The Crimson Violin

By Dee Russ Smith

The Crimson Violin is the smooth continuation of The Golden Moon. Recovering at her Grandfather’s once famous Italian Villa, Maria is haunted by the unsolved mystery of missing artwork and jewels from the wrecked cruise ship. Meanwhile, away from her home, she learns the history of her Italian heritage. The reader experiences Italy’s wine country, Rome’s summer Olympics, and Central Italy’s famous Annual Grape Harvest. Maria is surrounded by music, friends, and family and is bequeathed a symbolic, crimson violin from her Grandfather. She endures a perilous experience, which discovers Italy’s famous artwork. Throughout her travels Maria’s heart is never far from her true love, Jeff, whom she thought she had lost for good. The reader will find The Crimson Violin to be a wholesome exciting adventure where everyone falls in love. The novel is especially appealing to teenagers, mothers, and grandmothers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663219473

Dee Russ Smith

Dee Russ Smith was born in the city, but her years in the family’s large house in a rural setting with gardens and vineyards made a lasting impression. Growing up before television, the vineyard country was her window to the outside world. Dee was first a New York state art teacher. Long after her children were grown, Dee wrote and illustrated her first book for elementary-aged children, The Pigs of Pineapple Beach. A few years later Dee wrote her first novel for teenagers titled, The Golden Moon, Maria’s Adventures on the High Seas. Her second novel, The Crimson Violin, is the sequel to The Golden Moon. Dee Russ Smith has resided on the Florida Space Coast for fifty years with her husband and a beautiful view of the ocean; her children and grandchildren are nearby. Reading continues to be her favorite past-time, and it was especially comforting and liberating during the confinement of the 2020 pandemic.

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Copyright © 2021 Dee Russ Smith.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-1946-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1947-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021904857

iUniverse rev. date:   05/03/2021

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Prologue

Chapter 1     Maria Arrives at the Villa

Chapter 2     The Manor

Chapter 3     Money Problems

Chapter 4     Maria’s Vision

Chapter 5     Recalling the Family History

Chapter 6     Rosalie Gets Her Man

Chapter 7     Leaving Home

Chapter 8     The Winery and the Vineyards

Chapter 9     Aunt Talia’s Welcome Home Party

Chapter 10   James and Mr. Bello

Chapter 11   Costumes for the Festival

Chapter 12   Paolo

Chapter 13   Maria’s Wine Label

Chapter 14   Completing the Label

Chapter 15   The Harvest Festival

Chapter 16   Italian Folk Dances

Chapter 17   Wine Tasting and Label Contest

Chapter 18   European Football

Chapter 19   The Harvest Ball

Chapter 20   Veronica Tours the Manor

Chapter 21   Paolo’s Picnic

Chapter 22   James, Elizabeth, and Mr. Bello

Chapter 23   The Train

Chapter 24   The Laptop

Chapter 25   Paolo’s Library

Chapter 26   Reminiscing

Chapter 27   Confronting Elizabeth

Chapter 28   The Detective

Chapter 29   The Hidden Room

Chapter 30   The Camera

Chapter 31   Visiting the Tunnel

Chapter 32   The Police

Chapter 33   The Adventure

Chapter 34   The Cupboard

Chapter 35   Masterpieces

Chapter 36   Digging

Chapter 37   Arnica

Chapter 38   Lightning and Luna

Chapter 39   Fighting Back

Chapter 40   The Rosary

Chapter 41   The Police, Paintings, and Photos

Chapter 42   Talia’s Jewelry

Chapter 43   Paolo’s Announcement

Chapter 44   The Photo

Chapter 45   Maria’s Friends

Chapter 46   Paolo’s Gift to the Community

Chapter 47   Uncle Pietro

Chapter 48   Jeff and Maria

Chapter 49   Rosalie’s Fountain

Chapter 50   Maria as Tour Guide

Chapter 51   Rehearsing

Chapter 52   The Hot Tub

Chapter 53   Tara Arrives

Chapter 54   The Diamond Earrings

Chapter 55   Strangers at the Wedding

Chapter 56   Maria’s Competition

Chapter 57   Jeff and Maria

Chapter 58   The Rescue

Chapter 59   Paolo’s Gift

Chapter 60   The Olympics

Chapter 61   Meeting Riley

Chapter 62   U.S.A.

Chapter 63   The Lighthouse

Chapter 64   The Island

Chapter 65   Preparing for Talia’s Wedding

Chapter 66   The Golden Moon

Epilogue

What I need to live has been given to me by the earth.

