by Lily Zante
As usual there was nothing major to report, but he had no doubt that the papers would conjure up something out of nothing. And for that reason along, he hoped the camera was smashed to shreds.
Chapter 21
“Why’s she always crying?” asked Rona, tottering about in her skin-tight jeans as she cleared the table. Ava picked up the jug of water and followed her sister in the kitchen.
She’d been here three days and still she felt a twinge of jealousy whenever she stared at Rona’s super slim figure. Today her sister flaunted it in her painted on tight jeans and boobs that defied gravity. In that moment Ava decided that she would get back to her daily runs once she returned to Verona.
Running?
Who was she kidding? She could barely crawl out of bed in the mornings. With Elisabetta still getting up twice during the night, there was no way that Ava could spring out of bed in the morning and as time wore on, she felt herself get more and more sluggish.
“She’s unsettled,” said Ava, returning to the living room to take the baby from her mom.
“You girls want a hand clearing up?” Elsa asked.
Ava shook her head. “We’re almost done.” She skillfully side-stepped Tori who sat on the floor looking up at her. Her niece clapped her hands together. “Me, baby me,” she wailed.
“You want the baby?” Ava asked. Elisabetta seemed to be nothing more than an object of curiosity for the toddler at the moment, and Tori treated her as if she were a doll. Ava had to watch her like a hawk.
“Thanks for having us over,” she said to Carlos and Rona. Her brother-in-law was an amazing cook and it was hardly surprising given that his family owned a string of restaurants. Not only was he a good cook but Carlos was good all around. He worked crazy shifts in the family restaurants, and then came home and did more than his fair share with Tori and cooked and helped around the house. Ava suspected her sister still had no idea how lucky she was. If only Nico did a fraction of these things. The comparison flashed in her mind quickly and left her feeling guilty. She knew that Nico had a lot on his shoulders but a little more support from him would have helped.
The best thing about coming to her sister’s was that Rona had all the toys a child could ever want. There was plenty to keep Elisabetta occupied, unlike in her own apartment. She’d borrowed the travel cot from her sister and the small baby bouncer but she had no toys apart from the small bag she’d packed for the trip over. True, her daughter was still too young to appreciate many of them but the new sounds and flashing lights, as well as Tori’s squeals and peals of laughter kept her enthralled.
Her own apartment was a child free zone and it was another thing Ava needed to think about. She’d have to let go of the lease on her apartment especially since they now had the new warehouse. Prior to that her apartment had been used to store products and this had been the main reason she’d held onto it for so long.
Now her home was in Verona. She could always stay with her mom whenever she returned to Denver. Thinking about it, it felt odd being back in her old apartment with her baby daughter. It was strange to think this had been her home before she’d met Nico. It now looked small and shabby compared to the beautiful home she now lived in.
“Hey, Lisabetta,” Ava murmured, trying to soothe her. She was soon going to be three months old and Ava had slowly started to wean her off the breast. Being over here meant she could no longer feed her daughter on demand and she had a busy schedule ahead of her.
“Here,” said Carlos, wiping his wet hands with a towel. He held his arms out. “Give her to me.” He gently took the baby from her and Ava watched entranced as her daughter quieted in his arms.
“He’s got a way with babies,” murmured Elsa, sitting down on the couch and taking every mega block that Tori was handing her one by one. “She doesn’t seem scared of him at all.”
“I wonder if she’s mistaking you for Nico?” said Ava, “Though I can’t see how.” She was surprised at her daughter’s sudden silence. Carlos had a closely shaved goatee beard, and Nico was clean-shaven, most of the time, when he didn’t spend too many late nights pouring over his work.
“I’m just good with babies,” said Carlos smugly.
“He’s had to be,” said Elsa, coughing lightly, just out of Rona’s earshot. Ava grinned. “Nico would be amazed,” she said.
“He should have come along,” Carlos replied, making funny faces at Elisabetta. “She has his nose,” he remarked.
“And his dark hair,” added Rona.
