‘ ‘ ‘  It was to be a truly special and joyous occasion; Pamella was getting married to Tony. ‘œThey make such a beautiful couple,’ I thought. ‘œCould be taken for a Grecian God and Goddess.’’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  My thoughts were relaxed and lazy as I gazed rather dreamily through my kitchen window to our small garden. Pamella’™s mother, Grace, is my best friend and I was as happy as she at the coming marriage.’  The jangle of the phone cut my thoughts.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œOddy, listen.’ It was Grace. Ever since college she has called me that. Actually my name is Odette but as far as Grace is concerned, it was always Oddy; ‘œThe Manor has thrown in two crates of French Champagne as a bonus! Can you imagine! I visited the manager there this morning for last minute decisions and, oh, it’™ll be perfect and so grand! I’™m so happy. It’™s going to be the high fly of my life.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Grace and Frank hired a stately English manor with its sumptuous garden and grounds for the reception. Though ‘œcomfortably off’, they were not all that well off as to be hiring such a place but most of the cost had been taken by Tony’™s father, a very wealthy Italian who was flying over that day for the wedding.’ ‘ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œGrace, I’™m as excited as you. They make such a beautiful couple. It will be like a royal wedding ‘“ something truly spectacular and beautiful.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I was just a little sad that Bill, my husband, being overseas on business’  would miss this once in a lifetime occasion.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œGrace, I wonder what Tony’™s father is like? Except for a not very good photo Tony showed us, we have no idea of the man. Have you seen a better one?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œNo, Oddy I haven’™t but ever since Tony’™s mother died, rumour has it that Giovanne is quite a ladies man ‘“ now Bill’™s away, you better watch out!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I laughed happily, ‘œYou know I’™m not the type.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The day past rapidly to afternoon and the time of the arrival of the guests. Grace and I had come early with Frank, Grace’™s husband to make sure that the service would go flawlessly. I watched a ceaseless line of cars passing through the great wrought-iron gate, wind their way through magnificent oaks, maples and cedars at the edge of which was a small, rather quaint, red brick guest house. The driveway then passed the rose garden and wide, billiard-table-like lawns to the splendid, manor house. The setting could not have been more magnificent.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  One of the cars, a black, elegant sports, stood out from the more standard ones. I casually wondered who this guest might be when Tony, standing next to Grace and myself said, ‘œThat must be dad. A Maseratti ‘“ a car he would choose. He supplies many of the parts.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I had stationed myself next to Grace then came Frank, Pam and Tony, at the entrance at the top of the broad steps to welcome the guests.’  I, being blond, contrasted Grace, who, though also tall, is a little shorter. Her dark hair arranged up, she was in a plain but very fashionable pale blue chiffon dress, with matching shoes. She looked truly lovely and the height of elegance. Though Grace never normally wore hats, the frilly, broad and floppy-brimmed one she wore suited her so well.’  Pam, looked absolutely gorgeous in white.’  The excitement was electric.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The black sports drove right up to the steps. The driver stepped from it, leaving a passenger to take over the driver’™s seat to park the car.’  It was, of course, Tony’™s father.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Giovanne Gaetano, a man in his early fifties was an impressive, handsome figure, I might have realised he would be being Tony’™s father. He stood straight and tall and as he approached, dressed meticulously in evening wear, I noticed that his black hair was greying at the temples. As he smiled his greeting, kissing Grace’™s outstretched hand in true Italian style, I couldn’™t help but feel there was a certain sadness in an otherwise, bright eye and tanned, handsome face. He hugged his son with warmth, passing then to Pamella, Frank, Grace and finally to me.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I was a little abashed by his kissing my hand in Italian style then embracing me also – an embrace which was unhurried and firm. There was a clean smell to him, very lightly perfumed.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The wedding ceremony, carried out by a young priest, took place under an enormous white canopy on the lawn adjoining the rose garden. For me this was dream-like – this June wedding on a balmy, yet sunny afternoon with an evening before me with promises of an unforgettable occasion.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The Grand Hall with its glittering, crystal chandeliers, elegant, gilt-framed, classic paintings, sumptuous furnishings and magnificent oaken tables was the very epitome of luxury. The grand tables were laden with every culinary dish imaginable and being set at the end of the hall, left space for dancing. Indeed, already many young couples were, to the lively music of a chamber orchestra consisting of a piano, a Bechstein if you please!, a violin, cello, bass, saxophone and drums.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œGrace, this is just too wonderful! I’™ve never been to such a grand reception.’  Beyond all expectation,’ I said sipping some of the ‘œon the house’ champagne from a tall-stemmed, crystal glass. ‘œOut of this world!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYes, Oddy,’ Grace beamed at me excitedly’  over the top of her glass. ‘œMe too! Never could have imagined something more exciting than this for Pam. Frank is in some seventh heaven. See him? He’™s over there.’  Look.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I looked. Frank was with a group of young girls with a toothpaste advert smile on his face. It was then that I saw Giovanne, a smile as broad as Frank’™s on his face coming toward us.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  After a brief greeting to Grace he turned to me. ‘œAt such a lovely celebration and happy occasion, it’™s a crime to be alone. Allow me to be your companion. Will you dance with me?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I looked at Grace for support, my blood rising. Grace just smiled back mischievously. For the first time in twenty five years, I blushed.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The next thing I knew we were dancing to a fast rhythm, me finding myself matching and following Giovanne’™s smooth steps with an ease that surprised me.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYou dance so well,’ he said. ‘œI didn’™t quite catch your name, Odette isn’™t it?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYes.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYour name is as lovely as you are. At first I thought, perhaps, you were Pamella’s mother until Grace held her hand out to me.