by Miranda Lee
‘Well?’ Lorenzo said as she sat in silence. ‘What do you think?’
She wasn’t capable of thinking, or speaking, or anything else at the moment. She was too busy staring in disbelief at the biggest solitaire diamond she’d ever seen. ‘Is this thing real?’
‘No, it’s glass. I got it out of a cracker,’ Lorenzo observed dryly. ‘Now would you like to try it on?’
‘But what’s it for?’ All her brain cells had collided in a heap and the ring was firing all the colours of the rainbow at her, confusing the issue.
‘What’s it for?’ Lorenzo repeated. ‘Now, let me think … Maybe it’s a bonus for good behaviour? No—’ he shook his head ‘—you don’t deserve that. You’ve been extremely naughty over these past few days. For good work, then?’ His lips pressed down. ‘Well, that can’t be right, because you haven’t started your new job yet—’
‘Lorenzo!’
‘Carly.’ Angling his head, he stared at her with exasperation. ‘For someone with so much brain power you have precious little common sense. Why can’t you just accept that I love you, and that I want to be with you for ever? I want to marry you. I want to buy you a diamond ring.’
‘And what Lorenzo wants Lorenzo gets?’ Carly’s face started to relax into a smile.
‘Something like that,’ he admitted.
‘Are you sure it’s for me?’
‘Unless you have an invisible friend?’ He stared over her shoulder.
‘Lorenzo …’
‘Give the ring to me,’ he instructed.
She gave him the box with the ring still intact. She couldn’t believe such a fabulous piece of jewellery was destined to find its home on her finger. She was already braced for the punchline and the laughter. If Lorenzo mentioned crackers one more time she would—
‘I’m surprised you can’t recognise a Tiffany box—’
‘A Tiffany box?’ she said. ‘Let me see that again …’
She held out her hand, but he just laughed. ‘I can see I have a lot of educating to do. Now hold out your hand, Ms Tate …’
The ring fitted perfectly.
‘Do you like it?’
Carly studied the fabulous diamond on her wedding finger. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘Say you love me—say you’ll marry me …’
‘You do mean it, don’t you?’
Lorenzo took hold of her hand. ‘Don’t you know how much I love you yet? Don’t you know how much I want to marry you?’ His lips tugged up in a wicked grin. ‘Don’t you know how much I want to make babies with you? I thought I’d made at least that much clear. Seems I’ll have to put in a lot more time convincing you …’
‘I will marry you, Lorenzo—’ She broke off.
‘Are you all right?’ He was instantly concerned as she swayed a little in her seat.
‘It’s just the shock,’ Carly explained. ‘I felt a little faint …’
‘Can you describe your feelings exactly?’ Lorenzo said, staring at her intently.
‘Lorenzo,’ she reminded him, ‘we’re not in court now.’
‘My mother felt strange every time, and she had seven of us.’
‘Your mother? Lorenzo, please, whatever’s wrong with me, it has nothing to do with whatever your mother suffered seven times.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
She looked at him and then at the ring. ‘Because anyone would faint with shock when they saw the size of this diamond.’
‘Oh, come now, Carly,’ Lorenzo argued dryly. ‘There isn’t a woman alive who would faint at the size of a diamond—unless it was tiny, of course.’
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
IT WAS SOME WEEKS before Lorenzo had the opportunity to tell Carly, ‘I told you so,’ and nine months before he held their beautiful daughter, Adriana, in his arms. He brought his two girls home from hospital to the country house he and Carly had chosen together in the latter stages of Carly’s pregnancy. The Georgian manor house was reminiscent of the boutique hotel in Cheshire where their baby had almost certainly been conceived. The property was an easy drive from the city, and provided them both with a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life. An Internet connection had been set up to ensure that the newest party planner in town could continue to grow her business while heavily pregnant, or nursing a baby, and Carly’s inbox was already bulging with an impressive number of potential clients.
She was integral to his life in every way, and his only concern was her happiness. He had settled effortlessly into the role of devoted husband, and now devoted father, and, following in the footsteps of his parents, he was determined to share that happiness around.
