“Excuse me, young sir,” Claudio said as he picked up his squirming little companion, “you are supposed to be sleeping. Your Mamá won’t be happy if you break the routine she has tried to settle you into over the last few weeks. She won’t let you stay over here while she’s out if you don’t behave.”
Claudio looked at the tiny face that rested on his shoulder. Casamiro poked his little tongue out and licked his sweater. “Okay, I can take a hint. I’ll get you some milk.”
Casamiro began to cry as Claudio put him down again. “An impatient little man, aren’t you?” Claudio remarked as he ran into the kitchen. “I don’t have an instant milk supply like your Mamá.”
Claudio filled a sterilised bottle with water kept in a temperature-controlled kettle and measured out four scoops of formula. He shook the bottle as he came back into the room. At least Veena didn’t give him breast milk to give the baby. That would be weird, given their strained relationship. He stopped at the bassinet and watched his son grow even more impatient at the sound of the bottle. “You learn fast,” he muttered and picked Casamiro up again. “Now, don’t gulp it this time, I don’t want to wear it all like the last bottle.”
Claudio wandered around the room and held the baby in his arms as he fed him. With a warm teat in his mouth, Casamiro didn’t care about anything, leaving Claudio to stare at the photo on the television. He had married the world’s most stubborn woman, and there was no telling how long the silent treatment between them would last. Canna’s birthday on Christmas Day was coming up, and he wouldn’t even see her; Claudio wasn’t sure if they were even still together as a couple. The initial anger about the incident in Italy had passed. But the fact was that Canna had destroyed everything he had worked for with Virtuosi and there was no way to fix any of that. Canna had pushed him too far.
The doorbell rang, and Claudio sighed. Casamiro was halfway through the bottle, and removing it from his lips would start a war. Claudio shuffled to the door, held the bottle under this chin, and pulled the door open a few inches.
Dane stood in the snow, huddled into a heavy coat with a scarf around this neck. Even so, Claudio caught a glimpse of the last few cuts left by Canna’s fists weeks earlier. Claudio held the door open just enough to jam his foot into the gap. “Don’t ever come to my house. There is no place for you here.”
Dane’s eyes fixed on Casamiro. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t know it was your day with the baby.”
“What would you know about the arrangement with my son?”
“Can we talk?”
“No. Aren’t you busy finding my replacement for Virtuosi anyway?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I quit his morning. Thanks for ruining in my career and my marriage. I hope you’re happy.”
“Lea told me that if I don’t come here and talk to you, then I’m out of Virtuosi. She said Henri and Erik are mad at both of us and are prepared to fire us both if we don’t sort our shit out.”
“There is nothing to sort out.” Claudio pulled his foot from the door to let it bang shut.
Dane put his hand out and stopped the door. “Claudio.”
“What do you want?” Claudio yelled, which spooked Casamiro. The boy paused sucking his bottle and Claudio saw his face turn to tears.
“Oh shit,” Claudio muttered and turned away from the door. “It’s okay, Casi,” he cooed. “I’m very sorry.” He ran the warm bottle teat on Casamiro’s lips, and the baby calmed down and resumed his happy snacking.
Dane stepped inside the door when Claudio turned around again. “Is Canna here?” he asked gently.
“No, of course she’s not here,” Claudio snapped as Dane shut out the cold weather. “Are you happy? You got what you wanted. She is 20,000 miles away from here.”
Dane walked into the doorway of the living room and caught sight of the photo of Canna and Claudio on the television screen. “Madrid,” he said.
“What is?”
“The photo.” Dane gestured to the television. “I remember the pair of you, sitting on stage and talking. I felt terrified she loved you instead of me. I was right.”
“Well, you nursed revenge very well. I never saw it coming.”
“I didn’t sleep with Canna in Helsinki. I made a fool of myself, and she was exceptionally gracious about it.”
