by Robena Grant
“Yeah, I suppose…until this one.”
“What do you mean?” Maria asked.
“I fell in love. I tried to fight it, but when I realized it, I did take that leap of faith. I admitted it to myself, and I headed home happy to reveal my newfound information.” Dia stood. She owed them one more explanation, and then this conversation was over. “The only problem was, we’d argued, and I questioned my feelings. In fact I judged him, and now I’m sure that I really, really, cannot ever love deeply.”
“Oh, Dia. No!” Maria touched her arm.
Dia pressed her lips tighter than she imagined her mother had ever pressed hers. “I’m really tired. I need to get to bed. Jetlag, you know.” She shrugged, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. “Good to see you guys, and I’m glad you had a wonderful time in Hawaii.”
She moved to the door, and then looked back. “I’ll come to visit you before school starts. We can meet for lunch, okay?”
“Come for a weekend. Or any time. We’d love to have you,” Maria said.
“For sure. Anytime.” Marco came across the room to wrap her in a bear hug. “Don’t sweat it,” he whispered in her ear. “Guys are dumb. He’s probably forgotten that you even argued.”
Dia gave him a wan smile. “See you soon.” She headed upstairs. It wasn’t just the argument, but she didn’t want to explain the whole passionate Italian male thing with her brother, or the fact that she hadn’t trusted enough. How could you love without trust?
****
Carlo felt about as good as he looked.
On his arrival in Italy, he’d stopped in the men’s room at the airport, quickly shaved his way-beyond-five-o’clock shadow, washed his face, put eye drops into his tired eyes, and cleaned his teeth. There wasn’t much he could do about his creased clothing because the few items he’d stuffed into the small duffel bag weren’t much better than what he was wearing.
He pulled the rental vehicle into a visitor spot at the Genoa hospital and switched off the engine, and took a quick look in the mirror. His appearance hadn’t improved any since leaving the airport. From his understanding when speaking with Nico, he wouldn’t only be meeting him, but also his mother and two of his four aunts. The other two had remained on Corsica to attend to matters at the estate.
He got slowly out of the car and did a few leg stretches against the side of it. He wasn’t looking forward to meeting Nico and his family. He needed reassurance of Susan’s recovery and then some sleep. The last thing he wanted to do was meet a bunch of strangers.
With a quick look at his cell phone, he approached the front reception desk. If he didn’t recharge it soon, it would die on him. He shuddered at his word choice. How many times did he carelessly use those expressions? There was still no call from Dia. He didn’t think she’d hold a grudge. Maybe it was just with both of them travelling and being in different time zones, there wasn’t a right time to call.
A young dark-haired woman looked up as he approached the desk. “Buon giorno.”
“Per favore…Signora Susan Ingalia?” He frowned. Hell, he couldn’t remember the word for patient. “Ah, capisce l’inglese?”
“Si.” The woman tapped at the computer keys. “And you are…?”
“Her brother, Carlo Antonelli. I just arrived from the United States. Here is, ah…mio passaporto.”
The woman checked his identification, glanced at her screen again, and then pointed down the long white-walled, white-tiled hallway. “Elevator,” she pointed upward. “Leveluattro, room…room twenty—”
“Grazie.” Carlo took off in long strides. He wasn’t certain she’d finished talking, but he didn’t need to stay for small talk. Besides she may have been about to say it wasn’t visiting hours. If he didn’t know that, he might be able to get in and see Susan before anyone discovered him. Damn.
The elevator door opened, and he stepped out into a green-walled, green-tiled hallway. A few pictures hung on the walls. Not the Intensive Care Unit. Things were looking up. Nico had told him he had taken care of the information and the financial aspects. He’d also said that as he wasn’t family he wasn’t allowed to visit when she was in the ICU, but he’d been waiting in the visitor lounge.
Carlo passed the waiting room. He craned his neck to look in through the high rectangular windows. An Italian-looking man, young and crumpled, dozed stretched out over three uncomfortable-looking chairs. He had the feeling the man was Nico. No sight of the old Corsican ladies though. He guessed Nico had been camping out here ever since the accident. The ladies were probably in a hotel.
