CHAPTER SIXTEEN
M y ears warmed. I could see from Olivia’s surprised reaction that she wasn’t particularly pleased with my mama’s request. Nor did she have to. This was not the best moment to pull me aside. Glenn started a timely conversation with Rocco, possibly to divert his attention, but when I noticed Nico’s expression, I sensed his judgment. We were beneath him in his eyes.
I rose with a smile and said, “Of course,” to Mama, excusing myself from the table. I followed her out to the back hall and then she motioned for me to walk to the end of the corridor, near an exit, no doubt for privacy.
“What’s this about you speaking with Mr. Marini?” she asked.
“I thought you had to go to the restroom,” I grumbled and folded my arms. “I met Mr. Marini the first night at your parents’ house. Remember?”
Neither one of us could forget. She turned her head and trembled, hugging herself.
And for a minute I transported back to the night we had left Judge Colby.
A man fixes the front of his pants outside our motel door.
Why the hell’s he here? I snarled at him and took the keys out of my bag, pushing the door hard enough to hit the wall.
Judge Colby is still here, but my focus went right to Mama.
Her eyes lock with mine. They are bruised pools of horror.
Shame flowing from her like a tidal wave.
I’m not supposed to be there.
I’m not supposed to know.
It had been the worst night of her life. Mine, too. Judge Colby had broken us.
I touched her arm. “I’m sorry, but that’s when I met him. I sent him an email and we started talking. He was helpful with school and sent cards—”
“He did what?” Her voice rose and she shook her head rapidly. “And you kept this from us? I can’t believe you did that. He’s an old man, and you were only fourteen. How dare he?”
The way she said it made it seem sordid. “Mr. Luca Marini never did anything sexual or anything like that. He just gave me advice on books and some on my course work. He’s like a historian—”
“That’s grooming ,” she snapped. “He groomed you—”
“It…it wasn’t like that,” I mumbled, and a trickle of fear rose inside me. Was it? No. He was kind, and I didn’t talk to him all the time.
She placed her hands on her hips. “If your grandparents find out about what Luca had done, they will blame me. No…they can’t find out, but I believe they should slow down this wedding. The whole night has been a spectacle.”
My brows knitted. “It hasn’t.” Mama was delusional. Grandfather wouldn’t back out of the marriage because of the money he was going to get from the match.
“Can you believe the way his parents shook on the dance floor? It was obscene. And that ring .” She lifted my hand and snarled. “It’s ridiculous.”
My mouth fell open in surprise. Those eight years apart had been hard, but after everything we had gone through, I never thought I’d hear my mother speak so offensively. “I can’t believe you’re behaving like a snob.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “I can’t believe you’ve already lost yourself after spending only a week with him. You’ve got your head in the clouds—”
“Do I?” I crossed my arms. “How so? You told me to try with Rocco. He…likes me, and his family is very welcoming.”
“Yes, the Marinis finally have the Belfiores at their feet,” she said and snorted. “Luca stole my daughter; Mother will lose her mind if she hears he had a relationship with you. We need to delay this wedding.”
My jaw tightened. “What do you mean by that? The wedding is in a month. And since Rocco’s a public figure, there’s already a lot of buzz about it. You must have seen the crowd outside the club.”
Mama’s shoulders curled inward, her eyes unfocused. “I told my parents to give you money and treat you better, but they wouldn’t listen. Even with your education, it’s left you so easily manipulated by money. A fancy hotel, spa, and designer clothes, something that cost him not even a penny, and he has you acting like a star-struck kid.” She lowered her head. “Men are never serious. Glenn has girlfriends.”
My eyes widened more out of wanting to spare Mama’s feelings than out of surprise. “He does?”
Mama quietly nodded.
Glenn acted like they were good friends and often said they worked like a “team.” I had hoped they were just private with their affection. Why did he marry? But I already knew the answer. She’s from a wealthy legacy family . I remember how often he’d had Mama at his side when he campaigned. “I’m sorry about Glenn.”
“Rocco has someone too, no doubt,” she quipped. “I’m trying to help you, and you’re already fighting with me about him.” She touched her temples.
I crossed my arms. “No. I’m not. I’m getting married to Rocco just like you all wanted. It’s only natural that we try to get along with each other.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I know. But I asked you not to lose your head—”
“I’m not. It’s been a week,” I pointed out.
She shook her head. “Yeah, it has only been a week, but I saw the way you looked at him out there and kissed him. Once you love him, he owns you. That will make your life hell. Can’t you see how bad this is for you?”
I frowned. “You’re overreacting, Mama. It’s a party, and we’re behaving rudely, disappearing like this.”
She went back to massaging her temples. “I’m trying to help you not make the same mistakes I did. What if you can’t marry him after all? You need to think practically. Marriages are not about love. I’m getting a migraine, and I don’t want to argue anymore.”
My jaw tightened. “Fine, I don’t want to, either. We need to go back in.”
Mama placed her hands on her hips. “I’m leaving, and you’ll need to come with me.”
