by SUE FINEMAN
As the rooms were framed and she could walk through the unfinished first floor, she pictured herself walking through the finished house. The bedroom she’d share with Blade had floor-to-ceiling windows that would give them an open view of the water. The living room soared up two floors, and the windows were tall enough to see the water from the balcony upstairs. The informal chintz furniture would look good in that room. “All that’s missing is the piano.”
“What piano?” Blade asked.
“The one for the living room.”
“What kind do you want? A baby grand?”
“I’m not sure there’s room for a baby grand, Blade. Why don’t we wait and see how the furniture fits before we buy anything else?”
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I know something that fits.”
Crazy man.
Crazy in love. “Shall we try it on tonight?”
“Absolutely.”
“Hey, no smooching allowed on the job site,” Angelo called out. “If I can’t do it, you can’t either.”
“Spoil sport,” Blade said with a pout, but he looked as happy as she felt.
“Later,” she whispered.
Oh, yes. Definitely later.
<>
The Fourth of July weekend began the next day, and Blade drove Maria and the kids to Seattle. Maria didn’t want to take them all, but Molly had thrown such a fit about not getting to go the last time, she couldn’t avoid it. On the way to Seattle, Robbie told his sister and brothers about Roberto.
“I wish I could have a different father,” said Molly.
“You’re getting me,” said Blade. “Will I do?”
“Yeah, you’ll do.”
Andy and Jimmy chimed in, and Maria breathed a big sigh of relief. The other kids were curious and maybe a bit jealous, but they were all getting a new father soon. Blade planned to adopt them all.
Roberto’s hotel was near Nordstrom’s, so she left the kids shopping there with Blade while she ducked out and walked to the hotel.
Although Roberto had lost some of his hair, he still looked as handsome as she remembered. She drifted into his arms for a long, warm hug, and they sat in a corner of the lobby to talk.
“You look wonderful, Maria.”
“So do you, Roberto. Do you remember—”
“I remember everything,” he said, kissing her hand. “Have you come back to me, Maria?”
She retrieved her hand. “No, but there’s something I have to tell you.” His eyes were so intent, she didn’t know quite how to begin. “We were together only twice, but a few months later, I had a baby boy. My husband thought the baby was his, and I never told anyone any different, until recently.”
“This boy is mine?”
She nodded. “His name is Robert. We call him Robbie. He reminds me so much of you. He’s tall and slender, like you, and he’s so smart it’s downright scary at times. I’m looking for a good private school, someplace he’ll be challenged. He loves science, especially astronomy.”
Looking at Roberto’s intent face, she said, “I told Robbie about you two months ago. He wants to meet you, Roberto.”
“That’s all? Just meet me?”
She opened her hands. “That’s all. I don’t want anything from you except for you to accept him as your natural son and encourage him to be his best. My husband is planning to adopt all four of my children. Robbie just wants to meet you and maybe start a correspondence with you. Fred put him through hell this year, and his ego needs a boost.”
“You give me a son with one hand and take him away with the other.” He looked around. “Where is this boy?”
She pulled out her phone and called Blade. “Would you send Robbie over now, please?”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine. Roberto wants to meet Robbie.”
“I’ll bring him. Molly has already spent her allowance and then some, and there are no toys here for Andy and Jimmy. They could care less about clothes.”
Maria wanted to tell him not to come, but she knew he was curious, and she couldn’t deny him. “Okay. We’re in the lobby.”
Maria and Roberto watched the door. Robbie came through first, shoving his glasses up on his nose. “There he is, the boy with the glasses. That’s your son, Robbie.”
The other boys followed Robbie through the door, and then Molly and Blade were there. Blade held the other kids back while Robbie came over, suddenly shy. Roberto stood and offered his hand. “Robbie, I am Roberto Galterio. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Maria stood beside Robbie, trying to gauge Roberto’s reaction. Above all, she didn’t want Robbie hurt.
“You look just like I did when I was twelve.”