Why I need to love has been given to me by you.

-Anonymous.

I see my fated stars in your eyes; they melt me like the sun does snow.

-Anonymous.

Dedication

T he Crimson Violin is dedicated to Tracey, Mavis and Jenny, my daughters who helped my story become a book; and to my son Jeff, who contributed the violin; and to my beloved husband Frank Smith, the love of my life.

Acknowledgment

M y deepest gratitude to Jennifer in her editing efforts and for financing the publishing of The Crimson Violin; the sequel to The Golden Moon. Many thanks to Tracey and Carl for their editing segments, to Mavis for her editing and creative designing of the cover and to Jeff for providing his violin for the photo. My family’s continuous enthusiasm and handy computer assistance was essential in turning this story into a book. Finally, I am grateful for the many sincere compliments from my readers of The Golden Moon who surely helped in making this second book become a reality. This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to anyone living are purely coincidental. The author takes full responsibility for any errors in the making of this book.

Prologue

M aria Novanni and her Aunt Talia Novanni were still recuperating from life-threatening injuries incurred while on a Mediterranean cruise which ended tragically and mysteriously. A Croatian tanker had struck their cruise ship, The Golden Moon, killing many and injuring hundreds of sailing guests. Maria and her Aunt Talia were fortunate to have survived.

Maria’s mother, Dee, had flown to Rome from the United States to find her daughter miraculously alive. When Dee first set eyes on her Maria had been in casts from head to toe and was still unconscious. Dee’s sister-in-law, Talia, was also in a grave comatose condition. For the next several weeks, Dee, ten years a widow, and Uncle Sandy Novanni, an orthopedic doctor, cared for Maria and Talia during their initial recovery in the Catholic hospital in Rome. Dee and Sandy, both single, soon realized that this family tragedy had brought them to care deeply for each other. It was Uncle Sandy who had just flown Dee and Maria to the Novanni Villa outside of the town of Pratola Peligna in the Abruzzo region of Central Italy. This was the place where Maria’s father, Tony, Uncle Sandy, and Aunt Talia were raised.

The plan was for Aunt Talia to recuperate at the family Villa after undergoing a hip replacement in L’Aquila, the mountain city a few hours from Pratola. She had spent the first decade of her life at the Villa, and it had been years since Talia had been home. Maria and her mother would meet her there. It was the perfect place for a peaceful healing.

Growing up, Maria had never wanted her mother to remarry, but as the months passed here in Italy, she found she was hoping Sandy and her mother were falling in love. When she was three, Maria’s father had drowned while rescuing a panicky child. From the spirit world, he had often appeared, bringing much comfort to his daughter. Maria was fifteen now, and she decided she was ready for a real live father in her life. She begged her father in the spirit world to understand.

Chapter 1

Maria Arrives at the Villa

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T he small airplane landed smoothly, and then taxied to a stop at the Pratola municipal airstrip. Dee and Maria were blessed to have Uncle Sandy deliver them safely to the family Villa where GrandpaPa Paolo was waiting. Elena, GrandpaPa Paolo’s, housekeeper and cook, immediately treated them to a feast. She had prepared a typical Italian pasta dinner, including her own special seasoned sauce, lots of cheese and homemade bread soaked in garlic and olive oil, which are two Italian staples. Both Elena and her husband, Bruno, Paolo’s lifelong right-hand man, along with most folks in the county, worshipped Paolo Novanni. While saying grace, Paolo thanked God for saving his daughter, Talia, and his only granddaughter, Maria. The Novanni family had much to be grateful for, and after Paolo’s prayer they conversed lightly, and they allowed each other a bit of laughter. Dee praised Sandy for his gracious hospitality, and for delivering them to this safe place surrounded by loving family and friends.

Maria sat snuggling the new kitten GrandpaPa Paolo had surprised her with upon arrival. She was especially thrilled knowing the kitten was allowed inside their little cottage. At her American grandparents’ country place pets were not permitted indoors. Maria remembered begging during cold spells. The Great Lakes region has winters that can be brutal. But the dogs were accustomed to their snug straw-padded home in the barn. Only rarely did they manage to slip into the house undiscovered. Shocked to finally be indoors, they would merely stand and stare. So now, Maria was excited to have her kitten with her in the cottage.

