Page 5 (1/1)

Paolo didn’t get in touch with hiain

Gian Lorenzo was about to dip a spoon into a pot of Oxford marmalade—another habit he had acquired froed in the marmalade while he read the words a second time He wanted to be sure that he ha

dn’t e, declaring it was “love at first sight—turn to page 22 for details”

Gian Lorenzo quickly flicked through the pages to a coluive you the truth behind the stories” Paolo Castelli, former captain of Roain, only four years after the death of his little angel “There’s more to her than meets the eye,” declared the headline The paper went on to assure its readers that there couldn’t be a bigger contrast between his first wife, Angelina, a billionairess, and Gina, a twenty-four-year-old waitress frohter of a tax inspector

Gian Lorenzo chuckled when he saw Gina’s photograph, aware thathim

Everyto Gossip Ro so, it seemed, would be held in the chapel of the Villa Rosa, which only had enough space to seat a uests would be restricted to close faer leave her little horooy a few pounds before the cereest surprise for Gian Lorenzo canor Gian Lorenzo Venici, Ro art dealer, and old school chuuests

An invitation arrived in theday

Gian Lorenzo flew into Venice on the evening before the cereht ht about the previous wedding

Gian Lorenzo rose early the followingfor the occasion Despite this, he still arrived at the Villa Rosa long before the service was due to co the statues that littered the lawn and become reacquainted with soal Miró h, and Giacometti stood tall and thin, but his favorite reraced the center of the lawn Ten years before he had removed each piece of the fountain, stone by stone, statue by statue, fro Hunter looked even ave Gian Lorenzo particular pleasure to see how uests had also arrived early, clearly with the saht in mind

A single usher in a s that they ht like to in Gian Lorenzo was one of the first to heed his advice, as he wanted to be well placed to watch the bride make her entrance

Gian Lorenzo found a vacant seat on the aisle about halfway back that would allow his He could see the little choir in their stalls, already singing vespers acco quartet

At five minutes to three Paolo and his best man entered the chapel and walked slowly down the aisle Gian Lorenzo knew he’d been a well-known footballer, but he still couldn’t remember his name They both took their places by the side of the altar, while Paolo waited for his young bride to appear Paolo looked fit, tanned and trim, and Gian Lorenzo noted that wo eyes Paolo didn’t notice therin that would have excited coroom’s face

There was a buzz of expectation as the string quartet struck up the opening chords of the Wedding March, to herald the entrance of the bride The young woman walked slowly down the aisle on the arm of her father, and drew intakes of breath as she passed each ne

Gian Lorenzo could hear her approaching, so he turned to look at Gina for the first time Hoould he respond, when asked to describe the bride, to someone who hadn’t been invited to the cere, thick, raven hair, or possibly comment on the smooth olive texture of her skin, or even add so dress that he remembered so well? Or would Gian Lorenzo simply tell all those who inquired that it had become immediately clear to hiht The saht enthusiastic twinkle in her eyes, the saentleness that was clear for all to see, or was it, as Gian Lorenzo suspected, that the journalists would only report that she fitted snugly into Angelinas old wedding dress—the yards and yards of silk fornificent train behind the bride as she walked slowly toward her lover

The End