A Map for Bella Books 1-4

by Paula Kay

  Jemma, along with help from the others, had been in full-force planning mode trying to get everything lined up for her best friend. Gigi loved it—every minute of this time with Isabella. And she’d never seen the young girl happier.

  “What are you thinking about that has you smiling so widely?” Blu said as they neared the bottom of the hill.

  “Oh, I was just thinking how wonderful this time together has been—and how happy I think Isabella is right now.”

  “It is wonderful. Does it make you think about your own wedding day, Gi?”

  “Yes, and to think that we’ve all celebrated a few together now, haven’t we?”

  “Nothing could make me happier than to all be together for such a joyous occasion. And I can’t even begin to imagine how beautiful it’s all going to be at the vineyard. Lia was showing me the pictures the other day—of how everything is going to be set up. Talk about a fairy tale wedding.”

  “One fit for our princess, that’s for sure,” Gigi said.

  They stepped onto the sidewalk that led to the shops along the beach.

  “Did Bella tell you where she would be this morning?”

  “She’s got a favorite cafe—one we go to nearly every morning. I didn’t see a note from her—which she would typically leave if she had another idea—so I assume that’s where she’ll be.”

  “What a nice little routine you all have going here. I guess I’ve been missing out by sleeping in.” Blu laughed.

  “Well, you’ve been working late. I’ve seen your light on. How are the dresses coming, by the way?”

  “Very good. I’m nearly done—which reminds me that I need to do one last fitting with each of you today. And I think that will have me close to completion then—well, maybe with the exception of Jemma’s. But I’m leaving plenty of room to let hers out over the next few weeks. It does surprise me how much she’s starting to show. It seems so early to me.”

  “She looks absolutely beautiful.”

  Blu grinned. “Oh, I am not complaining, mind you. Don’t think that I can’t wait to start sewing some fun maternity clothes for her. She may actually be inspiring me to start a maternity line—or a line of baby clothes, for that matter. That baby is going to be styling.” She laughed.

  “She’s a lucky girl with a fashionista mother, that’s for sure.” Gigi stopped just outside the cafe. She could see Isabella through the window and from what she could tell, it looked like she was crying.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not sure. Let’s go in.”

  Gigi made her way over to the table with Blu close behind her. Not wanting to startle Isabella, she put her hand gently on her back. “Bella? Honey? What’s the matter?”

  Despite her best efforts not to, Gigi’s touch did seem to startle Isabella as she jumped slightly in her chair and then quickly wiped her fingers across her tear-stained cheeks.

  “Hey, you two. Have a seat.” She motioned for the waitress and then back toward them as they sat down in the chairs across from her. “Two espressos?”

  Gigi and Blu nodded and the waitress left to get their order. Gigi reached for Bella’s hand across the table. “Bella, I can see that you were crying. What is it? What’s wrong? Is everything okay with Thomas, honey?”

  Isabella looked like she was really working to hold back tears. Gigi had been around her enough to recognize it on her face. Finally, after it looked like she’d gathered her emotions a bit, she spoke.

  “It’s the house. I spoke with Thomas this morning and he told me that it wasn’t going to happen after all.”

  Gigi glanced quickly at Blu. They needed to listen and then comfort Bella the best that they could. Thomas wouldn’t let her be this upset for long. Gigi had that to count on. And maybe there was a lesson to be learned in all of this. She couldn’t help thinking of the conversation she’d had earlier with Isabella about trusting Thomas. She hoped that Isabella could do so now.

  “I’m sorry, Bella. Did he say what happened? Or what’s going to happen now?” Blu asked.

  “Well, he doesn’t know much. But the reality is that we’ll be staying in my apartment—in the city—until we find something. Who knows how long that will be, though? It’s just so frustrating. I was really looking forward to getting out of the city, you know?” She looked over at Gigi. “Oh, boy. It really sounds like I’ve got that spoiled brat thing going again, huh?” She laughed, but only slightly, as she wiped a fresh tear away. “I’m going to be okay. I know I will be. I’m just processing the new information.”

