Until you came (Series Stonebridge, #3)

by Diana Scott

  She removed the frustrated earth with her feelings, she was urged to make her memory disappear but she couldn't, those blue eyes refused to leave. No! It can't be, she thought when she beat the earth that was already moving under her fists like an earthquake on a scale of eight.

  “If you go on like that, the poor plant will ask for the last rites.”

  Anne slowly turned her head without being able to believe the voice she was hearing, it was not possible. It wasn't real.

  “Mary? Mary, Mary! You're alive!" She said as she covered the sun with her hand so it could let her see high above.

  Anne threw the plant into the air and jumped desperately to embrace it. They both jumped, shouted and smiled with laughter as they kept holding on to each other.

  “They told me you were alive but I thought it was a lie. One of many...”

  “Well, here I am, alive and divine as death,” she replied with a smile as she stroked her precious dress.

  “You're really beautiful, come, tell me where you've been. Why didn't you call me? What have you done all this time?

  “How about we ask the questions one at a time?” She replied happily.

  “No! I just want to know everything,” both of them laughed loudly again as they walked towards the rest area. “Would you like something to drink? Tea, lemonade...”

  “No, Anne, all I want to do is talk to my friend.”

  “Of course.”

  They both sat on a round coffee table that Anne had installed under the cozy shade of a century-old olive tree.

  “This place is beautiful, the garden is immense...” She commented as her sight got lost in the green horizon.

  “Yes, it's the old house of Maurizio's family, he grew up here.”

  “And Maurizio is...”

  “Maurizio and I met after you disappeared.”

  “Is he your partner?”

  “Yes.”

  “And do you love him?”

  Anne meditated on her words. She loved Maurizio very much, but not in the way in which her friend meant.

  “He's a good man but I don't want us to talk about me. Tell me where you've been all this time? Why did you disappear like that? After that son of a bitch kidnapped you, I thought I'd never see you again.”

  “Yeah, well, you see, Anne, it turns out that this son of a bitch was very handsome, remember?”

  “And part of the mafie...” I replied confidently.

  “You can't be perfect," she said with sparkling eyes. “Let's say he's a little less of a mobster now, he's even come to collaborate with justice.”

  Anne looked at her with a frown and eyes coming out of her bowls.

  “What exactly are you trying to say?”

  Mary raised her right hand, showing a beautiful ring of fiancée. A perfect white gold jewel with a huge diamond in the center.

  “No! You're crazy... I don't believe it!” Anne shouted out of the blue as she grabbed her friend's finger to get a better look at the precious piece that was one hundred percent original. “You're telling me that you, that you and him... No way! No!" She shouted again and Mary shouted with her.

  “Yes! I told you I liked him. That sweetheart was mine and I wasn't willing to let him go.”

  Anne squeezed her mouth with her hand, unable to shut it in astonishment.

  “But are you all right? I mean, does he treat you well? I mean...” The woman blushed at the insinuation. “He doesn't treat you badly or anything like that, does he?”

  “Gerard is a barking dog but he never a bites, at least not in that sense. By the way, your boyfriend won't be Inspector Maurizio Rossi, right?”

  “Is that one, do you know him?”

  “No, but now I understand everything better.”

  Anne raised her curious shoulders to know.

  “You see, Anne, when I heard you were in Italy, I came immediately. There are things I think you don't know and should know.”

  Mary spoke enthusiastically and Anne looked at her intrigued.

  “What things?”

  “You see, when Suraj found me and met Gerard, he offered him a deal that my fiancé accepted.”

  “Deal?”

  “Yes, Reed and him...”

  “Oh, no!" The woman raised her hands and jumped out of the chair as if it were burning him. “I don't want to know anything about him. Now I have a new, more peaceful life, and I don't want to disturb it.”

  “You have to know this.”

  “No, I don't. What he has done, said or lied to you, is something that no longer has anything to do with me. That man lied to me, stole from me, betrayed me and left me when I needed him most. I don't want to know anything about him.”

  Anne's words showed real pain.

  “Reed lost his only chance of walking to save your life,” Mary wasn't going to give up.

  Anne stopped in the middle of the meadow unable to move. Had she listened well? Mary approached her side and held her arm.

  “I was there.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “The deal he made with Gerard was to help him stop two shipments of abducted women that were going to be used as sex slaves.”

  “What are you saying? No, things didn't happen that way. Reed always hated Falconi and was only looking for his personal revenge. That man was his mother's master and he hated him.”

  “Anne, Falconi was a ringleader in the women's trade. Reed needed to stop him.”

  “No... that's not possible... I didn’t, it's not true... Why didn't he tell me? “

  Anne moved nervously without being able to understand anything that Mary was trying to explain to her. She talked and talked without pause, but each explanation was even more confusing than the previous one. She had accused him of being selfish and manipulative, why didn't he explain anything about these women?”

  “And what does it mean that he lost his only chance for me? What exactly happened? Why were you there?”

  Mary took a deep breath before she spoke.

