by Sue MacKay
‘So they’ve got you wrapped around their tiny fingers.’ She grinned. ‘I like that.’
‘It’s a special occasion.’ Mattia grinned back.
How to get Mattia wrapped around her finger? He was slowly—okay, not so slowly—getting under her skin, and it would be hard to fly away at the end of her stay. Did she have to go? As in not return? That seemed less likely by the day. Mattia had so much to lose by leaving Sorrento, while she could work anywhere. But what about her family? That was a question for another time.
When Elene glanced across the table, Sofia was smiling at her and Mattia with satisfaction. No, Sofia, we are not lovers, and chances are remote. Her stomach dived. Unfortunately. Just because he could kiss like the devil didn’t mean he’d ever follow it through, and there was more to a relationship than hot kisses that led to even hotter movements. Yes, but a relationship had to start somewhere and getting the bedroom stuff right was as good a place as any. Heat was crawling up her cheeks. Sitting at a table, surrounded by Mattia’s family, and she was thinking about sex with him.
A slug of wine did nothing to calm her; instead it went down the wrong way and she had to suffer the indignity of having Mattia gently slapping her back for the second time in two days. With a strong, warm—make that hot—hand. Oh, boy. She was in trouble. And it seemed everyone knew it, if the way they were all watching her and Mattia was any indication.
She took the glass of water he passed her and tried not to gulp it down.
Mattia came to her rescue. ‘Eat, everybody.’
Grateful for the laden dishes passing up and down the table, Elene spooned steaming food onto her plate, then when everyone was ready to eat hid behind enjoying the meal. With each mouthful she enjoyed it more and more, and relaxed muscle by muscle until finally her stomach gave up protesting and accepted every mouthful gratefully.
Mattia’s father leaned forward to get her attention. ‘You speak Italian like a native. Were you born here?’
Here we go. Question number one. She wasn’t counting Sofia’s attempts. ‘No, I’m a Kiwi.’ She was putting it out there so no one could say she’d tried to hide her true feelings of home. ‘My mother was born in Panzano, outside of Florence, and her family moved to New Zealand when she was two. She came back to Italy when she was eighteen, but returned home within a few months. She’s never been back.’ My dad adopted me when he married Mum, and I was fifteen months old. ‘I was brought up to speak both languages, and cook Italian and Kiwi food, and to spend many hours around the table talking about anything and everything.’
‘So your father’s a New Zealander?’
Her real father, not her biological one. ‘Dad’s great-great-grandfather came out to New Zealand from Britain, which is a common history for many New Zealanders. Irish, Scots, English, Welsh—we’re all mixed up.’ None of this had anything to do with anything.
‘I’d like to be fluent in more than one language,’ Sofia said around a mouthful of tortellini. ‘Maybe I should take lessons in Japanese.’
Everyone laughed. ‘You?’
Mattia explained to Elene, ‘Sofia’s a chef at one of Napoli’s top Italian cuisine restaurants, but that’s where her cooking talents stay.’
Maybe, but she had diverted everyone’s attention. Elene smiled across to her. Somehow, without any input on her behalf, she’d made a friend.
‘I was a chef. Now I’m a mum with another bambino on the way.’ She nodded across to Elene as she rubbed her tummy.
‘Thank you,’ Elene mouthed, and got up to help clear away the plates now that everyone had finished the main course.
‘You don’t have to do that. You’re a guest,’ Mattia’s mother said.
Exactly, and she didn’t like the role when she was trying to fit in. ‘At home we all knuckle down to help.’
‘Then you can put those dishes in the dishwasher.’ Maria had got the message, though Elene could see she wasn’t quite happy with it. Not yet, at any rate.
She began rinsing plates and looking through the large windows to the expansive vegetable gardens beyond. ‘Who looks after the gardens? They’re wonderful.’ The rows stretched as far as she could see, with every vegetable imaginable growing strong.
‘Mostly I do the vegetables. They’re my passion, for the cooking. Being able to eat what I produce is rewarding.’ There was pride in Maria’s voice.