Sitting on the tiny porch of their bungalow, nestled in a shade of the olive grove, a good distance from Paolo’s home, Maria noticed Paolo’s dogs coming along the path after their typical long day of wandering. Lightning and Luna were extra late; the stars were already glimmering. Paolo’s two German Shepherds had greeted Maria warmly on her first day, but they soon vanished, attending to more important matters around the countryside. Every day, from dawn to dusk the dogs could be seen checking out their many haunts, which covered many miles. But by evening, the two weary vagabonds could always be found dozing happily at their master’s feet.

Compared to the vastness of Sandy’s condo in Rome or Paolo’s new living quarters, still being built now inside the Manor, Dee and Maria’s cottage was cozy and very welcoming. It was the same one they had stayed in a few years ago. Besides enjoying her kitten, Maria’s mind was awhirl with thoughts of all that had happened before their flight to central Italy. She tried to blank out her days in the hospital, what little she could recall. She longed for those days when she and her shipboard friends had toured Rome’s famous fountains and performed with their violins on the ship. She would never forget seeing the view from the Golden Moon while in Venice Harbor. From Sandy’s plane, the Vatican had looked like a toy town under a Christmas tree. When she saw the aqueduct from the air, Maria had imagined the Romans’ first days drinking and bathing in the plentiful water. What secrets that place could tell!

Maria often thought about her longtime friends and those new friends she had met on the ship. Some memories were so tragic, and she had to bite her lip so as not to cry. Her kitten, sensing her melancholy, would bat at Maria’s face as if to say, Stop that, you’ve got me!

Chapter 2

The Manor

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T he day after their arrival, Paolo led Dee and Maria up the granite steps leading to the empty Manor. He was excited to show off the recent renovations. For over seventy years, this once-palatial home, where Maria’s Grandmother Rosalie had lived as a toddler, had stood in ruins. Maria could not get enough of the stories of how the Manor had been a secluded haven for Europe’s rich and famous throughout the past two centuries. But on this last cruise, Aunt Talia had been explaining how her father and Sandy, struggling with conflicting ideas, finally agreed to turn the Manor into a bed and breakfast inn.

Maria glanced back at the fountain, centered in the circular drive, but she could see there were still no repairs there. Unlike Paolo’s new living quarters inside the Manor, the fountain was still a wreck. The stonework was still crumbled, and it was bone-dry. She was determined to suggest her grandfather bring the fountain back to life, but she still didn’t know him well enough. Except for two brief visits in the hospital, Maria had not seen him in two years. And, although he spoke English, they had not corresponded.

Now, entering the mansion and recalling the condition of the Manor on their last visit, Maria was shocked to see two massive double mahogany doors opening wide, welcoming them into the grand foyer. Oddly, they reminded her of the heavy brass doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, which of course led her to thoughts of Jeff: the special boy in her life, whom she had met on that fateful cruise. Never had Maria been so taken with another person. He was unusually gifted, both musically and artistically, and Maria found him funny and extremely handsome. Sadly, four years ago, Jeff went blind following a high fever, which had overtaken him while his family was visiting South America. Miraculously, there were several encouraging signs recently, giving hope that Jeff’s sight was returning. But Maria hadn’t heard much from Jeff, lately. He lived in Boston in the USA. But, instead of Maria returning home to America, where she could at least be on the same continent as Jeff, she found herself even further away from her heartthrob.

Dee and Maria stood in the Manor’s huge empty foyer. Their voices echoed off the bare, deep-oak walls and newly laid hardwood floors. Maria was dazzled. Looking up at the new crystal chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling, she could hear the tinkling of hundreds of sparkling teardrops, dancing in the breeze rushing in through the open doorway.

Maria looked at the new staircase with the graceful curves and smooth mahogany banister and its wrought-iron sides. Paolo told them that after the new Inn was finished the staircase would be carpeted for the safety of older guests. Maria recalled the dreadfully dilapidated stairway from two years ago, where it was too dangerous to attempt to tour the second or third floor. So, she had never seen the rest of the Manor.

Dee pointed to the tall narrow windows, arched at the top with colorful stained-glass inlays. Maria recalled hearing that to comply with the restrictions of the Italian Historical Society, if any existing windows were replaced, they had to be exact replicas. Therefore, Paolo explained, the windows were extremely expensive.

Maria glanced at the bare walls, which at one time were adorned with valuable paintings by famous mostly Italian European artist. Sometime during those two world wars, the paintings had vanished. Maybe someday these walls will be covered with beautiful paintings again, she commented wistfully. Paolo smiled, raising his eyebrows and nodding. Then he began describing how each of the eight spacious bedrooms had been renovated to allow for bathrooms and closets. Now, thankfully, with most of the electrical wiring and plumbing in place, everything was complete except for the plumbing fixtures and half of the drywall. The rooms would still need to be wallpapered and painted. According to Paolo, if all went as planned, the Manor would be ready for guests in a few months.

