Stella showered and walked to the dresser, where she found a five hundred dollar bill. Smiling she put into her purse and walked away.
Chapter 5
Everything was ready for the christening and to Kathy’s delight Mala came over a week ahead and she was going to stay for a month.
“Kathy, I think you should let Bernardo know about Josh,” said Mala.
Aunt Margie nodded in agreement.
Kathy held up her palm. “No Mala, he will never know and even if he did, he would want nothing to do with Josh,” said Kathy.
“How do you know that? It might turn out the other way around,” said Mala.
“Mala, Bernardo is a man who does not do long term relationships. He would turn and run miles away if I tell him about Josh,” said Kathy.
Mala sighed and looked away. There was no point in trying to convince Kathy to tell Bernardo about Josh.
Bernardo paced the floor, waiting for Kathy to call him, but she didn’t.
Picking up the phone he asked Giovanni to see him.
Bernardo was going to settle this matter once and for all. He missed Kathy and surprisingly for a man like him, Bernardo had fallen in love.
Giovanni has also seen Bernardo’s change. It was almost a year and Bernardo had not ordered any trinket from Cartier, which meant that he had stopped dating and having one night stands.
“Giovanni, I want you to find from the White Pages Directories of London, to whom this number belongs and the address. Also remember if you can’t find it on the internet, you can go to any length until you have achieved what I have asked you,” said Bernardo.
‘Isn’t there even a name to this number?” asked Giovanni.
“Well there is Margie and Benedict, but I do not know their surname,” said Bernardo.
Giovanni nodded thoughtfully and left Bernardo’s room.
He would go to any length of find where Kathy lived and he would be on the next plane flying out to London, when he did.
The christening of Josh was a lovely event. Josh was such a quiet baby throughout the service. When they returned home, Sophia, Aunt Margie’s cook and housekeeper had prepared a wonderful spread and everyone tucked in.
Josh was tired after being dressed up for more than four hours and he went to sleep suckling on to Kathy’s breast. Kissing his forehead Kathy placed him in the crib. Everyone in the house went to be early that night, as they were exhausted from the day’s events.
Early next morning Kathy decided that she would visit a few job agencies in town to check whether there were any lucrative openings for a personal assistant. She could not be a burden to Aunt Margie. Not that they had told her anything to the effect, but still Kathy felt she should chip in too.
She left Josh with Aunt Margie and visited two job agencies. There was nothing very interesting that came up at the agencies and Kathy was a bit disappointed. Well she would try the following week too.
Kathy walked out of the agency and thought she would do a bit of window shopping. She was a brisk walker, but somehow Kathy felt very uneasy. She stopped and turned round, but all she saw was an old man with a walking stick, who tipped his hat, smiled and went on his way and a woman pushing a stroller. They were the only two people walking right behind her. Kathy shook her head and chided herself.
The following morning Derika was leaving for a nature study with her students from the school and Denham said he was going out with friends for two days. That left Uncle Benedict, Aunt Margie, Kathy, Josh and Sophia at home.
Kathy was trying to feed Josh his cereal when she heard the door buzzer.
“I’ll get it Aunt Margie,” she said and walked up to the door.
Without looking through the peep-hole Kathy opened the door. Seeing Bernardo standing outside, she tried to close the door, but he was quicker than her and stopped the door from banging closed with his foot.
Aunt Margie had come down the staircase to see who it was. Bernardo pushed his way into the house.
“Hello, I am Bernardo and I presume you are Aunt Margie,” he said extending his hand towards Aunty Margie, who shyly shook hands with Bernardo.
“Come on in to the living room. It is much warmer in there,” said Aunt Margie, as if Bernardo and she were long lost friends meeting after a decade or two.
Kathy stood with the bowl of cereal in one hand and Josh on her hip. Josh gurgled at Bernardo and clapped his hands. Kathy could have died, as Bernardo was no fool not to recognize the striking resemblance between Josh and him. Josh was the carbon copy of his father.
Bernardo walked into the living room and was introduced to Uncle Benedict. He made himself comfortable on a sofa and by the looks of it Kathy knew he was not leaving soon.
