Chapter Text
"momma? may i go to the lumberyard to see marianna?" the sweet girl asks with pleading eyes. her mother grants, but not without a huff, "yes, but please don't get yourself dirty. and be home in time to get ready for service tonight."
aris beams, wrapping her arms around her mother in a loving embrace. "thank you! i promise to be back in a few hours."
she slipped out into the golden afternoon, her smile wide and light as a spring breeze. volterra had never looked lovelier. the fresh grass glowed green and the sky a deep ocean blue. terracotta roofs shimmered against the warm limestone walls. she tilted her face upward and smiled at the drifting clouds, soft and round like little lambs.
easter had blessed the day well. a blossoming season of renewal and miracles—the victory of light and life. tonight the town will gather in the old church for prayers, eat a warm meal, sing hymns, and celebrate a day of blessings and hope. it was her favorite time of year, when even sorrow seemed to rest, just for a moment.
"marianna!" she called, waving as she caught sight of her best friend at the yard stables. "aris!" marianna lights up. "oh dear, i have so much to tell you."
aris giggles as she reached them, running her hand along the chestnut stallion's mane. "good afternoon, fabio."
"he's been restless today," the blonde says fondly. "let me give him to giovanni, and then we'll talk." she ends wiggling her eyebrows.
from the bench, aris watched marinna lead the horse into the barn. giovanni, the new yard worker from pisa, stepped from the shadows to take the reins. she noticed how his hand brushed against marianna's and how quickly her friend's cheeks flushed.
just last week, her love struck friend had gone on endlessly about his "beautiful dreamy eyes" and his "cosmic colossal muscles." the memory made her smile.
"oh my," aris teases as the girl sits beside her, cheeks still effortlessly pink. "your face tells all."
"that is not what i wanted to talk about," she huffs, though her loving smile betrays her.
"no?"
marianna shakes her head and leans in close, eyes wide with mischief. "there's a rumor floating around."
aris's smile faltered. "i don't like your rumors."
"oh, this one is juicy. word is..." she dropped her voice and looks around, "leonardo is going to ask for your hand."
aris blinks, stunned. "who told you that?"
"i overheard carlo talking to giovanni earlier. he says leonardo already spoke to your mother about the proposal."
her lips part and the pit in her stomach churned to life. but marianna nudges her. "don't act so surprised. anyone with working eyes can see the way he looks at you."
"i wish he wouldn't." she whispers in disbelief.
marianna dramatically gasps, "you're lucky, aris. he's handsome and rich."
a deep frown crests her lips. "i don't want his money and i don't find him all that handsome."
marianna smirked, her romantic heart visioning scenarios. "will you be sitting with him at service tonight?"
"of course not!" aris scoffed. "even if i had wanted to, that could never happen anyway." her mischievous friends grin widened, "my, oh my—
speak of the devil..."
a distinct crunch of polished shoes on gravel silenced their girlish chatter. the man approached with his usual air of smug confidence, his cane tapping rhythmically, and his smile slick and sharp.
"good afternoon, amaris, marianna." he tips his hat, eyes locked on aris.
"to what do we owe the honor of an esposito at our humble lumberyard?" marianna asks sheepishly.
"i heard amaris would be here. i hope for a private word."
the blonde gives aris a look and stands. "of course. i'll be... tending the horses." which was code for i'll be spying inconspicuously nearby.
aris stiffened as leonardo steps closer. "you look radiant on this holy day," he said. "white suits you, perfectly."
she dropped her gaze, not from the flattery, but from unease. today has been a beautiful day, but its warm brilliance has soured.
he takes her hand before she could pull away and brushes his lips against her shaky knuckles.
"amaris," he says softly, "i love you."
her breath caught with sharp panic. "your smile brightens these hills. your heart so gentle and spirit so rare. i wish you by my side for a long time. will you marry me?"
his hand was still on hers. she couldn't move. she couldn't breathe. she wasn't ready for this. this is all too sudden and her mind fogs in dismay. she doesn't love him, not a drop, but how can she deny a man like an esposito? he's extremely powerful and has a poor temper. she's witnessed his passiveness and she doesn't wish to be a target of it.
she dared to glance up. his brown eyes searched hers, waiting. expecting.
he must have seen her fear. "it's alright," he murmured. he gives her hand a gentle squeeze and lets go. "let the thought settle for the night." he tips his hat once more. "i will be seeing you at service."
and then he was gone. her hands tremble and the ghost of his hold lingers.
marianna emerges from the stables and exhales dreamily, "oh, how i wish giovanni would spare me even a passing glance like that."
"you're back early. did you and marianna enjoy yourselves?" her mother asks slicing pancetta. "yes," aris mumbles.
momma looks at the sluggish girl, dull of all her earlier shine. "what's the matter, aris?" the girl takes a seat at the table, her hands folded tightly in her lap. she dreaded this conversation the whole way home. she knows this won't be easy."i spoke to leonardo earlier."
her mother hums pleased, "you and leonardo have been speaking often lately." aris already knows her mother's thoughts of leonardo. she's been hounding her for the two to marry for months. marianna said that leonardo had already spoken to momma about the proposal. why would she give her his blessing when no one had her own?
momma pried, "did he say something to you?"
aris narrows her expression. it was something in the tone that made the question reveal a realization. how did leonardo know she was at the lumberyard? didn't he say someone had told him she was there? "did he see you earlier?" aris asked accusatory.
momma places the meat in the bowl, "he might have dropped by."
"i don't want to marry leonardo, momma."
a loud clang rings in the kitchen and aris's heart stammers. "what do you mean?" momma faces aris, a serious air suddenly suffocating the kitchen. "amaris, he is an esposito, don't you understand?"
aris sighs and hides her face into her arms, "understand what? i do not love him, momma. what more is there to understand?"
momma shakes her head tapping the table, "it is not about love, amaris. that's where you lack understanding. you've been given so many blessings and here is another. do not throw something so precious away because of your naive feelings. you will learn to love him."
"but, i don't want to love him and if we were to marry, i'd have to move to cecina and i don't want to be so far away from home. i don't want any of this!"
her heart aches and nausea stirs inside her. she knew this was coming, she knew momma wouldn't take no for an answer. she knows the implications of what rejecting an esposito meant. she knows her and momma will get dirty looks for rejecting such a family. whispers, shame, maybe even retaliation, but she does not care.
"do not act so selfish!" momma snaps. "you will be happy with him. he will shower you in luxury, you will not have a single problem for the rest of your life. anything you could ever want, it will be yours. your children will never have to be fatherless. leonardo will never have to work hundreds of hours of labor and die from exhaustion." her voice cracks. "he will never leave you."
momma's eyes water as she buckles under a seat. aris knew this somehow got turned into her momma's own projections, and of course, it hurt to see her so upset, but she didn't want children with leonardo. she watches momma break down in tears and guilt rips through her.
aris moves from her seat and embraces her, "please don't cry, momma." perhaps this is why she's been so insistent.
the older woman breathes hard, "i just want you to have a bright future. an esposito can give you everything. opportunities like this don't come often, amaris. please don't whisk it away so easily."
her mind was already made up and no amount of momma's tears are going to change that. her heart broke at the sight, but she refuses to marry him. his wealth and status means nothing to her, for he doesn't have her heart.
"go get ready for service, aris. father valentini is expecting us early." she says wiping her tears.
"yes, momma."