It was still difficult to comprehend he had left Faith pregnant, that Maria had hidden the letters Faith sent; that his wife had kept such a secret from him was too petty to comprehend. Too cruel.
He could not imagine the hardships his child’s mother, his Faith, had to endure, the judgements he’d exposed her to with his carelessness, but he would not sour this coming evening with bitter thoughts. His daughter waited.
He started walking again and his stride lengthened until he turned into the gate of Faith’s house.
As he reached up to knock his fingers on the white wooden door, it opened. His miracle of a daughter stood there, her excited face tilted sideways, her dark hair pulled back and tied with a yellow ribbon, her tiny pink mouth pursed as she studied him. Then she smiled.
‘What a pretty ribbon,’ he said, more to see her smile widen than anything else.
‘Yellow is my favourite colour.’ Then, without pause, ‘Thank you for my doll. Mummy said you’re my daddy. Is that right?’
His heart jumped in his chest and he wanted to lift her and swing her up, hug her to his chest, but instead he was careful not to expect too much and said, ‘Sì. That is right. I am your papà, and I am very glad to have found you.’
‘So? Can I tell my friend, Piper?’
‘Of course. If your mother is fine with that.’ He looked past his daughter to Faith as she hovered protectively, as any mother would when an almost-stranger wanted to claim half her child. She was incredible, this woman. Brave. Honest. His heart swelled.
‘Thank you,’ he said quietly, and she nodded and gestured him in.
‘Excuse me,’ Chloe’s voice piped up. ‘Do I have any brothers or sisters or cousins? Or grandparents? Piper has cousins and grandparents.’
‘I’m afraid not, Chloe. You do have an Uncle Dominico in Italy. But he has no family.’ He caught Faith’s eye and shook his head slightly. He didn’t want Chloe to become sad with the history of loss in his family.
‘So my Uncle Dominico won’t be here for my birthday?’
He smiled. ‘No. I am sorry.’
An intense stare. ‘But you will be?’
This he could say. ‘Yes.’
She nodded once then looked back at him. ‘Promise?’
His daughter’s head was tilted and she looked suddenly like her mother. He moistened his lips to say yes, and then considered his first ever promise to his daughter. The magnitude of that. ‘Unless the sky falls in.’
She nodded and he saw that she understood. Instead she said, ‘Is my Uncle Dominico bigger than you?’
‘No. We are the same size. But he is older. By ten minutes. He is my twin. Though sometimes he seems much older.’
Isabel stood against the window watching them, a small welcoming smile flashing briefly his way before she turned to give them privacy.
An odd fleeting thought crossed his mind. His brother would appreciate Isabel, if only he could get him here. How incongruous that this place across the world made him think of Dominico and his painful past.
‘We’re almost ready to leave.’ Faith’s voice brought him back to the present moment. ‘It’s just up the hill at the far croft.’
‘I am ready. Today I will see one of the little houses on the edge of the cliffs—they intrigue me.’
She narrowed her eyes at him and said very softly, ‘They are not for sale.’ His purchase had obviously unsettled her. Then she went on, ‘The views are spectacular, yes, and they’re built from the same stone blocks as the lighthouse.’
He thought of the imposing structure on the far skyline across the bay. ‘Your lighthouse is most picturesque.’
Faith smiled. Her tense posture eased a little and he was glad. ‘I love it. The first time I saw it I felt like it stood benignly over a place I wanted to live. I came here for the work and found my world.’
He had thought that the first time he’d met her—how much she suited this little bay. Which was a problem in itself, but an issue for later. ‘Then you are lucky. To feel at home is a special thing. As I walked here I was thinking that a telescope in the Captain’s house would give a fine view as well.’
‘I haven’t been inside.’ She turned to her aunt. ‘Have you seen next door, Izzy?’
‘Yes. Once.’ Isabel gave him an assessing look. As if she too had thought his purchase too impulsive. ‘Beneath the wear and tear there’s lots of beautiful woodwork and the stairs are lovely. The view of the ocean from the turret is indeed impressive.’