Because of her injuries, Maria’s climb up the front marble steps had tired her. Sandy, who had just entered the Manor, invited Dee to visit the second floor, while Maria and her grandfather walked towards what had once been the Grand Ballroom on the first floor. Two years ago, that vast dusty dark space had been frightening to Maria. It was difficult imagining gorgeous ladies and stylish gentlemen dancing to a live orchestra there. Today, though, Maria was speechless for a totally different reason. The ballroom had been transformed into a beautiful dining room for the new bed and breakfast inn. The bright oak floor glistened like a golden lake. Maria counted eight round oak dining tables. Straight-back chairs were upholstered in pale peach-colored linen with formal pleated skirts, which reached the floor. At the back of each chair was a large formal bow of pink satin. Opposite the wall of windows stood a shiny, black Baby Grand piano.

Maria felt positive the ballroom had been larger, but decided it was the furniture that made it look smaller. Then she thought again. No! I distinctly remember two walls of windows.

As if to read her mind, Paolo motioned her through a doorway. Maria found herself in a room with floor-to-ceiling bookcases. And there at the back wall were the missing windows.

GrandpaPa! You turned part of the ballroom into a library! Paolo nodded, beaming. Looking around, Maria noticed comfortable chairs covered in warm shades of wine, red and chocolate brown velour. She gazed at a circular Oriental rug, end tables, and reading lamps strategically placed. She realized the fireplace served both the library and the ballroom. Above the mantle hung a large oil painting depicting a view of the Novanni vineyards. Maria felt certain she knew the exact spot the artist had set up his easel. The cozy room was complete except that the bookshelves were empty. Paolo assured her someday they would be filled with all kinds of fascinating books.

Nodding, Maria got up the nerve to describe the condition of his fountain. GrandpaPa, it’s the first thing guests will see when they drive up to the Novanni Bed and Breakfast Inn!

I know, but I only have so much money to spend, he said in his usually patient voice. Maria decided she would have a talk with Uncle Sandy about it. They had become buddies since he began teaching her chess.

Dee and Sandy walked in. Dee complimented her father-in-law on all the wonderful changes, while Sandy praised his father for the many tough decisions he had faced on his own. Sandy’s love for his Papa made Maria long for a father she could not remember. She only knew what her mother and aunt told her about him.

So, when Paolo learned that Maria and Dee would be remaining at the Villa for longer than just their originally planned two weeks, he insisted the carpenters stop everything and modernize their cottage. They did it in record time before resuming their work on the Manor. They had now almost completed Paolo’s new living quarters, which were located to the left of the grand staircase. However, there was still more work to be done to the guest rooms on the Manor’s second and third floors. But everyone felt optimistic that the new Inn, including the large, modernized kitchen, would be completed by Christmas.

Chapter 3

Money Problems

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T he Italians can be naturally joyful, but that joy can plummet in a flash. At the table, that evening, as Paolo revealed his financial status. It was as if a dark cloud had circled the table. Between the expense of renovating the Manor and the cost of his new farm equipment, Paolo was in a big trouble. It was so disturbing, Maria found herself humming to blot out his depressing words. But still, she caught phrases like bank mortgage, postponing construction, weather, poor crop and disgruntled workers threatening to quit.

The air was so heavy with doom that by the time dessert was served Maria could hardly breath. Aware of her daughter’s growing anxiety, Dee suggested they return to the cottage to finish getting settled.

Lying now in her cozy bedroom, Maria was surprised by how much she liked this cottage. Maria’s frisky new kitten had a lot to do with helping Maria feel comfortable here in the country.

Stretched out on the soft white chenille bedspread under the filmy white canopy, Maria watched her kitten following the pale green and white gauzy curtains fluttering in breezes drifting through the French windows. It surprised even Maria when she urged her mother to return to GranpaPa’s bungalow. I’m fine here, Mom, and we did walk out on Paolo’s conversation, she said, hugging her kitten.

Dee felt relieved knowing Maria was accepting the Villa so quickly. Still, she wondered how long the cheery mood would last.

