Afonso sat back down and reached for her hand again. He didn’t interrupt or ask anything, just held her gaze and her fingers, and Catarina took courage to go on. “He was older than me by ten years, and his family wanted a grandchild so badly. But he let them think the problem was with me, and he never told me why. It even got to the point where he avoided me. Only occasionally, like that night last February when he was drunk and forced—” She stopped, feeling the heat on her cheeks and the tears in her eyes. Catarina wiped them with the edge of the sheet. “I was shocked when I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t know what to think, or to do.”
Catarina leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes. What had she done, spilling her guts to Afonso like this? “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dumped my problems on you.” What he must think of her. At least now he knew, and she wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to leave. “And I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you I was pregnant. I—”
Afonso tugged on her hand. “There’s nothing you need to apologize for.” His eyes were gentle. “I’m not angry you didn’t tell me, and I’m not going to quit being your friend, or anything like that.”
How did he always know what she was thinking? Afonso understood her better in two and a half months than Juan-Carlos had in seven years.
“It will just take me some time to get used to the idea. You heard the doctor: rest up.” He stood again, letting go of her hand, and she immediately felt the loss.
Of course he needed time. How could he not?
Catarina finally found the words as he reached to part the curtain. “Afonso, obrigada.”
“Let’s hope you still feel the same way tomorrow,” he said, shrugging.
“Why? What’s going on tomorrow?”
“I called your family. Your cousins should be here in the morning.”
Dealing with Afonso was one thing. But her family was a completely different matter.
It was out of her hands and the realization came with a surprising sense of calm. She didn’t have to decide whether or not to call her family.
Whether she was ready to face them or not, that was another question.
Catarina was finishing up breakfast when Afonso came in. The night before she’d been moved to an upstairs room in the women’s ward for overnight monitoring, and the doctor had yet to come by this morning. For the time being, she was the only patient in the room.
Afonso poked his head through the curtains, and Catarina waved him in.
“How are you feeling this morning?” He pulled up a chair and sat near the bed.
“Much better, thank you.” He didn’t take her hand like he had the day before, and she missed it.
“How long do you have to stay?”
“Dr. Paula will be coming by during rounds, but I should be able to come home today.” She touched her belly. “I have some bruising, but it was mainly anxiety. The baby is fine. I just overreacted.”
“Given the situation, I don’t think you did.” He took her hand in his. “I’m glad you’re both okay.” He pulled the sonogram print outs from this pocket. “I still have these.”
“Can you keep them for me until I get home?”
He nodded and put them back.
“I’m sorry I led the nurse and doctor to believe you’re the baby’s father.” The need to apologize wouldn’t leave. “I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I guess—I didn’t want them to think I was alone.”
“You’re not alone, Catarina.” He gave her fingers a squeeze. “I hope you know that.”
Maybe not now, but soon it would be only her and the baby.
His phone buzzed, and he got it out of his pocket. He swiped at the screen and smiled. “I’m going now. Your other visitor is here.” He stood and put the chair back against the wall.
“Who’s here?”
“Your cousin.”
“Which one?” There were quite a few on the Romano side alone.
“I’ll see you at home.” He smiled again and disappeared behind the curtain.
A few moments later, the door creaked open, and steps sounded on the floor. The curtain was pulled across, and it blocked Catarina’s view to the door.
A woman’s face poked around the curtain. “Is this Catarina Romano’s room?”
Catarina’s eyes widened. “Luciana! What are you doing here?”
Luciana sat on the edge of the bed, and leaned over to hug Catarina. They embraced for a long moment as the tears escaped her eyes.
“Prima,” Luciana said. “It’s so good to see you.” She wiped at her own eyes.
Catarina could only nod as the emotion clogged her throat. It had been so long.
Luciana let go and dragged a chair closer to the bed. “I got a call from Filipe saying you might need a visit.”
“Did anyone else come?”
“Only Filipe and Matias, but they said they had to talk to the groundskeeper about something. Not sure what that is.” She frowned.
Catarina’s shoulders dropped. She’d have liked to see her family.
Luciana reached for her hand. “Filipe and I talked about it, and we decided to wait before we told the others. We wanted to find out what you want to do.”
Catarina nodded. Maybe that was best.
“That said, I think you should call your mom.” Luciana reached in her pocket and handed a piece of paper to Catarina. “That’s her phone number. I have to warn you that she won’t be able to come right away. She broke a leg last month, and the doctor has restricted her travel.”
Catarina twisted the edge of the sheet between her fingers. “Is she okay?”
Luciana smiled. “You know your mom. There’s not much that will stop her. But your dad is being firm this time that she needs to listen to the doctor. So maybe you can call her after I leave.” Her eyes misted. “I know how much she misses you.”
Catarina swiped her cheek and nodded. She missed her mom so much. “I’ll call her.”
After a moment, Luciana’s eyes lit up, and she grinned. “I can’t believe you’re pregnant. You’re the first one of us to have a baby.”
“Really? I thought Gabriela would have had one by now.” Gabriela was the oldest girl cousin and had been engaged when Catarina left to Spain.