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Although Giovanne’™s accent was notably Italian, his English was fluent and quite remarkable. This man, altogether was remarkable and I found myself almost literally’  swept off my feet in an atmosphere that belonged to another world.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œOdette, let’™s walk,’ he said suddenly. ‘œI feel the need so much to talk with someone with understanding and I feel you would be. You have a soft look about you. Will anyone miss you here?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œNo, I’™m alone in fact and Grace is overwhelmed with her guests.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  For the first time that day I thought of Bill and it came to me as a small shock. Why hadn’™t I missed him? Bill was a solid type; practical, with no time for ‘œsissy’ things like romance. Our twenty five years together had been full alright, of doing the many necessary things that have to be done in keeping a home, raising a family of two and keeping Bill’™s needs satisfied. Suddenly I realised that somewhere deep inside I was carrying an emptiness – a longing that had never surfaced.’  I was a little dizzy with the champagne; dizzy with the different world in which I had found myself. In this other world I threw all caution to the wind and just like in the dance we were in together, decided I would let Giovanne lead wherever he wished. I turned to him.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œNo,’ I repeated. ‘œI’™m quite on my own.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  We left the Grand Hall with the dancing couples and descended the statue-lined steps to the lawn. The music, came to us softly.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œOdette, is French, isn’™t it?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYes, my father was from France. He and my mother met in the last war. She was in Intelligence, he in the French underground. They settled in England. What do you do?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œOh, I am in car manufacturing, supplying many parts for the assembly lines. But we should not speak of such things on such a perfect day and in such a lovely garden. I am a keen gardener myself specialising in roses. I should love to see the rose garden I saw as I arrived. It looked quite impressive. Do you mind?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  There was nothing suggestive in his manner or tone. Just open and frank and I, just as frankly, answered: ‘œI would love to.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  It was the time of year when most roses are at their best, added to which, the gardeners of the manor obviously knew their job. The garden was a joy of colour and Giovanne was going from one to another, examining blossoms, leaves and stems with obvious enjoyment and expertise. He turned to me, ‘œLook, Odette, this is a William Richardson. It needs very special care and to reach a blossom as good as this one must be an exceptionally good gardener.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Giovanne was so openly enthusiastic and genuine. He turned to me, excited. He took both my hands in his examining them then raising and kissing each palm in turn. He looked happily into my eyes. In that instant I fell in love. I fell in love for the first time in my life. It was an overwhelming experience. It frightened as much as it excited. It intoxicated me and I found myself short of breath.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Giovanne drew me to himself and kissed me. His kiss was soft, passionate but full of tenderness too. I did not resist. I could not. I did not wish to and returned his kiss with passion.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Giovanne’™s ‘œOdette, you are beautiful,’ was as natural as his talk of roses. And when he added, ‘œThere are gardeners here, let us see if the small garden house is vacant, shall we?’, was to me just as natural.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I didn’™t answer nor did I resist when he took my hand and we walked through this heavenly place of colour and scents to the quaint cottage at the edge of the wood. I walked by his side as though I had known him half my life. I was completely relaxed as he tried the door only to find that it was locked. There was no key under the mat either but it fell with a clatter to the floor of the small, roofed entrance when his hand reached to the lintel above. The door opened easily.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  It was well into evening when we began our walk but there was enough light to show a clean, single room, a small table, two chairs, and a large bed in one corner. When Giovanne closed the door the small, curtained window let in enough light to see dimly.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAre you worried or upset, Odette. I would not wish to hurt you in any way. You must tell me, truly.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œNo, I’™m not at all afraid, Giovanni.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYou are very charming, Odette. I felt I wanted to be with you the moment I set eyes upon you. You are most understanding.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  I knew instinctively that this whole crazy moment would end with the day but I was too far gone. I wanted it to go on. I didn’™t care about the future. This day, this time, this moment would be mine as long as I lived and that was all that mattered.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œGiovanne, please hold me.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  He kissed me, again gently but passionately, lovingly. He kissed me with a warmth and softness I had never known. When he reached to unbutton my dress at the back, it was as natural an act as I have yet known. His hands were soft; his touch gentle. I put my face up to his in a surrender that was complete.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  On the bed, side by side, his finger tips caressed my body with the touch of petals. He kissed me as a god would a goddess, with grace and sensitivity. His body touched mine in a motion I had never known. The faint odour I noticed when he had first embraced me was now the fragrance of the rose garden through which we had come. I did not know there could be such love. I was in Giovani’™s hands as a cello in the hands of a virtuoso. I returned his love with a passion that only a complete giving can give.’ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  In the final act we were together in a crescendo that was for me at once, passion and joy at their greatest height and depth. Nor can mere words ever reach to describe such emotion. It was a thing of perfection ‘“ the highest a soul can reach.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  With his arms around me in an embrace that was now relaxed he said: ‘œI’™ve never known someone as understanding and as gentle as you, Odette. You must believe me. It is absolutely true. It’™s as if I could put my life into this one moment.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Giovanne’™s words expressed everything that I would ever wish to say myself but never would or could, so in answer I pressed my open lips to his in just one more long, ardent kiss.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  We dressed slowly and, leaving the key just where we had found it, made our way back to another, real world; to the Manor and Grand Hall where the merriment was still at its height.