Because Of Love

Months later…

Talia waited until they were a few feet away from the nursery before she spoke. “You know you don’t have to come back to Boston with me.”

Carrie pouted. “How can I not? You’re my best friend, and I love you.”

“But you love him too.”

She nodded with a heavy sigh.

Who would have thought Carrie and Angelo would fall for each other? They were complete opposites with nothing in common. He was always serious, and Carrie was only serious at work, the rest of the time Talia always wondered if she was auditioning for court jester.

But their friends with benefits relationship that had begun when she was in a coma, knowing Carrie maybe before-Carrie had always used sex to forget situations that scared her, ever since her parents’ died in a car accident-had blossomed into a serious relationship. They were genuinely happy together. And that was to end just because Rafe wanted to move his family to the States, no way!

Talia looked at her left hand, where her wedding ring sat on her third finger and smiled. They were married a week after she was released from the hospital with just Carrie, Angelo and the twins as witnesses. Her mother had flown back home the same day she woke up from her coma when Talia wouldn’t punish Rafe for his father’s mistakes.

Carrie was right, her mother was jaded. And if Talia hadn’t followed Rafe, there was a huge chance she would have been the same way twenty-five years later. Her mother needed to heal from what her father had done before she could let anyone else in. Talia included.

Rafe had told her about his father’s ploy and Renaldo’s part in it. He had expected Talia to blame him, hate him even, but after all she’d gone through, she saw it wasn’t worth it. Yes, she was angry, but not at Rafe, at his family.

As terrible as it may sound, it made everything easier knowing that his family wouldn’t be coming over to their home for Sunday dinners and such. He had cut off all contact with them. She felt a little guilty that all his mother’s calls had gone unanswered. Once Renaldo had spent the night outside the main gates, begging to be let in so that he could apologize but Rafe ignored him. She found it hard to sleep that night but Rafe didn’t.

That side of him frightened her. She needed to do something about it.

They were sitting in the large living room snacking when the doorbell rang. Carrie stood up and went to the monitor at the door that showed a view of the main gate several meters away and yelled, “Talia, you’ll never guess who’s at your door!”

“Who?”

“The Adam’s family. The nerve of these people! I’ll tell them to leave.”

“No,” Talia took a moment to think about what she was doing before she stood up and walked out to the foyer. “Let them in.”

“What?” Carrie exclaimed in shock.

“Signora…” the butler began his protest, but Talia shook her head silencing him.

“How long are we going to hide from them? It’s time to face the dragon, Lorenzo.”

“And signore?”

Carrie crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, Signore Rafe will blow his top when he finds out you let them into your house. And what if they are here to pick another fight and Rafe isn’t here to back you up?”

“You’re all the backup I need and, besides, it’s time I face them on my own.”

Carrie cursed under her breath and pressed the button by the door that opened the gate. “Lorenzo, why don’t you eavesdrop and if you think we need help, call Rafe and Angelo.”

“Si signorina,” he answered, disappearing down the long hallway.

Talia loved Rafe’s dream home, except for the fact that it was too big and too hotel like. She’d been working to make it more of a home, even though they wouldn’t be living in it long.

Talia listened as a car pulled up and doors opened and shut before the engine revved again as the valet drove the car to the guest parking. The Chinese door knocker rapped on the large Chinese door three times before Lorenzo appeared again-the phone in his hand-and pulled the heavy door open revealing four people.

“Wonderful!” Carrie mumbled next to her.

Why, Talia couldn’t understand but she was consumed with the intense desire to laugh.

She bit her lips closed and swallowed the laugh before she spoke, “Signore and Signora DeLuca, Renaldo and of course Gabriella, welcome to my home.”

Carrie snorted, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Please come into the living room,” Talia continued, ignoring her.

“Aren’t you the perfect hostess,” Carrie’s snide comment was followed by her stomping into the living room.

Talia swallowed another urge to laugh as the group followed Carrie and she took up the rear. She shook her head and prayed for strength before she followed.

Renaldo and his mother were seated with their heads down on the lavish couch with their backs to the large window and Signore DeLuca sat adjacent to them on the seat Rafe had declared his, facing the exit of the room.

It was a good thing Rafe isn’t here, she thought with a sigh.

And Princess Gabriella stood behind him by the fireplace looking like she was bored already.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Talia moved into the room to stand next to Carrie who was staring them all down like she was waiting for them to attack.

“So, as much as I’m honored by your visit, why are you here?”

“Honored? More like plagued!” Carrie retorted.

Rafe’s father shot out of the chair. “I’ve had enough of your snide remarks, young lady!”

“Well then, allow me to show you to the door!” Carrie yelled back.

“Honestly, you people have no respect,” Gabriella commented dryly.

“What do you mean ‘you people’?” Carrie challenged, taking a step towards her.

Talia held onto Carrie’s arm. “Okay, there will be no fighting. I already had one home trashed, I’m not willing to have another.”

Renaldo cringed visibly at her comment, his hands held tightly in his lap. It was hard to believe that he was related to Rafe. His father was a monster but she could see his relation to Rafe in their cruel temperament but Renaldo, he seemed adopted.

“Signora DeLuca, how may I help you?” Talia asked, making the lady look up from her lap.

She looked at her husband for a moment then back to her lap. She straightened her skirt and cleared her throat before she looked up at Talia. “We need your help.”

“Well well well,” Carrie started in a sing song voice, “Why would that be?”

Signore DeLuca’s hands fisted at his sides at Carrie’s taunt. Talia chose to ignore it, dragging her to the couch that sat opposite the one Renaldo and his mother occupied and forcefully brought Carrie down to sit beside her.

“Why do you need my help?”

Signora DeLuca looked unsurely at her husband who’d taken his seat before she looked back at Talia.

Talia gave her an encouraging smile to proceed, hoping Carrie would keep her mouth shut.

“Rafael left the company two months ago taking Angelo with him and over half the staff. He started a rival company that all our clients have moved to. Even the investors have pulled out, opting to join Rafe.” She swallowed visibly, blinking back tears.

All that in just two months? Well, Rafe had always been an overachiever and determined. Like a dog with a bone.