‘My mother won’t come,’ Carly stated confidently six weeks after the birth of Adriana, by which time he judged her ready to face the storm. ‘She’ll never forgive me for leaving law.’
‘We’ll see, shall we?’ When had he ever allowed a small thing like a mother-in-law to put him off his stride?
‘Who said your mother wouldn’t come?’
Carly couldn’t believe her eyes as her father’s car pulled into the yard. Livvie piled out first, and then her father hurried round to open the passenger side door.
‘Mother?’ she breathed incredulously.
‘And bearing gifts, by the look of it,’ Lorenzo observed, watching as Mrs Tate marshalled her handbag, her carrier bags and her troops.
‘She looks lost,’ Carly said, staring transfixed through the window. Her father and Livvie were hurrying excitedly up the path, while her mother remained in the same spot, gazing up at the façade of Carly and Lorenzo’s beautifully restored home.
‘She is lost,’ Lorenzo pointed out. ‘She’s not in her kingdom now, she’s in yours.’
‘I’ve got to go to her …’
Lorenzo’s voice stopped Carly halfway across the hall. ‘Take it easy,’ he said. ‘Don’t intimidate her—’
‘Intimidate my mother?’
‘Just remember the tables have been turned, Mrs Domenico. Be gentle with her … that’s all I’m saying.’
Carly’s face softened as she looked at Lorenzo holding their baby. He was such an amazing man. ‘You know I will …’
‘Yes, I do. That’s why I love you.’
‘I love you too …’
As Carly opened the door Livvie fell into her arms, hugging her as if she would never let her go. ‘Can I hold the baby?’ she asked the moment they released each other.
Lorenzo made the careful transfer, and then went to greet Mr Tate. Giving the older man a firm handshake, he drew him into the house as if they were old friends. ‘Your father and I have things to discuss,’ he said to Carly as father and daughter hugged, ‘so you can’t keep him long.’
‘My flying lesson,’ Carly’s father confided. ‘Good man. He remembered.’ Holding Carly’s face between his hands, he searched her eyes. ‘That’s better,’ he said quietly, releasing her.
As Lorenzo led him away towards the kitchen, and Livvie followed with baby Adriana, Carly waited with apprehension to greet her mother. She felt anxious, but she told herself she couldn’t possibly feel half as awkward as her mother.
‘Carly …’
The voice hadn’t changed, and they didn’t attempt to embrace each other.
‘Come in …’ Carly stood back, remembering Lorenzo’s counsel. ‘Welcome …’
‘Very nice,’ her mother observed, walking past her. ‘You’ve done very well for yourself, Carly.’
Lorenzo always made her feel that he had done very well for himself too, but the moment her mother spoke the doubts set in again. As she turned and raked her face with the narrowed gaze, searching for signs of insecurity, it took all she’d got to respond openly with a smile. ‘Won’t you come into the kitchen? Everyone’s there.’
‘Don’t rush me, Carly. I bought you something.’ She pushed a carrier bag into Carly’s hands. ‘I expect you’ve got something better. It’s only a quilt cover for the baby’s cot.’
&n
bsp; ‘But it’s beautiful,’ Carly exclaimed softly as she looked inside the bag. ‘I love it. Thank you.’
‘Your father chose it,’ her mother said awkwardly. ‘And we bought a little gift for Lorenzo too, which I chose.’
Carly hid her astonishment. ‘That’s very generous of you, and there was absolutely no need.’
‘There was every need,’ her mother argued. ‘This is Lorenzo’s house, and we’re enjoying his hospitality.’
Carly nodded. The barb might sting, but she refused to let it show.
‘Well, go on … look at them,’ her mother urged impatiently, handing over a small stiff bag. ‘You’d better make sure I got it right.’