“And his forehead,” said Elsa.
“Thank goodness she has my eyes,” murmured Ava, sinking into the sofa. “I hate to think I carried her for nine months and she has nothing of mine to show for it.”
“Time to have another one. Maybe the second one will look more like you,” said Rona, collapsing beside Ava. “I’m exhausted,” she announced.
“Why?” asked Carlos, with a twinkle in his eye. “I did all the cooking.”
But Ava was still thinking of her sister’s comment. “I can’t imagine having two babies to deal with.”
Elsa patted her on the knee. “Not now but perhaps later on. Don’t leave it too late.”
Ava couldn’t see when the time would be right to have baby number two. “It’s not going to happen for a while,” Ava insisted. “Nico’s got his mind set on opening new hotels, at least three more, that was the latest announcement, and I still want to branch out into Europe.”
Elsa turned to her daughter, shaking her head in amazement. “Why?” she asked. “Why are you both so intent on racing ahead that you’re forgetting to stand still and appreciate what you have now?”
“We do appreciate everything!”
“Baby steps, Ava,” her mother cautioned. “That’s what the pair of you should be taking. You can’t work all your life in order to build a better life because life happens regardless of the plans you make.”
“You don’t understand, Mom,” Ava began, then stopped. There was no point in trying to explain all over again.
“See how much your granddaughter missed you?” Rona asked her mom. With Grandma’s help, Tori had finished building a tower and she clapped excitedly when she added the last brick at the top.
“Only my granddaughter?” her mother asked her. “You didn’t miss me?”
“Yeah, we did,” Rona replied, “But we weren’t sure whether you were ever coming back.”
“I don’t think Mom wanted to come back yet,” Ava added.
“No?” asked Carlos.
“You’re not thinking of moving there are you?” Rona asked. “Me and Carlos we’re looking to have number two soon and we’re going to need your help.”
“And what if I decide I need her help?” Ava asked, always mindful of her sister’s plans to dictate her mom’s timetable.
“You said you weren’t looking to have number two yet!” Rona cried. “Besides, you can afford to pay for help.”
“That’s not the point,” declared Ava, mildly annoyed.
“I’m getting used to traveling between the two countries,” Elsa replied. “I quite like moving around.”
“What do you mean?” Rona asked. “You’re not having a mid-life crisis are you, Mom?”
“No, honey,” her mother replied. “But that’s only because I passed the mid-life stage more than a decade ago.”
“Are you thinking of moving to Italy, Elsa?” Carlos asked, even more intrigued. Elisabetta reached out and tried to touch his beard.
“Mom has a nice life in Italy,” said Ava, speaking up for her mom. The moment she said it, it occurred to her that it was true. It didn’t matter what Elsa did, where she went, at least she was out and about doing things, which was more than she did here in Denver. She remembered that after Edmondo’s death her mother hadn’t wanted to do much. The fact that she was keeping busy, even by visiting nurseries with Salvatore, was surely a good sign.
“I like it,” Elsa replied and said no more.
“A cup of coffee
would be good,” said Carlos. “Why don’t you make it, babe?” he asked his wife. Rona looked pained to have been asked to do something and Carlos paid her no attention as she got off the sofa reluctantly.
Chapter 22
“I’m going to leave soon,” said Nico, discreetly checking his messages on his cell phone before slipping the device back into his pocket.
“You can’t leave yet,” Pelosa told him. “You might as well make the most of it now that you’re here.” Nico had come to Ravenna today with his lawyer and his father’s good friend, Corso Pelosa, in order to show him around the almost finished hotel complex. This evening the Chamber of Commerce here had put on a local business event and Ines had suggested that it would be a good idea for him to attend. She had extolled the importance of networking with the local businesses and to build up local awareness of the soon-to-be opened hotel. Tonight, Nico felt that he’d done as much networking as he could stomach. Next time, he would leave this to Ines.
