealthiest most influential men in the valley.

Antonia looked out the window facing the Fountain of Flowers said, I am thankful for a loving mother and father. She rose, Father and Vincenzo’ are returning Mother. I will tell Vincenzo’ when we return to Tuscany. I want us to enjoy the rest of our vacation; we have only been here three days.

I think that is best my Daughter, I will talk to him if necessary after you tell him, though from what I see in his eyes now, different from before, he will not care. I think he has fallen in love with you. Antonia did not comment smiled and walked to the sliding doors to meet her husband.

Vincenzo’ have more inadvertent ties to the Bandaci and Giovanni families than he realized with Antonia Amoretti being in the family, but she did not carry the same last name as Catarina De’ Luca Giovanni.