The kitten’s fur was as black as night, except for her snowy white feet and the tip of her tail, looking as if she had walked through a puddle of white paint, and, at the last minute, had dropped her tail. The kitten batted Maria with her tiny paws claws out from time to time. She would agree to brief cuddling sessions before wiggling free and scampering off to examine some new oddity. Maria had decided to name her Quizzie. It’s short for inquisitive, she later told her grandfather, …and rhymes with dizzy which is how I get watching her. Paolo laughed, and his worry lines disappeared, like the sun breaking through a cloudbank. It made Maria feel good.

Alone in the cottage now, Maria considered how her mother’s mood had changed since they arrived at the Villa, even before they learned about Paolo’s serious money problems. Dee seemed easily distracted, and her responses were abrupt, as if their exciting time together in Rome had never happened. Maria fear’s, about her mother reliving those early romantic days as Tony’s bride, were coming true.

After all these years, Gramma Rosalie’s distain for Dee still stung. Dee had said it would have taken a miracle for Tony’s mother to accept her. Sadly, Tony was the only person Rosalie could love, so after his sudden death, Gramma Rosalie never tried to hide her contempt for Dee, whom she felt was the cause of all her misery. Rosalie was convinced if Dee had not married Tony, he’d still be alive, and that was that! But of course, Dee had loved Tony too, so she understood the woman’s deep pain.

For ten years, Maria had made it her job to help her mother overcome the death of her husband. It had taken this long for Maria to even consider the idea of her mother remarrying. She was torn, though. As a young teenager, Maria dreaded having her past erased. Her mother’s memories of Tony were all she had left of her father.

So, it was surprising, as Dee grew more attracted to Sandy, that Maria found herself hoping her mother would break free from her ill-fated past, even if that meant the muddying of her own memories. The glow of affection between Dee and Sandy was too precious to see slip away. Maria feared, during their flight to the Villa, Dee had become withdrawn, even distant.

Maria decided she would get her mom talking about those early days with Tony and then maybe Dee could finally leave them in the past. Teary-eyed, Maria was more annoyed than sad. If I can let my Daddy go, she can let him go, Maria brooded, but she whispered to her father’s spirit asking him to forgive her. Tony often appeared to Maria when she was in a pickle.

Sorry, Daddy, but we deserve some love and happiness in our lives. Maria spoke the words out loud, but that day her father’s image did not appear. She could never conjure him up at will.

Wiping her eyes, Maria prayed that this Villa full of tragic memories would not destroy Dee’s feelings for Sandy. She remembered the last time the visited GrandpaPa Paolo. Sandy was visiting his father too. But he always seemed to have a lady with him. Dee and Sandy had some good conversations together, but Mom was not in love with him back then. Feeling guilty for praying for what she wanted, Maria asked God to help her mother be happy, and to help Aunt Talia’s hip surgery recovery be swift, so she could come home to her Villa. Maria had just started praying after she met Jeff, the special guy she had met on that fateful Golden Moon Mediterranean cruise.

Maria glanced down at Quizzie, who was sound asleep under the blanket. From that angle, near her feet, all Maria could see were Quizzie’s tiny white paws and the white tip of her tail.

In this little cottage engulfed in silence, Maria was reminded of their current house in the U.S. in Walnut Creek, down the hill from her grandparents’ home. In Rome, at Uncle Sandy’s condo, while Maria and her aunt were recovering from the ship crash, it took a while adjusting to sounds of the bustling city at the base of the high hill. Before they left, though, the city was lulling her to sleep.

When the time came to leave Rome, Maria was dreading the quiet, boring life at the Villa. Naturally, she was shocked by what she found. From the moment they arrived, the air was alive with roaring heavy equipment and buzzing electric saws and sanders. With all the construction cacophony and the excitement of the Manor renovation, Maria welcomed the stillness of the night. She pictured her own bedroom back at Walnut Creek. Since then, she had been sharing bedrooms, first with Aunt Talia on the ship and then in the guest room with her mother at Uncle Sandy’s. Well, I did have that hospital room to myself, she thought, but I can’t count that. Now, in this little cottage at the Villa, Maria finally had a room to herself again.

Thinking back, Maria had cherished those nighttime chats with her aunt and then with her mother, and she missed them. Her kitten asleep, now, Maria felt suddenly alone. She was wishing for their life at the condo. With Rome in the distance, Maria had nestled in the cocoon of contentment with her mother at her side, and Sandy, Aunt Talia and even Dr. Patrick nearby. I’ll be OK once Aunt Talia gets here after surgery, and I can email my friends on her laptop, she said aloud.

Chapter 4

Maria’s Vision

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S uddenly Maria saw her father’s image. He always looked the same: broad, even features, dazzling smile, deep brown eyes, and his black hair falling across his forehead. He spoke her name.