He loosened the collar to his shirt in irritation, silently annoyed by Pelosa’s suggestion to stay on. He’d had a twelve hour day and there were still things he needed to do when he got back home. He shrugged as he looked around the room teeming with suited men and women. “I have a lot of paperwork to go through.”
Pelosa patted him on the back. “But now that you’re here, try to enjoy it, eh?” That was the problem, he couldn’t enjoy it. Not when yet another day had ticked by and there was still no notice from the safety department. Things were beginning to run late again. His men had finished the work but there was still no date for the next inspection and they were already into the second week of February.
“It’s good to show your face at events like this, Nico. Your father always attended. How do you think he built up a network of good business friends?”
Nico was about to pull his phone out again to check, but was wary that Pelosa was watching him. “What news are you expecting?” Pelosa asked. “This is the third time you’ve checked your phone since we arrived.”
“The safety inspection for the new hotel, the officials are dragging their heels and we’re still waiting for a date.”
“Patience, my boy.”
That’s what Edmondo would have said. But his father would have probably also have told him to have had the whole building rewired from the start and then he wouldn’t have been in the mess he was now in. But Nico had been in too much of a hurry, He hadn’t done anything wrong or illegal—he’d listened to the advice of the architects and construction managers. It had made sense to do so. But if he’d ensured that everything was new, the wiring and all, then this might not have happened. Or would it have? Would Vieri have found another way to hamper his progress?
“Talking of patience…” Nico looked up and Pelosa cleared his throat. “You opening that new hotel will create employment and new business opportunities here. It’s a good thing and will stand you in good stead.” Pelosa leaned closer. “It will help mitigate the effects of those less appealing stories that the press has printed about you.” The old man eyed him carefully. “It’s time you stopped breaking photographers’ equipment, Nico.” He colored at the elderly gentleman’s suggestion and wondered why Pelosa had taken all day to bring this up.
“He woke Elisabetta up. We were trying to keep her asleep so that she wouldn’t be difficult to handle on the plane, and this son of a bitch appears out of nowhere and starts snapping away. He didn’t seem to care that the bright flash had woken up my daughter. I got angry.”
The old man placed a comforting hand on Nico’s shoulder, much like Edmondo would have done. “They’re baiting you, Nico. Don’t fall for it. I keep an eye on what the press say about you, not only because it’s my job but because I care. They’re playing dirty, they’re trying to drag you down.”
“It feels as if I’m already on the floor,” Nico muttered.
“You’re not. The Cazales are never on the floor for too long.”
The tension in Nico’s neck seemed to relax a little and he smiled, reassured by the man’s words. For as long as Nico could remember, Corso Pelosa had guided Edmondo through a maze of business legalities and problems and offered much simple advice along the way. He now appeared to be doing the same for Nico and he was grateful for it.
He looked around at the small groups of suited people who were no doubt making small talk, making business deals and arranging their next meetings. Being at the Town Hall on a Monday evening wasn’t the place where he wanted to be but his home wasn’t any more appealing. It was empty, and he missed his girls. He never thought he’d see the day when he would miss Elisabetta’s cries and squeals but he missed them more now than ever. Their going away only reminded him even more of what it was he’d lost and how lucky he was to have such a full life.
He glanced at his watch again, determined to make a move when another smartly dressed man approached them. It was only after a few moments that it sunk in and Nico realized who it was.
Armando Vieri.
“Corso Pelosa?” The tall and lanky man offered his leathery hand to Pelosa.
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Pelosa replied, shaking hands firmly as Nico looked on, a quiet rage building in his muscles. “The pleasure is mine. Mr. Pelosa. I’ve heard good things about you from my business acquaintances.” He turned and fixed Nico with his lackluster eyes. “And you must be?”
Nico was temporarily stunned into silence—not because he knew for sure that the man knew exactly who he was, but because he couldn’t imagine Silvia allowing a man like Vieri near her, let alone into her bed. His skin crawled to see Vieri’s wiry hair and age spotted skin so close. His leathery lips crinkled into a smile and Nico inwardly recoiled.
What did Silvia see in him?