A twinge in his chest made him rub his fist against his sternum. Maybe the guy really did care for Susan. He wouldn’t stop to speak. Not yet. First he needed to find Susan’s room. A nurses’ station at the far end of the ward, had a hum of activity. Nobody took any notice of him.
Counting down the room numbers, his feet slowed as he passed number eighteen and approached the closed door of room twenty. He knocked lightly. No answer. He pulled in a quick breath, cracked the door and popped his head in. From what he could see through the side of the raised bed railings, Susan looked pale, but not in any apparent distress. However she had one leg in a cast and elevated by some old-fashioned metal device attached to a bar above the bed.
Nobody had mentioned a broken leg. He slipped inside the room and closed the door.
“Susan,” he said softly as he touched the side railing. “It’s me…Carlo.”
Of course there was no answer. Her eyes were closed, and he wondered if she was still in a coma. An oxygen cannula was inserted into her nostrils, and the green tubing connected to a bubbling wall unit. A cardiac monitor showed a steady, even heartbeat. There was a catheter bag attached to the side of the bed, and an intravenous drip inserted into her left arm.
“I’m here, now. I’m not leaving. And Mom and Dad and Angie will be here tomorrow.” His father would arrive first, get a few hours of sleep, then pick up his mother and Angie and drive them up here. They’d all had to fly into Rome.
Carlo bent down and kissed her forehead. She didn’t stir. Not even the flutter of an eyelash. He gave silent thanks that his sister had been saved. He offered up another heartfelt thank-you for preventing him from making that call where he’d been going to ask what the fuck she thought she was doing running off with some guy she hardly knew. He felt eternally grateful that he wouldn’t have that hanging over his head, especially if she didn’t recover.
What the hell? Of course she’ll recover.
He rubbed both hands over his face and smoothed his hair and then pulled over a hard-backed chair and sat. He threaded his arm through the railing and gripped tight to her small cold hand. Then he closed his own eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Another day with no message from Carlo. Dia was certain that whatever they’d had together was over. She refused to cry, or to acknowledge in front of anyone the pain that ripped through her chest. Besides, after yesterday’s breakdown in front of Mama, she was about cried out. She felt small, and helpless.
If only she could take action, do something, but she had no idea which hospital Susan was in. The Antonellis had left, and she didn’t have their cell phone number, only Carlo’s.
She figured if he didn’t want to update her on Susan’s status, it wasn’t her place to add extra stress to an already horrible situation. By noon she knew what she had to do.
“Mama, Frank, I’m moving to my apartment.”
Mama looked up from her sewing, a frown crinkling between her eyes. “When?”
“Today.”
“So soon?”
“I paid the month in advance.”
Mama nodded.
“I knew I’d only get a week or so at the end of the month. I’m glad I did because I need to be alone.”
“You’re upset and tired. You should stay here,” Frank said.
“No. I’m fine. I need to get on with my life. Get organized. I’ve packed a bunch of things to take with me today, a few boxes
and four suitcases. I’ll come back for the rest.”
Mama nodded again. “We can bring for you. We can follow.”
“No, Ma. But thanks. I need to do this by myself.” She didn’t tell her mother there was no furniture yet. No phone, no cable TV. Hell, she’d sleep on the floor. She wasn’t much of a television watcher anyway. She’d do anything to get away from the reminders of Carlo. And Mama’s big, sad, all-knowing, all-seeing eyes that followed wherever she went.
“You won’t have food.”
“I’m stopping for some basic stuff.”
“I make a package.” Mama got up and went to the kitchen.
Hell, she didn’t even have a refrigerator. Had she even bothered to tell them to turn on the electricity? She didn’t care. Her mind was made up. But she’d buy candles just in case. Dia grimaced at Frank and went up to her room.
When she came back downstairs carrying a box and her old comforter, Frank silently went upstairs and brought the rest of the stuff down.