Daddy! You’re back! Maria had not seen him since she had left the hospital in Rome. There was so much to tell him, but utmost in her mind was that, since he had left them so long ago, she wanted her mother to be in love with Uncle Sandy, now. Maria wanted to say it was time for her mother to be happy, but she knew this was mostly for her own sake. Instead, Maria chatted on about the cottage, her new kitten and all the changes at the Manor. She spoke quickly and non-stop, hoping to keep him longer.

Her father’s smile broadened. And though Maria couldn’t see his hands, she felt him smoothing out her tangled hair. It’s OK, Maria, she sensed him saying. Dee has been alone long enough. Don’t you worry. Your mother and Sandy are falling in love. But they must discover that on their own. I am at peace here, but you have to know that I will always love you and your mother.

Maria felt embarrassed that her father had read her mind. But she treasured his message. In one sentence Tony had assured Maria of his love for them, had dismissed her feelings of guilt, and approved of Dee and Sandy’s growing romance. But before she could respond, his figure faded away. Daddy! Daddy! she called, but she was alone again. As usual, Maria wondered if she had imagined his visit. No, she was certain she had not. Maria always told her mother about her father’s visits. Dee never dismissed them, but she never appeared as thrilled as Maria expected.

She tried falling asleep in hopes her father would appear in her dreams, although that rarely happened. Maria thought about her shipboard friends. During her last week in Rome, Jeff, her first crush, had emailed her almost every day, and Maria treasured each one. Her long-time friend, Tara rarely emailed. Maria doubted half of what the girl wrote was true, but she forgave Tara because of her messed-up life, especially tragic since the crash on the Golden Moon. Also, Tara’s fickleness was part of her attraction. Maria never knew what she was going to read from Tara, and her letters were never boring.

Tossing about, Maria relived her visits to her new friend, Veronica, in Florence. Their road-trip up the Italian coast already seemed like months ago. And now, VV was enrolled in school, as the lead pianist with the Florence Junior Symphony. Maria pictured her little friend dwarfed by a grand piano, accompanying an orchestra of kids way older.

Maria pushed her homeschooling program out of her mind. As her teacher, Dee promised Maria she could wait until Talia came home from the hospital before hitting the books. This gave Maria at least one more week of freedom.

Chapter 5

Recalling the Family History

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S eeing her father had Maria too wound up to sleep, so she thought about how grand the Manor had once been. Her grandmother Rosalie had lived a fairytale life for just a few short years. Following the tragic deaths of her parents, Rosalie had grown up a troubled child in Rome, and then at age 20 she had returned to the Villa as the proprietor. Maria found herself recalling the family history as told by Aunt Talia.

In the 1800s, Maria’s great-great-grandparents, the Rubrios, famous winemakers, also owned and operated a successful cruise line and commercial shipping business, operating on both the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas. But like millions of other Europeans, Salvatore and Anna Maria Rubrio became victims of the First World War. The enemy had confiscated their ships, occupied and trashed the Manor, and drank or stole all their wine and probably the treasures inside the Manor. The thriving vineyards began to wither from neglect and both Rubrios had died in their fifties.

Their only daughter, Anna Rose, and her new husband, Mario Valentino, struggled reestablishing the wine and shipping businesses, but they would never be the same again. Then, in the Second World War, the property was again trashed. Afterwards, when Rosalie’s parents returned to reclaim their property they were murdered by the Nazis. Their three-year-old daughter, Rosalie, was now an orphan.

Having witnessed her parents’ executions, hysterical Rosalie had raced back to the shed in the olive grove, where her parents had warned her to remain hidden. For two days, little Rosalie huddled there surviving on grapes and olives. Her great aunt discovered her, alone, in shock and unable to speak. With no sign of Anna Rose or Mario Valentino, little Rosalie’s aunt took her home to Rome. But the child was severely traumatized, and for years she would wake screaming for her mommy and daddy.

In time it appeared Rosalie may be overcoming her traumatic youth. She was beautiful and intelligent and had her mother’s spunk, but Rosalie never really recovered. As Talia described to Maria, although her mother’s young life had been spared, the heart-wrenching experience haunted Rosalie her whole life. This affected everyone close to her, especially Paolo, her husband, and her children: Sandy, Talia and Tony.

After the Nazis murdered Rosalie’s parents, they took what was left in the Manor. The luxurious furniture was already destroyed, precious jewelry had been found and stolen, and the priceless paintings had vanished. After two world wars, the stone mansion stood in ruins. Although it was now an empty shell, it was the only place Rosalie would ever call home. Eventually, she became like her lost mansion: vacant and abandoned. Her life had been spared, but she was as much a victim of the war as those slain.

