Cyprian the Fair

by C. L. Cattano

  Julia watched as Rafe talked to some of the people for a few minutes, including the little boy who had handed her something that she put in her jacket pocket. Then she shook their hands, and they all disbursed, some of them running and others just walking away. Rafe began walking down the street again, and Julia noticed she was wearing the hat she wore when she drove her father’s car. She tossed the scarf she was holding down and headed directly toward her.

  Julia couldn’t believe Rafe was so close to the hotel and out doing who knows what while Eden was waiting in her room for a call. She caught up with Rafe and snatched at her arm.

  “Rafe,” she said forcefully, “what the bloody hell are you doing?”

  Rafe turned in surprise toward the person assaulting her. She saw it was Julia and frowned. “I’m helping Gabri with his festival,” she said and yanked her arm away.

  Julia stared at her a moment not sure what to say. She wanted to show her anger and berate her for not calling Eden. On the other hand, she didn’t want to encourage her either because of her own developing feelings. As those thoughts made it to her head, she felt guilt rush over her because she had promised to help Eden bring Rafe home. She could do nothing but scoff at the whole situation. “Well,” she said trying to save herself from embarrassment, “are you ever going to talk with me again?”

  Rafe recognized the expression of guilt on Julia’s face. She sighed and looked around but realized there really was no escape. This conversation would have to happen sometime so she might as well get it over with. “Sure,” she said with a shrug, “I’ll talk with you. Let’s go over to the café.”

  Rafe led Julia to the café and waved to the owner as she walked inside and went to the counter to order. Once they had their coffee, they sat at one of the patio tables. Rafe took a sip of her drink then leaned back and studied Julia. “So, do you love her?”

  Choking on her coffee, Julia coughed at the unexpected question. When she was able to breathe again, she felt frozen by the question because she hadn’t realized she was so transparent. Finally, she brought her eyes up and met Rafe’s expectant gaze.

  “I really think I do,” Julia said softly and watched as Rafe gave a barely perceptible nod. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with her,” she went on in a rush. “At first, I just thought it was fondness, because of our friendship. But she just became more lovely and dear to me as time passed. We’ve become closer and... it,” she hesitated, “just happened.” She moistened her mouth and swallowed as Rafe just glared and said nothing though her jaw moved like she might at any moment. “I didn’t plan to fall for her,” she said earnestly.

  “No,” said Rafe evenly. She had not missed Julia’s subtle hint about having sex with Eden. “I’m sure you didn’t.”

  “I promise, I’ll always take care of her, Rafe.”

  “I’m sure,” said Rafe flatly.

  It was all Rafe could do to hold back her anger at Julia and the realization she would actually take advantage of this situation. Rafe knew she said things to push them together but, as Nora said, she was sick. She remembered accusing Julia of grooming Eden to be her lover. She wondered if she had guessed right, and Julia had already been going after Eden back then. Right now, she felt like her heart was being stabbed at the same time she was being stabbed in the back. She took a deep breath and wiped her hand over her face to release some internal tension.

  Rafe didn’t know why she was feeling so angry and hurt. She had been sure this was why they were here, and now she knew she was right. She had also been telling herself it was for the best because Eden deserved to be happy. Maybe Julia was who made Eden happy now. Still, she couldn’t help the anger flaring in her at the thought, and she fought to push it down. It’s for the best, she reminded herself. I betrayed her. I’m still betraying her.

  “Does she love you?” Rafe asked softly.

  Julie bit her lip and shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. I think she could.”

  “Is it the reason you’re here? To see if she could.”

  Looking down at her coffee, Julia hated herself for wanting to say yes, because it was why she was here. But she knew it wasn’t why Eden was here.

  “No,” she said finally. “Eden still cares about you. She wants to know how you are, and she wants you to see Bronte and be in their lives. You can’t just leave like you did and expect her to be okay,” she said letting her anger ease into her words.

  “She has you,” said Rafe holding in her emotions, “so she must be fine.”

  “She’s not fine,” she retorted in exasperation. “You know she’s not.”