Mama came from the kitchen with a paper shopping bag. She nodded, and patted Dia’s shoulder. “Is good. Right choice. I make some things to start.” She followed Dia out to the car. “I put paper goods, food, crackers, soup…”
“Thanks, Mama. You didn’t have to—”
“Pish.”
Dia put the box and the comforter into the back, then tossed her purse onto the front seat along with the shopping bag. She smiled at Frank who dragged out two suitcases and then returned to the house for the rest of the boxes.
“I’ll come back at the weekend to get the rest. Hope you don’t mind, but I want to borrow the comforter and a pillow and towel, until I get to the store.”
“You can have anything. Take all you want,” Mama said. “It is yours anyway. You tell me and I bring anything to you.”
A whole new chapter of her life had begun. Dia blinked back the smart of tears. “Thanks, Mama.”
“You sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. And I’ll be busy for a day or two. I have to get the phone put on and all that stuff. I’ll call you as soon as I get that and then you can come over to visit.”
“Where is it?” Mama asked.
“I left the address on your desk. And I’ll have my cell phone.”
“Okay then.” Mama squinted. “You sure?”
“Absolutely.” Dia opened her arms and hugged her mother. “Thanks for letting me stay here for so long.”
“Is nothing. You drive carefully, okay?”
Dia slid into the driver’s seat and put down the window. “I couldn’t find Cat. Tell him I’ll be back for a visit.”
“You do that. Soon.”
Dia waved and reversed out of the driveway. She looked back once. Mama and Frank stood side by side, watching her car disappear down the street.
She felt like crying and a huge lump formed in her throat, but she wouldn’t give in.
She blinked hard. This was something she had to do.
****
Carlo ran a hand over the nape of his neck and tried to massage the crick out of his shoulder muscles. How long had he slept? He reached for his cell phone to check on the time, but it was deader than a doornail. Susan continued to sleep. She looked like she hadn’t moved an inch. Had anyone come into the room? Had anyone bothered to check on her?
He stood, shoved the chair back, rubbed at his numb butt, and looked around at the walls. There was no clock in the room. He’d have to check at the desk. After that he’d have to go to his car and find his charger and the European connector. And he’d have to talk with Nico. Suddenly everything felt like a chore.
“Carlo?” He spun around, his eyes widening. Had he imagined her voice?
Susan smiled softly. “You’re awake.”
“I’m awake. I thought you were…” Hell, what had they told her? He hurried over and kissed her forehead. “You scared me.”
“I was out of it for a day or so. I woke up this morning.”
“Oh. I haven’t had a chance to talk with Nico. I thought…you know…you were so still, and you didn’t respond when I first came in.”
She yawned loudly. “They gave me pain killers. You know how zonked I get on those.”
“So what’s with the oxygen?”
“Who knows?” She laughed. “I pull the damn prongs out whenever I can.”
It felt so good to hear her laugh, even though she sounded hoarse. His heart still raced, and he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around the fact that she was awake.
“Does Nico know you’ve woken up?”
“Yes. He wasn’t allowed to visit when I was in the ICU. This morning they moved me up here. Crazy guy hasn’t left the hospital, and I don’t think he’s slept in days. He may have crashed for a while.”
“God, I’m so glad you’re okay. Mom and Dad and Angie are on their way—”
“Nico told me. Mother called him from Chicago. What about Dia?”
Carlo closed his eyes for a moment. Then he sat back down. “I haven’t…we haven’t spoken. We had a bit of an argument by phone. I ran into her at the airport but couldn’t stop. The plane was boarding. I told her to call Mama.”
“You better call her now, Carlo. She loves you so much. She’ll be devastated.”
Dia loved him? He felt a rush of heat to his core but all he could remember were their words and their accusations. He shrugged. “Don’t know about that. She was angry.”
“What did you argue about? Sorry. Not my business.
“You.” He felt the heat rise up his neck and hit his cheeks. “I told her I should come over here to drag your crazy ass back home.”
Susan laughed. “Oh, my, I shouldn’t do that. It hurts my chest.”
Carlo jumped up. “Why? Do you have broken ribs?”
“Just bruising. But you’re so funny. I can just imagine the argument.”