For fifteen years, Rosalie dreamed of returning to her Villa, restoring the Manor to its former glory. When she was twenty, she mustered up the courage to visit the Villa for the first time. There she faced the Manor in ruins and what was left of the outer buildings, and the devastated vineyards, made worse by yet another decade of weathering and neglect. Defeated Rosalie fled with no intentions of returning.

However, fate had other plans. While returning to Rome, Rosalie decided to visit the University of L’Aquila. She had been considering studying Political Science and had heard great things about the school.

That very day on campus, innocently enough, Rosalie bumped into a stunningly handsome male student. Rosalie inquired about the college programs, but she could barely concentrate. Paolo Novanni, on his way to his next class, was equally taken with Rosalie’s beauty. Paolo skipped class and treated her to lunch at Union Hall. As the day progressed, these striking people became helplessly infatuated with each other. The next day, Rosalie convinced Paolo to skip his classes and drive with her to Pratola to see what was left of her Villa, the place where her heart had been shattered as a young child. By then Paolo was aware of her tragic young life. What he wasn’t aware of was the trap he had just fallen into.

Rosalie contacted her aunt, admitted her fascination with the handsome college student, and announced she had decided to enroll in classes. Rosalie rented a flat in L’Aquila and sat in on classes, some of them Paolo’s. But she never got around to registering. Paolo was besotted with the Italian beauty and the two were inseparable. He introduced Rosalie to his two brothers who happened to be restoring a vineyard near her Villa. She was quick to tap their knowledge and generous natures and permitted them to tend to her vineyards. But she had bigger plans for brothers.

Paolo was the youngest, tallest, smartest, most handsome, and the most musical of his generation of Novannis. He was also the first in his family to attend college. Naturally, Paolo was irresistible to women.

But it wasn’t music that Rosalie had in mind. In a matter of weeks, she had become obsessed with the notion that this dashing Venetian was the man destined to make her dreams come true. He and his brothers would bring her Villa, especially the Manor, back to life. And so, Rosalie set out to make Paolo hers.

Talia’s information came straight from her mother’s lips. In a rare moment of confidence, Rosalie had admitted to her daughter that by marrying Paolo, her mansion could be restored to its former glory. Yes, she wanted her vineyards back, but her primary passion was the Manor. Her first mission was to keep the brothers around long enough to convince Paolo he was meant for her.

When Rosalie’s aunt died unexpectedly, Rosalie left for Rome and was gone for a month. That would have been time enough for Paolo to see the flaws in their relationship. But Rosalie kept in daily touch. Her phone bill was outrageous. Paolo, already a hopeless victim to her charm, was no match for this determined dark-eyed beauty. Rosalie succeeded in keeping Paolo. In fact, while she was still gone, he convinced his brothers to help build a livable cottage for her on the property. The brothers agreed to help because their dear brother was clearly falling in love.

Paolo’s family had lived in Venice for generations. Descendants of gondola makers, the Novannis were at home on the canals. For two hundred years in their handmade sleek black boats, they had ferried residents and tourists throughout that watery city. Therefore, building a cottage came easy to them.

Eventually, with money she inherited from her aunt, as well as the trust she had from her parents, Rosalie began talking seriously to the Novanni brothers about restoring her Manor.

With a general idea of the expensive project, the brothers urged Rosalie to consider tending to the vineyards first. Then with those profits she could begin considering the Manor. But, as they suspected, Rosalie would not be swayed from her mission. Young, and stubborn by nature, she had no intention of waiting years for the grapes to yield a profit. She wanted her Manor back now, and she was confident Paolo could make it happen. Talia suggested young, smitten Paolo may have led Rosalie to believe he could deliver.

Considering his full schedule of college classes, working as a carpenter building furniture and spending his spare time restoring Rosalie’s vineyards, Paolo had no energy left for the Manor. His brothers drove from Venice most weekends each month to help. It’s possible all of the Novannis had fallen under Rosalie’s spell.

Chapter 6

Rosalie Gets Her Man

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I n a matter of months, the beguiling Rosalie had convinced Paolo they should be married. Paolo, a faithful Catholic, was convinced Rosalie was as much in love as he was and asked her to be his bride.

