Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Maurizio
The last few days had passed by in something of a blur.
I’d been relieved to get back to the office and lose myself in work, not least because it gave me a break from being so close to Flora at home but unable to spend time with her alone.
Between supporting Sophie in her attempts to gain some semblance of order in her life, spending time with the children, and the presence of Maddie, there was very little opportunity for me and Flora to be alone beyond the odd fleeting seconds in the kitchen each morning before the children got up or as had happened that morning, Sophie disturbing us.
Although, her appearance had been perfectly timed in many ways because after the conversation between us had turned frosty and then accusatory, I could only see it going one way and that was badly.
There was a potential of mean words and allegations that couldn’t be taken back and of which there would be no coming back from, so for once, I had been grateful of an interruption.
Fortunately, my mother’s contact had been brief and my brother had only called me once since leaving shortly after Flora and Maddie had arrived together a few afternoons ago.
That last fact was a surprise considering Nico had gone on a full charm offensive with Maddie, but nevertheless, the fewest number of people being around gave less scope for revelations and further muddying of the waters of my relationship with Flora.
I was due in court after lunch and assuming everything went according to plan, I should be home no later than half five, perhaps six, so, with my phone already in my hand, I fired off a quick message to Flora inviting her to dinner, just the two of us, and although I was asking her, there was no real option for a rebuttal.
I hoped not anyway. We needed some time together away from the house and the people around us.
Rushing into the house at five-thirty, I found the children eating dinner with Sophie.
“Hey, you two.” I leaned in and with a ruffle of the children’s hair, I landed a kiss to their cheeks. “You okay?” I asked, turning to Sophie.
“Yeah. I know it’s short notice but I have an appointment tomorrow, the call only came through this afternoon. Would you be able to come with me?”
“That should be fine. I am in the office doing some court preparation, so let me know the details.”
She nodded but looked worried.
“It will be fine. Everything will work out.” I wasn’t entirely convinced by my own reassurance but reasoned that was what she needed to hear in that moment.
She nodded again. “How’s Flora?” She rose to her feet and moved away from the children slightly.
“I’m sorry for all of this, Mo. My presence has disrupted things and although I didn’t really catch what was said this morning between you, it was clear you were arguing and that I was a factor in that. ”
I wasn’t discussing this with her, not now, not ever. “She was upset, angry. I get why and things got heated, but it’s okay, it will be okay. Flora feels shut out and in the dark.”
“Until we have facts and figures, please don’t tell her.”
My sigh coincided with the sound of cutlery hitting a plate. “You are putting me in a terrible position, you know. Rock and hard place springs to mind.” I was heading back to the children.
“She agreed to dinner though?” Sophie asked, following me.
“She did.”
“She has barely acknowledged me today.”
“Perhaps she doesn’t feel the need to acknowledge you under the circumstances.” Looking at Sophie’s face I wondered if I was about to, in the space of eleven hours, piss off yet another woman in the kitchen.
“Which circumstances would they be?”
I shrugged, suddenly tired of all the angst and aggravation. “You’re a stranger to her. One who has come along and disrupted everything in her life.”
“I am the mother of the children she is paid to take care of. The same mother whose house she lives in.”
Well, fuck me this was going from bad to worse, but I wouldn’t have Sophie reinvent who and what she was in this situation or to Flora.
“You’re staying here Sophie, and this was our house, but since we agreed the financial terms of our divorce, it’s my house she’s lives in and I am the one who pays her to take care of the children. ”
“That’s me put in my place then!” I was unsure if Sophie was angry or hurt.
“Sorry.” I really wanted to not be stuck in the middle of the two women but who knew if that was even possible at this stage.
“I’m a fly in her ointment.”
I laughed. “Not quite the phrase I would have used, but you’re not the fly I don’t think, but maybe your presence in the house and the unexpectedness of it.”
“What’s oinkment?” Craig asked, breaking the tension and replacing it with warm laughter.
Lacing up my shoes as I sat on the edge of my bed, I glanced down at the illuminated screen of my phone and see a message from Flora asking where we should meet.
Clearly she didn’t want to come down into the house.
I quickly replied telling her I would pick her up.
With my shoes on and my feet hanging off the bed, I lay back and reached for the spare pillow.
Inhaling it, the faint aroma of Flora remained and filled my nostrils with her scent.
I really did miss her and as much as Sophie needed support, I regretted her coming back when she had.
The fading smell of Flora saddened me because it meant it had been too long since she had been here, in my bed, my arms.
Before leaving, I went to kiss my children who were already snoring in a sound and peaceful slumber and then as I headed for the front door, Sophie appeared. “Where’s Flora?”
“I’m going to collect her.”
“Ah, nice, romantic.”
“I dunno about that but hopefully we can have an actual date.”
“Have fun.”
“Thanks.” If this wasn’t awkward I didn’t know what was. “I have to go, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Hopefully my date with Flora would be a little less fraught and uncomfortable.
By the time I reached Flora’s door, I felt more relaxed and optimistic. When the door opened and a stoney faced Maddie stood before me, those feelings disappeared.
“Maurizio.” Her tone was curt and the wave of her arm, inviting me in felt sarcastic as did her use of my name.
“Maddie.” I entered and looked around for her sister.
“Just in the bathroom, putting the finishing touches to her make-up.”
“She doesn’t need make-up, she’s beautiful without.”
Maddie rolled her eyes.
“Have I offended you in some way because you are rather hostile if you don’t mind me saying.” I didn’t care if she did mind me saying as she was being openly antagonistic.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve offended me, what matters is how you make my sister feel. She is the sweetest girl in the world and she has had a rough time of things . . . she likes you, but that won’t be enough to prevent me cutting your balls off if you continue to treat her like your side chick.”
“What?” I was horrified at her words.
“You heard, and don’t even try to deny it.
When you first got together, you both agreed to be discreet, but there’s a difference between discretion and hidden.
She thought you had turned a corner and then your wife returned, and for the record, I am not buying this bullshit, she needs help and support and wants to make things up to the children or whatever bollocks you and her have come up with.
There is something not adding up in this whole situation and you don’t need to tell me, potentially you don’t need to tell Flora, but do not take her for a fool or I will take you down. ”
“You’re scary.” Why they were my only words in response, I had no clue, but she was.
“Not even bringing my A-game but I will be if you hurt her any more than you already have with this ridiculous situation.”
“I love her.” Maddie looked as though she was going to fly at me, possibly with a weapon of some sort, perhaps one that would support her plan to cut my balls off.
What was her problem? She wanted me to treat Flora appropriately, to not take advantage or let her down and when I admitted my feelings .
. . Shit! She had got the wrong end of the stick completely. “Flora, I love Flora.”
“You love me?”