“It wasn’t pretty.” Carlo looked down at his feet.
“She’ll forgive you. You’ll see. Now go call her.”
“My cell’s lost power.”
“Do me a favor. Go talk with Nico and then check into the hotel. He booked you a room. Oh, here he is now.”
Carlo turned and offered his hand. “Nico. Good to meet you.”
The guy had cleaned up, but there was bruising on his face, stitches above one eyebrow, a split and swollen lip. He had one arm in a sling.
“Carlo.” Nico took the offered hand and then gripped him in a one-armed hug. “I came in before, but you were sleeping.”
“Yeah. I need to check in and clean up. Get something to eat.”
“Mama and the aunts are here. They would like very much to say hello. Do you feel…is it okay now?”
“Sure. Bring them in.” Susan beckoned Carlo back to her bedside. “Raise me up a little bit, please.”
He did, and he repositioned the pillow. “Anything else?”
“Could you get me my lip gloss? It’s in the top drawer. Just put a sweep on my mouth.”
It felt funny putting lip stuff on his sister’s lips, but heck he’d do anything she wanted at this point. His heart was swollen with happiness. This would be wonderful for the folks, and for Angie. Then he looked at her leg. “How long will you have to be here?”
She grimaced. “It’s gonna be a while. Nico said I should stay with them while I rehabilitate—and Angie, and Mom and Dad too, if they’d like.”
“Oh.” So he wouldn’t be needed after all.
“Well, you’re welcome too. That goes without saying. It’s just I’m sure you want to get back home to Dia.”
Dia. Hell. He kept forgetting about Dia. He had to call as soon as he got to the hotel. Before he showered or ate anything. “Yeah. You got that right.”
He looked up as three ladies wearing colorful silk scarves knotted underneath their chins entered the room. Introductions were made and chairs found. He backed toward the door. “I’ll see you tonight, sis. I’ll grab a few hours of sleep. Stay well.”
“With all of this
company, how could I not be well?” Susan gave him a wink and a wave. “Book your flight home. For tonight.”
He noticed one aunt applying cream to Susan’s hands while another worked on her feet. Mama Ventimiglia poured her a glass of water.
Nico grinned at him and gave a slight shake of his head.
Carlo smiled for the first time in days.
****
The apartment was cold and empty. No electricity. No phone. No way to charge her cell phone. No television.
Dia opened the blinds allowing the afternoon sun to warm the place. At least she had about a half charge on the cell phone, enough to get things rolling with all the service appointments. She could call Anna and get her to come over. She’d charge the cell phone for her at her office or in her car. Dia didn’t have an adapter in the Honda. She’d never needed one. It might be days before the utilities were switched on.
She sat on a box of books she hadn’t unpacked and made the calls.
Fabulous!
The good luck fairies were on her side. Electricity and phone would be taken care of tomorrow morning. She’d have her wireless internet hookup. The laptop sat on top of another unpacked box, unable to be used. Tomorrow afternoon, the cable guy would arrive. She didn’t even have a television. No problem. Tomorrow night she’d go shopping.
Dia made a list. She needed a bedroom set. A dining room set. A couch. A television. A desk. Oh, and a refrigerator. What a shame she’d sold or given away all of her old furniture. In the bedroom she folded the comforter in half lengthwise and made a single bed sleeping bag, which she placed on the cushy carpet. Thank goodness they weren’t hardwood floors. The room looked so bare and sad.
Ah, well. It was only for one or two nights.
She tossed the pillow onto her bed and then hung clothes in the closet. Dinner was the food Mama had packed: cold lasagna, yummy bread, and cookies. On the kitchen counter were a roll of paper towel, a box of tissues, and an extra roll of toilet paper, along with a couple of cans of soda and some fruit. Mama was the best. She’d thought of everything.
As night fell, Dia reached for the cookies. Amaretto. Carlo’s favorite. Tears welled up, and this time she couldn’t stop them. They flowed in torrents down her face. It seemed the more she wiped, the harder they fell. She lit a candle. There was nothing to do. No entertainment. She’d never felt more alone in her entire life.