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GABRI DE ANGELIS FOUND Rafe already waiting for him in the garden sitting on a wooden bench. He was still not sure how he was going to break the news to her about Eden being at the house and bringing Bronte to Italy for an unplanned visit.
Gabri had made a call to the doctor right after Eden left his office. He told the doctor what was happening. She advised short visits or if they needed to be longer, monitored visits to make sure Rafe was not put into a position that might derail her progress. Rafe had made great strides since she got back home to Firenze. On the outside, it looked like Rafe was back to her old self, but Gabri knew looks could sometimes be deceiving. Right now, Rafe had no pressures or stressors to cause her problems. No so-called friends who might cause her problems, Gabri thought.
When Gabri brought Rafe home in November, she was very weak, so she spent time keeping her mind busy with positive things. She read books from the library, looked at art, and took paints and notebooks to paint or draw in gardens. Rafe loved talking to the workers in the olive grove. As she gained strength, Rafe helped the workers lay out nets and shake the branches of the olive trees in the olive grove. She began wandering the vineyards, tasting wine with the winemaker, and watching him test the soils and wines. She even tried helping with the beehives and collecting honey and watching the beekeeper make candles from the honeycomb. On good days, she would exhaust herself helping with jobs around the estates. On other days, she would spend her time working with her therapist and drawing to help chase away the demons.
The nights and days Rafe didn’t have positive thoughts were agonizing. There were times when Rafe wouldn’t sleep for days because of dark thoughts and dreams. Gabri and the doctor tried several things to help her sleep and finally had to resort to medication. It was a difficult decision because of the worry Rafe would become addicted. They even agreed that Gabri would hold the pills to make sure Rafe didn’t take them too often.
Eventually, Rafe ventured out of the estate holdings and into the city. She walked the streets of her childhood again and visited the shops and museums. Rafe even traveled to construction sites that interested her to look over and talk to the people on the sites. This inspired her to write a paper and a couple of articles she said she might let someone actually look at someday. So far, Rafe would only show them to Nora. She spent a lot of time with Nora, and it was clear to Gabri they loved each other, which made him very happy.
Rafe had even been out to a few parties and made some new friends. But there were still days when Rafe did nothing and couldn’t get out of bed without help and encouragement. It had been a long time since she had such a day, and Gabri hoped it meant she was out of the worst part of her illness and back to her bright life and future. Then today, with the appearance of Eden, his hope was put on hold. He was worried the situation would pull Rafe back down again.
Gabri sat down next to Rafe and sighed as he patted her leg. “This garden is inspiring,” he said with a slight smile.
“I think you’re right,” said Rafe thoughtfully as she looked out over the beautiful garden. “I’m thinking of painting it for Nora,” she said softly. “Do you think she’ll like a painting of it?”
“I think she would love anything you gave her,” he said, knowing it was true. He chuckled. “I think she is even more in love with you than I am.”
“I’m still irresistible!” Rafe laughed then leaned into Gabri and closed her eyes, grateful for his comfort. “Something happened today,” she said softly. “It was kind of a shock, but I handled it.”
“Tell me everything, Eroina,” he said softly and put his arm around her.
“I saw my friend Julia from America outside the Uffizi,” she revealed and felt Gabri stiffen at the news then relax. “She said she was here with a friend. I got away as fast as I could. I think I was rude, though,” she said with a sigh. “I was just caught off guard.”
Gabri took a moment to calm himself before speaking. He should have known Eden would not be here alone. He refocused his mind on Rafe. “Do you want to talk with her again? You can, you know, if you think you’re ready.”
Rafe shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t know. All I could think was—I needed to get away. I’ve been trying not to think about her... and the others. I’ve been doing what you and the doctor tell me. Just focusing on me and getting well. I think about Bronte all the time, though. I think Julia could tell me how she’s doing.”
“You know how she’s doing,” said Gabri softly. “We have the videos Katheryn has sent and photos.”
“Yes,” Rafe agreed, “but I don’t know if she remembers me or if she still loves me.”
Gabri hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. “Of course she does,” he said gently. He knew now there was no doubt he had to tell her Bronte was here. He could see not telling her would be the worst thing he could do.
“I think she could tell me how Eden’s doing,” Rafe said softly. “I know you don’t want me to, but I think about her a lot too. I have to think about her to work through some of my problems. And I can’t help it.”
Gabri smiled and laughed softly. “I know you can’t,” he said and ran his hand over her hair. “It’s okay to think about her. I know you’re still searching for answers and have been working on them in therapy and on your own. Just remember you have to think of yourself too.”
“I know,” said Rafe with a sigh and closed her eyes again.
Gabri sat with her quietly for a while trying to reign in his anger and annoyance with Eden for possibly creating an unhealthy situation for Rafe. Gabri knew he had to tell Rafe, so he would just do it and help her as he could. “I have something to tell you, and it may shock you,” Gabri said gravely.
Rafe sat up with concern on her face. “Is everything okay?”
Gabri could not help but smile at how deep her concern was for him. He didn’t understand why people couldn’t see how vulnerable she was and how everything affected her and made her want to make everything better.
“Everything is fine,” he assured her. “I had an unexpected visitor today.” He hesitated and looked into her eyes full of anticipation. “It was Eden,” he said softly and watched Rafe look down and tremble slightly. “She said she needed to talk with you.” He waited for a response, but Rafe just sat silently. “You don’t have to see her. I can tell her to go home and to give you more time.”
Rafe looked up at Gabri with searching eyes. “Do you think they’re here. . .” she paused, “together? Eden and Julia?”
