Gone... Her beloved husband was gone. The earthquake had changed all their lives.
Luna hurried to the bathroom in agony. She took two more pills, then got into the shower where she broke down sobbing and didn’t come out again for a long time.
June 12
Luna had been restless since the call from Rini’s secretary at the palace. The acting manager of the mine had phoned to convey a message to Luna. A reminder, really. It seemed that one of the lost miners, Jaka Ravenikar, a Slovenian, had been working for the mine on a visa. His family lived near the mine in the border town of Rezana, Slovenia. It was the only family she hadn’t visited throughout the past ten days with flowers and the assurance of financial aid to ease their burden.
Luna wanted to travel to Rezana and pay her respects on the monarchy’s behalf. This morning she planned to go to the palace and ask Leonardo for help in visiting this family. She would need assistance, however, since she didn’t speak Slovene.
Once that was done, a memorial service for family could be planned for Rini at the palace. But she couldn’t accept the fact that she’d lost the love of her life. She never would. A memorial service would mean he was really gone, increasing her pain.
Her own parents had died when she was five in a plane accident. She’d been raised by her wonderful grandparents in Scuol, Switzerland. Her grandfather died first, then her grandmother. The losses had devastated her, but in time she won a scholarship to study business administration at St. Gallen University in Switzerland.
Upon graduation she’d obtained interviews with half a dozen companies. One led her to the Baldasseri Gold Mining Company in Asteria, San Vitano, an Italian-speaking country, where she was offered a position. Luna was bilingual in Italian and Romansh, her native language. Eighty thousand people in the Engadin of Switzerland spoke it. She felt that working there would be a good fit and she liked the staff.
Two weeks after she’d been hired, she met Prince Rinieri, who was the head gold-mining engineer for the mine. He was also the grandson of the King and Queen of San Vitano and was next in line for the throne. It only took meeting him to fall madly in love. They soon married and life couldn’t have been more beautiful until tragedy struck. She could still see the article in the newspaper.
Crown Prince Rinieri Francesco Baldasseri of San Vitano was killed during an 8.7 earthquake at the King Midas Mine near the Slovenian border.
He leaves behind his loving wife of six months, Her Royal Highness, Princess Luna Biancho Baldasseri.
World leaders send their condolences to her and Their Royal Highnesses King Leonardo and Queen Antonia Baldasseri.
For the past week she’d hoped and prayed that by some miracle the bodies would at least be found, but they’d been buried too deeply. As for Luna, in her mind and heart he was still missing. A part of her refused to believe he was dead. Maybe it was because of a dream she’d had where Rini appeared to her. It had seemed so real, she couldn’t shake it.
Still racked with debilitating grief that attacked her in waves, she stepped into the shower to get ready, then styled her white-blond hair. She wore it neck length from a center part. Before the quake, she’d let it hang down her back the way Rini loved it. But a few days ago, in a surge of pain and disbelief that he was gone, she’d taken the scissors and had started cutting.
When she looked in the mirror, she saw a pale ghost of the woman she’d once been. She’d lost weight due to her anguish and her morning sickness. Her OB had warned her she needed to eat now that she was pregnant. He’d given her medication to help. Luna knew she had to live for herself and for Rini’s baby.
Without wasting another moment, she reached for her phone on the bedside table and called the Queen to alert her she was coming. The older woman’s love and support had made it possible for Luna to survive these past ten days of sheer agony.
“Luna?”
“Buongiorno, Tonia.” They’d been on a first-name basis since Rini had introduced his grandmother to her eight months ago. “Forgive me for disturbing you, but this can’t wait.”
“What is it?”
“I have a favor to ask of Leonardo.” She explained what it was she wanted to do to honor the miner. “I didn’t know one of the men was a Slovenian. I hadn’t realized he’d been working there on a work visa.”
“I didn’t either, Luna. Of course, Leo will arrange it. Come as soon as you can and we’ll both talk to him.”
“Thank you so much. Since we’ve met all the families of the other miners from San Vitano, I’d like to fly there and meet his family, take them flowers.”
“I don’t see a problem.”
Relief filled Luna. “Wonderful. I’ll be over within a half hour.”
Once she’d hung up, she phoned for her driver to meet her in front of the palazzo. Then she rushed to the closet to dress in an aqua-colored, short-sleeved, two-piece summer suit. She matched it with white sandals and grabbed her purse.
“Viola?” she called to the housekeeper when she hurried downstairs to the foyer. “I’m leaving for the palace. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but I’ll let you know.”
Before long she reached the palace and met Antonia outside Leonardo’s private study. The two walked in on him. “Leo?”
He lifted his gray head. Despair was written all over him. “Cara? Luna?”
“Luna has come to ask for a favor.”
“Of course. Anything.” He held out his arms and Luna ran into them. “How are you doing, darling?”