“I’m eleven,” said Robbie, “but I’ll be twelve next month.”
“Ah, and I thought you were already twelve.” With a big smile, Roberto said, “We’re handsome devils, aren’t we?”
Roberto grabbed Maria in a big hug, and then he hugged Robbie. “My son. My handsome son.”
Blade watched the happy little family in the corner and felt intense jealousy. Maria had loved that man once, and they had a child together. Did she still love him?
“Mom looks happy,” said Molly. “If he had more hair, he’d be good looking.”
The man was a college professor, and Blade was a nothing. Maria didn’t even know they were there. Why didn’t she call them over and introduce them? Did she expect him to stand by and watch their happy reunion and not feel anything?
Finally, Maria motioned to Blade and the other kids to come over and meet Roberto. She introduced the kids first and then introduced, “Blade Banner, my husband.”
Blade wanted Maria to tell Professor Charming that Robbie was Blade’s son now, or he would be as soon as they filed the papers for adoption, but she wouldn’t even look at him.
“Blade, would you mind if I bring Maria and Robbie home later this evening?” Roberto asked. “I need time to get to know my son, and I’ll be in Seattle for such a short time.”
“Maria?” Blade wanted her to say no, that Robbie could visit with him another time, but she didn’t say it.
“It’s all right, Blade. We’ll be home later. Would you mind taking the other kids home?” Her words stung, and the implication hurt even more. She’d rather be with her lover than with her husband.
She walked to the lobby door with Blade and the other kids. “Robbie needs time to get to know Roberto, and I can’t leave him here alone. You understand, don’t you, Blade?”
“Yeah, sure. I understand. Have a nice visit.” He didn’t understand at all, but he herded the other kids out the door and down to the parking lot.
Molly sat in the front seat beside Blade. “Can we stop for pizza on the way home?”
“How about if we pick up a pizza and take it home? Daisy has been locked up for a long time. She’s probably ready to piddle all over the house.”
“Nuh uh,” said Andy. “She can hold it.”
As Blade pulled out of the parking garage, Jimmy twisted around to look at the hotel. “Is Robbie gonna go live with him?”
“No,” said Molly. “Mom said Robbie was going to stay with us.”
Blade knew Maria wanted to keep the kids. The big question was whether she wanted to keep her husband. Right now, it didn’t feel like it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maria and Robbie got home long after the kid’s bedtime, and Maria had been drinking. She knew how Blade felt about drunks, and Maria was sloshed.
He slept in Sophia’s bed that night. Unable to face her the next morning, he rose early, and while Maria and the kids were still sleeping, he drove to the new house and got to work. He had to keep his hands busy or go crazy. The kitchen and laundry room cabinets were supposed to be delivered that morning, so he found a broom and swept out the rooms. He was still at it when Angelo and Nick arrived.
“Hey, you’re here early,” said Nick.
Angelo took the broom from his hand, and Blad
e realized he had a death grip on the damn thing. “What’s wrong, Blade?”
“Maria took Robbie to meet Professor Roberto Galterio yesterday. She and Robbie stayed with them in Seattle, and she came home drunk last night. At least her lover didn’t spend the night.”
Nick shoved him up against the wall. “What in the hell are you talking about? Who is this guy?”
“Robbie’s natural father.”
Nick let go and Angelo dropped the broom. Apparently, Maria hadn’t told them about her indiscretion twelve years ago. Finally, Angelo said, “She cheated on Fred, not on you, Blade.”
“Let it go,” said Nick. “She loves you, not this professor, and Maria is not a drunk.”
“She was last night.” Blade whipped around and planted his fist in the wallboard. It went through, leaving skin and blood stains around the hole in the wall.
“I’ll patch the wall before we put the cabinets up,” said Nick. “Cool off before you face Maria. She’s got a temper when pushed too far, and I don’t want the whole damn house ruined before we get it finished.”
