New Haven
We arrived in Italy a few hours later and took the long drive over to the place we would be staying for the next few days or weeks. Lucas had not yet told me how long we would be staying. I did not mind though I had everything I could possibly need here with me.
I half expected that we would be staying at a hotel when Lucas said we were going to what would be our new home for some time, but I was shocked as the drive brought us to a resort a few minutes away from civilization.
It reminded me of Lucas's parent's home back in California except this villa rested on a mountain from which it was possible to see the surrounding town as far as into the main city.
There were acres and acres of greenery and I imagined what it would be like to take a long walk in the fields that occupied that land.
There were countless trees, most of which were fruit-bearing trees.
I was glad for that fact because the kids had whined a few times about seeing how fruits at the grocery store got to be and this would be my chance to explore that with them.
There was a large pool at the back of the house and I imagined having a late-night swim with Lucas in it when the kids had gone to bed.
The weather was perfect for it. It was a real breath of fresh air away from all of the bustling and hustling back in San Diego.
There was the serenity of the wind blowing and the trees waving, a sharp contrast to cars honking, and people yelling for no reason.
"Like it?" Lucas came up behind me, snaking an arm around my waist from where I was taking a peek at the people harvesting something a few miles away.
I could tell they were farmers. Our bedroom had the best view, a wide and spacious octagonal balcony allowing the cool and breezy air of that late October afternoon to filter in along with a beautiful sight.
I took in a fresh breath, savoring the smell of fresh flowers, wafting up my nose, "I love it. This place is so beautiful. I wish we can get to share it with the others."
He rested his chin on my back, placing his hand over mine, "This week it's just you, I, and the kids, the others will be here later."
"They're coming?" I tilted my head to him in surprise.
"Sadly, I have a very clingy family, they want to be with me everywhere I go, Mom insisted so yeah..."
"That's such good news." I turned around in his arms.
"I was of the opinion that my company was more exciting," he feigned hurt.
"Of course it is," I nudged his shoulder, "you know what I mean."
"I do," he cupped my cheeks in his large palms." and I must say I'm really glad to see my family loves you and you all get along so well. It was never that way with Sarah."
"I thought..."
"They accepted her?" he completed for me, "only because I made them.
They did not accept her as naturally as they accept you, I guess it's not hard to see why.
You are the most amazing woman I have ever met Chris.
" I opened my mouth to say something, but words could not come out.
"why do you look so stunned?" he chuckled, smoothing his thumb over my parted lips.
"is it so hard to believe that you are amazing? "
"No one has ever really used that term on me before," I admitted, "so I was just surprised."
"Well, there are plenty of terms I'm going to be using on you soon. Once I take the big step."
My brows furrowed in confusion, "What big..."
"Don't ask I will not tell, and no it's not a secret, it's a surprise."
"Chris!!" Aiden and Abby's voices rang through the house before I could ask any more questions. "Come see!"
"I'll be right there!" I yelled back and turned to Lucas, "I'll go help the kids unpack in their room."
"There are helps assigned to do that," his grip became tighter, holding me back from leaving.
He was not lying. There was about 20 staff in total around this place.
If I thought there were too many back in Lucas's parents' home it was because I never came here.
There were cooks, cleaners, gardeners, and so forth.
There was even someone assigned to look after the kids in my absence.
Which made me feel a little inadequate because there really was nothing for me to do, not even look after the kids like I was used to.
"I was not joking when I said I do not want you working,"
"Okay," I lied, I was so going to help them unpack, "I'll just go see what they want."
"Are you lying?" he said in a way that made it clear he knew the answer.
"Maybe," I said with a demure smile.
"Chrisssss!" I knew this call was Abby's, not only from her voice also from the way she drew the S out.
"I am coming!" I yelled back again.
"If I find out you did any work, you will be punished."
"Are you going to spank me?" I flashed him a coy smile.
He chuckled lightly, "we'll see."
"I should get to the kids,"
"I have to get to the office, sadly my vacation cannot begin until I fix the problem at the office." he released me and reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head.
"You should go tomorrow, it's already late." I pouted, making small circles over his bicep.
"We switched time zones, it's almost noon here." he explained with a small smile, "also, I have to tell you something, ask actually."
"Okay?"
"A few of my friends are in town and they wanted to have dinner would you like to come?" he sat on the bed, kicking his shoes off as he spoke.
"I don't even know any of your friends," I said flatly. "and I do not have anything fancy to wear for dinner."
"Two problems that can be solved with ease.
There's a first time to everything, my friends are well behaved, at least most of them are, and a few of them have their wives coming along, so you will not be the only woman at the table.
And," he got to his feet and pulled me into him again, "I'll send in a dress for you in two hours. "
"How would you even know my size?" I raised a brow.
"Oh Muffin, you underestimate me too much," he kissed the exposed skin on my shoulder as he spoke, "I know everything about you, even to what kind of dress you will want to wear tonight."
"Now I'm tempted to find out how true that is," I giggled.
"So tonight?"
"Okay. But what about the kids?"
