~The изумруд Island~
~1~
They wave goodbye to all their Друзья and turn their backs to Solerno as they drift off toward Ischia. It is over 40 kilometers to get to Ischia so Bruce decided to charter the only лодка available at a moments notice. If not for the The Captain морган they would have to head back to Naples. The лодка arrives and turns as if heading toward Mount Vesuvius but any direction Ты go the great Mount can be seen.
Upon arrival Bruce clasps Selina's hand as she steps out of the лодка onto the tiny dock. Welcome to our new home! вилла Isabella!" he says. Selina gasps. "You bought the resort?"
"I did. It is a wise investment Selina and something also for us to return to as a family with Helena!"
"Wow!" She screams walking down the dock eyeing the massive hotel.
Bruce kisses her hand "The вилла is associated with the film industry dates from the 1950s, when the movie and publishing Иконка Angelo Rizzoli built Albergo. Famous Знаменитости like Richard Burton, Liz Taylor,Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable and William Holden stayed here and even the movie Cleopatra and The Talented Mr Ripley were filmed nearby. Now еще Последнее visitors included Clare Danes, Val Kilmer, Hillary Swank and Matt Damon visit Ischia also known as the green island We now have seven separate dwellings for rental."
"You never cease to amaze me!" Selina giggles.
"Well this is just part of our honeymoon!"
"Oh. what else do Ты have planned?"
"You will have to wait and see he says as they approach a таблица for two overlooking the ocean by the thermal pool. He has had someone leave them mimosas. Bruce grins as he thinks about the flat nearby Castello Argonese where he plans to take her to the tower to sleep. He purchased all three, money was not an option and being within close proximty to his вилла made sense for additional income. The apartments can be rented for 1630 to 2180 euros a night and that money he puts back into The Museums of Florence Fund.
They raise their glasses toward the other causing a echoed clink off the Italian crystal as they take their first sip of togetherness, just the two of them.
Bruce points toward the neighboring town and lifts up the cold bottle of Champagne. "That was once the Saint Maria onsolzione Monastery now known as the Albergo and beside it is the Castello Argonese. Today there is a hotel, a museum and a beautiful замок garden. I made sure our surroundings would remain intact."
"It is beautiful here!" Selina lifting her champagne flute slowly for another sip.
"Yes Ischia was the first island the Greeks settled on. It is rich with history, many legends and not to mention praised for its world famous hot springs. The once active вулкан Monte Epomeo has not erupted since the год 1301."
Bruce sits down holding his champagne glass. "The вулкан still brings us the wonderful springs and even our pool is heated naturally."
They turn to face Isabella. "It is breathtaking." Bruce turns to her and puts the glass down. "You are breathtaking." He stands facing her looking down. "They call Ischia the изумруд Island." He leans and places a strand of emeralds around her neck in the center is a giant opal of greens and blues like the water around them and of the pinks and reds of the sunrise above.
Selina gasps almost dropping her drink. She sets it down touching the stones lying now on her neck.
Bruce smiles then bends down on one knee and touches her hair softly. Ischia is famous for its Opals. It is one of the most legendary of stones. I hope Ты like it. It is one they say is of огонь and of ice.
"I do! It's beautiful!"
She leans вперед and kisses him deeply.
Bruce sits back down and grabs him drink. "I am glad Ты are pleased. I cannot brag of the work involved at the Villa. The refurbishment started back in the 1950's all the way up until now. But I can say that I knew this would be a place we could call Главная when in Italy! Welcome Главная my dear!"
Selina kicks off her wedding shoes and sighs. "Ahhh It is great to be home!" She grabs his hand and stares out at the tranquil crystal blue ocean.
"Never in a million years would I have pictured this!"
Bruce squeezes her hand tight. He unbottons his куртка and reaches inside. "Your father wanted me to give Ты this." He hands her a large envelope. "I still cannot get over that he is your biological father."
Selina snatches the envelope quickly and tears it open while saying " I can't either. But he is my..." Her eyes go wide as she stares at a ton of money and two pieces of paper. She reads outloud:
My dearest daughter,
Know that Ты were always in my thoughts. I made sure that Ты and your mother would always be taken care of. Ты are my brightest joy and my only sorrow was that I did not marry her. I know this may be hard for Ты to understand, but I sent her away for her own safety. She thought that it was that I did not Любовь her but the truth was that I loved her so much that I had no choice but to let her go. I was at that time involved in things that could harm her. I also as a Sicilian not permitted to marry anyone other than a true Sicilian. It is tradition and now as an old man I realize traditions are wrong, lots of things are wrong. She was the only thing that was ever right. She was perfect, an angel, my love. I know I can never make up for my absence but hope that Ты will accept me into Ты life and take this small token of my appreciation for us being reunited.
warmest wishes,
Carmine
Selina scoots closer. "I..I cant believe this! She shakes her head. I think I am beginning to understand what caused all my problems as a child."
Bruce leans closer. "Go on."