“I know.” Claudio didn’t believe that until the words came from his own mouth. It suddenly occurred to him; he believed Canna, and always had.
“I just… I wasn’t ready to see Canna again after our break-up, not in Corsica, and not here in London. I thought I was… but she…” Dane trailed off into a growl of frustration. “She makes me want to hurt myself and others.”
“Yes, I know!” Claudio took the empty bottle from the baby and set it down on the entrance way table. He sat Casamiro up and rubbed his back. “That’s the Countess Effect.”
“How am I supposed to get over the Countess Effect?”
“Giuseppe, Marino, Yuri, Giorgio and Giancarlo have all got over it. One drug overdose, three murders and a suicide. What’s your choice?”
Dane took his hands from his pockets and sighed. “I… how does Canna do it to men?”
“Fucked if I know! I can’t forgive you this time, Dane. I’m only standing here calmly because I’m holding my son. Be assured, I want to rip your head off right now.”
“How are you supposed to get over the first woman you’ve ever loved?”
Claudio heard his son burp, and he kissed his cheek. The little boy smiled back. “You don’t. But you need to remember that your first love is now my wife, and lying to the cops won’t change that.”
“Can’t we sing as a group one more time, for the Royal Christmas special?”
“No! What did you hope to achieve when you told a story about you and Canna in Helsinki? Did you think Canna would run back to you, and that I would continue to work with you?”
“I didn’t give much thought to after the revenge.”
“Feel better now? Canna and I were on our honeymoon when you ruined it. Now she has gone to Australia without me. I don’t give a fuck how you feel. What Canna and I have can’t be broken. What about Henri and Erik? And Lea and Holly? All they have worked for is broken, because you and I can’t work together. What about Rebecca, she loved you and has been heartbroken for weeks.”
“I like Rebecca, but had to break things off a while…”
“While you got revenge on me.”
“While I got revenge on Canna.”
“Everyone who ever tried to hurt Canna ended up dead.”
“She threatened that I would be next.” Dane put his hands back in his pockets. “In that moment, in Milan, when she swore at me, I could see so much hate. So much pain. I know that she loves you, not me.”
“You should have seen that all along.”
“I want to be with Rebecca, but I couldn’t lose sight of teaching Canna a lesson. I need to try and make things right with Rebecca. ”
“I doubt that’s possible.”
Dane looked at Casamiro’s little face, held by Claudio’s dark hand on the back of his head. “How did you become so good with babies?”
“He is my son, it comes naturally. Veena is out on a date with Michael.”
“The guy who dumped her in the maternity suite?”
“Veena said that if I could forgive Canna for so many mistakes, then Veena could forgive Michael. They are taking it slowly, and I’m babysitting.”
“I hope things work out for Veena. Maybe there is hope for me.”
Claudio scoffed. “No, it’s not the same at all. We’re going through a hard time, but your problems are spawned from your own hate and selfish needs. There is no hope for someone who has a heart as cold as yours, Dane.”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
“You thought Canna needed you that time, in Helsinki? She needed someone, she needed you? No, she didn’t. She just needed a break, a friend. Do you think you’
ve won Canna from me? No chance. When she needed someone all those months ago when her friend Daniel died, she needed me. Not just someone. ME. You have no idea how intense that time was for us. You have nothing over me or Canna. You have no idea what Canna is really like. I want you out of my house.”
“So, what? Just like that, both our careers are over?”
“You should have thought of that before you tried to steal my wife out from under me in Milan.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“I don’t care what your motives were; they will never make any sense to me. Virtuosi has no future because you and I can’t stand each other. There is nothing more to say.”
“Come on, Claudio! At least do one more song for Henri and Erik. And Lea and Holly. They have done as much work, and we undid it for them. Both of us.”
Claudio sighed at looked Casamiro, who rested his head on Claudio’s shoulder, close to sleep again. “On one condition. You have to give them a full explanation of what is going on between us. They don’t even know what you did to fuck me off so much. You have to tell them the whole truth, no excuses. Rebecca, too. The woman deserves to know what you did; she deserves better.”