  Rafe glowered at Julia as a rush of thoughts about Eden and everything else that had happened flooded through her mind. All the times Eden left her, all the pain and heartbreak she felt waiting for her to come home, only to find one day she left again. All the time she wasted waiting for her to leave Jake. She knew now the affair hadn’t happened, but knowing did not erase the things that had happened because of believing it was real, and the pain caused to both of them.

  It had been just over six months, and Eden apparently must be feeling perfectly fine. She must be fine to be having feelings for someone else already, or she wouldn’t be having sex with Julia. Rafe felt herself getting hot, so she took the cap off her head and wiped her forehead. She twisted the cap angrily in her lap because it seemed so unfair. She didn’t understand how it was so easy for Eden to get over her so fast again. Especially when, before she left, Eden kept saying she had never stopped loving her when they were apart.

  She had to stop thinking this way. This was the betrayer taking and wanting and not thinking of what was best for Eden. All she had to do was make them leave. Make them want to leave.

  She looked up at Julia and tried to keep control of the emotions storming inside of her. “I guess I can understand Eden coming here to figure things out,” she said softly. “What I can’t understand is why you want to hurt me like this when you know how I feel.”

  Julia scoffed at Rafe with disbelief. “Know how you feel? Rafe, no one knows how you feel. You let that man take you away like he did, and we haven’t heard from you in months,” she shot out, trying to control her volume. “You don’t answer calls or emails. You don’t make any attempt at all to communicate with anyone, and you think we know how you feel?” She frowned as Rafe just stared back coolly.

  “I guess you’re right,” said Rafe her voice strained as she fought to control herself. “I have no excuse for my actions at all. It’s not like I was sick or anything.” She got up and pushed her chair in. “Just a little friendly advice,” she said evenly. “When she starts having feelings for someone else she just can’t help, don’t waste your time waiting for her to come back to you.” She started to walk away but stopped and turned back, “Oh, and fuck off, because you’re not my friend anymore.”

  “Rafe,” Julia shouted after her, “I am still your friend!” She watched as Rafe put her cap back on, but she did not look back. “Goddamn you, Rafe,” she growled as anger and guilt tore through her. “You’re the one who fucked things up, sick or not,” she mumbled to herself. “Other people in the world deserve happiness too.” She got up and made her way back to the hotel.

  31

  TWO DAYS HAD passed since Eden Kingsley’s visit to the villa, and she had heard nothing from Rafe, or from Nora and Gabri. She and Julia went to the music festival on Monday and Tuesday hoping to find Rafe in the crowd or get a glimpse of Nora and Gabri on stage, but neither had happened. Eden was getting worried because she would have to leave in a few days. Julia offered to pay so they could stay longer, but Eden was worried about how it would affect her job and being able to stay in Rafe’s house.

  They had a late night so, while Eden was feeding Bronte, Julia was still asleep in her room next door. Everyone in the hotel had been so good to Bronte, and she was making out like a little princess. They brought her lots of sweets and treats. The au pairs competed to take care of her and take her to the car
ousel. When they finally decided to get out of the hotel for a while, the manager had recommended a lot of special places to take Bronte that were a lot of fun. The only thing they were missing was Rafe.

  Eden wished she could share everything Gabri had told her with Julia or someone. It seemed like her life was being chained up with secrets. Secrets she had to keep and trusts she dare not break for fear of the consequences that always seemed to be as terrifying as the secrets themselves. Now on top of not being able to talk about the secrets Rafe had told her, she had to keep secrets from Rafe of all the information Gabri had told her.

  Thinking about the photographs she saw of Rafe and the drawings she made when she was young unbalanced her. Eden knew Rafe had a lot of things happen to her in her past, but the level of trauma and the reality of what she lived through were overwhelming. Now Gabri said she couldn’t talk to Rafe about what he had told her, and she couldn’t look at Rafe with pity. She didn’t know how she could look at her with anything else at the moment.

  Eden put a dab of Nutella on a breakfast roll and gave it to Bronte who decided to lick the chocolate off before eating the bread, getting it all over her face. As Eden laughed at Bronte and tried to wipe her face, there was a knock at the door.

  “I wonder if Zia Julia is up,” she said as she put the napkin down and went to answer the door. “Good morning,” she said as she swung open the door with a smile.

  “Buongiorno,” said the hotel bellboy with a smile. “For you,” he said and handed her a small envelope.

