Log In
Or create an account ->
Imperial Library
Home
About
News
Upload
Forum
Help
Login/SignUp
Index
CHAPTER ONE MARIELLA HOLMES stood on the small stone patio and gazed at the lake. Some daredevil was racing the wind on a Jet Ski. A spume of water arced behind it. The soft rumble of its engine faded as it sped across the surface of the water. She glanced into the cottage. Dante was still sleeping. She looked back at the reckless idiot on the Jet Ski; if the noise had woken the baby she’d have been more than annoyed. It had taken her longer than usual to get him to sleep. What was the maniac doing anyway? If he fell in the water he’d be frozen in no time. Late October was so not lake weather. Yet even as she watched, she felt a spark of envy. He looked carefree skimming along at warp speed. If he was on vacation, he was certainly making the most of his time. She gazed around the tree-covered hills that rose behind the lake. This would be lovely in the summer. She could picture children swimming in the water, canoes or rowboats dotting the surface. Imagine even more daredevils testing
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO MARIELLA rose at five to feed Dante. When he fell back asleep, she powered up her laptop and checked in on her clients, glad the rental cottage had Internet access. Working as a virtual assistant ensured she could work from home and at the hours that suited Dante’s schedule. It was, however, a far cry from the work she’d thought she’d be doing after graduating from university. She had often talked with friends in New York about setting up their own marketing firm. About setting New York on fire with their brilliant ideas and strong drive and determination. They’d fantasized about clients who would skyrocket them to the top of their field due to their impressive marketing. Instead, she was quietly typing out another letter for a client miles away from the future she’d once envisioned. Yet she was grateful she’d found something that paid enough for their small flat and all their other needs. A baby was expensive. She could have been in worse shape. By the time Dante woke from
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE MARIELLA braced herself against another bump as the ambulance sped toward the hospital. Dante cried until she picked him up to cuddle, trying to hold him around the oxygen nodules they both wore. He grew quiet at that and snuggled against Mariella. “Oh, sweet thing, we almost died.” Tears pricked her eyes. She caught a sob. How could the cottage catch fire? And why had there been no alarms to alert them of the danger before it was too late? The first she’d known of the emergency was when she heard Cristiano calling her name. Smoke had filled their room and she’d almost passed out trying to get out of bed and to safety. Breathing had been almost impossible. The next thing she remembered was stumbling into the yard with Cristiano while Dante cried. Thank God he was safe. They both were. Her head pounded and her eyes watered again. Coughing, she felt she could not draw a full breath. A weight seemed pressed against her chest. “We’ll have you to hospital in just a short while
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR DANTE became fussy. Mariella prepared a mid-morning bottle and picked up the baby. She did not want to sit in one of the wooden chairs by the large table, balancing the baby and bottle, so she wandered into the living room. She’d like to tidy this room or at least open the curtains so she could see the magnificent views. Sitting in a wing chair, she fed Dante, softly crooning to him as he ate. Maybe the dimness worked to her advantage as Dante began to fall asleep just as he finished the bottle. Mariella continued to hold him after he fell asleep, relishing this quiet time with just the two of them. He was a beautiful child with dark brown eyes and dark hair. Ariana would have so loved this child of hers. Would Dante resemble her when he grew older? Or his unknown father? Tears threatened every time Mariella remembered her friend and her untimely death. How could she have borne having to leave this child behind? Love expanded within her heart and she wanted to hold the mom
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE CRISTIANO drove them in the car back to the village. He and Mariella took the baby to the shore near the marina. The beach was a mixture of sand and pebbles sloping gently to the water’s edge. There was a couple sitting in nearby chairs, reading. She waved to them while Cristiano settled on a spot some distance away so as not to disturb their tranquility with their presence. He brought a blanket and soon Dante was taking tummy time facing away from the water, so he was facing up hill. When he grew frustrated, Mariella sat him up, holding him lightly so he wouldn’t fall over. He could almost balance by himself. He settled in first gnawing on the plastic keys, then throwing them down. She retrieved them and handed them back. Again And again. Cristiano stretched out beside them, laughing at the baby’s antics. Mariella tossed him the keys. “You try it,” she said. Dante turned to see the keys and grinned at Cristiano. “Don’t want to lose your keys,” he said, dangling them in fr