“They will fire me on the spot, I can guarantee it,” Dane said, eyes downcast.
“I hope you’re happy. You did this to yourself. Yes, Canna and I did hurt you once, but the vendetta was all your idea. I can’t even see what you hoped to gain.”
“I wanted to get over Canna!”
“She is long over you, fool. You’re living in a dream world if you think she would look twice at you. She couldn’t love or trust you.”
Dane glanced up at Casamiro’s sleepy face. “Fine, I’ll admit everything and apologise to everyone if you agree to sing with us at the Royal performance this week.”
“Fine, whatever. But then I’m out. I’m starting a new life without all this juvenile shit. I want you to leave.”
Dane headed back out into the cold without another word, and Claudio locked the door with a sigh of relief. For all his bravado, Claudio felt ready to cry, yell or hurt his former friend. Again. All because of the Countess Effect.
Claudio sat down and cradled his sleeping son in his arms. Casamiro was too beautiful to put back in the bassinet. His long black eyelashes rested on his perfect olive cheeks, and the baby sighed as he settled in the warmth of his father’s embrace. Claudio managed to grab his phone, to send a message to Lea and Henri. They would be at home in a panic about the Friday performance.
He sent off a message about meeting tomorrow to discuss the show and looked at the photo of his phone, still Canna holding Casamiro. He tapped his new platinum wedding band against the phone and glanced at his son. Claudio had nothing to gain by being angry at Canna. Being angry and not talking did far more harm than the Helsinki incident. Why did they have to be so stupid?
Claudio held up the phone and took a photo of him and Casamiro together on the couch. He typed a quick caption – ‘a new photo, if you’re interested’
He flicked through to Canna’s number and sent the message. Someone had to make the first move.
Time passed and Claudio found himself falling asleep in his seat. He rested his head back on the couch and listened to the peace of the house, broken up by the tiny little breaths that Casamiro took as he dozed. When his phone beeped in reply, Claudio almost wet himself; the solitude has been exquisite.
‘Beautiful boy… and so is the baby’
Claudio smiled; Canna had replied. ‘We are sheltering from the snow’
‘Good idea’
‘What are you doing?’
‘I just bought a golf course in Corsica. It has mini golf if Casamiro would like to play one day’
‘Golf course?’
‘I bought a nearby factory and the golf course was part of the deal’
‘Are you in Corsica?’
‘No, Sydney. I will send you a photo’
The phone beeped again. Claudio opened the link to find a photo of Vincitore, the yacht Canna had chartered in Malta, sitting in what Claudio assumed to be a marina in Sydney. The bright sun and people walking about in shorts and t-shirts was the exact of opposite of cold wet London.
‘Looks fantastic’ he replied
‘I have a new baby too’
Claudio frowned. ‘Picture?’
Back came a photo of Canna’s foot, which had got itself a suntan. A large tattoo covered one side of her left foot. Letters weaved over Canna’s skin. ‘Claudio’. It looked pretty fresh.
‘Wow!’ Claudio didn’t know what else to say
‘I didn’t stop loving you just because you hate me’
‘I don’t hate you, Blinky. You’re the one who sent me away’
‘Our hearts will heal better with an ocean between them’
‘I love you, Canna. I know you didn’t sleep with Dane’
‘How did you find out?’
‘I realised I already knew’
‘I’m glad to hear that’
The doorbell rang again, and Claudio glanced over his shoulder. “Coming!” he called. He stood up and placed the sleeping infant in the bassinet and flicked off the television on his way to the front door. He pulled it open to find Veena standing in the snow. “Come in, come in,” he said and welcomed her in from the cold. The shot of icy wind made him shiver.
“How was everything?” Veena said as she unwrapped her scarf from her neck. She tried her best to tidy herself up a bit as she untangled her blonde hair from the scarf.