She took Josh into her room and shut the door. Aunt Margie came up and tapped.
“Kathy, look darling you have to come down. You cannot hide away any longer. Bernardo needs to know the truth and he has a right to know it,” said Aunt Margie.
“Ask him to go away. He has done enough of damage to me and I don’t want to see him again ever,” she said.
“Why don’t you want to see me again ever, Kathy?” asked Bernardo from behind Aunt Margie, which made not only Aunt Margie jump, but even Kathy although she was behind closed doors.
“Kathy open the door my dear,” said Aunt Margie.
Josh had started crying and she had no alternative, but to open the door. Bernardo entered and room and Aunt Margie went downstairs to ask Sophia to prepare coffee and a snack.
Josh sat on the bed and looked up at his father. Bernardo sat beside Josh and ruffled his hair. Kathy looked away as the scene she just witnessed brought tears to her eyes.
“He is my son, isn’t he?” asked Bernardo.
Kathy was looking out of the window. She could not bring herself to turn back and look at the two of them, as her eyes were like pools waiting to overflow. She just nodded.
“Kathy why didn’t you let me know? Why didn’t you tell me?” asked Bernardo.
He had come to stand behind her with Josh in his arms. The little boy was fascinated by Bernardo’s Rolex watch, which when pressed turned on a light. Little Josh kept pressing the button and then waiting for the light to come on; he chuckled as if he had found a new toy.
“Kathy, I want you to come back to Italy with my son. He needs both parents and you cannot stay out here and deny me my son,” said Bernardo.
“His name is Josh and I have no intention of bringing him to Italy. He will stay in London with me,” said Kathy.
“You cannot do that. I will file a case for custody of my son and the court will definitely grant me custody,” said Bernardo.
Kathy swirled round. “You will not take my son away from me. He is my son and you go look after Celina and Adriano. They need you more than the two of us,” she shouted at him.
“And moreover he is not your son,” continued Kathy.
Bernardo laughed out loud. “Say that again my darling Kathy. Say that again,” he said laughing.
“I don’t need a DNA test to tell me who my son is. Josh is mine and I intend making him mine, by filing for custody of the child. That’s my final say,” said Bernardo.
“You can’t do that Bernardo. He is all I got. she said sounding defeated.
“Well let’s see who wins. You think I cannot take Josh away from you? Well for your information Kathy, I can and I will go all out to see that Josh is brought up in the environment I was brought up and that he learns the Greek culture and customs,” said Bernardo, glaring furiously at her.
Kathy lifted her chin and looked him straight in the face.
“Okay Bernardo Lorenzo. You go ahead and make plans to gain custody of Josh and I will get Celina as my witness along with Adriano, to prove that he is your son and that you are not fit, even with all your wealth to gain custody of Josh,” said Kathy, equally furious, as she stared long and hard at Bernardo.
Bernardo threw back his head and laughed.
“Will you stop talking of Celina and A
driano? Adriano is not my son. I had a DNA taken out on Adriano and the results have come out negative. Adriano’s real father is the Vincent, the Manager of Celina’s agency. Celina tried her best to get me hooked and by god I escaped,” said Bernardo rubbing his forehead.
Kathy turned towards him.
“Is that true?” she asked, walking to the bedside cupboard she pulled out the magazine.
“How do you explain this?” she said pointing to the photograph of Celina and Bernardo and thrusting the magazine in his face.
“Oh my god Kathy, are you so daft that you don’t read the month and year in which magazines are printed. Look at this. This magazine is two years old, for Christ sake,” he said puffing air from his mouth.
Kathy glanced at the top of the magazine and she saw that it was two years old. She felt stupid. Bernardo was right to call her daft. She should have looked at the year of the magazine, instead of making a fool of herself.
“Oh well, you still see her don’t you?” she said, trying to find some excuse.
Bernardo looked at her long and hard. He was wondering how he could make her understand that he loved her and wanted her back in Greece with him, not as his lover, but as his wife and the mother of his children.