Blade leaned back on the wall and slid down to the floor, staring at his hand, which would probably hurt like hell as soon as the numbness wore off. Angelo brought a thermos of coffee and poured him a cup. They sat side by side, sipping the hot, strong coffee. Blade felt the blissful married life he and Maria had built for themselves slipping away. He’d given her his heart, and she spent most of the afternoon and all of the evening with her former lover. If Robbie hadn’t been with them, they might have done more than drink and talk.
Maria wouldn’t cheat on him, would she?
It felt like she already had.
Angelo looked at his hand. “Better clean that up and bandage it before Maria sees it. There’s a first aid kit in my pickup, behind the seat.”
“Before Maria sees what?” she said.
Angelo pushed himself to his feet. “We didn’t hear you come in.”
She looked awful, and Blade knew she was hung over. “I hope it was worth it.”
“It wasn’t. Roberto kept pushing drinks on me until I didn’t know how much I’d had. Robbie guided him home.” She sat beside him on the floor. “Now I remember how he convinced me to sleep with him in the first place.”
“Twice?”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t remember the first time that well and I… Blade, what did you do to your hand?”
“Punched a wall. I pretended it was the good professor’s face.”
“You’re jealous?”
“Damn right I’m jealous. You had an affair with that man.”
She held her head. “Don’t yell. Please don’t yell. I didn’t cheat on you, Blade.”
Without thinking, he blurted the words out. “You would have if Robbie hadn’t been there.”
She stared at him as if she didn’t know him, and then she pushed herself off the floor and walked away.
Blade bandaged his hand and worked the rest of the day. Instead of going home, he drove to the nearest bar, where the juke box played loud enough to drown out his thoughts. He ordered a shot of Jack Black and sat staring at it until Nick came in an hour later.
“Are you drinking or just staring?”
“I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
Nick rubbed Blade’s shoulder. “Marriage isn’t always easy, but never doubt that Maria loves you. Teresa says she’s been crying all day. She thinks you’ve left her.”
“Maybe I have.”
Angelo pulled up a chair on the other side. “If you leave my sister, I’ll—”
“I’m not leaving her. She’s leaving me for that…” He waved his hand around. “… bald nerd.”
Nick motioned to the drink. “That’s not the way to do it.”
“Yeah, I know.” Blade stuffed his napkin in the drink. Nick added another, and Angelo shoved in one more.
“C’mon, Blade,” said Nick.
“C’mon where?”
“My place. You’re staying with me until the wedding. I sent Aunt Sophia home to take care of Maria. Maybe if we keep you two separated for the next three days, this wedding will actually come off.”
“We’re already married.”
“Not according to Aunt Sophia. To her, it isn’t a real marriage without a priest.”
<>
Maria couldn’t stop crying. Blade thought she didn’t love him. It broke her heart to see the look on his face. If she lost him now, she had no one to blame but herself. She should have come back from Seattle with Blade. Robbie could have gotten to know his father another time. They sat in Roberto’s hotel room drinking and talking until Robbie curled up on the bed, too tired to stay awake any longer, until she realized that the visit was no longer about Roberto and Robbie. It was about her and Roberto.
He wanted her to come to California and stay with him, just her and Robbie. She refused, of course. She was married to another man, and she had no intention of hurting him. Maria loved Blade as she’d never loved Fred or Roberto, and she’d never cheat on him.
But Blade didn’t know that.
Coming home drunk was a stupid thing to do, especially knowing how Blade grew up. She’d only been drunk three times in her entire life, but he didn’t know that. It probably reminded him of Sunny. She could kick herself for doing that to him.
Mom moved home. Teresa said Blade would stay with Nick until the wedding, that they needed some time apart. Her family had stepped in to do what she couldn’t. They’d come up with a plan to get them through the wedding.
From then on, they were on their own.
If Blade still wanted to marry her.
<>
Blade woke the next morning with a little finger in his ear. The kid had a shirt on, but no pants. “Hey, Max.”