“Casamiro is perfect. Two bottles, two nappies and plenty of sleep.”
“Good. Let me see my baby!”
The pair went into the living room to the bassinet set a considerable distance from the warm fireplace. “I don’t want to disturb him,” Veena said as she brushed her gloved hand over his cheek.
“He is welcome to stay here,” Claudio replied.
“No, I couldn’t stay away from him that long.”
“Then sleep in the spare room. Don’t take Casamiro out in that snow storm.”
Veena eyed him. “You and I have spent every day of the last two weeks together. Now you want me to stay over here? What would Canna say if she was here?”
“If Canna was here, chances are you wouldn’t be here and wouldn’t let me see my son. You love that Canna and I are apart.”
“I don’t like how miserable it makes you. I don’t my Casi picking up unhealthy vibes from his Papá. But yes, the fact you ditched Canna makes me happy.”
“Bring him to the Royal Christmas Jubilee on Friday, and you can sit backstage with Lea and Holly. Casi can pick up loving vibes instead. We are meant to be performing Tosca’s Recondita armonia and then our version of La vie en rose.”
“Can I meet the royal family?”
“I doubt it, Veena.”
“I’m surprised you’re singing with Virtuosi, after all you told me about Dane.”
“Dane is an asshole, but I’ll sing for Henri and Erik.”
“We worked hard on Virtuosi.”
“Yeah, we did.”
“Don’t throw it away for a relationship that you can’t keep together.”
“I married Canna, Veena.”
“I know. It breaks my heart.”
“You think you haven’t broken my heart by going back to Michael? I don’t want that fuckwit around my son!”
“We had dinner, that’s all.”
“What does Michael want?”
“He wants to pick up where we left off, but I said no, I’m not ready. I don’t want Michael back. I want to be single with my son.”
“Good for you.”
“Will you go back to Canna?”
“I want to at least see her again.” Claudio surprised himself with that statement.
Veena sighed. “I have concerns, Claudio, because I don’t want Canna around my son. I read the papers, I know what she is capable of now.”
“What if I kept Canna and Casamiro totally separate?”
“I’ll do whatever I have to so I can be with Casamiro. He comes first.”
Veena sighed and looked at her sleeping son. “What’s wrong with us, Claudio? We are rich and successful. You’re famous. We’re adults who know who we are and what we want. But we’re wasting our most precious resource – time. We’re wasting time on fighting instead of loving.”
“That is the most profound thing I’ve ever heard you say, Veena.”
“It’s true.”
“I agree. Stay here tonight, Veena. I have everything you need for Casi right here.”
“What would Canna say to that?”
“I don’t know, I’ll tell her and we’ll see.” Claudio picked up the phone and sent off a message – ‘Veena is staying with me tonight. Huge snow storm has hit London’
A moment later a message bounced back. ‘Stay safe’
Claudio repeated the message to Veena. “See? No problem. Canna knows you hate her, Veena. She was desperate to do the right thing when Casi was born.”
“I won’t ever like Canna, Claudio.” Veena folded her arms over her chest.
“I know that. We can still get along, can’t we? Things have been great these last two weeks.”
“That’s because Canna isn’t here.”
Claudio sighed. That was true. Things were calm without Canna. “I can’t give Canna up, Veena. I’m sorry, but I can’t. Even when we are apart, I still love Canna.”
The conversation paused as Claudio’s phone beeped. He picked it up; Canna again. ‘I really miss you’. He smiled, it would have taken a lot of pride swallowing to write that.
“Your face,” Veena remarked. “That is Canna on the phone, isn’t it? You never looked that happy with me.”
“Please, let’s not do this, Veena.”
Veena started to unbutton her coat. “I’m exhausted. I might stay.”
“Good! Would you like coffee?”
“Okay.” Veena tossed her coat over the back of a dining table chair. “But promise me something.”
“Anything.”
Violent Daylight Page 44