  “Thank you,” said Eden as she took the envelope, curiosity burning in her. The boy smiled again then scurried away. Eden closed the door then opened the envelope and pulled out the crisp folded paper from inside. Her eyes widened in surprise as she read the note and recognized the handwriting. She rushed up and snatched Bronte from her chair then went out the door and knocked on the one next door. “Julia! Julia, wake up!” she called as she pounded on the door.

  “What the hell?” said Julia as she jerked open the door and saw Eden holding on to Bronte. “What’s wrong?”

  “I need your help,” Eden said excitedly and shoved the note into Julia’s hand.

  Julia took the note as Eden walked into the room. Her eyebrows rose as Eden grinned excitedly. “Another note demanding something,” she mumbled and read the note.

  Eden– Please, come with me today. Meet me on the left side of the Hotel toward the plaza. Get Julia to watch Bronte. She owes me. Bring a jacket. –Rafe

  “It’s not a demand if she said please,” Eden pointed out happily. She knew Julia had been unhappy about having to wait around for Rafe or Gabri to call, but now she could stop being so gloomy about everything. Things were starting to look better, and she wasn’t going to let Julia’s mood bring her down.

  “And why is it exactly I ‘owe’ her?” Julia asked with annoyance as she waved the note around.

  “Will you come over and have breakfast and watch Bronte like she asked?” Eden grinned. “I need to hurry and get dressed.”

  Seeing Eden’s excitement, Julia sighed. She wondered what Rafe was up to and if it was going to take away the light showing in Eden’s eyes right now. She had not told Eden about her conversation with Rafe or the fact she had seen her yesterday. She didn’t think it would help either of them. She also had a feeling Rafe’s comment about ‘owing her’ was probably because of their conversation.

  “Fine, I guess this is why we’re here,” Julia relented and put her robe on. She followed Eden back to her room, not knowing which path of guilt to follow so she settled on staying at the crossroad balance at the edge of them all.

  Inside the room, Eden put Bronte back into her seat at the table and hurried into the bedroom. Julia sat down at the table and poured a cup of tea. She read the note again. “She says to bring a jacket,” she called back to Eden then spoke to Bronte. “Your mama thinks everyone should jump when she shouts.”

  “Mama lives in a garden,” said Bronte as she ate her fruit happily.

  Julia sighed. “Brilliant.”

  “Okay,” said Eden breathlessly as she came out of the bedroom. “How do I look?” she asked expectantly.

  Julia rolled her eyes and shook her head thinking she looked very good in her jeans and form-fitting cap-sleeved blouse. She knew when Eden lifted her arms or moved in a certain way, the shirt would raise, and the skin of her trim waist would show.

  “You look fine,” she said, cutting off her train of thought. Eden rushed into the bathroom to comb her hair and brush her teeth, and Julia looked over at Bronte again. “I hope your mommy isn’t getting her hopes up just to have them dashed,” she said and gave her a piece of pastry.

  Bronte handed the pastry back to Julia, “I don’t like this one. I want the chocolate.”

  Julia surveyed Bronte’s chocolate covered mouth. “I think you’re seeping chocolate out your openings.”

  Eden came out of the bathroom and kissed Bronte. “Be good for Zia Julia.”

  “I need chocolate,” insisted Bronte.

  Eden quickly spread Nutella on a piece of bread for her then and kissed her chocolatey face again. She turned to Julia excitedly. “I have no idea when I’ll be back. Will you be okay?”

  “Of course,” she said, though she was apprehensive about Eden’s excitement.

  “Everything will be fine,” Eden assured Julia, looking into her worried eyes. “She’s here, she’s waiting for me.” Eden felt joy and excitement she hadn’t felt for a long time. “I know she loves me.” She saw Julia’s concerned look and smiled. “It’s a good start,” she said and grabbed her ID and some cash from her purse and put it in her front pocket. She turned back and hugged Julia. “Thank you,”

  “No problem,” said Julia knowing she was holding Eden longer than she should. She was hoping Eden was right but at the same time not wanting her to go. “You’d better hurry before she changes her mind,” she said sarcastically to hide her jealousy of Eden’s excitement and then released her. Julia couldn’t help noticing the scent of the perfume in the air that had not surrounded Eden since Rafe had left.