“Nico Cazale,” said Nico, smoothly, and pressed the man’s hand harder than was necessary.
“Of course,” the man said, showing Nico his insincere plastic smile. “Armando Vieri. I feel as if we’ve met before. Have we?”
“I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure,” replied Nico.
“Perhaps I’m confusing you with your father.”
Nico shrugged but said nothing.
“Are you in the same business?” Vieri asked.
“Yes.”
“Ah! You’re the man behind the new hotel. The…the…” He clicked his fingers as if doing so would magically recall the name to him. “The…the new wellness center.”
“Spa center,” Nico corrected.
“You’re from Verona?”
“Yes.”
Vieri’s head bobbed up and down. “My girlfriend is from Verona.”
Nico nodded but remained quiet. There was much he wanted to say but something told him that quiet dignity would prevail, even as the blood raced around his body, making his muscles shake. He glanced at Pelosa and was rewarded by a reassuring smile.
“She hated it,” Vieri continued. “The small town mentality. The wagging tongues, the gossip.”
“Perhaps she wanted to get away from her past,” Nico offered. Vieri frowned at him as if he had no idea what Nico was talking about. “Perhaps she wanted to move onto better things.” He looked around, as if he’d found and located someone in that brief second. “Excuse me, Gentlemen,” and he rushed away.
“You handled that well.” Pelosa looked immensely proud.
“Do you think so?” asked Nico, not sounding convinced. “What I wanted to do was to wipe that smile off his face.”
“You can’t prove he had anything to do with your hotel inspection.”
“I can’t prove it but my gut tells me otherwise, and that’s good enough for me.”
“You can’t go after him,” Pelosa warned. “Your father was a man who conducted business with respect and he commanded respect. That’s the type of man I see you as, Nico.”
“It’s not so easy following in my father’s footsteps,” murmured Nico softly, wiping his hand across his face. He watched Vieri slither among the people in the room and he
wondered at the type of networking the man did and the influence he had on account of his role as a politician. Nico wasn’t cut out for mingling with such men—men who wielded power and made deals over a glass of sherry. This had never really been Edmondo’s world either; his father had much preferred the company of down-to-earth men, humble men, who knew their roots and never forgot them, men who never trod over others in their quest to achieve more. From some things he’d read about Vieri, it appeared that the man liked liquor and fast women and glitzy late night clubs. As sly and as manipulative as Silvia was, her being with a man like Vieri did not make any sense.
“Your father was always going to be a hard act to follow, but you’re cut from the same material. Just be who you are and do as you’re doing.”
Nico’s expression softened as Pelosa’s words fell on his ears. “I plan to,” he assured his friend. “I can only control what’s in my hands.” He made a wry face. These days it felt as if there wasn’t much in his control especially with regards to the safety inspection and the men who seemed to be dragging their feet over it.
But it only made him more determined to turn the Cazale Ravenna into one of the most desired places to visit in Italy.
Chapter 23
She’d been here a week and they had made good progress but there were still over a hundred cribs which hadn’t been recalled. Each day that passed with these faulty cribs out there made Ava shudder at the thought of another child being injured. She couldn’t rest easy until every one of them had been called back into the warehouse, but it was slow going. Parents weren’t always easy to track down, and even when she or the others left their return phone number, they didn’t always call back.
While Kim and Rona concentrated on this, she’d been busy getting together all the information required by the CPSC. Her contact at this agency seemed to be pleased with the way Ava had handled things.
She worked at the warehouse every day and left Elisabetta in the care of her mom. Elsa would come over to her apartment early each morning. It was ideal because it meant she didn’t have to wake the baby up and drag her across town to her mom’s place. But despite being aware that it wasn’t an ideal situation for her mom, there was nothing she could do. Her goal was to resolve this mess without it hitting her bottom line. She prayed that the dreaded ‘L’ word wouldn’t become a reality, for a lawsuit could cripple her, and her end goal was to resolve everything satisfactorily and to return to Verona in time for Nico’s hotel opening.