  Gerard had some issues, let's say business with Falconi, so he didn't hesitate to ally himself with Reed to catch him in the act. Reed knew that sooner or later, Falconi would come after you and tried to get you out of danger,” Mary looked at her friend who was beginning to follow her intrigued. “The assault was on a Saturday, remember? Reed convinced them so you wouldn't be in the gallery. The women were supposed to be rescued, Falconi would be caught with enough evidence, and you would be safe.”

  The story became clearer and clearer but she refused to recognize the blindness that had dominated her for months.

  “Why do you come up with this whole story now? What are you looking for?”

  Anne, you are my friend, my only friend. I know better than anyone how much you were in love with him and I can tell to how much he loves you. You had to know the whole truth and decide for yourself.”

  “Decide? Lately I've done very little...”

  Mary tried to embrace her, but Anne let herself go, denying any kind of consolation. She was confused, hurt, and terribly sorry. So many months hating those who didn't deserve it, it was too much to assume in just minutes.

  “What do these women have to do with Reed?”

  “Anne, you have to know. I know Reed wanted to put his past behind him and take you with him away from those men. He had everything organized, but when he heard about the women's shipments, he couldn't leave. Reed left you with Maurizio at the hospital. The last boat was about to arrive and these women would have had no chance without his intervention. Anne, a total of eleven girls were rescued, none of them in their twenties.

  Anne fell in the chair devastated by bitterness. In all this time she had believed in selfishness as Reed Blackman's only engine, and now Mary showed her one that’s so humanely led him to risked himself for others. How could she been so blind? She was supposed to know him better than anyone, yet she had been so blinded by her own fears that she was unable to hear his reasons. For months she believed in his abandonment
without being aware of those poor girls who needed to be rescued and he... and he...

  “Anne...”

  Her friend took a deep breath fearing that the shock of emotions would be too many but it was not the time to stop. Half truths are the same as a lie, she thought as she continued with the harsh reality of the facts.

  “When Reed found out that Falconi had you in his hands, he went mad. He came up with your supposed death at Suraj's hands for the sole purpose of saving you. Anne, the doctors warned him that he shouldn’t wear his braces again or he would lose his mobility for complete. The hooks and strain were tearing his muscles and nerve endings but although we all tried to convince him that you would be fine, that we would free you, he refused. He forced Raymond to bandage his wounds and spent hours convincing Watchmaker and Falconi to entangle them in his plan.”

  “When I was passed out...”

  “As I learned from Suraj, yes, that’s how it was. Reed checked that you were fine before he left the hospital.”

  “Was he in the hospital?”

  “Yes.”

  Maurizio's deep voice resounded behind the women. Mary turned quickly nervously but Anne continued with her head bowed in reply.

  “Why? I trusted you. You only told me a part of the truth, Why?!”

  Tears began to flow indignantly all over her face. She had gave up on his love by believing in a selfishness that never existed.

  Maurizio tried to explain himself but his nerves barely allowed it.

  “He deceived you again and again. He only offered you lies, I thought you deserved another chance," he muttered uneasy.

  “Yours were lies too! To tell me only a part of the truth is also to lie! He came to see me, he didn't abandon me... he didn't abandon me...”

  “Anne, listen, you know we can do it. We love each other, you can try another life away from him. Blackman means everything you don't need in your life.”

  The man tried to caress her while his hands were shaking due his nerves. He loved her and knew she would give love back to him. Anne let him stroke her hair and Maurizio thought he was getting it.

  “And you are?”

  “Honey, I don't know what you mean.”

  The woman raised her chin to look him in the eye.

  “You said he's not what I need, but are you? Are you Maurizio?

  “Of course I am.”

  Anne wiped her face with the back of her hand as she stood up fully.

  “You know," she gently moved away from his side, "you both thought me so weak that you decided what was best for me regardless of my feelings. Both played at being owners of my safety, my dreams, my desires... my love.... My protectors... How can you know what I need if I am not even capable of knowing it?

  “We can build a future together. We are in time to be happy.”

  The woman shook her head and Maurizio felt like fainting.

  “I have made too many mistakes and the time has come for me to regain control of my life. How can I ask for sincerity and trust when I don't feel it myself?”

  Mary was going to leave discreetly when Anne called her with a broken voice of pain.

  !Mary, can you take me in your car?”

  “Of course.”

  “No! Listen, he'll betray you again, remember how he treated you? Blackman won't change, you'll always suffer next to him. He's not good for you.” Maurizio sobbed, dominated by the desperation of losing her.

  “And I'm not good for you. I am so sorry.”

  “All right, I lied. Are you happy? Yes, I lied. I made a mistake thinking you shouldn't have known," he shouted as he held her by the arm, "but is everything else of no use? We can get over it, I love you...”

  Anne raised her hand and caressed his face with delicate tenderness while saying what Maurizio would never have wanted to hear.

  “But I don't.”

  The man's arms fell defeated to the sides as he saw her leave.

