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MISSING HER AGAIN with every step carrying her away, Eden Kingsley watched Rafe Salvaggio until she was out of sight, and then she went back inside the room. Eden had been worried after her first visit with Rafe that she wouldn’t see her again, and today, she felt was a wonderful gift. What gave Eden the most hope, though, was the way Rafe kissed her and told her she loved her. She had been dreaming and thinking about being that close, and closer, to Rafe for a long time. Since before Rafe left for Italy. Today was a start to getting their life together back.
“That was awkward,” said Julia when Eden finally came back inside. “She barely made eye contact with you.”
“She’s trying,” said Eden, feeling great about everything. “We really did have a good day.”
“I’m glad things went well, but I think we need to talk,” said Julia firmly. She needed to take control and get Eden to open her eyes. “Come and sit down.”
Eden wasn’t sure why Julia was so unenthusiastic about today. She was able to spend time with Rafe. She got to be close to her and kiss her. She had a note in her pocket she couldn’t wait to read again saying Rafe was in love with her. She definitely wanted more, but at this point, she would take what she could get.
“What’s wrong?” Eden asked, fighting to stay positive as she promised herself and Dr. Cathcart she would do.
“What’s wrong?” Julia asked and tried not to scoff. She put her hand on Eden’s shoulder with sympathy. “She just told us she wasn’t coming home, and she didn’t know when she would be. I don’t think we have enough time to convince her to go home or to convince her friend Gabri to let her go. Are you prepared to go back home without her?”
“But she said she still loves me, and she misses Bronte so much,” said Eden pulling away and not wanting to believe what Julia was saying until she was sure. “How could Gabri keep her away from us? If he does, he’ll be the one being cruel.”
“I don’t think he’ll see it the way you do,” mumbled Julia but knew Eden understood her. “We have to talk to him again. The problem is he’s busy with this festival. If I’d remembered it was going on, I would have suggested we come at a different time, but here we are,” she said and threw her hands up.
The truth was, she did know about the festival. Rafe talked about it many times over the years. Julia suggested coming at this time because she knew everyone would be busy. She thought it would either be a good buffer or a distraction from dealing with Rafe. “There just isn’t enough time now. You may need to call your job and say Bronte got sick or something, and you can’t fly back yet.” There was no risk with this suggestion, and it was the only reason Julia offered it. “I can always take more time off. If we can’t extend here, I’ll find a different hotel.”
Eden shook her head in dismay. “I can’t take more time,” she said upset. “I can’t take the chance I’ll lose my job. You know if I don’t have a job, I can’t stay in Rafe’s house. I really pushed them with all the time I took off when Rafe and I were going through everything last year. If I start taking time off, I’ll be a liability again.”
“Well, maybe my father can give you a job,” Julia suggested. “Even temporarily.” If Eden worked for her father, it would mean they could be closer. Then they would have even more in common to keep them together once she left Rafe. “You know, we are thinking of investing in film production and need a board of advisors.” She thought Eden would be perfect for the job on the board. Eden knew potential clients in the film industry and had a great head for what would be successful therefore investable. Plus, it didn’t hurt that they knew each other so Julia would have a board member in her pocket if she needed one. “Maybe you can help us.”
“I don’t know anything about the financial world,” said Eden in frustration. “I read scripts and do a million little things to help get them through to the production people in hopes they will be made into a movie. Plus, I really love what I do. I love seeing something I touched make it through the process. I have no idea how I could be any help to your company,” she said feeling a little frantic.
“Calm down,” said Julia at Eden’s overreaction. She was glad she hadn’t brought up the other suggestion she was going to make, about Eden moving into her condo. “I’m not saying you have to make a career with us,” she said calmly, though she hoped once Eden was ensconced she would stay, especially if it were a successful financial scheme. “You can get another job, maybe even a better one, after we get Rafe home. If we get her home.”
Julia knew she was walking a fine line. She wanted to be supportive of Eden’s efforts, but she didn’t want to build her hopes to the point Eden would be crushed again when Rafe refused to go back with them. Julia also wanted Eden to see she truly cared about her so when they got home and allowed time to pass after this trip, then she could talk to her about a possible relationship. “Your only other option is going home and waiting for Rafe to decide to come home or for Gabri to let her go. Maybe you can visit her again sometime. Can you live with a plan to revisit her?”
“Why are you doing this now?” Eden complained tears seeping from her eyes. “I was having such a good day.”
