CHAPTER 3 Hints Of The Trouble
1487 Words
Evelyn
"I can't believe it's him," I chuckled softly as I looked at the picture. "He doesn't look fifteen at all. Even his height was... too small."
"You see it too, right?" Rosaline flipped to the next page of the album, her smile never fading. "Here, see, this was when he won his first basketball trophy. Look at the smile on his face, così adorabile."
"Aww... Jacob was such a baby," I mused, unable to hide my smile.
"Don't 'aww' me," he groaned, making an attempt to snatch the album, but Enzo stopped him as he plopped down beside him on the couch.
"Why so frustrated, my boy?" Enzo laughed, handing him a glass of wine, and offering one to me as well. "Evelyn deserves to see your childhood pictures, non è vero?" (Translation: Isn't that true?)
"That's not childhood, Dad," he scowled, almost trying to hide his embarrassment. "That's a deformed teenage period! Totally screwed up."
"Hey, you looked cute," I spoke up. "I admit your height was a little too... short, but I wouldn't say there was anything else bad about it. Look at you..." I raised a picture of him holding a cricket bat. "You look so precious."
"Cute, il mio sedere," he rolled his eyes, and Enzo slapped the back of his head, immediately earning a groan from him. (Translation: Cute, my arse.)
"Che cazzo!" (Translation: What the f**k!) He looked at Enzo in bewilderment while I tried to hold my laughter. No matter how manly he had become, I loved and absolutely enjoyed the sight of him being treated like a child by Rosaline and Enzo.
"Be grateful for how you looked because if you had seen my pictures, you'd have hung yourself with something," Enzo tsked, sipping on his wine. "I didn't gain any height until I was nearly seventeen. Everyone used to call me 'fatso,' but you, you at least looked cute."
"Where are the pictures, by the way?" Jacob's interest suddenly shifted as he looked at Rosaline.
"He burned them," she chuckled, "He was too embarrassed about it, and, to be honest, I can't blame him for that decision."
"You were that ugly, Dad?" Jacob now looked at him.
"Unfortunately, yes," Enzo released a sigh, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Here, Evelyn...see this picture," Rosaline flipped to another page, plucking out a picture of Jacob wearing a dress.
Oh my god! Holy s**t!
"What?!" A laugh slipped past my lips as I looked at it. Someone had even smeared lipstick on his pretty lips. "Why did he dress like that? Did he have a thing for girly stuff?"
"Mom, I don't think you should do this to me, put those pictures back!" Jacob stood up, frustrated, but Enzo pulled him down so that he would be seated in his place once again.
"Bianca forcefully dressed him like that," Rosaline chuckled. She clearly loved looking at these pictures. "He's even wearing eyeliner, see..." She pointed to his eyes, and I could see the misshapen lines on both of his eyelids.
"Well, Jacob, your green eyes are really popping," I whistled softly as I looked at Jacob, who only scoffed.
"I'll email Samuel today to get some of yours, Evelyn. You're having too much fun with this."
"I don't care, even if I have any terrible pictures, you've already seen them," I shrugged, scrolling through his pictures as Rosaline gladly showed me more, completely ignoring Jacob. "So for now, I'll look at yours and enjoy."
"Mom, when are you going to stop?"
Lord. It was so easy to get on his nerves.
"Not anytime soon," she shook her head before plucking out another picture, "See this one, it was on his sixteenth birthday. You see his red eyes and cheeks? He was crying because he missed his mom..." her voice softened, and so did her expression.
The smile on my face faded. I didn't know why my hand shook as I held the picture and examined it. His eyes were full of tears, and his nose was red.
Gosh....
My gaze shifted to Jacob, and I could see that his smile had also vanished. Enzo cleared his throat, attempting to be the only one in the room who didn't get emotional.
Jacob had been through a lot at a young age.
He didn't deserve any of it.
"I love you..." I mouthed, my eyes softening, and he flashed me the softest of smiles.
"I love you too..." he mouthed back.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He pulled it out, a look of concern crossing his face as he checked the screen. "Guys, I have to take this. Please excuse me, and yes, my photos too. I'd be very grateful to all three of you if you do that," he walked out of the room, leaving the three of us in the room.
Rosaline's eyes shifted to me after he left.
"He loves you a lot, Evelyn. He's never brought anyone to meet us, and you're the first," she held my hands. "I have just one request to make. Can I ask you for something?"
"Of course, Rosaline. You can; please don't hesitate."
"My Jacob has been through a lot, starting with his previous parents and then a terrible partner, and so on," she spoke, her voice shaky and eyes teary. "But you know, he's a good man, and he has a good heart too. So...please stay with him through thick and thin and keep him happy, just like this. Before you, I hadn't seen him so happy. You've changed his life, Evelyn. I promise, he'll be a better version of himself for you every day because that's who he is."
"He knows how to love right, Evelyn," Enzo spoke, flashing me a soft smile. "And he loves you, more than he's ever loved anyone before."
A smile broke on my face. They indeed loved him.
"I will keep him happy, Enzo. And Rosaline, I promise that I will never leave his side, no matter what. I will always be there for him, through the ups and downs, and the toughest of storms. I love him a lot...trust me, I love him more than my own life."
"My boy is lucky to have found someone like you, then," she smiled and caressed my cheek. "Thank you for coming into his life."
"And thank you for giving me your precious little son," I emitted a small chuckle as I lifted one of Jacob's images, and a laugh broke through her despite the tears. Enzo, too, ended up laughing.
"You are welcome," she wiped her tears and kissed my forehead. "Welcome to the family, Evie."
"Red wine is my favourite, so...I hope I'll find it on every visit."
"Your wish, our command," Enzo spoke up, making a bowing gesture with his hand. "You'll get a whole bottle every time you visit."
"That's more like it," I giggled before wiping the remnants of tears from Rosaline's face, and just then, Jacob walked back into the room.
"Sorry, Mom and Dad, we have to leave," he spoke, something suddenly missing from the smile on his face, as if it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I have an important meeting tomorrow, so I have to prepare some documents and stuff."
"Now? God! You two have just arrived," Enzo spoke up. "Can't you delay it?"
"No, Dad, it's important."
"I thought we were going to have dinner together," Rosaline sighed. "Can't you two stay for an hour more? Besides, it's Evelyn's first time here; you two should at least stay the night."
"I promise to bring her again, Mom," Jacob said, his eyes softening. "As soon as I'm done solving the issues within the company, I'll bring her. Trust me, she's staying in Italy for quite a while."
"You're going to bring her again, right? Promise?"
"Yes, Mom. I promise," he chuckled, walking over to her and kissing her temple. "Now, can I take my girlfriend and go back?"
"Fine, you can," she finally relented after a minute of debating. "But you better make it sooner."
"Okay, I will," he gently grabbed my hand and helped me stand up. "Let's go, baby."
"Is it about Ricci?" Enzo suddenly asked, a look of concern on his face.
Ricci? Now, who was that?
"Not at all, Dad. You know our feuds ended long ago, and he no longer meddles in my business," Jacob said, his hand slipping around my waist. "It's just a minor problem. Nothing to worry about."
"Okay, but don't hide it from me if things become too much," Enzo stood up and gave him a side hug, patting his back. "Take care of your lady, or else I'll give your arse a good thrashing."
Jacob chuckled. "I will, I promise."
I bid goodbye to both Rosaline and Enzo before we finally walked out of the house.
As Jacob guided me to his car, I found myself asking, "Who's Ricci?"
- Writer