Kathy on the other hand was furious with herself and was lost for words. The debate about Josh and who should have him continued for so long, Aunty Margie was wondering what had happened. Josh had fallen asleep on the bed. He had been looking at his parents bickering and he could not keep his little eyes open any more that he dropped off to sleep.
Bernardo knew someone had to give in, or else this topic would never come to a close. He was sure Adriano was not his son and Celina was a bitch to have tried to lure him into a trap.
‘Look Kathy darling. I missed you so much. I would have come earlier if only I knew where you lived. London is a vast country,” said Bernardo.
“That’s what I wanted to ask you. How did you find me?” asked Kathy.
“I hired a private investigator,” said Bernardo.
“You had me followed? Why, of all the nerve,” she said in rage.
Kathy was furious that he had her followed. She was one person who loved her privacy and to think that some detective or private investigator was following her every move.
“Calm down Kathy. How on earth could I have found you, if I did not do what I did?” said Bernardo.
Kathy looked up at him and then it hit her.
“The old man with the walking stick. Aha that’s it. He was the one isn’t it?” she asked
Bernardo nodded. “Yes Kathy. I wanted you so much that I would have moved heaven and earth to get to you,” said Bernardo, kissing the top of her head.
Kathy melted in his arms as his mouth claimed hers, in a long kiss, which had to stop with a piercing shriek from Josh. The little fellow had had enough of looking at his parents cuddle, fight and kiss, whatever those were and he needed attention too,
Josh had not awoken and looked up at the two people who were his parents. May be his little head wondered what they were doing.
“Mama…” said Josh.
Kathy turned to smile at her son and Bernardo moved towards the bed.
“Hi little fellow. What’s up? Are you hungry?” asked Bernardo, ruffling Josh’s head of hair.
Josh smiled and Kathy’s eyes stung with tears at the resemble. Father and son looked identical.
Bernardo carried Josh in his arms and walked down the staircase with his hand on Kathy’s shoulder. Uncle Benedict and Aunt Margie had tears in their eyes, as they watched this lovely family descend into their living room.
“I am so happy for both of you and little Josh,” said Aunt Margie wiping a tear.
“Aunty Margie, I had a terrible time trying to convince Kathy and get all those demons in her head out. She insisted that I had a son and wife tucked away and produced a magazine which was two years old!” said Bernardo.
“Mind you, she did not care to look at the year it was printed and had kept it safely tucked inside the cupboard drawer to confront me with it,” said Bernardo.
Kathy smacked him playfully on the shoulder and little Josh followed suit.
It was obvious Josh loved his father. They say that blood although it runs in the veins; the scent could be picked up by your own. It is true as Josh never left Bernardo; he wanted to be carried around by Bernardo, who gladly obliged.
Chapter 6
A week after Bernardo arrived in London, the house was a hive of activity, as everyone was busy as bees getting ready for Bernardo’s and Kathy’s wedding. Bernardo had spared no expense and although it was a small affair, it was exquisite.
Kathy was taken to the best salon in London for her facial, manicure and pedicure. Bernardo proudly drove her around and spared no expense to make her look even more beautiful than she did.
Kathy chose a white wedding dress, edged with real diamonds sewed onto the neckline. She carried a very small bouquet of white roses. A very few friends were invited from their circle of friends in Italy and of course Bernardo’s mother. Kathy felt she was walking on air, as Uncle Benedict walked down the aisle with her towards Bernardo, who stood admiring his wife to be. Josh sat very still taking in the surroundings. At the altar when Father Antony proclaimed them husband and wife, Bernardo raised Kathy’s eye veil and kissed her tenderly.
“I love you my wife,” he whispered in her ear.
“And I love you too my husband,” said Kathy.
Bernardo had arranged a reception party at the Hilton, where a few relations and close friends attended. Kathy changed into a powder blue skirt and blouse and a platinum chain which had tiny diamonds embedded in it. She looked very simple and this simplicity was the cue for Bernardo to pursue his quest to win her over.