Faith glanced at her watch. ‘I’m sorry. Time’s marching on.’ She picked up a small white-paper-wrapped parcel with a child’s drawing covering it and shooed Chloe towards the door. ‘Shall we go? We made some Rocky Road chocolate for Dr Southwell. He loves Rocky Road, doesn’t he, Chloe?’
‘He always has some in a jar.’ His new daughter nodded enthusiastically and Raimondo had to smile. ‘He says I make the best Rocky Road.’
She looked so pleased with herself and her mother smiled indulgently. He imagined the preparation of the sweets would be a shared task. ‘I’m sure you do, little one.’
Raimondo’s phone vibrated discreetly and he pulled the instrument from his pocket, frowning at the interruption. Dominico. He glanced at Faith. ‘Excuse me, I must take this.’ He turned to the doorway and stepped outside into the street.
‘Ciao, Dominico.’
‘Brother. Bad news. The factory has been destroyed. It lies in ruin.’
Raimondo sucked in a breath. His grandfather’s legacy, which neither of them had wanted but both felt obliged to continue.
His brother answered the question before he could ask. ‘Fire. I’m sorry. There are questions I cannot answer and I need you to return.’
No. He couldn’t. Not yet. He glanced towards the family who were filing from the house towards him. He’d promised. ‘This is difficult.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I gave my word to stay until Chloe’s birthday tomorrow. It is only an extra twenty-four hours.’
Dominico’s sigh sounded despairing. ‘I’m sorry. The police wish to talk to us both.’
Pah. ‘How can they expect me to travel so far for their whim? I will be back in two days.’
Another sigh. ‘Then don’t. It is just my need. This wearies me. Too much.’
Raimondo could hear the despair in his brother’s voice. He was not the decisive and upbeat Dominico of old. He knew how hard it had been for his brother to climb back from his heartbreak, how he had buried his grief in becoming like his grandfather, lost in the business. Raimondo felt the tearing of himself in two as he wished to be in both places.
Was this the last straw? Dominico had worried him lately.
Yet he needed to stay for Chloe’s birthday.
He needed to be there for his brother, who had always been there for him. He could feel his twin’s pain across the distance between them. A hint of instability. A risk he could not take.
‘If I come, will you travel with me to Australia when I return? A change of scenery may lighten your weariness and I have a young lady who wishes to meet her uncle.’
‘I think not.’
‘I think so. Or I will not come.’
‘You must come.’
‘Then we will discuss it soon. Arrange for a friend to stay with you until I arrive. You must promise this.’
‘As you wish.’ A weary agreement, not a happy one.
‘Done. Have Rosa arrange the flights. I will leave in a few hours to make the midnight flight from Brisbane tonight, use Singapore.’
‘Sì.’ A pause. ‘Thank you.’
‘Look after yourself until I arrive. Yes?’
‘Yes.’
‘Ciao. Now to tell my daughter I must break my promise I have only just made.’ He ended the call.
It was the mother who would be angry on her daughter’s behalf, and he didn’t b
lame her. He just hoped the rapport they had begun to enjoy would not be damaged, but he knew it would.
Knew he had done damage to the fledgling trust she had offered him today and he cursed fate and fires and the lack of free will.
CHAPTER TWELVE
FAITH LOOKED UP from straightening Chloe’s hair to the man waiting at the gate. There was something in his face that said all was not well. Deep inside she knew she wasn’t going to like this and her heart began to pound. ‘Everything all right, I hope?’
He looked at her and the worry and frustration in his eyes forewarned her. Her stomach sank. ‘A fire. The company headquarters have been destroyed in Florence. My brother asks that I return immediately.’
And so it begins.
Of course he would go. She’d known that. ‘When?’
‘Tonight. Later.’ Faith sucked in her breath as he finished with, ‘I will fly at midnight.’
Hot words wanted to pour out but she wouldn’t let them. She’d expected this, hadn’t she? She looked at her daughter, who had skipped ahead with Izzy. Instead of berating him, she said calmly, ‘Before Chloe’s birthday?’
‘Sì. My apologies.’