‘My father always grows far too many vegetables because he doesn’t know where to stop, and the local charities are the winners, especially since he retired. As for the rest, it’s hit and miss who mows the lawns or weeds the flowerbeds.’
‘I can understand that. I’m lucky we have a permanent gardener for everything else.’
Mattia arrived between them with an armful of dirty plates. ‘These’ll keep you quiet for a while.’ He nudged Elene.
‘I could hand over to you,’ she retorted. ‘I know your mother taught you how to clean up. I’ve been in your kitchen, remember?’
His mother was watching them with that guarded expression once again in place. It was getting a little tiring.
‘Is there something in particular you’d like to ask me?’ Elene asked tightly.
The woman stared at her for a long moment, then nodded. ‘All right. Now’s as good a time as any. What do you want from my son?’
Like son, like mother. ‘Nothing other than to make it work for Aimee in a way that is agreeable to the three of us.’
‘Why didn’t you phone to tell Mattia about his daughter instead of arriving unannounced?’ Maria glanced at her son. ‘Yes, we presume that’s what happened even if you didn’t say so.’ Those sharp eyes returned to Elene. ‘You wanted to shock him? Show him how you could look after Aimee for him?’
‘Mamma.’
‘No, Mattia. We need to know you’re not being taken for a ride.’
The woman was protective of her son, as any good mother should be. Like Elene was trying to protect Aimee. ‘Signora Ricco, I am the messenger.’ Don’t shoot me. ‘Danielle asked that I bring Aimee to Italy without warning to meet her father, and at the time I promised to go along with her wish. She had her reasons, but I agree there were also better alternatives.’
‘So why not take one of them?’
‘I don’t break promises lightly. If at all.’ A quick glance at Mattia showed how invested in this conversation he’d become. Was this how they were going to break the ice about starting the process of planning the future? It was what she needed to happen. They all did. The how was irrelevant if it got them somewhere. A little explanation to Maria wouldn’t go amiss. ‘Danielle and I were best friends from the day we started our nursing training. We clicked immediately and there was nothing we couldn’t tell each other, and nothing either of us wouldn’t do to help the other.’ Hopefully, Mattia heard and truly understood everything. ‘I didn’t approve of Mattia as her lover. I thought he was using her. Danielle finally told me if anyone was using anyone it was her. She enjoyed Mattia’s company and the fact he didn’t want commitment.’ Which had hurt because she’d have wanted all of that with him when she’d admitted her lust for him.
The silence stretched out, Maria waiting not so patiently for her to continue. Mattia handed her a glass of water.
After taking a sip, she put it aside. ‘When Danielle learned she had cancer while pregnant there wasn’t much I wouldn’t have done for her.’ As his mother opened her mouth, Elene held up her hand. She needed to get this finished before her voice cracked up completely. ‘She asked me to be Aimee’s guardian. I couldn’t say no. Every child needs people in their lives to cherish and fight for them. She had no one else at home to do that for her daughter, and I’d do anything for my friend’s child.’ The last words were choked out over another lump that blocked her throat. ‘She insisted I tell Mattia only after she was gone.’
‘Why didn’t this Danielle tell Mattia hers
elf?’ Maria glared at her as if it was her fault.
‘She was afraid he’d come and take over with Aimee, and she wanted every moment she had left with her baby.’ A tear escaped, followed by another. Swiping at them with the back of her hand, she reached for the glass. She needed help here.
‘I can understand, though I don’t agree. She could’ve written a letter for you to forward to Mattia. My son deserved that.’ The look became suspicious. ‘Or did she, and you chose to ignore it for your own gain?’