  Anne got into Mary's car with tears of pain in her face but with a hopeful heart. She suffered for Maurizio but was happy for herself. She had made the right decision. She would return to London and live the life she would design with her own hands. Since John's death, she had only patched up his mistakes but tomorrow she would start taking the helm of her destiny. Perhaps the men in her life thought her weak, fragile or simply feared for her but were far from reality. She was a self-made woman. Loves, dislikes, blows and disappointments had forged her with fire. Lost friendships like Marc or others found like Mary had developed a new woman, one with the strength to live, dance, sing, run, fall, make mistakes and even hurt herself if necessary but always owner and craftsman of her own destiny. Self-esteem applauds with palms enchanted by her future.

  "Poor of those who only see the feminine delicacy in the softness of our skin, without understanding the torrent of toughness firmness that circulates through our veins".

  “Where do I take you?”

  Mary made the Lamborghini roar while she gave her the best of her smile.

  “To the airport.”

  “Yes, I'll give you his details. I've heard he's living in...”

  “No.”

  “What?”

  “No.”

  “But I thought that when you knew the truth...”

  “Mary, I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, but right now I just need a friend who knows how to listen, will you be that friend?”

  “I will,”

  Mary nodded firmly and accelerated to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the green Italian mountains while Anne breathed freedom.

  I've always waited for you

  I needed a little more than a month to put my head back in place but now I'm ready to continue. These are my decisions, good or bad but mine. I look at the phone and squeeze Mary's smiling face to call her.

  “Anne, how are things in London?”

  “Well, I'm fine, you see... I wanted to ask you a favor.”

  “Whatever you need," she replied confidently.

  “Do you remember that address you once wanted to give me?”

  “Yeees... Mary stretched the "e" beyond normal.”

  “Do you think you could give it to me?”

  “Yes! Yes, I knew it. Wait, don't hang up ,” Mary dropped the phone on the floor or a table or so it sounded while I kept hearing her screams in the distance. “Don't hang up. I got it here. I'm coming.”

  Her desperate voice made me smile. Another blow and I understand that she's been holding the phone again, or so it seems because of how loud his screams resound.

  “I had it in storage, I knew you'd ask me. You see, Anne, you must know that...”

  “No! I don't want to know anything. From now on, Reed will tell me everything.”

  “Great! I'll text you the address and how to get there and send it to you via Whatsapp”.

  “Thank you.”

  “For giving you an address?”

  “For everything. If it weren't for you, my life would be different.”

  “And without you, mine too... Now make yourself beautiful and make that fool tremble at the sight of you. I love you very much, friend.”

  “And I love you too.”

  I hang without being able to believe it, if a few years ago someone had told me that Mary and I were like soul mates nobody would have believed it. Well maybe not soul mates but just equal enough to understand and accept each other.

  The little message entry bell makes me tremble. I read Mary's message attentively, Derbyshire Peak district, that's about three hundred kilometers from here. If I hurry I will arrive before sunset.

  My hands are shaking as I put my shirt outside the jeans, should I wear a short skirt and heels? No, I'm in the countryside, so that would have seemed very out staged. Informal air, yes, jeans and boots the best choice. Oh God! I tremble to the nose. Self-esteem jumps of nerves.

  Here we go. I ring the doorbell while I close my eyes. What if he's in a relationship? What if he kicks me out? What if he hates me? What if he do
esn't want to see me again? And if I leave?!

  The door opens and I feel that my heart is going to explode. I'm scared.

  Dolores appeared on the other side and without giving me time to react, she embraces me while pushing me into the beautiful country house.

  “What a joy to see you.”

  “I am glad too," I reply as I delightfully absorb the warmth of her embrace.

  “Come in, darling.”

  “Thank you.”

  May I ask why am I so shy? Please, it's Dolores and I'm behaving like a stranger.

  “You've travelled from the city, you must be tired, would you like some tea?”

  “No, thank you, the truth is that I was coming because...” My nerves have caused me a knot that won't allow me to continue.

  “He's in the back garden, come on, I'll take you there.” Dolores holds me by the arm and I appreciate the support.

  “You look gorgeous," she says sweetly.

  “Thank you.”

  “Is that the only word you know, Anne?” She comments amused.

  “Eh, no, I...”

  I want to say that I'm just stupid, but the scene in front of me leaves me speechless. Reed is sitting in his wheelchair with his back to the house and he was holding up a naughty smiling girl.

  “She has grown so much...” I say with emotion.

  I cover my lips with my fingers, remembering the baby I was holding on my chest, begging her to live.

  “She's walking, it's a mess," she says with grandmotherly joy, "but it's his only joy.

  I look to Dolores to explain herself but she prefers to shout loudly.

  “Who wants chocolate ice cream!”

  “Mmm, dad, eat tocholate.”

  The girl jumped out of her arms and ran to her grandmother.

  “And then you complain because she doesn't eat dinner.” Reed turned his chair and that's when his gaze was petrified on me.