Nick snagged the bottomless kid. “C’mon, Max, let’s go find a diaper. He’s a nudist at heart.”
“So am I, kid.” Blade stretched and sat up. His injured hand had grown stiff overnight, and he missed Maria so much he hurt right down to the bone. If she didn’t want to marry him again, he’d crawl into a hole somewhere and die.
He worked with Nick and Angelo all day, half expecting Maria to show up. She didn’t. They hung the rest of the kitchen cabinets, and the plumbers installed the sinks and bathroom fixtures. Things were coming together, but the house wouldn’t be finished before the wedding. Too bad, because he wanted to move in before they left on their honeymoon.
If there was a wedding. He still wasn’t sure Maria wanted to marry him. If she didn’t, he’d give her the house, as he’d promised, and he’d get on Harley and ride off into the sunset. Alone.
The real estate broker from Palm Beach called and said she had someone interested in the beach house, and they wanted the house fully furnished. There was nothing in the house he wanted, but someone had to pack up the personal stuff. He had no desire to go back there without Maria.
He had no desire to live without Maria.
“Get an appraiser in there to give me a value on the furniture and artwork,” he told the broker. “They can have the kitchen stuff and linens, everything but the personal stuff.”
“Would you like me to take someone in to pack the personal things?” she asked.
“Ask the couple that lives in the cottage to do it. Would you ask the buyers if they’d let those people stay until they find other employment?”
“Of course.”
The house was small by Palm Beach standards, but it was worth a bundle. Blade didn’t belong in a ritzy community like that, and he knew Maria felt out of place there. He’d rather give most of his money away than spend it on a lavish lifestyle, and he didn’t want his kids to grow up expecting to live a life of luxury and thinking they never had to work. They could end up like Michael and John.
<>
Maria reached for the phone several times over the next two days, and Mom shook her head. Don’t call Blade. You’ll see him in church.
I miss him, Mom.
I know hone
y, but you’ll be together soon enough.
I disappointed him.
He’ll forgive you, Maria. Blade loves you.
“I need to talk to him. I need to know if he still wants to marry me.”
“He does.”
Without another word, Maria grabbed her keys and drove to the new house. She sat in the car for several minutes, watching the men hustling around, installing windows and nailing on the frames.
Walking inside, she saw the new crystal chandelier in the entry and the coordinating one in the two-story dining room. The dining room furniture from New York would look magnificent in there. The kitchen turned out more beautiful than she’d pictured, and the big freeform island with the sink in the middle looked great. So did the skylights over the breakfast room.
She walked through the rest of the house, impressed with the progress, but she didn’t see Blade anywhere. Was he avoiding her?
“Where is he?” she asked Angelo.
“I sent him to get supplies.”
“Because I came?”
“Yes. You’ll see him at the church day after tomorrow.”
“Is he okay?” She heard the tears in her voice, and she knew Angelo did, too.
“His hand is healing and his heart will mend as soon as he sees you in your wedding dress. Now go on, get out of here before he comes back. You can wait two days, can’t you?”
“No,” she whispered.
Angelo hugged her. “I’ll tell him you were here.”
She drove home and busied herself with the laundry. With four kids, the laundry never ended, and she wanted everything caught up before the wedding.
Mom was making cannoli for the wedding reception, which would be held at Nick and Cara’s house. Maria couldn’t think beyond the wedding. They were supposed to go to New York and then on to Europe, but with the house nearly finished, she hated to leave. She wanted to go to Italy, but she wanted to take Mom and the kids there. Would Blade understand? How could he understand that when he couldn’t understand her wanting to spend time alone with Robbie and Roberto?
If she could take that evening back, she’d do it in a heartbeat.
<>
Two days later, after scrubbing kids and showering herself, Maria dressed the boys in their new suits and helped them tie their ties. They were going to be Blade’s best men. Molly wore mascara and lipstick with her pretty pink dress, and Mom looked elegant, as usual. Maria’s hand shook as she applied her makeup.