  Eden smiled happily at Julia then grabbed her jacket and headed out the door of her hotel room.

  Julia looked over at Bronte who was licking the chocolate from her bread. “Your mommy indulges you with chocolate. You’ll be needing a good washing up, I suppose.”

  Bronte laughed and held out her bread. “’Dulge me.”

  Julia rolled her eyes at Bronte’s chocolate covered face then took the bread to add more Nutella. “Precocious yet impertinent. Not unlike someone else I know,” she mumbled.

  32

  SKIPPING THE PAINFULLY slow lift, Eden Kingsley took the stairs down to the lobby and walked out the door onto the busy sidewalk in front of the hotel. The note told her to meet on the left side of the hotel, so she turned and walked down the sidewalk as directed. She searched the faces of the people walking along the sidewalk but didn’t see Rafe anywhere. She wondered if Julia was right when she said she had taken too long, and Rafe had changed her mind. Her anxiety threatened to rise up in her, but she pushed it down.

  She was in Italy on a mission. She was here to get Rafe back and take her home, and now she had another chance to make it happen. She had been working hard on her own with Dr. Cathcart on all the things that had come out in the therapy sessions with Rafe. She was prepared to work even harder on anything else Rafe needed her to work on.

  When she finally came out of the fog of her anxiety and fear after Rafe was ripped from her life, it was clear to her, now more than ever, she needed Rafe in her life, and she was in love with her. Rafe was her soulmate, and her life wasn’t complete without her. She would do anything to get her back in her life and back to California. She hoped, by spending time with Rafe, she could show her they still had a connection. Then convince her to come home and continue therapy where they could be together.

  When Eden walked almost halfway down the street, a person dressed all in black leathe
r and sitting on a motorcycle held a helmet out in front of her. Eden looked from the helmet to the person sitting on the motorcycle. Through the visor opening of the rider’s helmet, she looked straight into the eyes of Rafe. Her heart leaped, and she felt it thud hard in her chest just before those eyes looked away. That involuntary reaction had only ever happened for one person.

  She swiftly put on the jacket she brought and shakily took the helmet, clumsily putting it on as Rafe waited. When she had the helmet on and secured, Rafe moved forward on the bike and motioned for her to climb on behind her. Eden held on to Rafe to steady herself as she swung her leg over the bike. Then she sat in the seat and slid her arms around Rafe’s waist. Rafe started the engine and maneuvered them away from the sidewalk and out onto the road. Eden’s mind reeled at the knowledge she was sitting so close and holding on so tight to Rafe’s body again.

  33

  FINESSING HER WAY through the chaotic Italian traffic, Rafe Salvaggio felt Eden holding on tight. At times, Eden held on a little too tight, and Rafe could tell she was scared as they passed large and small vehicles and crossed from lane to lane into openings in the traffic that would move them forward. She would have used one of the cars at the villa, but Gabri and his guests were using them all.

  Soon, Rafe had maneuvered them outside the city walls, and they were on the interstate. Eden was holding on tight again. Rafe knew it was the combination of speed and the traffic making her hold on so tight, but this was the most direct route to where they were going. One of the benefits of riding a motorcycle, in Rafe’s mind, was the silence. Each of them was wearing helmets that kept their thoughts to themselves while they traveled, and they didn’t have to make small talk or worry if there was any awkwardness.

  After her conversation with Julia yesterday, Rafe was angry with both of them. She did what she had to do to make Julia want to leave, but it didn’t stop her anger. She wanted to tell Gabri to handle everything. She wanted to tell him to send them away and start selling everything in California. She felt like there was nothing to go back to, so why keep the house or the property there. She had even thought about just giving Letty and Ephraim the house and the building the Kiki Bistro was in. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about waiting around for it all to sell. Eden could move in with Julia because she was sure it was where Eden was headed anyway. The rest of her things she could get Katheryn to help arrange for shipping to Italy or selling. Then life in America would be finished except for the occasional trip to New York to take care of things she inherited from her father’s estate holdings. It was what she wanted to do. But she knew if she did, Gabri would have questions she didn’t want to answer. So she had to handle everything herself and try to do it with order and control.