Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Dinner at the Rossi house was the opposite of the stiff business-like environment at Aura Cosmetics.
Upbeat ethnic music played in the background and gifts from Alex’s trip were strewn all over the living room floor.
Alex and Sofia sat on the floor with their backs against the wide leather sofa, laughing and swapping stories.
“I can’t believe you ate scorpions,” Sofia said with a shudder.
“Eh, tastes like chicken,” Alex said, making her spit out her wine with a guffaw.
“That wasn’t the weirdest thing I tried. Durian, oh man, that stuff was disgusting. Smelled like rotting onions and sulfur.”
Grimacing, she asked, “Why would anyone even eat that?”
“The locals said it was healthy, but I had to hold my nose to get it down. I don’t care what they say. That won’t happen again.”
Seeing that her glass was almost empty, Sofia pushed herself off the floor.
“Be right back.”
While she went to get more wine, Alex gazed up at their family photos that were hung around the room, some of which he had taken.
They had lost his precious mother, Maria, while Alex was at university, and he thought he'd never recover.
Knowing he had made the decision to pursue photography and not the family business weighed heavily on him afterward.
He regretted not going through with his former plans, if only to stay with his sister and father.
Maria Rossi was the heart of their family, and it was only the knowledge that she would have wanted him to pursue what he was born to do that kept him on course. Those were some of her last words to him.
His parents had modeled true, sacrificial love, the kind that trusted freely and gave selflessly. Their example was one of the reasons Alex hadn't married yet.
He thought he might have found that with his Bella, but he had been very mistaken. Her betrayal was swift and complete, and he feared he may never be able to trust anyone again. Not when his heart had been broken so badly.
Alex was pulled out of his musings when Sofia sat back down next to him, her legs crossed at the ankle.
“Do you wear this on your head? I can’t see anything,” she said as she flipped the gift Alex brought for their dad onto her head.
“Yes. Here, let me help you,” he chuckled as he put the woven conical sun hat on properly.
He tried to stay focused, but his mind drifted as they spoke about the business.
“Alex. Alex. Are you listening to me?”
Sofia waved her hands in front of his face. She arched her eyebrows and said, “What are you smiling about like that? You look ridiculous.”
He cleared his throat and quickly wiped his expression, trying to avoid the inquisition that would surely follow.
“Nothing, nothing. Sorry, what were you saying?”
“Ah, forget about work. Let’s talk about something more important. Did you meet anyone interesting in Asia?”
“Huh? What do you mean? I met tons of people.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Someone special, maybe?” she prodded.
“I spoke with you almost every week while I was gone. How could I have met someone special that you wouldn’t already know about?” he answered, wrapping the colorful handmade shawl he had bought for her around her shoulders.
“Just asking,” she said in a sing-song way, her curiosity obviously not abated.
Alex shook his head at his sweet but crazy sister.
“Hey, I am so glad you’re home. This was a hard one. I had just gotten used to you being here with us when you had to leave.”
“Listen, I know this was a long one, and it was hard for me too, my sorella preferita.”
Sofia tried to lighten the somber mood. “I’m your only sister. And yes, it would be great if your next trip was a short one.”
“I know and I’m so sorry. It wasn’t supposed to be this long, like I mentioned.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before he turned to face her.
“How’s Papa doing? I’m never 100 percent sure he’s not hiding how he’s really feeling.”
Sofia looked thoughtfully at him before answering.
“He puts on a brave front, but he misses her. Talks about her every day like she’s still here, you know?”
“Yeah, he does the same with me. Most days I like it, but some days—”
Clearing his throat and choking back his emotions, Alex returned to their previous conversation.
“There’s a project in Argentina I’ve been waiting for, but the details haven’t been worked out yet. I would be photographing an international organization that’s trying to get funding to build wells in the barrios of Chaco. I promise I’ll tell them I can’t be away more than a few months.”
“That sounds amazing,” Sofia said. “I don’t tell you enough how proud I am of you.”
“Thanks, sis. And I’m proud of both of you, too. Your social media presence has doubled this year. I know that’s what your goal was several months ago,” he answered as he tweaked her nose, making her slap his hand away.
He loved that even after all these years, it still irritated her. She glared at him while scooting a few inches further away from his long reach.
“Getting more information out there about the organic line of cosmetics we’re developing was a genius move. Our marketing department has really stepped up.”
