She has a point, Grandpa Andrade. If you’re here, do something useful and help Gio find whatever it is he’s looking for.
Julia’s cell phone rang in her purse and she screamed. She scrambled to take it out, dropped it, picked it back up, then screamed again when it rang in her hands.
I am such an idiot.
Caller ID showed a blocked number.
She hesitated, then laughed again as it continued to ring. What do I think, this is a call from the other side? More likely it’s a telemarketer trying to sell me a place in Italy because some cookie I downloaded is announcing my location.
Julia gave herself a mental shake and answered her phone. “Hello?”
“I’m disappointed in you, Julia.”
Another chill went down Julia’s back. Worse than a specter . . . “Mrs. Andrade, what a . . . surprise . . . to hear from you.”
Her hand went protectively to her throat. Although she had done nothing wrong, Julia spun to make sure she was still alone and almost screamed again when she saw Gio standing just behind her. She covered her mouth with one hand.
Mountain climbers shouldn’t be afraid of heights.
And women who run halfway around the world with men they recently met shouldn’t be so jumpy. Be calm. Sophisticated. I’ve got this.
He nodded toward the phone and mouthed, “Who is that?”
Julia froze. Say something. Don’t just stare at him. Her mind raced for a lie or an explanation, but none came. She held the phone out awkwardly, completely at a loss for what to say.
Gio took it and pressed the speakerphone button.
No.
“Are you alone?” his mother asked.
Gio’s eyes narrowed as he recognized his mother’s voice. He looked to Julia for an explanation, but all she could do was shrug. This isn’t good. His mother already doesn’t like me. I’m pretty sure this won’t help. She made a grab for her phone, but Gio held it just out of her reach. She pleaded with her eyes for him to give her the phone, but he nodded for her to answer his mother.
“Are you daft, girl? It’s an easy yes or no question.”
Gio held her eyes, willing her to do the unthinkable. This isn’t right. But what she said to me back in New York wasn’t right, either. Maybe he has the right to know what his mother is up to. “Yes, I’m alone.”
In a cutting tone she said, “I tried to be nice to you, Julia. You should have taken my offer. A smart girl would have. Now you’ll come back to nothing. After I tell Gio about you, he won’t give you the time of day.”
A deep frown settled over Gio’s expression. His eyes were cold and unreadable. Barely above a whisper, Julia said, “There’s nothing to tell.”
“The truth is what I say it is. He won’t believe you over me.”
A deep fury contorted Gio’s features. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Mother.”
“Gio.” Her voice jumped an octave as she said his name. Then it quickly became conciliatory. “I’m trying to protect you, that’s all. It’s obvious this girl is only after our money.”
“What’s obvious is that I can no longer believe anything you tell me,” Gio said coldly and hung up.
Julia hugged her stomach. Although a small part of her felt his mother had earned whatever grief her actions had brought her, the scene she’d just witnessed broke her heart. Her love for her own mother, and her sadness as the woman who had raised her so well slipped away, made her want to shake both of them. Call her back. Tell her you love her. Give her a chance to apologize.
Gio stared down at the phone. His hand tightened on it until the case cracked from the pressure. He threw the broken phone over the banister in disgust.
“Oh,” Julia exclaimed involuntarily as she grabbed for it.
He looked back at her.
Julia watched the phone bounce once, then shatter on the floor below. I did tell him that throwing things was a good way to express anger. I just didn’t know he’d start with my stuff. “It’s fine. I mean, who would I need to call anyway, right?”
“I’ll get you another phone.”
Julia looked over her shoulder at him. “It’s not a big deal.”
“I said I’d replace it.”
“Do what you want to do. That’s what you do anyway.”
“Are we actually arguing about your damn phone?”
Julia clung to the railing with both hands. Watching him fight with his mother had made her angry. And feel as helpless as she felt each time she spoke with her own mother. But Gio’s mother wasn’t sick. They didn’t have to do this to each other. They still had time, if they chose to work things out. “Yes, because it didn’t have to happen like this. You should have given the phone back to me when I asked for it.”
“And when she came to me with lies about you? What then?”
“Maybe she wouldn’t have.” When Gio looked at her doubtfully, Julia threw her hands up in the air. “I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that life is short and cruel. If you love her at all, figure out why she’s angry. Appreciate that you have something not everyone does—time to fix things. Do you know what I’d give to have my mother fully back with me for even one day? I’d give anything to sit down with her and know she knew me. And not because my father told her who I was, but because she actually remembered me and our lives together.” Julia stopped and wiped a tear from her cheek. She hadn’t intended to say any of that. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled her to him and simply hugged her. “Don’t be.” He rested his chin on her forehead. After a moment he asked, “What did she mean when she said you should have accepted her offer?”
“Does it matter?” she hedged.
“Yes.”
“Why? The details won’t change what you know.”
“Julia.” He said her name in a tone that meant he wasn’t giving up until she told him everything.
Julia closed her eyes and said, “She offered me two hundred thousand dollars if I went back to Rhode Island instead of coming to the wedding with you.”
He held her back from him and searched her face. “The exact amount you need to save your father’s business.”
“Yes,” Julia said hoarsely. There was a look in his eyes she’d seen before. It filled her with a warmth she fought against.
Don’t start imagining he’s falling in love.
Don’t do that to yourself.
“But you didn’t take it,” he said softly.
Her breath caught in her throat. “I promised I’d come here with you.”
With a groan, he lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed the curve of her neck. He raised his head, his eyes full of desire. For a moment she thought he was going to say something, then his mouth descended on hers, claiming it with an intensity that had her sagging against him with pleasure. His tongue was hot and demanding, encircling hers possessively. His hands sought the zipper of her gown. Their kiss paused just long enough for him to undo it. He held the dress as she stepped out of it, then dropped it over the banister.