‘I’m sure you did,’ Carly reassured. When she looked inside the bag she had to try very hard indeed not to laugh. Her mother’s gift to Lorenzo was socks. Grey socks. It would take more than that to turn Lorenzo into a strawberry cream, Carly reflected, pressing her lips down hard to keep from smiling. ‘They’re lovely,’ she said. ‘And it was very kind of you to think of it.’ Her mother didn’t seem such a dragon any more, and impulsively she leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
Her mother jerked back as if she’d been hit. ‘I’m not interested in whether you like them or not. What I want to know is will Lorenzo like them? We’d better keep on his right side. You’ll need someone to support you now you’ve thrown away your career.’
‘And got another one,’ Carly reminded her mother, who responded with a cynical hum. ‘I’m sure he’ll love the socks,’ she lied, for the sake of her mother’s feelings.
‘This way, is it?’ her mother said briskly, turning away.
‘That’s right.’ And don’t stop walking until you find the tall, dark handsome man wearing jeans, a rugby shirt and ruby-red, heart-festooned socks, Carly thought happily. For the first time in her life her mother couldn’t hurt her; in fact she felt sorry for her and for everything they’d missed over the years. Lorenzo was right; her mother was far more vulnerable in this situation than she was.
Carly followed her mother into the kitchen where she found her hovering just inside the door. It was as if she couldn’t bring herself to walk into the room, which was strange, Carly thought, because she found the scene idyllic. There was home-cooked food on the table, and the people she loved were standing around it. Her very own newborn baby was lying contented and asleep in her sister’s arms …
Lorenzo found her gaze and smiled reassurance at her. His look told her how much he loved her, and how he was always there for her, whatever might happen.
‘Won’t you come and join us, Mother?’ Carly said, returning to the door where her mother was still standing. Taking her mother’s arm, she drew her gently inside the room.
Lorenzo came forward and put his arm round her shoulders. As he did so Carly noticed her mother’s gaze flinch away and land on Olivia … with disapproval. She’d never seen that before. Her mother started to say something and then stopped herself. As she looked at Carly’s father for support her mouth hardened when she realised he was too engrossed in his grandchild to notice her.
‘Support the baby’s head, Olivia,’ she said, her voice sounding cracked and strained. ‘Olivia, are you paying attention?’
‘Of course I am, Mother,’ Livvie crooned, gazing adoringly at her niece. ‘Don’t you think she’s lovely?’
‘What do I think? Does anyone care what I think?’ When this received no answer, Mrs Tate went on. ‘I think it’s hard to credit Carly got married before you and had a baby.’ The harsh words were out, but somehow they’d lost their sting; everyone was too happy to take it in. ‘You’d better hurry up and find a man, Olivia,’ she pressed on, ‘or all the best ones will be gone.’ She flashed a meaningful glance at Lorenzo.
‘Olivia is taking her time to pick out the best of the best. Isn’t that right, Livvie?’ Lorenzo said kindly, and perhaps only Carly detected the thread of disapproval in his gaze as he looked at her mother, but then she knew his court mask.
‘Well, she’d better hurry up, that’s all I’ve got to say—’
‘Mother—’ Carly began, noticing that Livvie was now paying attention and was on the verge of tears.
‘Your mother always did have to have the last word,’ her father cut in to everyone’s surprise. ‘Me? I’ve always known what a lucky man I am to have two exceptional daughters.’
‘Well said, Mr Tate,’ Lorenzo agreed.
‘Call me Arthur. And now you and I had better discuss that flying lesson—’
‘What?’ Exploding out of her brooding silence, Mrs Tate clutched her chest.
‘Don’t worry, Enid, I won’t be taking you with me,’ Carly’s father said dryly.
There was another moment of silence, and then Carly noticed her mother was blinking back tears. She was about to go to her when her mother looked at her beseechingly. ‘Can I hold her?’
There was such hope and fear in her voice it was as if the world as Carly knew it had come to an end, and something far better had taken its place. ‘Of course you can,’ she said warmly.
Olivia carried her baby niece across the room and placed her carefully in her grandmother’s arms. ‘Adriana, meet Granny,’ Carly said softly, smiling at Livvie and Lorenzo before backing away.
‘Thank you.’ Her mother’s gaze flickered up, and then quickly flashed back to her grandchild.
As she was the child of two such strong-minded parents it came as no surprise to anyone that Adriana had her own thoughts on reconciliation. Curling her tiny fist around her grandmother’s forefinger, she held on tight.