"They'll be fast asleep,"
"That late?"
"Hmmm," he pressed a lingering kiss on my shoulder again, "I'll text you the time later and I'll be here to pick you up then. For now, I need to take a quick shower."
"Can I come with you?" I batted my lashes seductively.
"I wouldn't..."
"Chris-is!" another wailing call drew both our attention again. and this time I could tell the kids were coming up the stairs.
"Or on a second thought, I'll go and see what the kids need." I chuckled and blew Lucas a kiss, before racing out of the room.
"I'll see you later tonight Muffin."
"I'm right here," I said as I climbed down the stairs to meet Abby and Aiden.
"Chris, where have you been..." Abby whined, from the way she curled her shoulders and the frown on her face I could tell whatever was happening was important.
"What's wrong baby?" I crouched down, straightening her shoulders so she was looking at me.
"We saw a puppy and we needed help giving it some treats but I don't know where to find treats.
" Aiden also looked a little sad as he spoke.
For the longest of time Lucas and the kids have been playing the back and forth game of getting a pet, with the kids insisting on having one and Lucas refusing every time.
"I'm not a dog person and Cats need extra care.
You are always busy and the kids are not old enough to take care of a pet just yet, so no.
We cannot have one," Lucas would say every time I tried to change his mind about the pet issue for the kids.
Then we would drop it, only to pick up from the same spot the next time the kids remembered how badly they wanted a pet.
This time I had a strong feeling the kids would be victorious because they probably just made a new friend in this puppy.
And I knew I would not hear the end of it if I did not find it.
"Oh I didn't know there was a puppy here," I said looking around and hoping to see it somewhere.
"There is and now it's gone," Abby sighed and snuggled sadly into my neck.
"I'm sure it will come back, then we can feed it," I said trying to lift their spirits.
"But what if it does not come back?" Aiden whined, joining his sister's sadness.
"Can we go and find her?" Abby's smile brightened as she asked. "Then we can feed her so she can be our friend."
"I'm not sure your dad would like that very much." Lucas probably did not want to come home to see the kids and me playing with a stray puppy.
"What if we ask him, maybe he will say yes if we ask him," they both pressed with pleading eyes.
"Who will say yes to what?" Lucas said as he walked down the stairs, putting up the buttons on the sleeve of his shirt.
"Daddy!" they raced to him, despite my protests to not run up the stairs. Lucas reached for them before they made it past the third step, hauling them into each strong hand.
"His princess," he kissed Abby on her neck, and she giggled in response, "Hey buddy," he kissed Aiden too, but he just smiled instead.
Between the two of them, he was the most reserved.
Actually, Abby and Aiden were completely opposite in their social skills.
While Abby was the loud, outgoing and playful one, on most days Aiden was just following behind in the shadows.
He spoke less, was shy to meet new people, and only actually played when he was around family.
"What are you both up to?" Lucas asked looking between the two of them.
"There was a dog!" Abby jumped in her father's arms, eyes filled with so much excitement.
"It was a cute puppy," Aiden added, "Daddy can we keep it. We promise to behave with it,"'
"You know what I said about puppies," he shook his head, "or any kind of pets. Besides, where did they even find a puppy?" he directed his question at me.
"Oh, I apologize Signore," the woman who Lucas had introduced as the house manager spoke before I could tell him that I did not know either.
She had a heavy accent and it took a moment to realize she was speaking in English not the local language.
"It belongs to one of the workers, I'll have her keep it in place so it does not bother your stay. "
"No, leave it, Mrs. Brambilla," Lucas waved it off, and turned to the kids who were already looking sad, "we're on a vacation so, I'll tell you both what will happen. You can play with the dog while we stay here..."
"So we can keep it?!" They both squealed in excitement before he could finish speaking.
"Play with it," he repeated with a sigh, "you can play with it as long as you both promise to take care of it and behave properly. You also cannot insist on keeping it when we're ready to go back home."
"Can we give it treats?" Abby asked. She was so excited I was half certain she did not hear the last part Lucas said about not keeping the dog.
"And a name?" Aiden added.
"I'm sure it already has a name," Lucas tipped his head at the house manager.
"Elmo," she answered back.
"Okay, but yes, you can give Elmo some treats,"
"Thank you, daddy," they said at the same time, wrapping their small hands around his neck in a squeezing hug. The next second, they were on their feet and racing ahead of Mrs. Bambillo to find the kitchen and some treats for their new friend.
"You do know they'll want to keep it after forming a bond with it here," I said to Lucas with a teasing smile once the kids were out of sight.
"Not happening," he raked a hand through his still-damp hair, "why did I even just agree to that. Pets are not my favorite."
"Well, you just fell for a charm called puppy eyes and baby pouts. I fall for it all the time, you'll get used to it." I said with a sly smile. A sound like a pot clattering the ground sounded from the direction of the kitchen and Lucas groaned, rubbing his forehead.
Laughing, I kissed his chin lightly, "I should go see what's going on there."
"Yeah, and I should go back to getting ready for my meeting. I'll see you tonight."