Her husband was returning wrapped in hospital green Slovenian swaddling clothes. Where were his own clothes, let alone his wedding ring and watch?
After the helicopter lifted off, Rini held her gaze. “How did we meet?”
“It’s a long story. I was born in Scuol, Switzerland, where we speak Italian and Romansh. You have a second cousin Vincenzo, who also lives in Scuol and you learned to speak it.
“I started working for your company. You and I spoke Romansh on the first day we met. When you found out I’d been born in Scuol, it gave us a unique connection. We often spoke it so no one else could understand.” It was their private language of love. In truth, it had been love at first sight for them, but he didn’t want to hear that now.
“I don’t have any family.”
Oh, dear. Too much information. “Don’t worry about that right now.”
Before long they reached the Sacred Heart Hospital in Asteria and landed on the roof, where attendants were waiting.
“We’re here, Rini.”
“Where?”
“At the hospital in your hometown. You need to be taken care of for a little while longer.”
His features hardened. “I don’t want to be in another hospital.”
“Just for a little while until I know you’ll be all right. That infection was a bad one.”
“Where will you be?”
“Right here with you. But first you must go with Doctor Romano. I’ll join you in a minute.”
“You swear it?” The demand broke her heart. He was so paranoid it frightened her.
Oh, Rini. Darling. “I swear.”
The doctor got out of the helicopter first to accompany Rini, who was wheeled inside to the top-floor suite of the hospital. With security everywhere, she knew the King and Queen had been waiting on the premises.
She and Carlo followed. When they emerged from the elevator, Antonia cried Luna’s name and ran to her. They hugged and cried tears together. “Where’s Leonardo?”
“Doctor Romano is talking to him while another doctor is taking care of the gash on Rini’s arm and getting him settled. They’re already talking over a plan of tests and will call in a nutritionist to get him healthy again. When I glimpsed him, I must admit I hardly recognized my grandson with facial hair and weight loss.”
“I know. It’s a shock. Before we go in to him, there’s something of vital importance you should know first.” They hurried toward the door to the suite and walked inside. Dr. Romano saw them and motioned them over to him and the King.
Rini’s grandfather wept, but it wasn’t for joy. Not this time. Luna turned to Dr. Romano. “Will you tell my grandmother-in-law your diagnosis?”
“Tell me what?” the older woman murmured.
In the next few minutes the doctor explained that Rini had amnesia and how careful they would have to be to hide their alarm. Luna’s heart went out to them, but she knew Rini was desperate for her to come to him, and no wonder. He couldn’t talk to anyone else! “May I go in to him right now?”
The doctor nodded. “Go ahead. We’ll come in soon.”
After giving Leonardo a hug, she hurried into the room where Rini lay on the bed. He shot up when he saw her. “Where is this hospital?”
“This is the Sacred Heart Hospital in Asteria, San Vitano.”
“San Vita
no?”
She moaned. “It’s the country on the Italian-Swiss border where you were born and live.”
None of it seemed to make an impression. Her beloved husband looked so bewildered she wanted to cry buckets but couldn’t. Not in front of him.