“Because we only have four days remaining—three really, since our flight is on the fourth day. I’m afraid you’re running out of time,” she said firmly. “I’m afraid your hopes will be dashed, and I’m worried of what it will do to you.” She watched as Eden wiped away tears. “Don’t cry, Eden. I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I care about you,” she paused, “and Rafe,” she added cursorily. “But Rafe has people taking care of her. She has money, and she’s free to do whatever she wants. You have all of us at home, though, and we’re worried about you,” she revealed. “No matter what Rafe does, we’ll all be by your side.”
Julia wanted to convince Eden the others at home felt the same about Rafe’s behavior. Julia hoped, if Eden saw the others felt she should move on, then maybe, finally, Rafe would become an occasional penumbra in Eden and everyone else’s life. “You won’t ask Rafe for more money, and we can tell you’re just getting by. You’re practically allowing yourself to be held hostage to your job and to Rafe.”
Julia hesitated again because she had to be careful and not be too negative about Rafe. She had to push Eden gently until she realized for herself that Rafe wasn’t coming back. Only then could Julia step in to offer more than friendship.
“You could move out of Rafe’s house. Then you wouldn’t feel so trapped and would have more money,” Julia said, once again purposely leaving out the mention of moving into her condo right now. “What’s it going to take for you to do what’s right for you and Bronte?” she asked, knowing Eden wouldn’t be able to answer. She waited for a moment anyway. “I’m afraid Rafe isn’t going to be there for you when you need her. It may not even be her fault. I know she may still be sick and may need time to get better, but you can’t just stop living and wait for her forever.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Eden with frustration. “I could call Katheryn and get all the money I want just by asking. But it’s not why I want to be with Rafe. I know things aren’t perfect, but she told me she loves me too. I’m going to hold on to hope,” she said trying to calm herself. “I want, no, I need to be there when and if she comes home. So I’ll make due with less and stay in our house. Do you know why I don’t mind living with the cohabitation agreement?”
Eden watched Julia shake her head and wait for her reasons. “Because Rafe gave me something that day. She gave me Eden Kingsley again. When I was going through everything with my anxiety and fears, I was so caught up with thoughts of what being Salvaggio’s Paradise meant and with feelings making me think I was losing myself. I thought I was just... disappearing. I don’t think Rafe even knows what she did for me. She made us equal, and I am determined to hold up my side of everything financially and emotionally. If it means waiting and taking care of her until she’s better, then that’s exactly what I’ll do! She took care of me for years through everything with my parents to how horribly I treated her when I was going through my anxiety problems. Then there are all the things I did when I was with Jake and all the things he said and did to her. I owe her. I owe her time. I owe her patience. I’m not trapped! I love her!”
“You’re not beholden to her,” said Julia worried Eden believed she owed Rafe something. “She made choices causing herself problems. And yes, maybe most of them was because she was sick. But you can’t owe her for what she did to herself or what she did because she was sick. Do you really think if she wasn’t sick that she would have done some of the things she did, including going and challenging Jake? She wasn’t in her rational mind. If she were, most of these things wouldn’t have happened.”
“You’re missing the point, Julia,” said Eden, ready to end the conversation. “Sick or well, everything she did was based on the fact that she loved me. You’re the one who kept telling me I had to grow up! Well, I’ve had almost six months to go through every detail of the things that happened, on my own and with my therapist. I see very clearly the motivation for her choices—even if they were wrong choices. I, on the other hand, made my mistakes because I was looking inward at myself. Rafe was right—I stopped seeing her.”
Eden thought about the note in her pocket and knew now why Rafe kept telling her she didn’t see her anymore. “I think we all stopped seeing her. If we hadn’t, we might have seen she was sick sooner.” She gave Julia a determined look. “I’m not going to let you or anyone else tell me to give up on her. I will do anything, anything, to keep myself in a position where I can stay in her life because I do owe her. I owe her as much love as she has shown me and more, and I intend to love her for the rest of our lives.”
Julia could see the determination in Eden and knew she wouldn’t budge tonight. Since Rafe departed, Eden had changed and become much stronger. She had a handle on her anxiety and fought harder to get her way when she thought it was needed. Julia sighed, deciding not to push anymore tonight. There was still time to convince Eden to see things her way.
“Well, I hope you’re prepared to spend a lot of time alone,” she said coolly, seeing her job was going to be harder than she thought. Her only hope was to see if she could show Eden how futile their efforts were when Rafe stayed in Italy like she was sure would happen. “I suggest we figure out how we can convince Rafe to come home and get Gabri to agree,” she said, positive Gabri would never agree, and it was fine with her. “Time’s running out, and who knows when you’ll get to come back.”
If ever, she thought to herself.
To be continued in Book Ten,
the Salvaggio’s Light conclusion— Frenzied Love...
