My Italian Doctor

Chapter Eleven

Sitting in the kitchen with Mamma and Aurora, filling them in on all the details. Once the secret was out, there was no point in keeping anything back. I told them all about the day that Rylie had headed into the restaurant full of tears, looking for Luca, only to find out that he had already returned to Italy with Amelia. I almost felt like I needed to excuse her for not telling everyone sooner. Telling them that she was desperate for Jellybean to have a relationship with all of her family and not end up like Rylie had, with a whole side of her family she knew nothing about.

Neither of the pair said a word, just sat there listening to every little detail. I even told them that I hadn't wanted her to come to Italy and that I had tried to discourage her but she wouldn't listen. I had always known the hurt it could cause her by trying to tell Luca the truth. Aurora seemed way more shocked than Mamma, but then I was certain Rylie had already shared some of the details with her. Although Mamma didn't seem like she needed to be told anything, she just had an odd skill at knowing what was going on.

I could imagine growing up as a teenager in her care being a nightmare. Never being able to hide even the slightest crime from her. I thought most mothers had that sort of skill when it came to their children, but Mamma's skills were so much more. Even Rylie and I couldn't hide our innermost thoughts from her. I was almost grateful that everyone's attention was on Rylie and her secrets, it meant no one was probing me for mine.

I could hear Lorenzo in the dining room trying to discharge the mass of guests. Most of the close family had taken their leave quickly, no doubt being in tune with the family enough to know it was best for them to excuse themselves. Some of the more distant members of the family were more persistent and asked questions. I didn't envy him for having to deal with it and knew he would be finding it hard. Mamma and Pops were so religious and although Mamma had made allowances for the times we were in, Pops hadn't. The idea that his son had a child on the way outside of wedlock, all while being engaged to someone else was just too much for him to handle.

Not only did he have issues with Luca's actions, but he also then having to be the face of the family when explaining the situation to everyone else. Although, no doubt he wasn't actually telling them the whole story. For the most part, no one would know Luca was even involved with Rylie's pregnancy. It was only those closest to him that would have spotted his reaction for what it was.

As he came into the kitchen he looked so tired. Like all his years had caught up with him in just a few short minutes. "The last guest has finally left. I'm heading out, work calls now there is no party to attend." Mamma just looked at him and nodded. She was clearly annoyed with him for his innermost thoughts but knew it was best for everyone for him to be out of the way. Luca would have enough stress to deal with, without the disappointment of his father.

"They're coming back now." Aurora ushered for us to join her at the kitchen window. We all watched open-mouthed as Luca carried Rylie along the field of vines. The pair looked like they were one person combined, it was so obvious to everyone around them that they were meant to be. I still had no idea how they could both be so clueless. Rylie looked like she was melting into his chest. Luca oozed protection, it was almost like I could see a bubble around them. As if he could repel any pain or danger that threatened her. When I saw them together like that I couldn't help but soften towards him.

All my anger seemed to fade away and all I wanted was for him to keep looking at her like that. It gave me hope among other things. Hope that one day someone would look at me like that, who knew it could even be George. I had missed him so much and it wasn't even like we hadn't talked. It felt like the second we stopped communicating I longed for him again. I felt ridiculous but also wonderful. I wondered if that was how Rylie felt when she was away from Luca.

We stepped back from the window as they got closer to the house and tried to act casually, failing completely. After he had deposited her on the chair, the three of us looked at her expectantly while Mamma started tending to the cut on her foot. Before she could even tell us anything, screaming erupted from the upstairs of the villa. Amelia was absolutely squealing at Luca. I tuned it out and returned my attention to Rylie, desperate for her to tell us that Amelia was history and Luca had seen sense at long last.

“I told him. Everything.”

“And?” The three of us seemed to demand the information all at the same time. I knew I was desperate for her to put me out of my misery.

“There isn’t much more to tell.” I knew she was lying, a complete stranger would have known she was lying with just a glance at her and the state of her dress.

“You both came in here caked in mud and your dress is ripped.” Aurora beat me to it, but we were all thinking the same thing. I had visions of passion overcoming them both and them rolling around in the dirt.

“Do I need to remind you what the doctor said?”

“No, Mamma.”

“What did the doctor say? What did I miss?” I suddenly felt like I had missed some vital information that should have been imparted to me for me to look after her properly.

“The doctor told her there should be no s****l relations, that’s all.” I scowled at Mamma slightly but only for a second, she soon shot me a look that made me back down, but I was still annoyed.

“You should have told me sooner. You should have seen the two of them earlier upstairs.”

“Right, you three, that is quite enough. I have not gone against the doctor’s orders in any way. That is as much as my s*x life gets discussed between you three. Is that clear?” I nodded as did Aurora and Mamma, but not one of us meant it. We were all too invested in the situation.

“That would have been after they left the kitchen then, Emily. It doesn’t surprise me at all. You should have seen the way they were before. They both seem to be completely clueless.” Mamma was right they were both so clueless.

“I agree Mamma, it was enough to make me believe in true love, but they don’t seem to see it.” It was true, the two of them seemed to be my only real representation of what love should look like.

“Emily seriously enough now, you were the one who was dead against it.” I was never against it, I was against his actions. I was all for them being together until he hurt her over and over again.

“That was before he left Amelia here to chase after you and you spent two hours rolling around in the mud together.”

“Emily, we just talked. To be specific, he said he hated me.” My temper flared again and I wanted to rip him to pieces for daring to utter those words to her, but Aurora beat me to it.

“I’ll kill him.”

“No Aurora, no interfering, no having a go and no pressuring him into anything. I mean it, I will never trust him again if you do. So, unless you three witches want to ensure we aren’t together ever again, I suggest keeping your noses out.”

We waited patiently for her to leave the room and head upstairs before we started up again. The chatter pretty much went around in circles about how stupid and stubborn they both were and how much we all wanted them to fix it and quickly.

When I went up to the room hours later I found them asleep together on the bed. They had obviously fallen asleep while watching TV. Rylie was snuggled into him and Luca had her completely in his grip. Even asleep he looked terrified to lose her, like the second he let his guard down she would run off. I could see how white his knuckles were from his hold on her. Seeing them there just made me miss George all the more.

It was best for me to be out of the way. It wasn't like I could climb in bed with them, which meant I needed to find somewhere else to sleep again. I headed back down the stairs after grabbing some of my things and chucking them into an overnight bag. Informing Aurora and Mamma of what I had seen on my way out of the door. I hoped that finally, they had gotten their act together. At least that would be one less thing for me to worry about if they had.