by Lily Zante
“What for?”
She shuffled in the chair, toying with the handbag she wore over one shoulder and which now lay on her lap. “Just.” She shrugged, and even her shrug was half-hearted. Unsure. Not all there. Kind of like her.
“I thought you didn’t live around here anymore?”
“I move around.” She looked away.
“I ran into your boyfriend a few weeks ago.”
“You did?” She chewed her fingernail, something he’d never seen her do before. In fact, this wasn’t the Silvia he was accustomed to. Gone was the veneer of sophistication layered thick over a self-obsessed mannequin. The Silvia before him was a shadow of her former self.
“He’s… Nico opened his mouth and couldn’t find a way to back out easily. “He’s not what I expected.” He’s not your type.
“Yeah…he’s…” she played with the clasp of her designer handbag. “He’s kind of mature. He’s very cultured, very knowledgeable about things. He’s different.” She coughed lightly. “Anyway, I wanted to see how you were.”
“Why? Were you worried about me?”
“No. Should I be?”
“I’ve been in a car accident,” he said, even though he suspected that she already knew. It had been in the papers and wherever she lived, he had a feeling she’d have known. “I was driving back from Ravenna in the rain. I’d just found out that my hotel safety inspection had failed.” He scrutinized her face for her reaction, trying to see beneath the surface, trying to look for signs of guilt, or something, anything.
“I read about that,” she said, a picture of innocence. “It sounded bad. That’s why I was worried about you.”
“I’m better now and I’m really busy so—”
“What happened to the Cazale Ravenna?”
Her question aroused suspicion in him and he wondered if she had come on a spy mission for Vieri. “Did he send you here?” asked Nico, getting up from his chair and folding his arms. He wanted Silvia out and hoped this would help to shift her.
“No.” The cry was a little too indignant, a little too loud. “I came because I…I was passing by like I told you. I wanted to see how you were. I know it’s not like in the old days between us.”
“No, it’s not and never will be. I’m fine, and the hotel hasn’t opened yet due to all manner of bureaucratic bullshit. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?”
Her cheeks colored and she shook her head. “It wasn’t me, if that’s what you think. It wasn’t my idea.”
“What wasn’t?”
“You don’t understand, Nico. Armando—he can be controlling. If he gets something in his head he won’t stop.”
“Controlling?” His thoughts immediately turned to Silvia’s daughter. “How’s Alessa?”
“She’s a girlie girl. Happy at school. She didn’t like it when we moved but we’re back now. I mean, we kind of, you know, we’re back and forth.”
“That can’t be good for her. She needs to be settled.”
Her laugh was short. “You always wanted what was best for her,” she said. “I loved that about you the most, how much you cared about her.”
“She’s a sweet girl.”
“Those were the good days, Nico. Don’t you remember?”
“Stop.” He said, “Stop living in the past. Stop walking back into my life. Stop doing whatever it is that you’re doing, if it concerns me…just stop.”
“I didn’t mean for any of it to happen. It was Vieri. He likes to pull people down.”
The way she was going around in circles was driving him insane. He almost felt pity for her, until he remembered and his bullshit detector kicked in. It wasn’t making sense. She wasn’t making sense. She looked off-center. Muddled. Not a woman who wanted revenge, he sensed, but a woman who was riddled with remorse.
“What is it?” He asked, irritated by her riddles. “Say what you want to say, and be done with it.”
“I didn’t think he would take it this far.”
It was the closest he would ever come to an admission that she’d had something to do with it. “Do you know something, Silvia?”
She stared at him with longing.
“I was mistaken in thinking there was something decent about you buried deep down inside, something that could be salvaged,” said Nico. “Many times I hoped there was something, but no. There isn’t.”
Her lips wavered. “I’m…I’m trying not to live in the past, I wish I hadn’t messed up so much back when we were together.”
He bent down, so that his head was level with hers and looked directly into her eyes. “You can start now. You can make amends now,” he said.
Her eyes widened as she sat forward, looking eager. “How?”
“By walking out of here and staying away from me and my family.” His words were harsh because he wanted her out, because her toxicity was in danger of taking over his mood—on a day when he was flying off to Denver to be with Ava. He couldn’t hold back.
“You really mean that?”
“I really mean that,” he said, and saw the light in her eyes go out. Maybe she finally understood, maybe all he'd needed to do was to be this brash in the first place. She had no excuse for doing what she had done, however she'd convinced Vieri, and it amazed him, her propensity to scheme and interfere and to inveigle the politician into doing the dirty. His nostrils flared as he looked at her, trying to conceal his disgust. He couldn't believe that he'd once been intimate with her, that he had allowed himself to become involved with someone so messed up, that he’d been so blind to everything she was. He saw her clearly now for what she was; a walking pillar of malice and everything about her, everything she ever did or said, left him stone cold. He saw a trail of misery in her future and prayed for poor, innocent Alessa. That little girl did not deserve this. “You’ve taken up too much of my time,” he said, walking over to his door and holding it open. “Tell Alessa I said ‘hello’.”
It was undignified and cruel the way he had thrown her out but it was nothing less than she deserved.
