Chapter 3 #2
As much as I wanted to deprive him of being with Lucca the way he did to me—and God knew I wanted very much to do that to him—I wouldn’t.
Heithor hadn’t known how to trust, hadn’t known how to separate things.
I did. I wouldn’t act like him, even though the idea was absurdly appealing.
I wasn’t him. And in a way, I was aware that this was more punishment than the deprivation he forced on me.
Besides, I didn’t want my son to have the same bad experience with his father that I’d had with mine.
It was for Lucca. Only for him.
“Vicenti Creativi Group, huh?”
A light smile tugged at my lips.
“The health insurance and meal voucher won me over.”
“How did that happen?”
“Papà needed an employee, and I needed a job.”
“I never imagined you here. I’m glad it’s going well, especially with the thing with your father. It’s good to know you and Uncle Rocco are working things out.”
“You…”
Two knocks on the door interrupted me.
“Excuse me, miss,” Gloria said, with a boy beside her. “I came to get the flowers, but I see you’re busy. If you want, I can come back another time.”
“No, it’s fine, Gloria. Come in.”
Pietra and I kept silent while Gloria moved.
“Where should I put them?” she asked, removing the last vase.
“In the trash.”
She looked shocked, but then nodded and left.
“You don’t like tulips anymore? They were always your favorites.”
“Not these,” I said caustically.
Her expression fell.
“Thor is so sorry, Ella.”
My eyebrow rose.
“Devil’s advocate, Pietra?”
“Ella…”
“Don’t,” I warned. “If you want to see Lucca, fine. You, Martha, or even your brother can see him. I just ask that you tell me beforehand. But don’t try to defend him.”
“I won’t,” she said, trying to appease me.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming when we talked last week.”
Pietra huffed a humorless little laugh.
“I feel like I have more apologies to make.”
“Why?”
“Mamma moved here.”
“When?”
She had the grace to blush.
“A month.”
“She’s been here this whole time?”
“No! I got here three days ago.”
“You didn’t think to tell me?” I asked in an even tone.
She smiled awkwardly. I swallowed my distaste.
“We’re at my parents’ old house. Thor bought it years ago and kept it. Nathan is on a job and will come in three or four days.”
“So you’re living here now?”
“Oh, no! I’m just passing through to help mamma with the house, then I’ll go back to the States. For now, I’ll stay there. I got a charming apartment near the university, and that’s that.”
“And what happened to the mansion?” As if I didn’t know!
Pietra hunched her shoulders, embarrassed.
“It was too big.”
I smiled at her and shook my head.
What else could I do or say? I’m glad you’re crawling back to me when you didn’t lift a finger in my favor?
God, I hated the damned burning in my eyes.
“Maybe we can go out after your shift and catch up?” And she added cheerfully, “I saw there’s a nice restaurant across the street.”
I licked my lips and stiffened my spine.
“It’s not going to happen. I have to go home when I’m done here.
Besides, Giulia, Lucca’s nanny, has hours.
But if you want to come to my apartment, consider yourself invited.
Today is kind of impossible. I need to make up two of my classes, but tomorrow I’m free… Well, not very.”
“That’s a lot of obstacles.”
“I’m sorry, P. Things can’t and won’t go back to what they were before. We haven’t been who we were for a good while. I’m not who I was anymore. I like what I’ve built here. And I won’t allow anyone to fuck it up. Especially your brother.”
“Thor doesn’t want—”
“He doesn’t want to, but he did,” I snapped harshly.
An awkward mood settled, and before it swallowed us, I acted.
“I have to draft a questionnaire.” I wrote on the notepad, tore the sheet off, and pushed it toward her. “If you want to have dinner with me, this is my address.”
She took the paper, read it, and put it away.
“What time can I come?”
“Seven would be good.”
I said goodbye to her with a tight hug, then sank into my chair.
I tried not to think about what Pietra’s appearance represented. I was happy to see my best friend again. And wary, too. One day it was just me and my baby. And then the Castellammares were back, and my mess was being scattered around.
At three, I left work and walked to my building.
That was the good part about living practically next door to the agency.
Ten minutes. That was the time of a moderate walk to my building.
If I walked faster, I could get there in less.
Sometimes, I liked to go slower and spend around twenty minutes through the center of Porta Nuova.
I liked watching people, many of them tourists from all over the world enchanted with the area’s makeover.
There were a handful of little shops nearby, a supermarket, galleries, and plenty of other establishments.
Having Pietra in my apartment made me anxious and apprehensive.
I wanted it and I didn’t. It would be nice to have someone friendly, someone I didn’t need to pretend with.
Just sit and chat, but I didn’t want her brother to be the subject.
And, at the same time, I was curious about some things that could reassure me if I knew… Or not.
I decided the occasion called for an exception. I picked up a Merlot at the market. I was still putting the change in my purse when my phone began to ring. I dug it out of the mess.
There was a deep breath on the other end, overlapping my heartbeat.
“Ella.”
“Thor.”