Gabri nodded. “I think it is most likely. Eden didn’t mention Julia to me, but it makes sense.”
“Julia didn’t mention Eden,” said Rafe. “Why do you think she wouldn’t tell me Eden was here?”
“I don’t know,” he said and could see Rafe trying to figure out her own question.
“She should have told me,” said Rafe with a frown.
“I have to tell you something more.” He paused. “Eden has brought Bronte to see you.”
“She has?” asked Rafe and wiped a tear away at the news. She took a breath and ran her hands through her hair. “I was hoping she could come after Nora’s baby was born so they could meet,” she said with a sad smile. “Do you think Eden will let her come back then?”
Gabri smiled to reassure her. “I hope so. They will be great friends,” he predicted then hugged her. “I talked to the doctor about everything, and you should talk to her too.” He watched Rafe nod her silent agreement. “She suggests short visits or monitored visits if they need to be longer, in case Eden pushes you.”
Rafe looked up at Gabri again, not sure if she wanted to see Eden with or without time limits or monitoring. “Did Eden say what she wanted to talk to me about,” she asked shakily. “Maybe if I knew, I’d be more prepared.”
“She didn’t say,” he said with a shrug. “She just said she needed to talk with you in person.”
“In person,” Rafe repeated and rubbed her temples.
“Don’t worry about what she wants to say,” he said gently. “If you want, I can look through the emails she’s sent. I’ve kept them all for you. Maybe she mentions what she wants to say in one.”
“No, no,” said Rafe with concern. “You shouldn’t read them.”
She didn’t want him to read the emails Eden and the others had sent. She knew most of them were probably pleading for her to come home or were full of angry words about Gabri. She stopped reading them after a few weeks because Gabri and the doctor threatened to take away her computer and phone if she didn’t stop reading them and stop listening to voice messages. The doctor said it was not good for her right then. She had forwarded all her email and voicemail accounts so Gabri had control of them. He, in turn, put all Eden and her other friends’ emails into a particular folder without opening them. Others he took care of and forwarded important ones to her new account. Voicemails he listened to and handled how he saw fit. Rafe created new accounts for Italy but received very few calls or emails now.
“What else did she say?” she asked hesitantly.
“She wanted to know how you were doing and wants to see how you are for herself,” he said unable to contain his exasperated sigh. “I told her you were doing well, but she still wants to see you in person.”
“Is that all?” she asked softly.
“It is all she said to me about why she is here,” he said with a nod. “She left her contact information. I can tell her no. You don’t have to see or talk to her. I can see if only Bronte can visit. I’m sure Nora would love to meet her.”
Rafe looked up at Gabri with worry. “Does Nora know Eden and Bronte are here?”
“No,” said Gabri. “Only you, me, and Stefano.”
“I don’t think I want Nora to know yet,” said Rafe shakily. “I don’t want her to get upset if I don’t get to see Bronte. I don’t know if I want her to meet Eden if she doesn’t let me see Bronte alone.”
“Rafaella,” said Gabri and took her shoulders then looked into her eyes. “It is not your job to keep Nora from being upset.” He shook his head sadly. “But you will have to decide to tell her about everything or not. Just don’t make it about her feelings. Make it about your own. Then, if you decide you want her to know, talk to her, and see how she feels. She can decide for herself if she wants to be there or not. She loves you deeply, and I think she may surprise you.”
“Okay, I’ll think about it,” Rafe agreed. “I’ll think about it.” She felt the warmth from Gabri’s hands go away as he released her. “Do you think Eden knows about New York?”
“I don’t know,” Gabri answered and was quiet for a while. “If you talk with her, are you going to tell her?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “It caused her a lot of pain, and I think maybe knowing will help her.”
Gabri leaned his head back trying not to show his frustration at Rafe thinking she should tell Eden about New York to help Eden rather than to help herself.
It had taken months to unwind Rafe’s belief she’d had an affair. During those months, they had to reconcile what had actually happened and what was false and manifesting as her memory, then showing up in her dreams. It was the first time anyone ever had to challenge Rafe’s truth because it was hurting her. It was terrifying and messy and one of the hardest things Gabri had ever had to see Rafe go through.
Holding onto the belief that she’d had an affair seemed the root of most of her issues with Eden. Once they took those beliefs away, it was easier to help her with other things causing her torment, especially her thoughts she had to protect Eden from death.
They had also worked on a few of the things to do with Eden and the Stewards still haunting Rafe’s dreams and caught in her mind. Gabri gave the doctor all the information from the attorney and Rafe’s doctors in America, and it was decided most of those things could be worked on when Rafe was able to think more clearly about them. When her memories were corrected, and her PTSD was under control, they began to work on those issues, but they were far from resolved. There were still other issues with long roots not so easily traced and addressed without causing more grief.
They hadn’t talked about if Rafe would try to reconcile with Eden or if she would only work to be a good co-parent to Bronte. But now, with Eden’s unexpected visit, they might have to delve in before Rafe was ready. This filled Gabri with worry.
Gabri could see Rafe’s thoughts were starting to get dark, and she was withdrawing. He gave her a nudge to get her attention. “Think tomorrow,” he commanded. “We’ve been invited to a party tonight. The music festival will be starting soon, and everyone is meeting for a party to celebrate,” he said, grinning and forcing himself to sound excited. “I need you to come and dance with me,” he said as he pulled her up from the bench. “I will be the most famous musician because I have you by my side!” He laughed and drew her into a dance move.
Laughing, Rafe danced with Gabri down the path to the villa. “All Firenze will celebrate us!” She laughed. “The angel and his wild dancer!”