Alex took his last sip of whiskey and said, “Hmm, that makes me think of a tradition one of the villages had. Whenever there was a celebration, they used the red clay that surrounded their homes to make masks. Each marking had a meaning and apparently the clay had elements in it that were good for the skin. Oh, and their singing and dancing were mesmerizing. I think I’ll miss that the most.”
Soon the conversation turned comical as Alex got up and tried to show her a dance he had seen the villagers doing. Sofia snickered as he gyrated around the living room.
“I see you still can’t dance,” she joked, holding up her phone.
Alex pretended to be insulted, his hand clutching his heart.
“Don’t you dare post that,” he said when he saw her phone tracking his moves.
“Nah, this is for my private collection. Blackmail and all.”
“Should we talk about the night you snuck out to go to the concert—”
Alex didn’t finish when Sofia glared at him with narrowed eyes and made a big show of stopping the recording.
“Idiot,” she whispered as he laughed loudly.
An hour later, as they lounged on the sofa, a nature show on in the background, Alex stifled a yawn.
“You should stay over in Dad’s room,” she said sleepily.
“Tempting, but I’ve been dreaming of sleeping in my bed at the house for months. By the way, thanks for helping coordinate the furniture deliveries. I’m in your debt.”
“Enzo did all the heavy lifting.”
“You’re still looking for your own place?”
With a sigh, she answered, “I am. It’s been good for me to stay with Dad through the transition this past year. Leaving Rome was hard on him with Mama gone. But I’m ready to find a place of my own soon. I think he’s ready too.”
“I’ll do anything I can to help with that. Say the word and I’ll make it happen. Thank you for looking after him while I was away. Another thing I’ll be in your debt for.” He yawned loudly again.
He had been waiting for a lull in the conversation to tell Sofia about meeting Aria, but it was evident she needed to talk through some things.
She had more than stepped up for their family this past year and he didn’t want tonight to be all about him.
But now he was fighting against exhaustion and jet lag.
“Come with me tomorrow night to Adrian’s opening. I know he’d be disappointed if you missed it. Bring a date if you’d like and I’ll meet you there. I’ll text you the details,” Alex said as he pulled out his phone.
“Pffft. Date? I don’t know what that is. Papa and I have been too focused on growing the business after the move for me to worry about a guy.”
“Hey, you have a life too, you know? Don’t become one of those lonely old ladies crocheting and collecting cat figurines.”
Sofia threw a cushion from the sofa at him.
“Idiot.”
He laughed loudly at her favorite name for him. He only heard it when he had pushed her too far. Pulling her up by her hand, she swayed slightly from one too many glasses of wine.
As they walked to the door, Alex was glad he decided to wait until the next night to tell her about Aria. She seemed as tired as he was, and she would have kept them both up for another hour asking for every detail. He would know more after going to the cafe in the morning anyway.
“See you tomorrow night. Lock up now and call if you need anything.”
Rolling her eyes, Sofia said, “I’m an adult, big brother. I’ve stayed alone before.”
“I know. I’m very proud of the woman you have become, little sister. Good night.”
When he heard the lock click into place, he walked to his car. He would do anything for her, his dad, and his friends. He knew his career pulled him away from them, but he would always be there for them in any way possible.
Driving to his house, Alex leaned his hand in his palm as his elbow rested on the doorjamb. The reoccurring worry that what he had done for them wasn’t enough nagged him.
Pulling up to his house, Alex looked up at the stars for a few minutes before heading inside.
Unlocking the door, his face lit up with excitement. Alex took a cursory look around, seeing the finished work of what he and Sofia first called his shack.
Dark wood accents, brightly colored tiles in the kitchen, and neutral walls throughout made this finally feel like home. He would take a closer look in the morning, but this was everything he had dreamed of, including the arched passageway from the living room that led to the bedrooms in the back.
Heading to the bedroom, Alex tossed his bags in the closet before carefully setting his camera equipment on his desk. He would deal with laundry another day. He walked into the ensuite bathroom, running his hand over the taupe-colored travertine tile he and the contractor had chosen.
Opening the large, glass-encased shower, he stepped inside and turned it on. He leaned on the shower wall, savoring the feeling of the massaging showerhead as the hot water eased away his tension.
Turning off the water, Alex dried his hair and body as he stood in front of the large mirror. Wiping away the fog from his extra-long shower, he combed out the knots in his long locks and brushed his teeth.
Alex slipped into his king-size bed with a sigh, the cool, pale blue sheets and light breeze coming in through the now-opened window drawing him further into a blissful state of sleep.
With the thoughts of Aria—who smelled like heaven—swirling through his mind, he finally drifted off.