That night they flew to Hawaii for their honeymoon leaving Josh in the care of Aunt Margie, who gladly took up the task.
Bernardo was impatient to get to their suite in the hotel. No sooner he closed the door behind them he too Kathy in his arms and kissed her hard on the mouth.
“I missed you so much and intend making up for the lost time,” he whispered.
‘Me too. I love you Bernardo,” said Kathy winding her hands around his neck and bringing his head down so that she could kiss his lips.
Bernardo groaned as he felt the push of his erection.
“What do you do to me Kathy?” he asked.
“Oh nothing,” said Kathy with a wave of her hand as she dropped it to his zipper. His erection uncoiled itself and sprang out of his boxer shorts, as Kathy now naked, when down on her knees and took him in her mouth. Bernardo groaned as Kathy sucked him dry. Lifting her he carried Kathy to the bed and placed her on the satin sheets. The coolness of the sheets made Kathy shiver.
Her breasts were swollen, partly because of his love making and partly because of the milk, as Kathy still breast fed Josh whenever she could.
“Sweetheart, you taste so sweet,” said Bernardo suckling her breasts and drinking her milk like a baby.
Kathy pushed her breast deeper into his mouth, while Bernardo tugged and pulled at her clitoris which had not come out of its hood.
“Oh Kathy how I want you darling,” he whispered.
“Bernardo, I want you inside me. I won’t to feel you inside me darling,” she whispered.
In one thrust he was inside Kathy, pumping her as her breasts jiggled. It was such an erotic sight that Bernardo shot his juices into her in an orgasm where she came too at the same time.
The lay panting after their lovemaking.
Bernardo took Kathy for a walk on the beach. She wore a pair of shorts and a tank top, while Bernardo was in shorts and a t-shirt. They walked hand in hand on the beach as Kathy stopped to wet her toes in the sea water.
The sky threw out hues of color as the sun set on the horizon. Bernardo and Kathy stood hand in hand watching the sea almost swallow the sun up.
Bernardo led Kathy to the sun-beds which lined the beach and they occu
pied one.
“Oh my god Bernardo this isn’t enough for both of us,” laughed Kathy.
“Oh yes it is enough. See?” he said pulling her in to a tight embrace and Kathy had to push him away to catch her breath.
Bernardo leaned down and brushed his mouth across hers fleetingly and teasingly, in a whisper of a kiss that spoke of tenderness held within passion.
Kathy lifted her hand she’d been resting on his chest, laying her palm against his cheek as she leaned up to place the same whisper of a kiss on his mouth.
Bernardo pulled her tank top down and her creamy white breasts sprung out with their pink nipples hard as rocks pointing upwards. Bernardo covered one nipple with his mouth in a long kiss, while squeezing and playing with her other breast. Kathy squirmed with pleasure and turned to mold her body into his. His erection pushed against her mound and Kathy lifted her short skirt to let it roam around her thighs, sending her in to seventh heaven and Bernardo dropped his hand over her smooth mound and inserted two fingers into her vagina, which was well lubricated now with her juices. He placed his thumb over her clitoris and used circular movements over it. Kathy was bursting with passion as she tightened her thighs together and went into a fucking motion.
Bernardo immediately straddled her and sunk his cock into her very wet vagina and fucked her deeply.
“Mmmmmmmmm…. Bernardo, oh oh deeper honey. I want you deeper in me. Oh honey, fuck me harder, play with my nipples.
She bucked and kicked as she came with a shudder and Bernardo grunted and growled as he shot his juices into her.
They lay sated and made love once more before heading for the hotel.
After a weeks’ honeymooning they flew back to London. Kathy looked so fresh and happy.
One week after their honeymoon, Bernardo, Kathy and Josh boarded his private jet to leave for Italy. Kathy was sad to leave behind Uncle Benedict, Aunt Margie and her cousins, who had been so helpful and kind to her.
“Aunt Margie, I want four of you to come to Italy this Christmas. We will take care of your air tickets,” said Kathy hugging her aunt.
‘Or still better, I will have the jet sent for you, which will be much easier,” chipped in Bernardo.
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