Rosalie was not interested where the ceremony was held and readily agreed to Venice for the sake of the brothers’ families. The Novanni wives chose to see that as proof of Rosalie’s generous nature. However, Rosalie just wanted to be married, so that Paolo could get on with the business of salvaging her Villa.

Paolo saw marriage as holy sacrament and for a long while he refused to acknowledge his wife’s true nature, so apparent to others. When he finally accepted Rosalie’s emotional disorder, he made the best of an unbearable situation. Clever Rosalie depended on that. For the first few years Paolo hoped his love for his wife was enough to help her overcome her neurosis. But his grueling schedule had him falling asleep almost before his head hit the pillow. Each day he drove to classes, completed homework, worked at his carpentry job and in the vineyards until dark.

Rosalie soon interpreted his absence as purposeful neglect. Also, she refused to hear Paolo’s reasoning that if the vineyards were to be restored, they would need year-round attention. As the months went by, Rosalie began to hate the vineyards, so obsessed was she with the Manor. As the months wore on, Paolo appeared more distracted, and if there is one thing temperamental people need, it is an audience. These frustrations fanned the fires of Rosalie’s rage. Paolo wasn’t oblivious to his wife’s needs. With each new harvest, he prayed this would be the year the vineyards yielded the profits needed to begin work on Rosalie’s Manor. Each year, his hopes were dashed.

After Sandy and Talia were born, Paolo prayed Rosalie would finally find contentment. Her good days were rare, and in those moments of tenderness, Rosalie pouted that she could only be happy when her beloved Manor was finally restored. To live within its beautiful walls again was all she wanted in life. Those words defined the true Rosalie.

Eventually, Paolo could no longer fool himself. To Rosalie, marriage was just a means to her selfish desires, and he knew he could never give her what she wanted. This marked the end of their relationship, but not their marriage. As a Catholic, Paolo would never divorce the woman he had promised God he would love forever.

Long before the children were born, Paolo’s brothers had seen the real Rosalie, but they dared not tempt their pious brother to abandon a sinking ship. Instead they bid him good luck and goodbye and returned to Venice to devote their full-time energies to their families. Paolo dearly missed their companionship and was forced to turn to local farmers to help work the grapes. But the vineyards never did yield the needed revenue to finance the restoration project.

Although the Manor was in shambles, it was built of granite and from a distance it appeared untouched by time. But to Rosalie it was a disaster, a constant reminder of her tragic childhood, and now, a frustrating unfulfilled dream. And yet, she would never tolerate talk of tearing it down.

Eventually, after years of toil, the vineyards began yielding a small profit and Paolo’s men made wine to sell to locals after a few years of aging. However, the winery and vineyards would never return to the scale of the previous century.

Although intelligent, Rosalie was so blinded by selfishness, even scanning the records she could not accept the evidence there were no funds for her Manor. Through the years, her tantrums and bouts of depression increased in intensity.

Paolo eventually received his degree in Political Science, but it was his psychology courses that prompted him to seek professional help for his disturbed wife. When they learned Rosalie was pregnant with their third child, Paolo decided to wait, praying this baby might make the difference. When Antonio was born, Rosalie did appear to improve. Baby Tony resembled her deceased father’s photos and she doted on the infant. Sadly, she had even less time now for young Talia and Sandy, but her change in behavior gave Paolo hope.

Sadly, within the year Rosalie had digressed. Admitting defeat, Paolo moved his three children Talia, Sandy, and baby Tony to Venice where they stayed with his brothers’ families, while Rosalie underwent psychiatric treatment. Oddly, Rosalie did not object and even appeared to welcome the change.

The Novanni kids, even little Tony, surrounded by loving, playful cousins, were amazed by how much fun life could be. Young Sandy and Talia thrived in Venice’s urban social life. They wondered about their mother, but they missed their father, who spent his weekdays at his woodworking job and of course, in his vineyards. Not until Paolo returned to Venice by mid-day on Saturdays, did their world feel complete. Paolo was back and forth between visiting Rosalie at the psychiatric center, and his children, whom he dearly missed.

After several weeks, Rosalie was permitted visits from her children, but she only showed affection towards little Tony. Maybe she saw her lost childhood through him. However, the child could sense his mother’s negativity towards his siblings and acted out his frustrations, only calming down when he was back with his loving relatives.

Sandy and Talia interpreted their mother’s vacant looks as indifference. Unable to forget her behavior towards them, they eventually refused to visit her at all. This was devastating to Paolo who still yearned for a normal family life.

Eight months later, the doctors determined what Rosalie needed more than anything now was a loving home environment. Paolo, who had been commuting