  “It’s understandable, I think,” Blu said.

  Gigi smiled at her. “And you’re not being a spoiled brat. Like you said, you’re just now processing that you two have a new plan for after the honeymoon. Now if you were to carry on, letting this affect your wedding, my dear—well, then I might have to scold you a bit.”

  Isabella squeezed Gigi’s hand. “Point taken. And thank you for that. Guess what, though? There does appear to be a silver lining, which is that Thomas is coming early—here to Positano—after all. That makes me very happy, as I’m missing him something fierce.”

  “That is very good news indeed,” Blu said. “I’ve definitely been enjoying our girl time together, but I think we’d all be kidding ourselves if we weren’t missing our men at least just a bit. I know Chase is really looking forward to it and I do miss Kylie and Gabby too.”

  “So that is very good news. Thomas will come and you two will talk about your magical future together. You’ll see, Bella. I predict that the house falling through is not going to be such a bad thing after all,” Gigi said.

  The waitress came back to the table with their coffees and Isabella ordered some pastries for them.

  “So enough crying for today. I’m really glad you two joined me this morning. You seem to have a way of making everything better. Oh, and I’ve had a great new brainstorm for a book this morning, believe it or not—right in the middle of my meltdown.” Isabella laughed.

  “Well, I think there is a saying about heartbreak and creativity, isn’t there?” Blu said. “Well, not that this is heartbreak exactly, but you know that. You have Thomas. He’s going to make things right for you, Bella. I think we know him well enough by now to know that. Just trust him, sweetheart.”

  “I do. That seems to be the word of the day. I hate crying in front of Thomas. He gets so bothered when he knows I’m unhappy—and especially now. It’s not his fault—not at all. And he’s been working so hard to get everything organized on his own.”

  Isabella stopped to take a deep breath, and Gigi had to smile watching her because she seemed to be doing a very good job of convincing herself. Whatever it took until Thomas got there—until after the wedding, when everything would be happy and glorious—they’d help Isabella to focus on Thomas and the happiness that she was going to feel becoming his wife.

  “Thomas has asked me to trust him and I shall. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? It’s something that I’m still learning, but I have come a long way.” Isabella laughed.

  “Yes, you have, Bella,” Blu said.

  Gigi smiled. “You’re going be just fine, my dear—and an excellent wife to that young man.

  Chapter 18

  Jemma stood on the pedestal in Blu’s sewing space while Blu took the waist of the dress out just a bit more than she’d done during the first fitting.

  “Good grief, Mom. Do you really think I’m going to get that much bigger in the next week?” Jemma laughed. She couldn’t believe that the wedding was coming up in only two weeks. The days had flown by so fast and she’d had such a good time with her family and best friend.

  Blu laughed too but she continued working on the dress. “No, I don’t think we’re going to need it, but it will be easier for me to make it tighter than the other way around—at the last minute, I mean. Honey, you’re absolutely glowing, so don’t you worry about it at all.” Blu stood on her toes to give Jemma a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Okay,
if you say so.”

  “Well, I do say so.” Blu winked. “And how are you feeling? You’ve been pretty busy getting things ready for the shower. You tell us if you need more help with that, okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just really appreciating my naps these days. I think I have everything ready for it. Oh, and guess what? I just heard back from Nina that she is going to be able to come tomorrow after all. Bella’s going to be so surprised.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful. Will she be able to stay on with us at the vineyard after? I’m sure Lia has probably invited her to stay.”

  “Yep, she’s all sorted out until just after the wedding.”

  Jemma and the rest of the family had met Nina for the first time a few years ago and since then, she’d been a regular guest at the vineyard. She’d taken the most amazing photos of the whole family and she’d said without question that she would be the one to do the wedding photos—her gift to Isabella and Thomas.