“No, that didn’t work out for Gabriela. She’s committed to her career.” Luciana reached for Catarina’s hand. “We have so much to tell you.” She emphasized her words, but her attention shifted quickly. “I want to see your baby bump. It looks like you’re barely showing.”
Catarina drew back the sheet and pulled the gown tightly. “My doctor says I’m measuring small, but it looks big enough to me.”
“How far along are you?” Luciana asked.
“Twenty-seven weeks today.” Catarina sighed. Only thirteen more weeks until she met her baby.
“You’re definitely not big,” Luciana said. “I had a client last month who was twenty-three weeks along, and she looked so much bigger than you. Is it a boy or a girl?”
“I don’t know,” Catarina replied “I want it to be a surprise.” She shrugged apologetically.
“You don’t want to know?” Luciana raised an eyebrow. “How did you decorate the nursery?”
“I don’t have a nursery.” Catarina didn’t have anything for the baby. “All I have is a stuffed lion from Chicco that plays Brahms’ lullaby.” She wouldn’t be telling her cousin that sometimes she slept with the toy, comforted by the melody and what it meant to her. It was the first baby item she’d bought, and she’d only added a few items of basic clothing since then—she must be the most unprepared expectant mother her cousin had heard of.
Luciana raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Now I understand what my brother meant when he called.”
“What did Filipe say?”
“He said you might need me to go shopping for you.”
Catarina’s eyes widened. “Shopping for what? I don’t know what I need.” She’d been meaning to start a list, but she’d lacked the emotional courage to do it w
hen so much of her life was insecure. Her meager savings hadn’t helped either.
Luciana drew a tablet from her purse. “It’s never too late to start a list. And we’ll make a Pinterest board, just in case.”
Somehow, with her cousin beside her, everything looked a little brighter for Catarina.
*
Afonso parked the truck by the back patio and took the shopping bags to the kitchen. With guests arriving today, he’d bought extra groceries to accommodate three other adults. He wasn’t sure how long they’d be staying, and he’d rather have too much than not enough.
Filipe and Matias sat at the table when he entered. Afonso placed the bags on the counter and greeted them.
“Do you have more bags in the truck?” Filipe asked. When Afonso told him yes, Filipe left to get them.
Matias stood and shook Afonso’s hand. “It’s good to see you. Filipe showed me what you’ve been doing on the property. Impressive work.”
“Thanks. I enjoy it a lot.” He was even considering opening a small business in gardening and grounds maintenance.
Afonso carried the rest of the groceries to the pantry, then returned to the kitchen. “Did you guys figure out the sleeping arrangements?” They had enough space for everyone, but not enough beds.
Filipe stuffed all the plastic grocery bags in a drawer. “We brought enough air mattresses. I’m taking the room I had last time, the one across from you. Matias will be staying in the room next to the bathroom in the east wing.”
Filipe walked to the fridge and passed beer bottles to the other men, then rinsed a small bowl of lupini beans and set it on the table.
“What about Luciana?” Afonso asked.
“She’s bringing Catarina home sometime today, and she said she wants to stay in Catarina’s bedroom,” Filipe said. “There’s enough room.”
“I bet she’s planning a slumber party,” Matias said with a chuckle.
“We took a quick tour. The ground floor looks great.” Filipe said. “I’d seen the pictures Catarina emailed me, but it looks much better in person. I hope she has time to do the upstairs floor as well, starting with the suite.”
“Was the suite yours before Catarina came?” It hadn’t occurred to Afonso before, but it only made sense.
“I wanted to give her the best room in the house.” Filipe shrugged. “I didn’t know what else to do for her. I’m just glad I was able to get her when I saw the news her husband had died.”
“At least she let you help her,” Matias said.
“So it’s true she hadn’t been in contact with the rest of her family.” Afonso set the bottle down, not in the mood to finish his beer.
Matias nodded. “Not since she left to Spain after graduating from high school.”
“I’m glad you brought her,” Afonso said to Filipe. It could have turned out much worse for Catarina.
Filipe set his drink down, and his smile faded. “I gotta admit I was surprised when you told me she’s pregnant. I thought her sickness was related to the shock of losing her husband and all the stress that followed.”
“You wouldn’t have known when you left. She was still too early to show. I’ve been living in the same house since then, and I didn’t notice either.” Afonso had been too focused on his feelings for her and had missed all the clues. “According to what the doctor said, she’s measuring small.”
“I wonder why she didn’t tell anyone?” Filipe asked.
“Perhaps she needed time to come to grips with it,” Afonso said.
Matias leaned forward. “How have things been between the two of you living in the same house?”
Afonso shrugged. “It’s hard to tell. Especially now.”
“But you have feelings for her, don’t you?” Matias asked.
Feelings didn’t begin to describe it. “If you’re trying to find out if I like your cousin, I do. A lot. As for the rest, I have no clue.”
“Do we ever have any clue?” Filipe said.
Matias chuckled, and Afonso joined him. How right Filipe was. Was any man ever sure of what to do about the woman in his life?