Chapter 31
Whenever she was down, talking to Andrea always helped. Besides, Ava didn’t want to pour out her troubles to Nico especially since they were so far apart. She knew he would worry about her. Andrea, on the other hand, cared, but would still sleep at night.
“We’re down to nineteen cribs,” said Ava.
“That’s great news!” cried Andrea. “You’ve managed to get so much done in such a short space of time. I don’t know how you did it all, and with a baby in tow.”
“My mom took care of Elisabetta. I couldn’t have managed alone.” She’d told Andrea everything, about the visit to the Hardings, the shoulder injury reported by the Dawson woman and her recent plan, still tenuous, still not fully formed, of selling the store.
“Dino and I know how much it has helped you being out there.”
“I told Nico it made sense for me to be here. He wasn’t happy about it but, its done now. I go home in a few days!” She was looking forward to it. “Besides, it was always my intention to come out here regularly to keep an eye on the warehouse but, who knows, maybe I won’t need to fly back at all now, not if I sell.”
“I can’t believe you’re thinking about it,” said Andrea. “You and I met because of your store!”
“That’s right, we did,” Ava agreed, taking a walk back down Memory Lane.
“If you’re serious…” Andrea hesitated. “If you’re serious about selling the store…then…”
“Then?”
“I think Dino might be interested. He’s been amazed at your sales volume.”
“Dino’s interested in my store?”
“Not your store, exactly. But he’s wondered about setting up something similar in the US. They have no presence there at the moment, and his company only sells to Italy, and Europe. He’s often talked about how well you’re doing.” Ava didn’t know how she felt about someone like Dino taking over her store. After a few seconds
of thinking about it, she decided she didn’t like that idea at all.
“You and Dino have been discussing me, have you?” she asked in a husky voice. “And did these discussions happen to take place over dinner?”
Andrea’s cheeks turned rose pink. “It was purely business, I promise.”
“Did Leo happen to be around during these business meetings?”
“No,” Andrea laughed. “One of us had to stay behind and keep an eye on the stock. With two units it gets slightly tricky having to go in and out of the each all the time. It’s annoying,” she said, “We need to find something quickly.”
Ava smiled and decided to wait until she returned To Verona before getting the low down from her super secretive friend. She wouldn’t have much success prying anything out of her over the phone.
“Let’s catch up next week,” Andrea suggested. “You’ll want to spend the weekend settling back home and catching up with Nico.”
The closer it got towards the end of the week, the more Ava found herself getting excited about going home. Verona was home. And so was Nico. Maybe they had needed the time apart in order to appreciate that being together meant so much more.
Chapter 32
“What time does she normally get back?” asked Nico, kissing the top of Elisabetta’s head again. He had arrived a few hours ago and she’d gone to him easily, as if she knew exactly who he was. Never again would he go so long without seeing them.
“She’ll be here soon,” said Elsa, smiling. “She didn’t say she was working late today and she’s been trying real hard to get home on time lately.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m sure it feels like a long wait already.”
Nico tickled Elisabetta’s cheek. “I’ve been without them for three weeks, but ever since I landed, time just seems to have stopped.”
Elsa chuckled. “You should take a nap,” she suggested. “Hasn’t the jetlag kicked in yet?”
“I can’t sleep,” Nico replied. Then to Elisabetta, “And we don’t want to sleep, do we? Not now when mommy’s going to come. You can’t wait, can you? Me neither.” He kissed her on the nose, his voice rising in pitch as he talked to his daughter.
In the three weeks since that he hadn’t seen her, his little princess had grown. It saddened him to know that he had missed out on time that he would never get back.
Elisabetta gurgled happily, and all he could do was kiss her again, this time on her cheeks, first one then the other, before blowing a raspberry on her forehead. Blowing raspberries made his little girl squeal. Her chubby cheeks filled out like little meatballs and she let out another beautiful, bubbly little sound—a cross between a squeal and a giggle. Encouraged, Nico did it again and she squealed again, bursting out into infectious little giggles.
“You’re going to surprise her, for sure,” said Elsa. “I can’t say it’s been easy keeping this from her. Why don’t you extend your trip a little longer, Nico? The two of you can spend another week out here. It might be the thing you need.”
“We could both do with a break,” he said, agreeing. “I’ll need to see what Ava says.” His other concern was Gina and he was being especially cautious now. Otherwise he would have, as he had done in the past, extended without giving it too much thought, always knowing that Gina was there to keep the hotels running in his absence. But a few more days would give them a week in Denver together. And it wasn’t as if they had to rush back for a hotel opening.
“When will you next visit Verona?” he asked.
“Why, with you, when you both return.”
He looked at her in surprise. “You’re coming back with us?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No,” he said, “You being in Verona is never a problem. But I was under the impression that you were going to spend a few months here. I even told Salvatore you weren’t coming back yet.”
“Has that old fool been interfering in my business again?”
“No,” said Nico, not sure why he was getting defensive. “He was asking about Ava and the baby and I’d mentioned that you’d all gone—”
The sudden sound of a car pulling up in the driveway stopped him.
