My Italian Doctor

Chapter Two

As I sat in the back of the car, I looked at Rylie. She looked exhausted. I tugged her arm slightly and encouraged her to lie herself down on my leg. I wanted to know what had happened at the hospital, but I couldn’t find out, not with Aurora in the car. It was obvious that somehow Mamma had found out about the baby, but I had no idea how much she knew.

Just as Rylie’s breathing started to level out, Aurora started staring at me in the rear-view mirror. “So, come on then, who is he?”

“I told you I don’t want to talk about it.”

“If I had a fit young doctor flirting with me, I would be screaming about it from the rooftops.” I sighed and prayed Rylie was already sound asleep. With the heartbreak she was going through, the last thing she needed was to hear about me meeting someone. Not that it was even a thing.

“It’s nothing. I will probably never see him again.”

“Then why did you take his card?” She raised her eyebrows at me. Rylie had said she was a gossip, but I really had underestimated the extent of her nosiness.

“I just did. I don’t know, I could hardly say no. As I said it was nothing, we just got a coffee. He was just being nice because he found me upset and worried about Rylie.”

“From what I saw, it was more than just a sympathy coffee.”

“It’s pointless talking about it. Rylie isn’t well. I need to be with her, not gallivanting around Italy.”

“Ah dear, you don’t need to worry about Rylie. We’re all here to look after her while she gets better.” Mamma had already made her excuses to Aurora about her having appendicitis and needing antibiotics. She had said that they just wanted to keep an eye on it but were confident surgery wouldn’t be necessary. For such a sweet old woman who was willing to look after Rylie when she barely knew her, she couldn’t half spin a lie when she needed to.

“Thank you, Mamma, but really, it was nothing.”

“Well, I think you should call him. You only live once. I could do with some juicy gossip.” Aurora was back to grilling me, but I wished I could lie down and sleep with Rylie. It would have been my only hope of escaping the grilling.

I was beyond relieved when the house came into view and I would be able to escape the interrogation. Although I was most annoyed to find Luca outside the house pacing. I couldn’t help but blame him for whatever Rylie was facing. The stress of what he was doing to her was just too much for her.

It was clear from the way she was before we left the hospital that she hadn’t told him about the baby. He seemed so concerned about her and I couldn’t understand how he could treat her so badly. He obviously cared about her. My thoughts were only reinforced more when I watched him lift her from the car and carry her inside.

I didn’t bother following them upstairs. Rylie needed her rest, and it was best for me to stay out of the way while she got it. I pulled my phone out of my pocket reluctantly and typed the number from the card into my phone.

Emily: Thank you for tonight. We’re back at my friend’s vineyard and Rylie is resting. I really am thankful you were so kind.

I didn’t even know what I expected to get back from him, but I needed to at least thank him. As Luca descended the stairs, I pocketed my phone. He walked straight over to me, but I was in no mood to talk to him. It was too hard to keep everything to myself. I had contemplated telling him about the baby myself. I was sure he would come to his senses once he knew.

“What happened at the hospital?”

“I don’t know. You will have to ask Momma.” I was being awkward and the anger I felt towards him was spilling out with each word.

“What’s with the hostility? We’re supposed to be friends.”

“That was before you treated Rylie the way you did.”

“She ended things, not me. None of that was my choice.”

“You’re being forced into married life, then?”

“No, but what do you expect? Rylie has made her feelings perfectly clear.”

“Yeah, I agree she has. You’re just too blind to see it.” I stormed off. I knew I had already said too much. I wanted to speak to Mamma before I turned in for the night, and I needed to find somewhere else to sleep. The last thing Rylie needed was me tossing and turning in my sleep.

I found Aurora in the kitchen making coffee and gratefully took her up on her offer of a cup. I couldn’t speak to Mamma until everyone else had gone to bed and I would need the caffeine to stay standing long enough for that.

“I’m sorry about teasing you in the car, but I meant what I said you should call him.”

“I’ve sent him a text so you can stop pestering me.” It was odd, I had barely known the woman for five minutes and already she felt like an annoying older sister. There was just something about Luca’s family that sucked everyone in. It made me wonder how he had ever managed to leave them and move to England.

“Good, you’re young and you deserve to have some fun.”

“And what, you’re some old spinster?”

“I have too much going on with work to even consider a relationship.”

“God, you sound so much like your brother.” She slapped at me from across the table.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so insulted.” To be fair to her, I wouldn’t have wanted to be compared to Luca, either. He used to seem like such a great bloke, but recently his choices made him seem like a complete jerk. I just wanted to scream at him all the time. It was even harder because I knew how they both felt about each other, but they were both too stupid to fix it and just be happy.

I felt a deep connection with Rylie. She was the only person that treated me the way she did. She didn’t expect me to be prim and proper or to be anything other than the person I wanted to be. Jellybean had forced us together, and it was the best thing that had happened to me. Without the baby, we would probably have never really spoken after she left the restaurant. I had a lot to thank my Goddaughter for.

My phone beeped and drew my attention away from my thoughts.

George: You’re welcome. Someone with a face as beautiful as yours should never be wearing tears on their cheeks. Thought any more about dinner? I mean it anytime, anywhere.

It was odd. Normally, that amount of cheesiness would have made me run a mile, but there was just something about him. Somehow, what should have seemed ridiculous, just seemed genuine, and it did strange things to my insides.

“Mystery man? Your face gave it away.”

“I’m going to stay up and text him for a bit, so don’t wait for me. I’m going to take the sofa tonight. I don’t want to wake Rylie.”

“Ok, well, I’m going to head up and leave you to it, but I want all the details in the morning.” With that, she left.

Emily: I can meet you tomorrow if you’re free.

George: Absolutely, I told you anytime, anywhere. Which vineyard are you staying on?

Emily: Mantovani Wine’s, it’s out in the sticks.

George: I know it, quite a big operation. It’s well-known in the area. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at seven.

I hadn’t planned to agree, but after what Mamma had said in the car, it made me realise that Rylie had plenty of people in her camp. She could spare me for one night. She probably wouldn’t even notice I was gone.

I put the phone down when Momma came into the room and seated herself at the table. I waited patiently as she told me what the doctors had said. I couldn’t believe it was quite so serious and they had let her leave.

“She’s out of danger for now, but she needs to be careful. I don’t know what I’m going to do with that son of mine, though.” I couldn’t quite decide if she knew or not, so kept my mouth shut. I just stared down at my empty coffee cup and hoped my face didn’t give me away.

“What’s he done now?”

“It’s alright dear, I already know he is the father. When you see them together, it is hard not to. It’s maddening seeing the obviousness of their connection and yet they seem completely unaware of each other’s feelings.”

“I know what you mean. Not much we can do about it, though.”

“I’m not sure about that. I will find a way, I always do. You should head to bed, dear.” I did as I was bid, but couldn’t help but wonder how Mamma planned to bring them together. I just hoped she could manage it.

Realising I hadn’t responded to him, I grabbed my phone again.

Emily: I’m going to bed now. I’ll see you tomorrow.

George: Sweet dreams.

If they were filled with him, then they would be very sweet indeed. I couldn’t believe the effect he had on me. I fell asleep full of excitement and hope, despite all the problems going on around me.