Now I feel bad as I watch her wipe a tear from her eyes.
“I’m sorry Pippa. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that it’s been my brother and me for a long time, well when he’s around, and sometimes it feels strange being part of a family again. Ramon keeps telling me I’m part of his family.” I smile or at least I think it’s a smile. My whole body feels numb and I’m not sure what I’m doing.
“Thank you for telling me, and please know you will always be welcome in my home and I should imagine this one, even if things don’t work out with Ramon.” Her face-hardens up now. “He should be here with you. If he knew you were in trouble, like I overheard Lucien mention, then he shouldn’t have gone off on business. He’s going to be answering to me when he gets home.”
I snort. Yeah, very lady like I know, but it makes Pippa laugh, which sets me off except I end up in tears. Pippa pulls me close and wraps her arms around me.
“Now, now, honey. You’re safe now. My boys won’t let anything happen to you.” She strokes my hair down my back, which makes me cry harder. Having a mother’s arms holding me tight, undoes me.
I cry for myself, for Noah, for my parents. I cry for the heartache I know I’ve caused Sebastian, not just today when he heard me crash, but for all the time he was tormented with me being with his brother.
It feels like I’ve been crying for hours, but in reality I’ve only been crying about five minutes. My tears finally start to dry up for now so I pull back and wipe my eyes before blowing my nose and offer Pippa an embarrassed smile.
“Why don’t you go and wash your face before the EMT’s arrive, they should be here soon.” Pippa pats my hand as I pull myself together and head off to the guest bathroom feeling my body start to ache even more than before.
After splashing cold water on to my bruised face, I walk back to the living room and collect my coffee before walking to the window, waiting for Sebastian. I need his arms around me, holding me tight, telling me how much he loves me.
I know everyone in the room is watching me, probably for signs of a breakdown, but I’ve already done that and will probably do it again big time when Sebastian gets here. Hopefully his family won’t be too pissed about us, because when he gets here there isn’t going to be any doubt in anyone’s mind as to whom I’m with.
“Are you feeling a bit better, Carla,” Pippa asks me, coming to stand at the window with me.
Before I can answer, I hear a car come to a screeching halt outside. I jerk at the sound, fear lancing through me, but as I glance outside to see Sebastian jumping from the car, a small whimper of relief escapes my throat.
All I know is that the man I thought I’d never see again is here for me. I don’t think. I just slam my mug of coffee down onto the windowsill and walk as quickly as my damaged and sore body will take me towards the front door, leaving Pippa stunned, watching my reaction.
I pull the door open just as Sebastian runs up the front steps. Seeing me standing there, his eyes fill with unshed tears as he walks towards me, taking my face into his hands in a lover’s caress.
“Hold me,” I whisper as his eyes run over me.
“I’m frightened of hurting you,” he tells me, his voice hoarse with his upset.
I shake my head and reaching up, I break the hold he has on my face and wrap my arms around his neck as his arms go around my waist. He pulls me into his body and holds me real tight as I start to cry against his chest.
“God baby. I love you,” he mumbles into my neck, which is starting to feel wet.
Chapter 26
Sebastian
I finally have Carla in my arms and I’m never letting her go. My hands shake as I hold her tight while my tears flow from my eyes onto her neck.
My family is probably witnessing our reunion and my coming undone, but I don’t give a shit. I very nearly lost the woman I love today. I pull her even closer and just stop myself from caressing over her body to make sure that it’s all still intact, still perfect.
“Sebastian, I’m not sure what’s going on, but you could do with coming inside.”
My mom. She’ll want an explanation and I don’t blame her. I just wish we’d had the chance to tell her before she found out about us like this.
Unwilling to let go of Carla, I pick her up in my arms and carry her to one of the armchairs, sinking down into it with her arms still wrapped around my neck and her face buried in my chest while I position her comfortably on my lap.