" I didn't have the best of a childhood." She bites her lip and takes another sip of her drink.
Bruce tries to whisper with his deep voice. "You dont have to talk about it if Ты are not ready?"
"No. I will tell Ты some things, get them off my chest. I will just tell Ты that my mother and father seemed once were very happy. Like what we are now. My mother really tried to be a good wife and a good mother but even as a child, knew something was wrong. She always wanted more. I am alot like her."
Bruce nods and pats her hand for her to go on.
"She was a perfectionist. Any task she undertook, she mastered and anything she amassed she researched to make sure it was the best that money could buy. That was when my father realized he couldn't keep up with her lavish wants. He tried to make her happy. And she did try. She would pretend to be...but she was once a star, she was once a cosmoplitan, she would fly across the world on a whim. That was where she met my father and they fell in love. Back then though the two could live as gypsies. She earned еще than she could spend and he had amassed a great deal of wealth. She was the звезда ballerina. People would flock to see her. She had to put the toe shoes away for a bit. No one would pay to see a pregant woman in a tutu. But now I see just like with myself, that her lifestyle became an obsession. She was doing that as a distraction. She was trying to forget her pain...She was trying to forget Carmine..But then I came along. a daily secret reminder of the two of them. I always wondered why I never looked like my dad, never seemed to fit in. I wonder if he knew? I know Maggie is theirs, but not me...
Bruce tugs at her hand making her look at him.
"Selina, Ты cannot blame yourself for how things turned out. Ты were a gift to them, Ты were a blessing to Maggie, and later to Holly, to all that really know you...you became a blessing to me."
Selina turns her head away and tries not to cry.
"She..she killed herself. She killed herself..she was so unhappy. I tried so hard...she starts to sob.
Bruce jumps and hold her. His mind is running back all the information she just gave. He kisses the вверх of her head. "How old were you?"
"I was thirteen."
Bruce sighs and wipes her face.
"Why? What are Ты thinking now?"
Bruce stares back into her eyes. "I think Ты know."
"Know what?"
"I don't know for sure... I am just wondering now that if Carmine feared for her life..."
Selina gasps. "yes he wrote that!"
Bruce brushes her soft hair back from her face.
Bruce frowns. "Perhaps your mother was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps they may have been after you. Ты were too young to remember what happened. I am sure the police just ruled it a suicide...but perhaps it was staged."
"Staged? why? and why would anyone be after me?
"Selina, Carmine is a very wealthy man. If he chose to leave Ты with a vast fortune then perhaps someone wanted to take Ты out of the equation."
~1~
They wave goodbye to all their Друзья and turn their backs to Solerno as they drift off toward Ischia. It is over 40 kilometers to get to Ischia so Bruce decided to charter the only лодка available at a moments notice. If not for the The Captain морган they would have to head back to Naples. The лодка arrives and turns as if heading toward Mount Vesuvius but any direction Ты go the great Mount can be seen.
Upon arrival Bruce clasps Selina's hand as she steps out of the лодка onto the tiny dock. Welcome to our new home! вилла Isabella!" he says. Selina gasps. "You bought the resort?"
"I did. It is a wise investment Selina and something also for us to return to as a family with Helena!"
"Wow!" She screams walking down the dock eyeing the massive hotel.
Bruce kisses her hand "The вилла is associated with the film industry dates from the 1950s, when the movie and publishing Иконка Angelo Rizzoli built Albergo. Famous Знаменитости like Richard Burton, Liz Taylor,Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable and William Holden stayed here and even the movie Cleopatra and The Talented Mr Ripley were filmed nearby. Now еще Последнее visitors included Clare Danes, Val Kilmer, Hillary Swank and Matt Damon visit Ischia also known as the green island We now have seven separate dwellings for rental."
"You never cease to amaze me!" Selina giggles.
"Well this is just part of our honeymoon!"
"Oh. what else do Ты have planned?"
"You will have to wait and see he says as they approach a таблица for two overlooking the ocean by the thermal pool. He has had someone leave them mimosas. Bruce grins as he thinks about the flat nearby Castello Argonese where he plans to take her to the tower to sleep. He purchased all three, money was not an option and being within close proximty to his вилла made sense for additional income. The apartments can be rented for 1630 to 2180 euros a night and that money he puts back into The Museums of Florence Fund.
They raise their glasses toward the other causing a echoed clink off the Italian crystal as they take their first sip of togetherness, just the two of them.
Bruce points toward the neighboring town and lifts up the cold bottle of Champagne. "That was once the Saint Maria onsolzione Monastery now known as the Albergo and beside it is the Castello Argonese. Today there is a hotel, a museum and a beautiful замок garden. I made sure our surroundings would remain intact."
"It is beautiful here!" Selina lifting her champagne flute slowly for another sip.
"Yes Ischia was the first island the Greeks settled on. It is rich with history, many legends and not to mention praised for its world famous hot springs. The once active вулкан Monte Epomeo has not erupted since the год 1301."