‘I expected nothing from you.’ Her tone said she was unsurprised. She raised her brows and as her heart iced over she shot him a cold look. ‘And it is not me you need to apologise to. Perhaps you’d better tell her before she tells all and sundry you’ll be at her party.’
Raimondo winced and glanced at his daughter, a few large strides ahead, chatting to her aunt.
Faith seethed. As well he should consider Chloe. Broken promise number one. That hadn’t taken long. She felt like stamping her foot and asking if one more day would make such a difference. But of course he would go.
‘Chloe?’ Faith called and Chloe skipped back down to them. ‘Your father has something to tell you. You walk with him here and I’ll talk to Aunty Izzy about something she needs to know.’ Because if she didn’t move away she was going to say something she regretted and Chloe was the important one. She was the one who had told him that.
She turned and walked a little too quickly back to where Izzy was admiring a rose bush in the next-door garden but Raimondo and Chloe’s voices carried on the still air. She’d known his priorities so why was she surprised?
‘He has to leave for a family emergency.’ She could hear the tartness and was glad she’d spoken softly to Izzy. They both turned to see how Chloe took it.
She heard him say, ‘Chloe, I am so sorry that I must break my first promise to you. Something has happened in my home town and I have to leave and go back to Italy before your birthday.’
Chloe’s face fell and then she furrowed her brows. ‘You said you would be here. Did the sky fall in? Like Chicken Little?’
He stopped and crouched down to her level. ‘Sì, little one. You are very clever. The sky has fallen in on our factory because of a bad fire and I must help my brother sort the mess.’
Chloe’s face creased. ‘In the story the sky didn’t really fall.’ Faith heard the forlorn note in her daughter’s words and her eyes narrowed at Raimondo. She hoped she’d done the right thing agreeing to his request of access but she didn’t see how she could have done any different.
Raimondo nodded solemnly. ‘But in Italy this has really happened. Though when I have finished the sorting I will return as fast as I can. And perhaps bring your Uncle Dominico as well. But I am very sad that I cannot be here for your birthday tomorrow, little one. I broke a promise, which is not good.’
Chloe sighed and shrugged her shoulders with resignation. ‘It’s not broken if the sky fell in.’
Faith felt tears prickle behind her eyes as her young daughter behaved so very kindly. Watched Chloe tuck her hand in his. ‘But you are coming tonight to the party and I can tell Piper you are my daddy. And you said you will be back.’
Faith heard it all. Tried to be as philosophical as her five-year-old daughter and struggled.
Izzy squeezed her hand and made her walk forward up the hill. ‘Come on. Let’s go ahead or we’ll be late.’
* * *
The party was in full swing when they arrived. Reg and Myra met them at the door, and it seemed half of the Lighthouse Bay hospital was in attendance inside. The other half must be working, Faith thought with a forced smile at another of her colleagues.
She couldn’t help notice the curious glances Raimondo drew. A stranger and a darkly attractive one at that. Plus he’d actually been present for a birth and two resuscitations as well. He’d been busy in the short time he’d been here. He’d been busy with her too, and even more she regretted that kiss. She sighed.
Of course the first thing Chloe did was drag Piper across to Raimondo and announce in a loud voice, ‘He’s my real dad. He’s from Italy so I call him Papà, not Daddy. He has to go home tonight but he’s coming back soon.’
And that pretty well sums it up, Faith thought as she felt the heat push past her chest, up her neck and into her cheeks. Piper’s mouth fell open, along with the half a dozen people in earshot.
Izzy laughed.
Trina, Faith’s friend and fellow midwife, and Piper’s stepmother, held her pregnant belly and laughed as well. Then she sent a quizzical look Faith’s way. ‘Gotta love kids.’ She put out her hand and Raimondo took her fingers and shook. ‘So, you’re Chloe’s dad, not just a friend. That explains a lot.’
‘It does?’
‘It will,’ she said cryptically and Faith knew she was in for a grilling. ‘Welcome, Raimondo, even though we already met at the beach this morning,’ Trina said with a laugh. ‘I’m sure Faith will fill us in on the details.’ Then she clapped her hands. ‘Everyone! Please meet Raimondo Salvanelli, a GP from Florence and a friend of the Fetherstones.’
