“These photos are for your memory wall,” I said.
“Now it’s your turn, Brooke,” he replied and I started to open the gifts laid out in front of me.
The first one I opened was so badly wrapped, it had to be from Robert and I smiled at him.
“Wrapping is not something I’ve done much of,” he explained, but I loved that he had done it himself and not just allowed the shop to do it for him.
I held in my hands a red leather box with gold decoration around the edges and inside a white gold and diamond watch, it was simple and elegant. I took it out of the box and placed it on my wrist, my old one having given up the ghost a long time ago.
“It’s beautiful, I love it. Thank you so much,” I told him.
The next gift I unwrapped contained a pair of diamond stud earrings, exactly what I would have chosen for myself, had I ever been able to afford them of course.
“I want you to open this one next,” he said.
I held a slim, slightly heavy parcel in my hands. It felt like a photo frame and as I tore off the paper, tears rolled down my cheeks. I stared at the face of my brother, in uniform, an official portrait taken the day of his passing out parade. I hugged it to my chest.
“How did you get this?” I asked, my voice cracking.
“Easy, I got in touch with the Army, found out his regiment and contacted them. I told them that your only picture of him had been destroyed so they sent a copy. Now, open this one.”
It was a photo album full of pictures of David. There were little notes from his mates talking about him and things they had got up to while on tour. At the back was a replica of his campaign medal. I sat for ages looking at the pictures, reading the notes, all the while tears of joy and sadness fell. Robert came to where I was sitting, knelt down in front of me and pulled me into his arms.
“Thank you,” was all I could manage.
I showed the album to Evelyn and Travis, pointing out David. He looked so young, so full of fun and life. This was the best thing I had ever received. Next, Robert handed me an envelope. I opened it and took out a document not really understanding what I was looking at.
“Your work permits, Brooke,” he explained. I cried again.
In addition, I received books from Evelyn, enough to start my own little library. Sam had given me some framed pictures of the two of us, he knew about the memory wall and thought they would make a nice addition. Travis left the room and I was asked to close my eyes and hold out my hands. I did and I felt a little bundle of fur wriggle about. When I opened my eyes, a kitten with black fur and big blue eyes sat looking up at me.
“Oh my God, Travis. Where did you get him from?” I asked.
“It’s a she and the pet shop, obviously. You said the only thing you missed from home was your cat, we couldn’t get that one over so bought you a new one.”
“I can’t believe this. Robert, did you know?” I asked.
“Not until he had already bought it. No matter how much I tried, he wouldn’t take it back,” he laughed.
I hugged the kitten to my face. “How can you not love her, look at those eyes,” I said to him.
“All the stuff is downstairs, you know food and whatever,” Travis said.
I hugged him, careful not to squash the kitten. “We’ll have to think of a name,” I said as I put her down where she promptly peed.
Robert held up his hands. “I’m not saying a word,” he said, but I could see a smile just wanting to show.
“Your turn, Evelyn. Open your presents,” I said.
The first thing she opened was a map of Italy. I had circled the village her family had come from and had downloaded pictures which I’d glued to the side of the map. She also found a promise note, that I would book the flights when I confirmed dates with Robert.
“Oh, Brooke, Robert, I don’t know what to say,” she said.
“I wanted you to be able to go, see where Joe came from and meet with the family you have still there,” I replied.
She showed the map to Robert and Travis.
“A family holiday for next year,” I said.
We had also bought for her a lovely silk wrap from Taylor’s store and some wonderful scented candles. I sat and watched them all revisiting their gifts. There was paper strewn all over the room and I thought how lucky I was to be part of this family and that this had been the best Christmas so far by a country mile. The kitten, rolling around and getting tangled up in the ribbon was the icing on the cake. While Evelyn cleared the paper away and with the kitten fast asleep on the rug, I headed for the kitchen. I felt Robert behind me before he wrapped his strong arms around my waist pulling me so my back rested again him.
“Thank you, you’ve made this a great day for us, look at them,” he said, his lips just brushing my ear.
Travis was reading from a joke book, some new ones to add to the appalling list he repeated often and Evelyn was laughing.
“I just wanted to make up for all the times you missed.”
“Do you want me to help?” he asked.
“No, I want you to sit and enjoy your presents and did I tell you today that I love you?”
He smiled, kissed my neck and joined the others. I watched Robert look back on the photographs I’d had framed for him. The one of Joe, of him boxing, of the two of us I had taken, holding the camera at arms' length and walking through the snow, of him and Travis and the one from Sam’s blessing. I would hang them all tomorrow on his memory wall.
I lit the candles in the dining room and we sat for dinner, Evelyn was constantly asking if she could help. I think this was the first time in years she had been waited on, she had just sat and done nothing all day. We talked, we laughed, we ate and drank wine and I felt just the smallest pang of sadness, this was the Christmas I had longed for, for so many years.