Elene closed her eyes and swallowed the pain those acidic words wrung out of her. Fair enough. This woman had Mattia’s back. But Mattia wasn’t rushing in to defend her as he’d said he would. So he didn’t entirely trust her despite everything he’d said so far. Opening her eyes, she stared in turn at both of them. ‘I want nothing from Mattia than for him to accept my role in Aimee’s life. I am her registered guardian. Believe it or not, I am not interested in your wealth. I have a happy life and want for nothing. I will always be there for Aimee, will continue to raise her, along with Mattia. How or where we make that work is yet to be determined. But—’ she fixed her eyes on Maria ‘—Mattia and I will make those decisions.’ With that, she took her glass and headed to the door opening into the garden, to wander blindly along the narrow paths.
Behind her, Mattia was saying in a sharp tone, ‘Elene’s right, Mamma. This is for us to work out.’
So he had backed her. Yet there’d been that question in his eyes as he’d waited for her answer to what she wanted from him. After what his ex had done to him, could she blame him? Probably not, but it still hurt. What a mess. With one hand she rubbed the opposite arm, where her skin was chilled. She’d gone and made an enemy of the woman who Mattia more than likely turned to for advice on family matters. But she had been true to herself.
* * *
Mattia strolled outside to find Elene. There were things to be said, yet it wasn’t as simple as opening his mouth and uttering them. One thing he was coming to believe was that Elene had not come to Italy with the intention of getting something out of this for herself, other than to be Aimee’s mother.
Even then she was prepared to share, to accept she had no choice in the matter, and was working to make it happen in a way that suited everyone. Doing better than him at it. She’d stood up to Mamma without hesitation. Her fierce loyalty to one little girl came from somewhere deep within, no doubt because of the love her own adoptive father gave her.
At the far wall stood the woman putting his normally calm, controlled life in turmoil. Elene had the power to trip him up, to make him revisit all the plans and controls he’d put in place in his life after Sandy’s perfidy. This woman was disturbing him in the most unexpected ways. He needed to get some control back or he was lost for ever. ‘Tell me about your biological father.’
Her mouth dropped open, was quickly slammed shut. Behind the shock flaring in her eyes, he sensed her mind was racing. The glass in her hand was in danger of spilling water all over her dress. A deep breath. ‘I grew up wanting to be acknowledged by him. It never happened. When I came over here to meet my mother’s family I looked him up. It was an unpleasant meeting, and made me so glad to have my real father. I returned home with my tail between my legs, and continued receiving nothing but love from Dad.’
‘Hell, Elene. That’s awful.’
‘It was, but at the same time I have the most loving dad anyone could ask for.’ Twirling the half empty glass in her fingers, she seemed to ponder how much to tell him. ‘My mother was eighteen when she became pregnant with me. Her boyfriend immediately dumped her so she flew home and not long after met Jeff Lowe.’
A sour taste filled Mattia’s mouth. No woman should ever be treated so ruthlessly.
Her mouth twisted into a small smile. ‘Jeff Lowe is my real dad, and has been there for me all my life. When each of my sisters came along I was still daughter number one. He treats me how a father should treat his daughters.’
He couldn’t argue with the loyalty and fierceness in her voice. ‘Aimee’s one lucky little girl. You keep your word.’ Convincing Elene to move to Italy to be near him had just got harder. But they’d leave it for now, go inside and join his family. Mamma had softened towards Elene after that blunt statement earlier, saying to him that she was a gutsy lady who wasn’t afraid to state her mind. He agreed. Aimee would always be watched over, cared for, loved unconditionally wherever she was.
He wanted some of that. Hell, he wanted all of that and more. And not just with Aimee. But letting go the things that kept him on the straight and narrow wasn’t coming easily when there was so much mistrust in his past. He reached for her arm, removed the glass from her shaking hand and said, ‘Come on. Dessert and the family are waiting for us.’
Doubt filled her face and eyes, her stance. ‘Really?’
‘Really. You don’t think Sofia and Alessia would’ve dragged you off for a conflab if they didn’t want to get to know you better in the nicest possible way, do you?’
‘They were very friendly.’
‘Bet they had a hundred questions that weren’t all about why we’re here.’ Those two had formed a strong bond from the moment they’d met, as if they needed each other to keep from being swamped by his over-enthusiastic and demanding family. Elene could do worse than joining their ranks. A lot worse.
