by Lily Zante
Ava leaned against the worktop and read the article slowly.
‘The Cazale Midas touch dies with Edmondo Cazale’
Reading further it mentioned the delays of the Cazale Ravenna opening and taunted Nico by saying that he wasn’t cut out for the grown up world of business. “No wonder he was in a bad mood last night,” murmured Ava.
“He wasn’t in a bad mood,” said Elsa, “I don’t think Elisabetta gave him much time to worry about what the papers had to say. At least, he wasn’t in a bad mood until you got home and then the two of you fell out again. I could hear you. Do you need to go to Denver, honey? Can’t it wait?”
“Don’t you think I would wait if I could?”
Elsa sighed. “Sometimes, honey, I’m not so sure. It seems that each time you reach a tough point, you want to run away.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “I’m not running away, Mom.” It was difficult, trying to remain calm when her mother had obviously not understood where she was coming from. “I wasn’t planning on going to Denver yet but I have no option. Why can’t you see things from my point of view?” Her mom always seemed to have plenty of support where Nico was concerned.
“I’m trying to understand, it’s just that I was thinking of staying in Verona for a few more months,” her mother confessed.
“You were?” This was news to Ava. She didn’t think that Verona had much to keep her mom’s interest here. Not now that Edmondo had gone. But maybe being here was the thing that had helped her to deal with his loss. Ava threw her hands up in the air, feeling helpless. “I’m not suggesting that you return with us and you’re more than welcome to stay here if you want. I’ll be back in a few weeks’ time.”
“But how will you cope with the baby alone?”
“Like most women do,” Ava replied wearily. “I’ve looked after Elisabetta long enough now and I’m sure I can do the same during a transatlantic flight over the pond.”
“I’ll have to come back with you,” Elsa insisted, speaking to herself, and not looking too happy about it either.
“You don’t have to do—”
“I’m coming.”
There was no use in trying to change mom’s mind.
Ava scratched her cheek. “I didn’t know you’d grown so fond of Verona,” she said, Now that Edmondo was no longer around. Or was there another reason her mother seemed so taken by Italy?
“I can’t explain it,” Elsa replied, cutting her toast diagonally. “I feel grounded here. I feel more at peace.”
“If it helps I’m only planning to go for three weeks,” Ava told her.
“I’ll come back with you.”
“I’ll book the tickets.”
Chapter 19
Nico walked into the Casa Adriana early with the hope of getting some work done before he left for Ravenna with Ines. She had a stylist and photographer booked so that she could take more pictures of the new hotel for a media package she was putting together. But as soon as he walked into the lobby his eyes caught sight of yesterday’s paper which was lying on the couch. He should have thrown it away yesterday. He walked over, gritting his teeth together and read it again:
‘The Cazale Midas touch dies with Edmondo Cazale
“Nico?” He looked up in irritation, only to find Demetrio hovering nearby. “Demetrio,” he said, acknowledging his new colleague briefly before turning his attention back to the paper. “Aren’t you going to Ravenna today?”
Nico squared his shoulders. “That’s right.”
“Ines has got some cool design concepts for the media kit.” His colleague seemed as eager to make small talk as Nico was to avoid it.
“Yes.”
“I’m going to grab a coffee, can I get you one?”
“No. If you don’t mind, Demetrio, I’m waiting for Ines and I’d rather just catch up on the news while I have a chance. If you need me for anything, perhaps we can discuss it tomorrow?”
He looked slightly taken aback by Nico’s answer but recovered enough to say, “Sure, don’t mind me.” Demetrio’s mouth set in a hard line as he walked away quickly and Nico turned his attention once more to the offending article. He’d already read it a few times, and each time it seemed to dig the heel into him even harder. Whoever wrote this piece had obviously wanted to twist the knife deeper. But it was the last line of the piece that kicked him in the guts and left him winded.
‘Cazale Junior would have better success if he returned to drink and gambling, and left the running of the business to his beautiful and talented wife, Ava Ramirez. The American beauty seems to have been a great catch for Cazale Junior. Possessing both beauty and brains, this stunner runs her own hugely successful online store for children.’
He folded the paper and threw it onto the sofas, only to turn around and see Gina rushing through the double doors of the entrance.
“You’re early,” he commented, wondering why most of his team were here so early. “I left work early yesterday,” she said, “and I remembered that one of our guests had changed their booking.” She looked worried. “I hope it’s not too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“They wanted to arrive this afternoon, instead of tomorrow.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.” Nico was once again impressed by Gina’s dedication and loyalty. “That’s the only reason you’ve come in early?” he asked her. “You could have asked anyone on reception to take care of it.”
“I know,” replied Gina, hovering in the lobby and obviously anxious to get to her office.
Nico glanced at his watch. It was half past seven and he’d told Ines they would be leaving at eight-thirty. He’d hoped to get some work done prior to that, but maybe it was an opportunity to talk to Gina—so that he could find out exactly what was going on with her.
“I need to get going,” she said, and started to walk towards her office. He followed. “Aren’t you and Ines going to Ravenna today?”
“In an hour’s time.”