We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, the kitten on Robert’s lap and listened to some of the CD's I had given him. We watched the night draw in, the snow fall and the lights on the tree twinkle. I spoke to Sam and took a call from Taylor who told me how thrilled Mack had been at her photo and we giggled as we decided where they would be hung. It was good just to sit, curled up against Robert and flick through that photo album of my brother. After Travis and Evelyn had left, I asked Robert how he had managed to put the album together.
“YouTube” he said. “If you go on and search for his regiment, you’ll find loads of photos. I got in touch with some of the people and explained what had happened. One guy, his names on the front there if you want to get in contact, organised it all and he sent his own campaign medal so that you could have it.”
“I think it’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“It’s the least you deserve, look at what you’ve done for us today.”
“Have you had a good day?” I asked him.
“The best. Seriously, Brooke, today has been really special.”
“Did your parents ever buy you gifts?” I asked.
“To be honest, I don’t really remember. I struggle to picture what they even looked liked now. Did I tell you my dad was an artist? That I do remember. Don’t think he was ever successful but I had pictures he had drawn on my bedroom wall.”
“He must have loved you to do that.”
“I think he might have. I don’t know about my mother, as long as I was quiet and out of the way it was fine but that’s about all I remember of her. Anyway, enough about them, tell me about this trip to Italy.”
“I asked Evelyn once if she had ever visited her father’s village and she hasn’t but would like to, so I thought it might be fun if we all went. She still has family there, cousins I think but I didn’t book any dates, I wanted to speak with you first.”
“It’ll be wonderful, when we get the issues in New York sorted, we’ll go, all of us.”
“Have you spoken to Luca about your concerns?” I asked.
“Not yet, we’ll fly out in the New Year.”
He took my wrist
in his hand, looking at my new watch.
“Do you know what the time is?” he asked, “Time for you to show me your picture again but this time for real.”
“Let me put the kitten to bed first,” I said.
He took my hand and led me downstairs. Standing in the middle of the room, I turned to him, undoing the buttons on his shirt and sliding it off his shoulders. I kissed the tattoo on his chest, letting my hands run over his body, over the scar on his side. All the time he stood still, watching me, his eyes darkening. I stepped back and pulled my top over my head, undid the buttons on my trousers and let them fall. His fingers roamed over my shoulder and down one arm then taking hold of one wrist, he pulled me towards him. Holding the side of my head, his kiss was deep and forceful, just the depth of his wanting me sent a shiver up my spine and a fluttering in my stomach. I raised my arms around his neck while he picked me up, still kissing me and laying me down on the bed.
“I love you,” he whispered into my neck, his lips brushing against my skin.
Making love with Robert was always intense, the feelings inside me were beyond my control and it still amazed me and him, how many times he could make me come. It was like being with him had opened the floodgates, for both of us. I had never felt this way before and my heart swelled when I watched the emotions in his face. I had produced that, I had been the one to enable him to feel. At some point during the night, I was woken by a mewing noise, the kitten had woken. I crept upstairs, carried her and her blanket back to the bedroom and placed them beside my side of the bed where she settled back into a sleep.
****
We spent Boxing Day much the same as the previous, we ate but I also got the boys to watch a movie, a shoot ‘em up boys film but at least they watched it. Leaving them to it, Evelyn and I cleared away the dishes then sat on the sofa playing with the kitten we had yet to name.
“I’ve had a great time, Brooke. Thank you,” she said.
“Well, it makes a change for me to wait on you,” I replied.
“I sat looking at that map most of last night. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to receive that, to go back home is something I’ve always wanted to do. In one way I feel sad that my parents are buried here, it would have been lovely to have taken them back to the place they loved the most. My mother would sit with us at night and tell me all about the vineyards, the olive groves, it sounded so wonderful.”
“There’s nothing to say we can’t have a memorial or something,” I said.
“That would be lovely, I would like that. Maybe I can contact what family I have there and see if it can be arranged.”
“Well, if you need any help let me know. What family do you have there?”
“Many cousins. To be honest, everyone is a cousin, it’s normally too difficult to work out how connected we are,” she laughed.
I wondered what it would be like to have such a large family, Evelyn had told me that we would be welcomed as if she had lived there all her life. I knew I had an aunt somewhere in Scotland, I don’t remember the last time I saw or spoke to her and to be honest, I don’t know if she had children. When I die, that was it, no Stiles left. My parents would never have grandchildren, there would be no family line to continue. It was the same for Robert, no family, no children, only his legacy.
“Baby, come and sit, you haven’t stopped for two days,” I heard him say, the movie finished.
“We’re done now anyway,” I told him.
Evelyn and Travis left and we snuggled on the sofa, the fire roaring in the hearth. I had put the photographs up on the wall that morning and I watched Robert looking at them and I wondered what he was thinking about.
“Do you really like them? They don’t bring back sad memories do they?” I asked.
“Yes and no, but I love them.”
