Free Miracle for the Girl Next Door by Rebecca Winters Page B

disease, nerve damage or high blood pressure. These are complications you’ll have to discuss with her specialist. Naturally the most desired thing would be to find a compatible donor for a transplant as soon as possible.”
    He closed his eyes tightly. Dr. Arno couldn’t call him back fast enough. In the meantime, Valentino intended to be there for her in every conceivable way.
    “Thank you, Dr. Rimbaud. What you’ve told me helps a lot.”
    “Call me anytime.”
    As soon as he hung up, he phoned for a taxi to take him to the local market. Once there he did some shopping, satisfied that the paparazzi would be looking in vain for his Ferrari. Until further notice it would stay in the garage. He would wait outside the doors to the clinic in the taxi until she emerged, then offer her a ride home.
    “ Signore ?” the chauffeur called to him. “We’ve arrived.”
    “So we have.”
    He instructed him to wait in the loading zone. His pulse picked up speed when he finally saw Clara start out the clinic doors. She looked good, not as pale as she’d been last evening. He stepped out of the taxi into her path so she had to stop.
    “How come you keep following me?” he baited her gently.
    She lifted her beautiful head so he could see the green flecks in her eyes.
    “Tino—” she cried in shock, but her eyes lit up. This was a bonus he hadn’t expected after barging in on her treatment.
    “Come on. I’ve brought cold fruit juice and a chicken sandwich for you. You can eat it on the way back to the farm.”
    He could tell she wanted to argue with him, but she didn’t have the kind of strength she needed for that. “Where’s the Ferrari?” she asked as he helped her into the backseat.
    After he gave the driver directions, he handed her a sandwich and a drink before sitting back to answer her question. “It’s out of sight for a variety of reasons.”
    “That will drive the paparazzi crazy.” She took several bites of her sandwich. “I have to admit this tastes delicious. You’re spoiling me with good food again.”
    He’d bought himself a fruit drink and drained most of it. “I wonder how many hundreds of times you shared your lunch with me at school because I was too busy doing some project to stop and eat. Your mother made the best lunches in Monta Correnti.”
    A trace of a smile hovered on her lips as she continued to eat. “Our family carried around the excess pounds to prove it.”
    He flashed her a sweeping glance. “Not any longer.”
    She avoided his gaze and drank more juice.
    “Does your mother know she kept me alive with her cooking?”
    “I didn’t dare tell her.”
    Valentino chuckled. “You’re lucky you’ve had her in your life all these years. Do you want to know a secret?”
    Clara’s head turned in his direction. She’d finished the last of her sandwich. He was thankful she’d had an appetite. “What is it?”
    “I was jealous you had a mother who fussed over you every day. You and Bianca always seemed so happy. You didn’t know it, but having two parents who were alive and loved you gave you a confidence I would have given anything to feel.”
    Her expression sobered. “I understand that now, but you did have Luca.”
    “Yes, and he indulged me without limits.”
    “That was only natural. After your mother died, he would have tried to play both roles. He loved you, Tino. I know he did. Otherwise his marriage to your mother wouldn’t have worked out.”
    “I guess he wanted her badly enough to include her excess baggage.”
    In a surprise gesture she covered his hand with her own and squeezed it gently. “I’m so sorry you’ve carried this pain with you all these years. I often sensed something was wrong, but you never opened up about it.”
    “I couldn’t.”
    Her head was bowed. “None of us is exempt from problems, but somehow we deal with them because we have no choice, right?”
    He marveled at her courage. “ Sì .”
    She let go of his hand. “We’re almost