  “Well, things certainly are coming together. Let me show you Annie’s dress. Honey, you can step down now. Have a seat over there.” Blu gestured toward the chair just across from her work area and then lifted Annie’s dress out in front of her for Jemma to see.

  “Oh, Mom. It’s so sweet. Annie’s going to love it!”

  Jemma was proud of who Blu was as a designer and a mom. When Jemma was younger, she didn’t understand her mom’s fame as a world-class designer, and during her teen-age years, she’d been too wrapped up in the not-so-good things to appreciate any of what her mother had done for her—or what Jemma had put her and Chase through. But now, as an adult, she couldn’t imagine life without regular phone calls with Blu and the real closeness that had developed between them over the years.

  Jemma walked over to sit down in the chair next to her mother’s. “Mom, I have a surprise for you too.”

  “You do? What is it? I’m going to be a grandma to twins?”

  Blu was teasing, and Jemma laughed. “Hey, that’s what Isabella said to me. Now, don’t you two go jinxing me into have twins. I’m not at all sure that we’d be able to handle that.”

  “Of course you would. So what is it—my surprise?”

  “Well, you know how I’ve been telling you that Raf and I haven’t had a chance yet to discuss the possibility of moving in with you guys—above the garage, I mean, of course.”

  “Yes? And of course.” Blu grinned. “Please make my day and tell me that you’re coming?”

  Jemma nodded and placed her hands over her stomach. “We are. Raf says that there’s no reason we can’t start raising this little one in Florence. In fact, he wants him—or her—to learn Italian as well as Spanish.” Jemma laughed and hugged Blu tight. “I’m so excited about it, Mom. I hope it’s really okay with you guys.”

  “Are you kidding? This is the best news ever. Do you have any idea how happy you are going to make a certain little girl?”

  Jemma laughed. She’d had a long video chat with Kylie a week ago, filling her in on the news that she was going to be an aunt. Kylie had been beyond excited and was already begging to be able to babysit when they came to visit. She told Jemma that she was going to immediately sign up for the babysitter’s class being offered at her school.

  “Well, I guess we won’t have any issues finding babysitters,” Jemma said.

  “You got that right.”

  Jemma and Blu looked up at the knock on the open door.

  “Ooh, can I see?” Isabella said from the doorway.

  “Sure, come in,” Jemma said as she stood up so that Isabella could get the full effect of the dress on her. “I think Mom is planning that something or other is going to happen with this little bit of extra material at my waist.”

  Blu laughed. “Well, that’s one way to put it. Yes, we’re just being prepared.” She walked over to give each of the girls a hug.

  “I’m just going to go speak with Gigi a minute. Bella, can you help her out of the dress, please? It can be hung just over there on the rack.”

  “Sure thing,” Isabella said, turning her attention back to Jemma as Blu left the room.

  Jemma could tell just by looking at Isabella that something wasn’t right. When Bella had come home earlier that morning from the cafe she’d gone straight to her room with a headache, and Jemma hadn’t yet had a chance to ask the others what might be bothering her.

  “What’s up? Why do you look so blue today? Where’s my happy-go-lucky best friend and bride-to-be?” Jemma reached over to hug Isabella.

  “So you haven’t talked to anyone yet?”

  “No, I was on the phone with Raf all morning and then Mom wanted to get me into the dress. Are you okay? Is everything alright with Thomas?”

  “Yeah, everything is fine. Just thrown for a bit of a loop, I guess. Nothing that isn’t manageable, and I do feel a lot better after talking to Blu and Gigi this morning.”

  Isabella told Jemma about the house falling through and her feelings about having to stay in the city for longer. Jemma listened steadfastly and silently prayed that Isabella would just hang on until the wedding—not letting herself get worked up so much so that she wouldn’t enjoy it. No one wanted that, especially Thomas.