She went back with a determined stride, and I stormed after her. “I’m not leaving. The Marinis went through so much to make it great for us.”
“It wouldn’t look right if I left on my own this early.” She stopped outside the restroom and took out two pills from a small case.
I shook my head. “And besides, we’re leaving for Italy later.”
“Then just go away with me for an hour? I’ll make sure you make it in time. Tonight’s giving me bad flashbacks, and I don’t want to be alone.”
I shook my head. “I can’t go, Mama.”
“Can you get me a glass of water?” she asked.
I left her to get it, stopping a hostess to request for the water, and she quickly went to get it for me. My stomach churned as I thought about what his family would think if I left early with Mama.
When I reached her, Mama was talking to Rocco. And from his sour expression, he didn’t like whatever she was telling him.
“We were all worried about you two.” Rocco winked at me.
Mama gave me a look that meant, “Tell him for me.”
“Mama has a migraine, and she asked me to take her home,” I said to him.
His eyes widened in surprise. “I’m sure Glenn can take you home.”
“But I need Adelina,” Mama said. “She’s the only one who understands how bad they get.”
Rocco’s jaw tightened. “No, Adelina can’t go. A car will drive you and Glenn to the airport and fly you home. Thank you.” His voice held a polite finality.
Mama’s gaze narrowed. “Can you send Glenn out to meet me here—”
“We won’t do that,” Rocco said, answering for me in an abrupt tone. “We have our family, friends, and some press here. I’ve been questioned already about why your parents didn’t come.” He paused and Mama’s face pinked, but she didn’t say a word.
“It’s improper. You’ll need to come explain to my family and leave civilly.”
My mouth dropped open and I furrowed my brows. “Civilly? My mother said she’s unwell.” Even if Mama was lying, his insult was just as bad and it also surprised me. I thought he was kind.
He smirked and stared at Mama. “It’s the very least you can do, even with a headache .”
Mama stared hard at me waiting for me to save her. However, I agreed with Rocco. No one was making her stay, only asking her to give her leave.
“Please, Mama,” I said softly. “I’ll be right with you.”
Her eyes widened and her lips puckered like she sucked a sourball. “Unbelievable,” she hissed. She turned on her heels, and thundered back inside the hall without a backward glance.
Rocco gave me an icy glare before morphing his face into a plastic grin and taking my hand. “Let’s go give your mother a proper goodbye.”
“She did like you asked,” I shot back with just as much annoyance. But when we reached the hall, I put back on my rehearsed smile. There was no need to cause a scene.
We shook hands with more people as we made our way back to the table. When we reached it, his parents’ faces were blank as Mama babbled. “It’s been a long week. I’ve just gotten over a cold, and now I have a migraine. I’ll have to cut the evening short just in case it’s something more serious. It’s been so delightful to meet you all, and I’m looking forward to the wedding.”
“She wants Adelina to go with her,” Rocco announced.
My skin went cold. The groans around the table brought a rose to Mama’s cheeks.
“I usually help her when she’s sick,” I lied.
“I’m sure Glenn can take you to a doctor if you need help,” Mrs. Marini told her, her top lip curled.
Mama’s lips formed a line, but she didn’t say anything in response.
Glenn frowned but stood. “I guess we have to go. Nice to meet you all.”
“Great meeting you, Glenn,” Rocco’s parents told him.
His driver came to the table, and Mama gave me a look that said, “See me off,” but Rocco took my hand in his. With a short shake of his head, he rooted me to the spot. I could feel her humiliation.
My lips parted as I watched her reluctantly leave. Yes, Mama had lied and behaved poorly, but Rocco had also shocked me. Sure, he was seven years older than me, but him preventing me from doing something had me feeling more like a child with a parent. He ignored Mama leaving and called over our desserts.
“You should try the chocolate cake. It’s orgasmic.” He held up the fork to my mouth. It was sensual, but playful. I guess he wanted me to let what had happened go.
It was also a test. I was supposed to move on and act as the besotted fiancée who was swept off my feet. My eyes took a glimpse of his parents who eyed me severely, waiting to see if I’d behave as poorly as my Mama. It wasn’t lost on me that I could easily be replaced should I behave badly, and I wouldn’t.
My lips closed on the fork, and I widened my eyes and moaned in delight. “It’s so delicious.” Truly it was the best cake I ever tasted, but my performance was a bit over the top. Still, they eased back in their seats smiling at me.
“It’s Chef Renault’s award winning chocolate cake. He made it himself for tonight,” Olivia trilled.
“Oh, please thank him,” I enthused.
I felt a squeeze on my knee under the table from Rocco. I glanced back and he was smiling again, and delight washed over me. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but he did seem like a genuinely kind person, and I liked that about him. He takes his family and his responsibilities seriously. As should I.
A new song came on and the Marini’s went back to dancing.
Their joy was infectious, but I had to be careful. Despite Mama’s woeful behavior, I couldn’t allow Rocco or anyone else to think they could mistreat her.
While I’d keep on enjoying the night I was sure of one thing.
This wasn’t over.