Filipe and Matias traded a pointed look. “Well, since her father and older brother are not here to ask the pertinent questions,” Matias started, “we will. How do you feel about Catarina being pregnant?”
Filipe nodded.
Afonso passed a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “Honestly, I feel like I got the rug pulled from under me. I never planned for any of this. I came here to work and try to put my life back together, and I wasn’t planning on falling in love. But I love her.” He paused to look at the men in front of him, men who were family to the woman he loved. He’d been wanting to say it out loud and it felt so right. “I love her and, if last night is any indication, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to love her baby as well.”
“What happened last night?” Filipe asked.
“I had the chance to be there when Catarina had an ultrasound. It was—” Afonso paused to get his emotions under control. “It’s a miracle, you know. But at the same time I never planned to take on parenthood anytime soon, especially when my life is still so messed up.”
Matias cleared his throat. “Does she know you love her?”
Afonso dropped his head and shook it. “I’ve tried showing her, but I haven’t told her.” He looked up again. “But it hurt when I found out she’s pregnant. I know it’s illogical, but it almost feels like she cheated on me. She’s carrying another man’s child.” It had made him crazy to think of her with another man, and to know the circumstances had not been entirely consensual made him feel like murdering a man who was already dead.
“I understand how you’d feel that way, but you know she was married to him,” Matias said.
“I do know that, but it doesn’t make it any better.” Especially when he and Catarina had shared two amazing kisses that had led him to believe she was interested and available when it might not be entirely true.
Filipe straightened in his chair. “If you don’t see a future with Catarina and her baby, then maybe it’s better you walk away now.”
“What if she can’t see a future with me?” He still didn’t have any prospects when this job was over. Why would Catarina want to be with him? Afonso let out a long breath.
“It sounds like the two of you have some issues to talk over,” Matias added.
Afonso nodded. “Lots and lots to talk over.”
“Okay. Moving on to the next problem,” Filipe said. “Why did you say Catarina’s fall was not an accident?”
Afonso stood. “Let’s go in the library. I left the tablet there, and I have something to show you.”
As they passed through the music room, Filipe pointed at the piano. “How bad does this piano sound?”
“The piano sounds great. Catarina had it tuned. She had a guy come all the way from Coimbra to do it as a surprise for me.” The memory warmed Afonso’s heart.
Filipe whistled. “That must have cost a small fortune. I’d say she likes you.”
Afonso wanted to believe she more than liked him.
Once in the library, Afonso retrieved the tablet from the drawer, and the men sat on the leather sofa and chairs. Afonso brought the app up and scrolled through the files, then set the tablet in front of everyone.
“What happened yesterday?” Matias asked. “Was Anabela involved?”
“I’m pretty sure she was, but I can’t prove it. With the accidents and mishaps around the property, plus the incident when Catarina and I were pushed off the road, I became suspicious that Anabela might be behind all this.” He tapped on the screen again. “I bought several surveillance cameras and installed them around the outside of the house.”
Matias and Filipe leaned closer as Afonso showed them the locations.
“Catarina thinks the rope on the swing snapped or broke, but I made that swing myself. The rope was top quality. I inspected it, and it was almost cut through.” Afonso brought up several stills and showed them to Fi
lipe and Matias. “It’s not very clear from this angle, but you can see two figures wearing caps and sunglasses stopping by the swing early yesterday morning. I must have been on the other side of the property already.”
“It could be anyone,” Filipe said.
“That’s true, but who else? It’s like her MO, causing accidents and messing with people’s heads.
Matias nodded. “It sounds like something she would do.”
“Why has Anabela followed you here?” Filipe asked. “And how did she know your location?”
Afonso raised his shoulder. “No idea. She hasn’t contacted me yet. She might have placed a tracker on my phone. She had access to it several times. I had the phone returned to me when I was released, and I turned it back on. It would have been pretty simple to pick up my location.”
“So what’s the plan?” Filipe asked.
“I think we need to contact law enforcement in Sete Fontes and Castelo Branco,” Afonso replied.
If Anabela came close again, they’d be ready for her.
When Catarina arrived at the house, Afonso was waiting for her by the garage. He smiled at her, and she grinned back like a child. It had barely been a whole day, and she’d missed him so much. His departure in late October would break her heart in little pieces. What was she going to do without Afonso in her life? She brushed the thought aside and focused on the man instead.
He came around the car and opened the door for her. “You’re home.”
Was that longing in his eyes? The intensity of his expression left Catarina breathless for a moment. Had he missed her too? They’d seen each other almost every day since he’d arrived at the house. Living in such close proximity had brought on a sort of intimacy she’d never expected when they met.
Before she had a chance to say no, Afonso lifted her in his arms. “What are you doing? I can walk.”
“I’m sure you can,” he said, “but you’re not going to say no, are you?” He winked at her and her face heated. He pressed her closer, and Catarina tightened her arms around his neck, pushing aside the guilt for enjoying it too much.
Love Me At Sunset (Destined for Love: Mansions) Page 13