  When Isabella was done retelling what had happened, Jemma hugged her. “I’m sorry, Bella. I know staying in the city isn’t something that you were at all prepared to do. But it certainly sounds like Thomas believes it’s only temporary, and if I know anything about that man—it’s that he will move heaven and earth to make you happy. Right?”

  Isabella wasn’t crying at all, though Jemma suspected that there’d been tears earlier. She so wanted her friend to enjoy the upcoming party and the surprise of Nina’s being able to join them. If she had anything to say about it, the next few days were going to help her friend to forget about anything that was less than wonderful.

  Isabella squeezed Jemma’s hand. “Yes, you’re right. I really am feeling better about it. Being around you all helps me to feel better, that’s for sure.”

  “Well, good, because you have some fun things to look forward to. Are you ready for your shower?”

  Isabella grinned. “Oh yes, and I hope you’ve not gone to too much trouble, Jem—what with your condition and all.”

  There was her teasing friend again. “Bite your tongue about my condition.” Jemma laughed. “Of course I’m going to do my best to throw you a fabulous party—what with being in such a fabulous place and all.”

  “Oh, you mean like the one I threw for you?”

  “Hey, I loved my party at the orphanage. It was absolutely perfect!”

  When Jemma had gotten married in Guatemala, the whole family had gone to stay at the orphanage. Jemma and Rafael had decided that it made the most sense, being the place where they’d first met. A local pastor had come in from a neighboring village to perform the ceremony, and the children had been so excited to take part in the whole event—wedding shower, ceremony and a big party afterward that seemed to go on for days.

  Isabella leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “It was perfect. Everything about your big day was perfect, Jem.”

  “Just as yours is going to be too. Now what to you say about getting this dress off me and heading to the beach?”

  Isabella looked at her watch and grinned. “Well, it is almost panini o’clock.”

  “You got that right.”

  As if on cue, Jemma’s stomach grumbled loud enough that they both heard it, sending them into fits of giggles as she rushed behind the partition to change into her beach clothes.

  Chapter 19

  It had been a long day by the time Lia got back to the villa. Antonio had come down the night before, picking her up just before dinner to whisk her off to the town of Amalfi. She had to appreciate the fact that he’d gone through so much effort to spend one night and day with her, she really was missing him more than she would have imagined. He felt the same way about her; it wasn’t often that they spent a night apart, let alone a few weeks.

  They’d had a
wonderful romantic time together, enjoying one another’s company, great food, and great wine. Antonio had filled her in on everything that was happening at the vineyard since she’d been away and Gigi had called her earlier in the day to let her know what had transpired with Isabella since she’d been gone. Gigi said everything was fine, but Lia would feel better when she saw it in her granddaughter’s eyes for herself.

  When she’d come in, Gigi and Blu had been in the kitchen and they’d told her that the girls were upstairs. Isabella had said something about going to write and Jemma might have already gone to bed. Lia poured two small glasses of wine and made her way to Isabella’s suite.

  “Knock knock,” she said outside the door, her mouth close to where it opened in the hopes that Isabella could hear her. “Bella, darling. I come bearing gifts if you can open the door for me, please.”

  “Be right there, Lia.”

  A few seconds later the door opened. “Ooh, what’s the occasion?” Isabella said, taking one of the glasses out of Lia’s hands. “And perfect timing. I’m just at a good stopping point.”

  “How’s your book coming along? We haven’t even had a chance to talk about it, but of course you know that I’ll be dying to read it.”

  Lia was one of the few people that Isabella allowed to read her books before they went to her editor. She’d told Lia to be completely honest with her—to rip it to pieces if she had to for the sake of making it better. And Lia was honest with her. She always had been.

  Isabella led Lia to the sitting area in one corner of her suite. “Oh, I guess it’s getting there. Still early stages but I’m really excited about this book. And how was your time with Antonio? You look like a woman who’s enjoyed a night away with her love.” Isabella laughed lightly and took a sip of her wine.