“Once Upon a Time in Venice” by Carol Kirkwood

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Olivia began to laugh. ‘Oh Max,’ she began, ‘Don’t tell me you—’

She broke off as she heard murmurs of confusion from the guests, all turning around to see what was happening behind them. Striding down the aisle was a man dressed for Carnevale in a blue and gold nobleman’s outfit, wearing a wolf’s-head mask. Olivia looked on in confusion, glancing uncertainly at Max as the man drew closer. Then the mysterious stranger reached inside his pocket and pulled out two gold rings, offering them up to Max and Olivia.

‘What’s going on?’ Olivia whispered, her eyes sparkling at the mischief. ‘Who are you?’

There was a moment’s hesitation; the man inside was certainly a master of building anticipation, Gina thought with a smile, hoping the reveal would go as well as she was hoping.

Finally, the man raised both hands, lifting off his mask with a flourish. There were gasps of astonishment, when the crowd saw who was inside.

It was Brad Redford.

Gina looked across at Olivia, who had her hands over her mouth in disbelief, but Gina could tell she was utterly thrilled. Olivia had gone quite pink – Gina knew she had a crush on Brad, and had pulled in every favour she could to make Olivia’s big day unforgettable.

‘Don’t forget that you’re marrying me,’ Max warned jokingly, as everyone burst into laughter.

‘I think you’ve upstaged me on my wedding day, dear,’ Olivia giggled, turning to Brad.

‘Never,’ he grinned. ‘No one shines brighter than the bride.’ He gave her a kiss on her cheek, which earned him a raised eyebrow from Max and more laughter from the congregation. Then Brad stepped back, taking the empty seat beside Issy to watch the rest of the ceremony.

The rings were exchanged, and the final part of the ceremony conducted.

‘You may kiss the bride,’ smiled the priest, as Max and Olivia exchanged a chaste kiss, not wanting to compromise their dignity with an over-the-top display. The congregation whooped and applauded regardless. Then it was time for Gina’s final surprise.

As the noise died down, a single voice could be heard, pure and clear as it cut through the sultry afternoon air. Everyone turned to try and locate where the sound was coming from, and there were more gasps as they realized.

Lucia de Santis emerged from the back of the terrace, floating down the aisle past the guests. She looked like a vision in an incredible scarlet ballgown and, as she walked slowly, she sang ‘Vissi d’arte’ from Puccini’s Tosca. She was utterly perfect, her voice restored to its former glory, no hint of the trauma she’d recently undergone. Everyone was spellbound, knowing they were witnessing something very special.

Gina looked at Olivia and saw tears coursing down her face, as Max held her in his arms. Gina had known that the opera Tosca was very special to Olivia for two reasons – she and her former husband had both adored it, and it was while listening to Puccini that she’d met Max for the first time. Olivia had told her once, ‘I’ve been lucky to have been blessed with so much love. Simon would have adored Max too, and he’d want me to be happy.’

Lucia had been all too ready to agree to the performance; there was nothing that could repay Gina for saving her life, but this was a good start.

When the performance was over, the celebrations began, as waiters circulated with champagne and canapés, and the guests mingled and chatted against the backdrop of the beautiful city that Gina loved so well.

As the sun began to set, with vibrant shades of orange and red painted across the heavens, the party began to wind down. Olivia got ready to toss her bouquet and, to Gina’s surprise and embarrassment, she caught it.

Everyone cheered, as Gina caught Marco’s eye and blushed. He drew her to him, wrapping her in his arms, kissing her softly.

‘I don’t have an engagement ring,’ he murmured, as he reached into his inside pocket. ‘But I do have this for you … Cinderella.’

Gina inhaled sharply as Marco held up her grandmother’s bracelet, the one she thought she’d lost at Carnevale. ‘You found it!’ she exclaimed.

‘I’ve been meaning to give it back to you. I kept it, hoping that one day I’d be reunited with the incredible woman I met that night. I gave it to Daniela for safekeeping and forgot that she had it.’

‘I still can’t believe it was you that night, although I always hoped it would be. Who would have thought, one chance meeting and here we are. Is it destiny, do you think?’ Gina wondered, as she wrapped her arms around Marco, the two of them dancing slowly to the string quartet’s adaptation of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’.

‘There is no such thing as destiny. We ourselves shape our lives,’ Marco smiled. Gina instantly recognized the Casanova quote, laughing as Marco continued, ‘But who knows? We’re in Venice, anything can happen here. It’s where dreams come true.’

Their lips met once more as the Venetian skies darkened, twinkling lights illuminating the city, as boats drifted timelessly along the Grand Canal, the way they had for hundreds of years.

Gina’s heart had always belonged to Venice; now it belonged to Marco too.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank everyone who has ever bought one of my books. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would have four books published and be working on my fifth! Your encouragement and support is so very greatly appreciated as are all your wonderful reviews.

Steve, my husband (still getting used to calling you that!). Thank you for believing in me and for patiently listening to endless chatter about all my characters. Your patience seriously knows no bounds.

To my wonderful family and friends for your unending support and enthusiasm for each new book.

Kerr MacRae, none of this would be happening without you! You had faith in me from the start. Thank you.

Kate Bradley, my editor at HarperCollins. You truly do understand my vision. Your editorial guidance is second to none. It is a joy and a pleasure working with you.

Finally, my grateful thanks to HarperCollins for publishing this book. Elizabeth Dawson and Maddy Marshall for their publicity and marketing expertise, and Claire Ward who designed the fabulous cover.

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