“Evelyn was wondering if she could hold some sort of memorial to her parents when we get to Italy, maybe in the local church.”
“That would be good. Joe used to talk about the village a lot, especially once he got older. His family were very poor, they owned an olive grove, I think, but once the local Mafia took their cut of the profits, there wasn’t much left for them which is why he came here.”
“It’s sad that she’s never been there though,” I said.
“I know. Joe parents weren’t keen on his choice of work, I think they fell out about it, he only went back when his parents died. It does seem a shame not to have taken his children there, it’s their heritage.”
“I wonder where yours is, you don’t look English, maybe you have Italian in you as well.”
“Who knows, I don’t think about it. As far as I’m concerned, I’m American.”
“Will I have to do that thing, you know, pledge my allegiance and all that? I mean, presumably at some point I have to let the government know I am staying here forever.”
“We can look at that in the New Year but you don’t have to change your nationality, Brooke,” he said laughing. “Anyway, I have a couple of busy days from tomorrow, what are your plans?”
“I thought I might go into work tomorrow, I have some research still to do.”
Vassago was closed for the Christmas holiday but being on my own with no distractions would focus my mind on my new job. We were at the stage of contacting retailers about the new stores and I wanted to make sure my suggestions were correct. I also wanted to have a work out, having eaten so many chocolates and junk over the past couple of days, I was feeling a little sluggish.
I was due to meet the girls for a post Christmas lunch in a couple of days so planned the rest of my week with Robert. I would go into work tomorrow then I wanted to catch up with the kids at the home before heading out for my date with the old wives' club.
It was exciting to go into work the following morning, finally I had my work permit, I was officially employed. I had already discussed my salary with Richard, it was way more than I earned back home but I was assured that it was on par with what others in the same position got, I didn’t want there to be any differences. I would be on the same level as the Managers and I had joked with him.
“Does this now make me a Caporegime?” I asked.
“No, never in a million years would a woman get that job,” he laughed.
Robert and I parted in the foyer, I was on the ground floor and as he strode over to the lifts, he gave me a wink. I had said that I would bring him some lunch up later in the day and I settled at my desk. A couple of other people had also chosen to come in, maybe to catch up on some work and I offered to make coffee. Pleased that I’d received a civil response, I headed off to the kitchen. Standing waiting for the machine to start up I was reminded of that first day, when I had met Robert and I chuckled. He was a completely different person at work, the total opposite to the one he was at home.
Firing up my emails I was pleased to see a list of prospective retailers from Pete, similar to the ones I had thought of, at least I had passed that test. I started to draft a letter, a mailshot that would be sent out to the press publicising the development, copies of which would also be sent to the retailers. I wanted to be able to present Richard with a document in the New Year ready to be sent out. Before I realised my tummy rumbled, reminding me it was lunch time. I texted Robert that I was off to the deli and I would pick him and Travis something up, within a couple of minutes Gary was in the foyer waiting to accompany me.
“Did you have a good Christmas, Gary?” I asked.
“I did, Pat and I went to my parents then to his.”
It was good to have Gary with me, he was so different to Mark, at least we could chat. Purchases made, we headed back to the office and took the lift to Robert’s floor. As we exited, I was surprised to see Gina and she seemed very surprised to see me as she rushed to hide something on her desk.
“Oh, hi, I didn’t realise you would be working today,” she said, flustered.
“I thought I would pop in, you know, get ahead before the New Year. Do you want to share my sandwich
? It's way too much for me to eat,” I said, a little confused by her response to seeing me.
“Thanks, Brooke, I have something with me, but let me make you some tea.”
“I thought you would be taking the Christmas break off work.”
“If Mr Stone is here, then usually I am. If I’m on holiday then one of the girls from reception covers but to be honest, I get a bit bored at home on my own,” she replied, her manner towards me having settled to normal.
“Same here, did you have a good Christmas?”
“It was quiet, just how I like it, and you?”
“To be honest, it was the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
We made tea and coffee for Robert and taking the tray, I looked through the window to his office and he gestured for me to come in. I laid out his coffee and sandwich while he finished his call. I liked to watch him work, he was as commanding on the telephone as he was face to face and I pitied the person he was talking to. He was not happy about something and they were getting an ear bashing. Without any pleasantries, he ended his call then buzzed for Travis.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Sure, now what have you bought for me,” he said unwrapping the paper from his sandwich.
Travis came in, eyeing his lunch. “I could get used to this,” he said.
“One off, as of the New Year I will be an employee but it’s not in my job description to do the lunch run for you two every day,” I laughed.
“So, fill me in then on what you’re doing,” Robert asked.
I told him that I had come up with a similar list to Pete and Richard’s which meant we were on the same wavelength and I had proven that I could think the way they would require, I was pleased about that. We chatted about the development and I mentioned that I really wanted to go, to check out some of the existing stores of the people we should approach.
Fallen Angel, Part II Page 15