‘This is a new beginning,’ Carly’s mother murmured, entranced.
‘Yes, well, let’s hope so,’ Carly’s father commented. ‘Are you coming, Lorenzo? Your study, didn’t you say? I think we can safely leave the ladies in peace now.’
Lorenzo shot a look at Carly as if to say this division of the sexes wasn’t their way, but for a day, if it made her parents happy, it would be worth it.
Carly put her arm around Livvie’s shoulders as they watched their mother with Adriana. ‘Your turn next,’ she whispered. ‘That’s if you want a baby.’
‘Perhaps I’d better find a man first?’ Livvie suggested.
‘Good idea,’ Carly agreed, sharing a smile with her sister.
Later that night Lorenzo suggested they leave everyone to it. Adriana had so many nursemaids her parents were superfluous for once. He didn’t wait for an answer before drawing his beloved wife out of the room.
‘You worked a miracle today,’ he told Carly, ‘and I’m proud of you.’
‘You worked the miracle,’ she argued.
‘Can we agree just this once to reach a compromise?’ Lorenzo suggested, starting to unbutton her blouse. ‘I think the miracle is Adriana …’
‘Well, I’m not going to argue with you about that …’
Easing her head back to give Lorenzo better access to her neck, Carly knew that arguing was the last thing on her mind now, though there was definitely a storm brewing—of the most tempestuous and physical kind.
‘Your breasts are enormous,’ Lorenzo approved as if he’d never seen them before. ‘I adore them …’ Casting her bra aside, he swung her into his arms. ‘Shall we?’ he invited, moving towards the bed.
‘Only if you take your socks off.’
‘I’m not sure I can wait that long.’
But they did take his socks off—they took every single piece of clothing off.
‘We don’t always make it this far,’ Carly said, laughing as Lorenzo lowered her down onto the bed. ‘Do you think the fire is dying down?’
Taking hold of her hand, he placed it over the throbbing proof of his continued interest. ‘I’m not sure,’ he said. ‘What do you think?’
‘I think I need regular reminders,’ she told him wickedly.
He raked his stubble against her neck in the way he knew she liked, but when she reached for him he told her, ‘Be patient … Haven’t I taught you anything?
’
‘So much, I hardly know where to start.’
‘Fortunately, I do,’ he said, muffling her cries with kisses until she grew frantic underneath him. Carly’s appetite was a source of constant pleasure to him, and he never tired of giving her the satisfaction she craved. Watching pleasure unfold on her face was one of his greatest joys in life. She was fierce in bed, demanding and passionate, and she was the mother of his child, sweet, kind and loving. She was the lynchpin of his family around which everything else revolved. ‘I love you, Carly Tate.’
‘Carly Domenico,’ she corrected him in the scant few seconds he allowed her before finding another way to silence her.
Later, when she had quietened, he told her about the plans he’d made. ‘I’ve taken an island for a month—’
‘Of course you have,’ she said, stroking his face.
‘No, really, I have …’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Never more so. I’m going to fly the wife I adore and our baby, along with Adriana’s nurse, to a tiny Caribbean island where my beautiful wife can lie in the sun all day and dream about … me.’
Carly laughed. ‘You’re impossible.’
‘We’ve already established that,’ Lorenzo said, kissing her into submission. ‘And, of course, for this trip my wife will need some new clothes …’ He reached beneath the bed for the parcel he’d put there earlier. ‘For instance, she will need some new bikinis …’ Reaching into the parcel, he showered some vivid scraps of fabric down on her. ‘And, of course, she will require this season’s must-have, ridiculously impractical underwear—’
‘But, Lorenzo, I’m fat—’
‘Carly, you have never been more beautiful in your life.’ Bringing her hand to his lips, he planted a lingering kiss on her palm, staring into her eyes until she believed him.
‘You are the most wonderful man in the world,’ she whispered, ‘and so generous. But, Lorenzo, I must buy something for you. What would you like?’
Her earnest expression made his lips curve in a smile. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’