She walked into her office and turned to him. “Was there something you wanted to see me about?”
“Not particularly. I thought it would be a good time to catch up on things, if you’ve got a few moments.” Seeing Gina, he was suddenly consumed by a deep seated desire to offload what was bothering him. Gina knew him almost as well as Ava. “Besides, Ines isn’t here yet,” he said, hovering around the door as she shrugged out of her coat and hung it up on the coat stand. She looked at him. “Did you want to come in?”
She sat down and stared at him as he paced around the room with one hand in the pocket of his pants, and the other one rubbing his forehead.
“Ava is going to Denver next week,” he said, finally. “She’s had a problem with one of her product lines and she’s worried about getting hit with a lawsuit.”
Gina’s mouth opened, fish-like. “A lawsuit?”
“It’s happened all of a sudden and she’s leaving next week.”
“She must be worried sick. I mean, a lawsuit.” Gina paused in silence. “It could prove costly.”
“That’s the last damn thing I need.”
Gina stared at him. “How’s Ava handling the news?”
Nico stopped pacing around. “As well as can be expected. She’s anxious to get out there and do what she can. A young baby has been injured and I think that’s really shaken her.”
“What products are we talking about?”
“Cribs.”
Gina raised an eyebrow. “Cribs?” she asked, shocked. “This is terrible, Nico. All babies use cribs, from newborns to toddlers. I can understand why she’s rushing off.”
“I wish she wasn’t. Elisabetta is only two months old and I can’t see how Ava going there is going to fix anything.”
Gina frowned. “She’s doing what she needs to do to protect her business, Nico. You’d do the same.”
He sat down in the chair, feeling uneasy. “You might think I’m being selfish and that I’m thinking about myself, but I’m worried about h
er going all that way with Elisabetta. I already have enough on my plate and the thought of her and Elisabetta being out there and dealing with all of this—”
“She’ll be fine, Nico. You’re worrying for no reason. This is Ava. She can handle the baby and the business,” said Gina. “She obviously knows what she’s doing, and with your support she’ll get through this.”
He blinked a few times. Maybe he should have been more understanding. He’d been so annoyed to hear that she’d already made up her mind to go that he hadn’t stopped to think of how she was feeling.
“If you’re so worried you could always go out there with her,” Gina continued. “The Cazale Ravenna is almost ready, isn’t it?” she asked. “It won’t need your attention as much.”
“Go out there?” How could he when he had so many things to do here? “The spa is almost ready but the safety people are dragging their heels. All of this has gone on for too long. I can’t leave everything and fly to Denver. I can’t. The papers are already waiting for me to fail grandly.”
“You saw the paper?” Gina’s face sank into the palm of her hand. “I thought I’d thrown all our copies away.”
“What for?” he answered, glancing down at his wedding ring. “Maybe they have a point.”
“Nico!” Gina scowled at him. “What sort of attitude is that.”
“It’s how I feel.”
“You sound defeated and that’s not like you.”
“I feel defeated.”
“You mustn’t believe the media.”
“The blasted media,” he said, slamming his hand on the armrest.
“What do they know?” Gina was doing her best to cheer him up, but it didn’t help. “We’ll get through this,” he said, feeling bolstered by her belief. Just as he and Ava would get through this difficult patch. “What’s going on with you?” he asked, eager to get to the bottom of whatever it was. Clearly there was something. “Is there anything I need to know?” She shook her head, and kept her lips tightly closed together.
“Demetrio?” He asked.
“What about him?”
“How’s his upgrade project coming along?”
“He’s ordering the equipment.”
Nico nodded. “If truth be told, Gina you seem a little distracted.” A little off. “How is your mother?”
“She’s back to her usual self.” Gina picked up her pen again and rolled it around in her hands. “Everything’s fine here,” she said. “You don’t need to worry.”
Chapter 20
It seemed that no sooner had she made up her mind to go to Denver, than the day of her departure was upon them.
A clipped voice announced the boarding times for a flight to Venezuela over the airport speakerphone. And still they waited. The call for Ava’s flight hadn’t yet been announced and she was eager to get going so that she could settle Elisabetta. Ava glanced at Nico who sat beside her on the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the departure lounge. He held his daughter in his arms and a piece of her heart tore because she could see right through his false, steel-edged expression. He wasn’t saying much but she could tell that he was sad to see them go.
“She’ll sleep most of the way there,” he said, taking Ava’s hand.
“I hope so.” She had tiny balls of cotton ready to insert into her baby’s ears once they were seated in the plane. This past week she’d packed and gotten together everything she would need for the trip but it had been difficult to focus because she’d heard from the parents of the child who had fallen. They were threatening to sue. The fear of losing her business paralyzed her and made her even more eager to get to the US.
She had plans, once she’d arrived in Denver, to meet with a representative from the CPSC as well as the lawyer that Connor had recommended. Kim and Rona had managed to get in touch with a large number of people who had purchased the problematic cribs and they were still hunting down the remaining people.
“Take care of her,” Nico said, letting go of Ava’s hand and stroking his daughter’s face. It surprised her, his sudden gentleness. Luckily Elisabetta was fast asleep—even amid the clattering of the noise all around them. Verona airport was small and not that busy, but the noise was louder than what Elisabetta was used to.