She turned to the tall man who had come up at the commotion. ‘Finn, darling. It seems Raimondo is Chloe’s surprise daddy, all the way from Italy.’
Finn glanced at Faith of the red cheeks. Then he met Raimondo’s eyes and nodded. ‘Kids. I’m the local paediatrician so I understand them a little. I see your daughter has taken my daughter’s hand after causing a stir and blithely run off to play dolls.’
‘As children do,’ Raimondo said with a smiling glance in his Chloe’s direction. Then he looked towards her. ‘Her mother is equally charming.’
Faith rolled her eyes. Not that easy, buddy, she thought, and was touched when Finn championed her.
‘Faith is well appreciated here.’ There was no force in the statement but Raimondo nodded at the gentle warning.
‘Unfortunately, I must leave tonight, but I will return soon to better acquaint myself with Chloe and renew my acquaintance with Faith.’
Good lord, that almost sounded like a statement of claim and Faith resisted the urge to call him on it. She was the calm one. She was the one in control here. He was the blow-in.
‘We look forward to knowing you better.’ Finn shook his hand. ‘Another doctor in town is always good. And my dad said you did well. We don’t have emergencies often here but handy to know when there’s extra help in the bay.’
‘I’ll make sure I’m accredited with your government for such times. The Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials have my CV for the aid work I do, so it should be possible.’
‘Excellent. Come, and I’ll introduce you.’
Raimondo followed Finn and Faith sagged a little now all announcements of Chloe’s paternity were out of her hands. There was no going back from here.
‘You’ve had a wild couple of days. And then he leaves?’ Trina linked her arm. ‘Come on, I’ll get you a nice glass of Sav Blanc even though I can’t join you. Ellie said Raimondo popped up at one of your cave tours. Must have been a shock.’
Faith looked at her friend. Saw no judgement, just sympathy. ‘Understatement. Apparently, the letters I sent didn’t make it to him. It was Sa
m’s sister’s Italian guests from your wedding who started the chain reaction. I could say this is all your fault.’
Trina held up her hands and laughed. ‘Francesca? My bad. But he is a bit of a dish. I can see how he must have been tempting if he turned all that charm on you. What were you? Twenty?’
‘First year out of uni.’ Faith took the crystal glass Trina handed her with a nod of thanks. ‘He has charm. But the gloves are off if he disappoints Chloe.’
‘I’m sure he knows that. Though Chloe is tough like her mother. And her aunt. You’ve laid good groundwork there for your daughter’s coping ability.’
Faith looked at her friend and felt a swell of emotion. For the last twenty-four hours her feelings had been like the waves outside the window. Rolling in one after another. No wonder she was feeling buffeted by Raimondo’s arrival. But Trina’s belief in her daughter felt reassuring. And similar to Izzy’s confidence. ‘Thank you. I hope so.’
‘Let him do all the work, Faith. You’ve done your bit. Just enjoy the ride.’
She almost choked. ‘The ride? Good lord. I feel like I’m learning to surf and a big wave is going to knock me off the board and pummel me to bits.’
‘Not you. You have great balance. Besides, you have plenty of friends to help keep you afloat.’
‘Okay. Let’s go see what new challenge has appeared with Raimondo loose in the room and my daughter telling all and sundry.’
‘You’ve got this. There’s only friends here,’ Trina replied as she linked arms again.
* * *
Raimondo shook hands and responded to the kindness as he was introduced to many and moved through the room and out into the sunny backyard where tables and chairs were scattered. He had a beer in his hand bestowed by Finn, children played on a swing set in the corner and the ocean stretched away like a tufted blue carpet.
This was so different to the formality of his world in Florence.
The salt air made him breathe deeply, as did the sight of Faith coming towards him with Finn’s wife. He knew now he could have done this better with some warning to her and certainly it would have been better not to rush away tonight. He stamped down the frustration his impending journey caused. The sooner he left, the sooner he could come back.
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