Bruce sits down holding his champagne glass. "The вулкан still brings us the wonderful springs and even our pool is heated naturally."
They turn to face Isabella. "It is breathtaking." Bruce turns to her and puts the glass down. "You are breathtaking." He stands facing her looking down. "They call Ischia the изумруд Island." He leans and places a strand of emeralds around her neck in the center is a giant opal of greens and blues like the water around them and of the pinks and reds of the sunrise above.
Selina gasps almost dropping her drink. She sets it down touching the stones lying now on her neck.
Bruce smiles then bends down on one knee and touches her hair softly. Ischia is famous for its Opals. It is one of the most legendary of stones. I hope Ты like it. It is one they say is of огонь and of ice.
"I do! It's beautiful!"
She leans вперед and kisses him deeply.
Bruce sits back down and grabs him drink. "I am glad Ты are pleased. I cannot brag of the work involved at the Villa. The refurbishment started back in the 1950's all the way up until now. But I can say that I knew this would be a place we could call Главная when in Italy! Welcome Главная my dear!"
Selina kicks off her wedding shoes and sighs. "Ahhh It is great to be home!" She grabs his hand and stares out at the tranquil crystal blue ocean.
"Never in a million years would I have pictured this!"
Bruce squeezes her hand tight. He unbottons his куртка and reaches inside. "Your father wanted me to give Ты this." He hands her a large envelope. "I still cannot get over that he is your biological father."
Selina snatches the envelope quickly and tears it open while saying " I can't either. But he is my..." Her eyes go wide as she stares at a ton of money and two pieces of paper. She reads outloud:
My dearest daughter,
Know that Ты were always in my thoughts. I made sure that Ты and your mother would always be taken care of. Ты are my brightest joy and my only sorrow was that I did not marry her. I know this may be hard for Ты to understand, but I sent her away for her own safety. She thought that it was that I did not Любовь her but the truth was that I loved her so much that I had no choice but to let her go. I was at that time involved in things that could harm her. I also as a Sicilian not permitted to marry anyone other than a true Sicilian. It is tradition and now as an old man I realize traditions are wrong, lots of things are wrong. She was the only thing that was ever right. She was perfect, an angel, my love. I know I can never make up for my absence but hope that Ты will accept me into Ты life and take this small token of my appreciation for us being reunited.
warmest wishes,
Carmine
Selina scoots closer. "I..I cant believe this! She shakes her head. I think I am beginning to understand what caused all my problems as a child."
Bruce leans closer. "Go on."
" I didn't have the best of a childhood." She bites her lip and takes another sip of her drink.
Bruce tries to whisper with his deep voice. "You dont have to talk about it if Ты are not ready?"
"No. I will tell Ты some things, get them off my chest. I will just tell Ты that my mother and father seemed once were very happy. Like what we are now. My mother really tried to be a good wife and a good mother but even as a child, knew something was wrong. She always wanted more. I am alot like her."
Bruce nods and pats her hand for her to go on.
"She was a perfectionist. Any task she undertook, she mastered and anything she amassed she researched to make sure it was the best that money could buy. That was when my father realized he couldn't keep up with her lavish wants. He tried to make her happy. And she did try. She would pretend to be...but she was once a star, she was once a cosmoplitan, she would fly across the world on a whim. That was where she met my father and they fell in love. Back then though the two could live as gypsies. She earned еще than she could spend and he had amassed a great deal of wealth. She was the звезда ballerina. People would flock to see her. She had to put the toe shoes away for a bit. No one would pay to see a pregant woman in a tutu. But now I see just like with myself, that her lifestyle became an obsession. She was doing that as a distraction. She was trying to forget her pain...She was trying to forget Carmine..But then I came along. a daily secret reminder of the two of them. I always wondered why I never looked like my dad, never seemed to fit in. I wonder if he knew? I know Maggie is theirs, but not me...
Bruce tugs at her hand making her look at him.
"Selina, Ты cannot blame yourself for how things turned out. Ты were a gift to them, Ты were a blessing to Maggie, and later to Holly, to all that really know you...you became a blessing to me."
Selina turns her head away and tries not to cry.
"She..she killed herself. She killed herself..she was so unhappy. I tried so hard...she starts to sob.
Bruce jumps and hold her. His mind is running back all the information she just gave. He kisses the вверх of her head. "How old were you?"
"I was thirteen."
Bruce sighs and wipes her face.
"Why? What are Ты thinking now?"
Bruce stares back into her eyes. "I think Ты know."
"Know what?"
"I don't know for sure... I am just wondering now that if Carmine feared for her life..."
Selina gasps. "yes he wrote that!"
Bruce brushes her soft hair back from her face.
Bruce frowns. "Perhaps your mother was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps they may have been after you. Ты were too young to remember what happened. I am sure the police just ruled it a suicide...but perhaps it was staged."
"Staged? why? and why would anyone be after me?
"Selina, Carmine is a very wealthy man. If he chose to leave Ты with a vast fortune then perhaps someone wanted to take Ты out of the equation."