“You know I will,” Ava replied. She wasn’t for one moment looking forward to the long flight ahead of her.
Nico had been different during the last few days and if he was sad to see her go, he hadn’t done or said anything to stop her from going. She laid her hand against his cheek; she had sensed that something was going on with the hotel, but he hadn’t been very forthcoming when she’d asked him and so she’d let the matter drop.
“Send me pictures of her every day.”
“I will,” she promised, wanting to put his mind at rest. “She’s not going to change that much in three weeks, Nico.”
“She changes every day,” he insisted bending down and kissing his sleeping princess on the forehead. Princess—that was his name for her and Ava knew exactly how Elisabetta would be treated as she grew older. She’d have to make sure he didn’t spoil her too much.
“Say hi to Carlos and Rona for me.”
“I will.” At least her sister and brother—in-law would get a chance to see their new niece. It would be interesting to see how Tori reacted to the new addition. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
He nodded, saying nothing.
“Please understand why I have to go. I have to track down all the cribs and deal with the angry parents. It’s better for me to be there than Dino.”
“Of course I understand, I might not like it, but I know why you’re going. I hope the powers that be see how forthcoming you’re being.” He had an intense look in his eyes. “I am behind you all the way, Ava, even though it might not seem like it.”
He was trying. She could tell. “Let me know how it goes with the safety inspection.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to be back in time for the opening.”
“Okay.”
“I will be,” she cried, a little annoyed by his monosyllabic responses. Another announcement cruised over the speakerphone and they both cocked their heads listening to the flight number.
“Did you hear that?” said Elsa, appearing out of nowhere with a stack of magazines in her hand. “That’s us. I got you something to read,” she said, sifting through the bundle of magazines.
“You keep it for now, Mom,” said Ava, not hopeful that she would have any time to read a magazine during the flight and if by some miracle Elisabetta slept, she’d probably end up sleeping too. Why waste the opportunity?
“We should get going,” said Elsa, stuffing the magazines into her handbag. Ava and Nico got up slowly at the same time and turned to one another. She saw the way he hugged Elisabetta tighter, and she leaned in and kissed him. A kiss that was short but ran deep, that sent shivers along her back not because of passion, but because it was a temporary letting go, and there were still so many things left unsaid and unfixed between them.
“Honey, we’re going to be late.”
“We have time, Mom,” Ava insisted, as she watched Nico smother his daughter’s face with kisses. He reluctantly handed the sleeping baby to Ava but the sudden movement from his warm hold to her arms must have jolted Elisabetta for she stirred. Anxious for her baby not to wake up and raise hell, Ava rocked her. The last thing she wanted was to leave Nico with a memory of his daughter in tears.
“Lay her in the stroller,” Elsa whispered.
“I’m going to hold her.” She turned to Nico. “Don’t worry about her,” she said, needing to alleviate his tension. “She’ll wake up soon and then I’ll feed her. She’ll be fine.” He put his arms around them and kissed her. “Take care of yourself,” he told her, and all of a sudden she felt tearful, the suddenness of their departure making her feel lost.
“Don’t go working your crazy hours,” she chastised.
He gave a shake of his head, then narrowed his eyes.
“You too. Don’t go overboard.” Then, “I love you, don’t ever forget that.”
“Never,” she said, but she doubted he heard because it was barely a whisper. She stepped away, and their hands, still joined, slowly peeled apart. She placed her hand across the baby’s chest and tipped her forward slightly so that Nico could see her face. And then she was suddenly blinded by the flash of a camera, and another and another. It was enough to rouse Elisabetta. And when another announcement sounded over the speakerphone at the same time, it was too late to hope that she would remain asleep. Her lower lip trembled, and her eyes slowly fluttered open. She whimpered at first, but only for a few moments, until the whimpering turned into an almighty cry.
“We’d better go,” said Elsa, pushing the empty stroller along. Ava waved at him, and turned and walked away quickly with Elisabetta howling in her arms.
“Get lost!” he yelled, his lips flattening into a sneer. Nico shot a threatening glance at the lone photographer who had taken the intrusive shot.
Trust these sons of bitches to ruin a tender moment.
In the distance he could hear his daughter’s cries and he spun around to take one final look as Ava slowly disappeared out of sight. For a few moments he stood there, collecting himself and then he turned to go. But another flash of white light blinded him for a few seconds. The smug grin on the photographer’s face taunted him. “Thanks, man,” he said and to add insult to injury, he stuck his thumb up.
The rage he’d tried to suppress now bubbled up and he couldn’t help it when his fist met with the man’s camera, knocking it onto the floor.
“You’re welcome, man,” replied Nico. He was suddenly seized by the desire to stamp his foot all over it, but the thought of Ava suddenly reappearing and seeing this stopped him cold. Instead he walked away, with the man’s shouts and curses trailing behind him.
Onlookers flocked to the scene. Some of them might even have recognized him, others might have caught the tail end of the fracas. He fully expected this garbage to make the papers tomorrow.