“That’s her,” said Elsa, and she walked over to the window and peered out from behind the curtains. Nico followed suit. A tingly feeling danced in the base of his stomach and he wasn’t sure if she would be mad at him or happy to see him. Before he had a chance to ponder too deeply, the door opened and Ava stepped in.
He didn’t even get a chance to hide.
“Nico?” The word escaped her mouth like a fast breath. She laughed, a happy laugh, a surprised laugh and then in the next moment she lunged towards him and before he knew it he had his free arm around her and was kissing her on the lips. For a few seconds they were a mixture of kisses, and hugs, until the baby, probably overwhelmed and caught in the middle, started to cry.
“Lisabetta,” said Ava, taking the baby from him and soothing her with kisses. “Sssshhhhh, Mommy’s home.” Her daughter buried her face in her chest, her tiny hands clutching Ava’s hair and blouse as Ava looked up at him with shiny eyes. “I had no idea you were coming!”
It was the best kind of welcome to see her face light up like that.
“I wanted to surprise you,” he said, taking her bag and helping her out of her coat.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” she exclaimed, “and after the day I’ve had…”
“Maybe now you’ll take things easy,” Elsa said, putting on her coat. She turned to Nico and said, “I am so glad you’re here and I hope you have better luck convincing my daughter to take things easy. Lord knows I’ve tried and failed.”
Ava rolled her eyes at her mom. “I’ve been better this week, haven’t I? I’ve been only doing a few hours at the warehouse.”
“You were better,” said Elsa, doing up her coat. “And Elisabetta having that cold helped you be better.” Elsa winked at her daughter. “I expect you’ll both want to catch up.”
Yes, thought Nico. He’d missed his wife, and there was a lot of catching up to do.
“Goodnight.” Elsa kissed them all, and left.
“What kind of day have you had?” he asked, grabbing her hand. She made a face in answer.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. But this was exactly where they had gone wrong before. They’d both been too busy, and their busy-ness had pushed them away. He’d come out here for a reason, and putting the magic back into his marriage had been one of them. “We’ll talk about it later,” he said. “Give her to me,” he held his arms out for the baby, “and you unwind. I’ll feed her and put her to sleep, and then you and I can talk.”
She looked at him in confusion for a few seconds, her mouth hanging open but he noticed that she didn’t even try to say ‘no’.
“Okay,” she said, handing the baby back to him. “I’ll go and—” But he snaked his free arm around her waist, pulled her closer and kissed her, not giving her a chance to reply. This time the kiss was a little longer, a little deeper and when he moved away she had that surprised look in her eyes. “I’ve missed you,” he said. And he had every intention of making it up to her.
Elisabetta was asleep and they’d eaten dinner and were lying on the couch talking and catching up on one another’s lives. She’d told him about everything that had been going on with her and he’d told her about Gina wanting to take time off, and the safety inspection being delayed again, and about Silvia’s visit.
They lay together, him on his back with her snuggled up against his chest. It was just like in the old days, except that the sofa wasn’t as wide and they were bunched up close together. On the surface of it their bodies were still but deep down, underneath, where blood rushed and muscles softened, and heartbeats raced, their bodies started to vibrate slowly dancing to a slow and sultry tune. He loved the way she was all squashed up next to him, and he liked the feel of her warm body, soft and pliant.
“I’m surprised she had the guts to come and see yo
u,” Ava murmured, her fingers snaking along his chest slowly and seductively.
“I think it was more like she needed to confess.”
She lifted her head. “You said she was being very vague.”
“She didn’t outright say ‘Vieri did this to you,” but it was enough for me to read between the lines. It’s more what she didn’t say.” It had been more the way she looked, as if she was afraid of saying too much. “I don’t want to waste any more time talking about her or that asshole she’s dating.”
“You’re more worried about Gina, aren’t you?” she asked, dropping small kisses along his breastbone, making his stomach flip.
“I can manage without her for a few months.” What he couldn’t envisage was the Casa Adriana without Gina being there at all. She was as firmly ingrained and a part of that place as the checked marble flooring of the lobby.
But right now, he didn’t want to talk about work. He wanted to make love to his wife and yet he wanted to let her lead, and she was doing just fine as far as that went. “I’m so happy that you came,” she murmured, and he could hear it in her voice, could see it in her eyes, how happy she was. Jumping on that plane and listening to his gut had been the best decision he’d made and lying here on the couch with Ava in his arms made all the problems on his shoulders temporarily vanish away.
“Aren’t you worried about the delay? It will be nearly a month later than you had hoped for.” She lifted her head and rested her chin on his chest.
“I’m more worried about you,” he replied, entwining his fingers in her hair.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Nico.” She slowly started to do undo his shirt buttons and his breath hitched when her fingers raked over his naked chest. The temptress—she had no idea what she was doing to him.
“I can and I do worry about you,” he murmured, his voice low because all he wanted to do was to show her how much he had missed her. “It’s my prerogative, as your husband.” She stared up at him with her large blue eyes, listening. “I don’t want to make the same mistake my father made.” His father had spent most of his life building his business that he barely had any time to spend with his family. Nico saw it all clearly now; the time he’d lost could never be snatched back and this was made painfully obvious in the three weeks he’d gone without seeing Elisabetta’s new smiles and mannerisms.