the family knows, and I should have told you. My mother has a mind like a whip, and a heart of stone. She is tougher than most men I know, and all she wants is to make everyone do what she wants them to do. She has settled for pushing my father around for thirty-six years, and she's tried for years to push me around too. She has better luck with my brother Greg, and I'm not sure yet how Teddy is going to survive all this. But what she doesn't like about you is that you weren't her idea—she didn't find you, she didn't try to push me into marrying you. All she hates about you is that she has no control. I chose for myself, just like when I joined the army. That is what she can't accept. It has nothing at all to do with you. It has to do with a battle between me and her that has gone on for years.”
“But Pattie … she told her I was the maid at the palazzo … what must your mother think?” Serena was still sobbing in his arms.
“Serena, my love, first of all don't ever forget who you really are. And anyway, do you think it matters to me that you were a maid or whatever you've been. The only thing that I care about is that I'm sorry you had to go through all the turmoil, and trauma, and misery and hard work. But I can tell you one thing, from now on, I'm going to make your life happy, and try to make up to you for all the rest.” He kissed her damp eyes and stroked her hair gently.
“Do you think she will ever forgive us?”
“Of course she will. It's not that big a deal. She was just surprised, that's all. And she was hurt that we hadn't included her earlier.” It was a gentling of the realities of the situation, but he hoped that it would do for now.
Serena shook her head sadly. “She will always hate me. And she will always think of me as the Italian maid.”
B.J. laughed at that. “No, she won't, silly. I promise.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I know my mother. And she knows me. She knows that she can't run me. It's a simple fact of life. So she'll eventually accept what happened, and when she finally sees you, she'll be bowled over, just as I was, and she'll see what you are—beautiful, and gentle and lovely, intelligent, and the woman I love. They're all going to love you, Serena, even my damn mother. I promise … you'll see.…”
“But all that Pattie said—”
“Sour grapes, my love. Even my mother will recognize that when she sees you together.”
“Together?” Serena looked shocked, and B.J. looked rueful.
“She's marrying my brother Greg in June. That's an interesting development, isn't it?”
Serena watched him closely and dried her eyes. “She's marrying your brother?” He nodded. “Do you mind?”
“Not in the way you mean. What I mind is that I think she's the worst thing that could happen to my brother. Or maybe not, maybe he needs someone to run his life. My mother can't do it forever.”
“Is he really that weak?”
B.J. nodded slowly. “I hate to admit it, but he is, the poor devil. He's just like my father.”
“Your father's weak too?” She looked shocked to hear him tearing his family apart so candidly. He had never done this with her before.
“Yes, my father is weak too. And my mother has more balls than an entire football team put together. I don't think it's made her happy, and at various times it has driven all of us nuts, but there it is. And all that matters, my darling, is that I love you. Now, I have done my duty, I have told my family about our marriage, I'm sorry that they didn't jump up and down with joy, but once they meet you they will, so let's not worry about that, and now let's go Christmas shopping. Is that a deal?” She looked up at him with damp eyes, and attempted a smile.
“I love you.” But she almost instantly began to cry again. “I'm so sorry.”
“Why? For crying all day on our wedding day, for that you should be sorry. Very sorry, especially after that terrific lunch.” He handed her his handkerchief again and she blew her nose.
“No, I'm sorry because I've made your family so unhappy.”
“You haven't, I promise you. You have given