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE SUN WAS bright and her feet skipped as Elene made her way down the hill on Monday morning. The Tyrrhenian Sea was so blue it looked like something off a paint chart. Ferries were shuttling back and forth along the coast, moving the first waves of eager tourists. Mattia had offered to drive her to the unit for her first day on the job but she liked being out amongst the locals, taking in the sights and sounds of Sorrento. Being Italian.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee had her stopping at the café where locals were ordering their morning fix. She chattered to people as she waited for her cappuccino, happy to be a part of the scene. Could she do this on a regular basis? Live here, become involved with the community, raise Aimee as a local? It wouldn’t be impossible, or uncomfortable. Danielle had hinted she wouldn’t object to her daughter growing up in Italy.
The moment Elene walked onto the ward she felt at home. Nursing did that to her, no matter where she was. People in need of care were her specialty, and it didn’t matter if they were young or old, rich or poor; pain and illness affected everyone the same. Being here added to the sense of being in the right place. Sorrento was pulling her in with its promise of sun, laughter, friendly people—and Mattia. The real sticking point. Falling under his spell, she could almost believe she might be able to risk her heart again, while his mountain of distrust would take a monumental leap to get over. Might pass on that. She’d probably miss the landing spot.
‘Hi, Colleen,’ she said to the charge nurse she’d met briefly yesterday when Mattia brought her in on their way home from Naples. ‘Where do you want me?’
‘Hello, did you bring two of those?’ Colleen nodded to the take-away coffee in her hand.
‘Tell me how you have it and I’ll get you one tomorrow.’
‘Black. Let’s find you a uniform before I introduce you to our patients. I’ve rostered you to look after Gino since he hasn’t stopped singing your praises. Then there’s Joanna, who had pancreatic surgery yesterday. But how it works around here, we all keep an eye on everyone.’
‘No problem. Is Gino walking on those crutches yet?’
‘No.’ Colleen shook her head. ‘That’s another reason he’s yours this morning. You had him moving once Mattia got him out of bed so I’m hoping you’ll be able to continue with that.’
‘Why doesn’t he want to get walking?’ Most people who had hip replacements couldn’t wait to be up and about after months or years being incapacitated.
Colleen sighed. ‘Some of our patients don’t have much to go home to. Having three decent mea
ls a day can be a huge step up. Others don’t have someone at home to look after them while they recuperate.’
‘That’s sad.’ She’d never known what it was like to go without, but she had done her share of helping those who did by working in the second-hand goods shop to raise funds. ‘Everyone’s entitled to the basics.’
‘Entitled, maybe, but getting them is another story. Which is why Mattia is fierce about keeping this place going. Here, put these on.’
Another reason he’d loathe to relocate to her side of the world. The list was growing in his favour. Strange how that wasn’t tipping her into despair, instead focusing her on what was most important—Aimee. ‘How long have you worked here?’
‘Nearly two years. I was working full-time at the main hospital and decided to volunteer here instead. My husband’s a general surgeon and contributes time when required. We moved out from Ireland for the warmth and lifestyle, and have no intention of ever returning.’
‘Why would anyone when it’s so beautiful?’ Remember that in the bleak moments. Living here wouldn’t be hard. She could rent an apartment nearby, work paid hours at the hospital and put in some extra here. And miss her family. Elene’s heart squeezed. Last night she’d talked to her mother for nearly an hour, and then one of her sisters rang and it had been late when she finally went to bed. Her youngest sister was turning twenty-one tomorrow and she wouldn’t be there for the celebrations. Homesickness hit, then she remembered why she was here and pushed it away. Aimee would never know what it was like to be rejected by those nearest and dearest. Never.
‘You’re staying with Mattia, right?’
‘I am.’ That was all she had to say on the matter. ‘Right, let’s go see Gino.’
He saw her coming from across the room. ‘Buongiorno, Elene. They told me you were coming in today. I’m glad to see you.’
