Gino’s Arranged Bride

she would never hear.

He’d spoken in a jumble of English and Italian. Laura hadn’t understood it all, but she’d followed enough for her heart to ache for him. Of course, Gino was only her brother, but it had hurt her to the heart to see him lying there, perhaps dying, tortured by what he yearned for, and which could never be his.

Why had she spoken to him of a woman who might return his love? She hadn’t meant to say it, but the words had spoken themselves without her willing them. Or so it had seemed.

She switched off the machine and returned to her work, but everything she did was mechanical as thoughts raged through her head.

By the end of the day they had resolved themselves into no conclusions, and somewhere in her breast was the dull ache of a heavy stone. Almost like grief.

When Laura had gone Gino lay still, troubled by a strange feeling that had come to him in the last few minutes. The sense of hovering between two worlds was back, stronger than ever, and it had to do with something that had happened in the last few minutes.

He fought to recall the memory, but it was elusive and the effort tired him.

For the rest of the day he slept in snatches between visits from doctors who changed his medication, said he was on the mend, but predicted that it would be several days before he was strong enough to leave.

All his life he had been physically strong, and now his own weakness maddened him. By evening he was exhausted, but he knew he must be at his best to ease Nikki’s mind.

He managed to be out of bed, wrapped in a hospital towel dressing gown, a scarf around his throat to cover the wound, sitting in a chair, looking fairly normal.

When Nikki came through the door he put on a smile and opened his arms for her to run into them. Laura smiled at the sight and went to sit by the window.

‘Are you really, really, really all right?’ Nikki demanded.

‘Really, really, really,’ he confirmed.

‘Look what I’ve brought you,’ she said, diving into a plastic bag she was carrying.

It was Simon, the toy dog she’d given him on the first day.

‘Nikki,’ Laura protested, laughing, ‘Gino can’t have Simon beside him in hospital.’

‘Yes, I can,’ he said at once. ‘He’s my friend, because Nikki’s my friend, and she gave him to me.’

He set the toy on the bedside table, which delighted Nikki. She began to chatter about her day, and he listened, quiet and contented, until Nikki said, ‘Mummy, do you-?’

‘Hush,’ Gino said. ‘I think she’s asleep.’

Laura had slid down in her seat and was leaning against the wall, breathing deeply.

‘Let her sleep,’ Gino told Nikki. ‘She works so hard.’

Nikki nodded. ‘And she was crying today.’

‘What?’

‘When I got home she was in the kitchen. She came out quickly but I saw her put her handkerchief away, and her eyes were red.’

‘Did she say anything to you?’

Nikki shook her head. ‘Mummy never tells people about the times she cries.’

‘I’m sure she doesn’t,’ Gino murmured. ‘I don’t suppose she tells anyone anything, really. Who can she talk to?’

‘You. She tells you everything.’

Gino shook his head. ‘No, she tells me a lot, but there’s also a lot she feels she has to keep to herself.’

‘But why doesn’t she tell you?’

‘It’s not that easy, piccina. She’s a very brave and a very lonely person. Let her sleep. I haven’t thanked you yet for what you did. Tell me all about it.’

She complied happily, giving a graphic description of finding him lying on the floor choking to death. Gino was able to piece together his own fractured memories, and to realise again exactly how much he owed to her.

At last the nurse looked in to say that Visiting Time was almost over.

‘Shall I wake Mummy?’ Nikki asked.

‘No, I’ll do it.’

He began to ease himself up out of the chair, wobbled and clutched Nikki’s shoulder to steady himself. Using her as a support he made his way across to Laura and sat down facing her.

‘Laura,’ he said gently shaking her shoulders.

She didn’t wake. He looked closely at her face, seeing how white and tired she looked.

‘Does she have to work tonight?’ he asked Nikki quietly.

‘No, we’ll go straight home.’

‘Good. Take care of her, Nikki. Make sure she goes to bed at once.’

Nikki nodded. ‘Leave it to me,’ she said solemnly.

‘Laura,’ he said again, touching her shoulder. ‘Laura, wake up.’

She opened her eyes slowly, looking straight at him.

‘Hello,’ he said, smiling. ‘Wake up. Nikki’s going to take you home.’

‘She’s taking me home?’

‘Yes, I told her to. She’s going to look after you. Someone needs to.’

Laura got sleepily to her feet.

‘Come along, Mummy,’ Nikki said gravely.

Gino watched them go, then made his way slowly back to bed. He had a lot to think about.

The next evening it was Sadie who brought Nikki to the hospital.

‘Mummy had to go out to work suddenly,’ she explained.

‘At The Running Sheep?’

‘No, it’s another one,’ Sadie explained. ‘It’s owned by someone called Mark.’

‘Oh, him!’ Gino growled. ‘Yes, I remember, he called the other night.’

‘I don’t think Laura’s on the regular staff because he just calls up and books her for one stint. He called this morning and wanted her for tonight. It’s unusual for him to want her for two bookings so close together.’

‘What’s the name of this other place?’

‘I’ve no idea. Laura doesn’t talk about it. Before I forget, everyone at the factory sends their good wishes, and the chief packer says don’t worry about your job, which, considering you’ve been doing two men’s work for one man’s wages isn’t the biggest surprise in the world.’

‘Well, I’ll be out of here soon.’

‘But not fit for work, surely,’ Sadie said, eyeing him. ‘You’re not going to regain your strength overnight. Or even in a few days. You’ve been knocked for six.’

‘Yes, I have,’ he murmured. ‘In many ways.’

Laura came in alone at lunchtime next day.

‘Nikki’s at school,’ she said, ‘and I wanted to see you quickly to apologise about the other night. Coming to see you, then nodding off.’

‘You don’t have to apologise for falling asleep,’ Gino said. ‘Especially when you were up all night with me. Between you and Nikki I’m piling up a huge debt.’

‘I think we’re just repaying our debt to you.’

He shook his head. ‘She saved my life by acting so fast. I made her tell me the details, and it’s quite a story. I must find a way to thank her for it. Do you know of anything that she specially wants?’

It seemed to him that Laura took a long time to answer. ‘Yes, I do.’

‘Then tell me and it’s hers.’

There was a strange note in Laura’s voice as she said, ‘It may not be that simple. Gino, just what would you be prepared to do for Nikki?’

‘For the person who saved my life? What wouldn’t I be prepared to do? Name it.’

‘Give her what she wants most in the world.’

‘But I don’t know what that is.’

‘Yes, you do,’ Laura said with a hint of urgency in her voice. ‘She’s told us in her own way, when she called you Daddy. That’s what she wants most, Gino. She wants you to be her father.’