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX MARIELLA was stunned at his reaction. But she had to see to the fussy baby before going after Cristiano. She lifted the baby from the stroller and tried to soothe him. Preparing a bottle one-handed, she soon shifted him to lie in her arm while offering the bottle. He fussed and pushed it away, wailing as if his world had ended. She jiggled him a little, singing softly as she tried the bottle again. Finally he took it, chewing on the nipple as much as sucking. “Are you teething, sweetie?” She knew from the baby books that children began teething any time around five or six months, but this was the first time he’d pushed the bottle away. Maybe his gums hurt. Finally Dante settled down to drink the bottle. Mariella walked into the living room, humming softly as he drank. The curtains were wide open today and sunshine flooded the room. It welcomed her and the baby. She sat in the chair that gave the best view of the lake and continued to hum as she fed Dante. Her firefighter wa
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN UNAWARE of the turmoil, the baby happily babbled, reaching out once or twice as if to touch the rain. The air grew chilled, but Cristiano didn’t move. The child was well wrapped. He felt like the only warm spot in the world where he rested against Cristiano’s chest. That and where Mariella touched him. The silence extended. Yet it wasn’t awkward. Instead, it was—almost healing. He took a breath, trying to let go the ache that plagued him with all the death and destruction. “So how long were you and Stephano friends?” she asked. Cristiano almost smiled. “I remember the first day I met him—it was at the training for firefighting. He came from Genoa, a man loving the sea. I came from here—hills and lakes. He was an only child, had a pretty wife and parents who doted on him. We both passionately loved soccer. We were paired up in training and the rest—” He hadn’t thought about those days in all the months since Stephano had died. Now, telling Mariella, he let the memories was
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT CRISTIANO picked up some sandpaper and handed it to Mariella. “Rub it along the length of the leg. We want it totally smooth. No splinters for the little fella.” His fingers deliberately brushed against hers in handing her the sandpaper. She smiled and nodded, feeling that tingling awareness that sparked whenever Cristiano was around. Mariella had never done home projects so she was thrilled to be able to assist. She perched on the stool he had vacated and began rubbing the way he showed her. There was something soothing about the long, slow strokes. She couldn’t wait to see the finished table and chairs. She’d never helped to build anything before. Glancing around, taking in everything, she would always remember the quiet time spent in this workshop. Cristiano was focused on the piece he worked. The quiet was complete except for the sound of sandpaper and the rustling of the wind outside the door. She looked outside. It was growing overcast. She rose and checked the baby
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE THE phone rang. “Get that, would you?” Cristiano called from the living room. Mariella hurried to the counter and picked it up. The woman on the other end was obviously surprised when Mariella answered. “Who is this?” “Mariella Holmes.” She recognized Cristiano’s sister instantly. “Where is Cristiano?” Isabella asked as soon as Mariella identified herself. She explained how he was watching the fussy baby. “Hang on, I’ll get him for you.” “A moment, please, Mariella. Do you know about the awards ceremony for those who rescued people in the bombing last May?” Isabella asked. “Yes, I was just reading about it on the Internet, actually.” “You know Cristiano is getting a medal, don’t you? Is he still refusing to attend?” “I believe so.” She was hesitant to confirm or deny anything. “You need to talk to him.” Mariella hurried into the living room and held out the phone. “It is your sister.” She gently picked up the sleeping baby and rocked him a bit, walking out of the room. But
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN “CRISTIANO!” Mariella clutched his arm, shaking him again. She was stooped down beside him. When he fell against the car, she looked around. One of the men on the sidewalk hurried over. Panic filled her. What was wrong with him? “Do you need help?” the man asked, leaning over. Cristiano opened his eyes and gazed up at them, dazed. “Yes. He’s had a seizure. If I can get him standing, I think I can get him to my apartment,” she said. “I can call an ambulance from there.” “No—no ambulance. I need to sit for a minute,” Cristiano said, shaking his head as if to clear it. The man helped Cristiano get to his feet. “You sure? An ambulance could be here in a few minutes,” he asked. Cristiano nodded, his arm over Mariella’s shoulder. “I’ve had this before. I know how to deal with it. I just need to sit.” “Grazie,” Mariella said, leading Cristiano into the apartment building. In only moments they were back in her apartment. “I’ll be okay,” he said, still leaning slightly on her. “Good
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN MARIELLA was dressed in a long gown, a rich dark burgundy velvet, suitable for the most formal of events. Her hair had been done up. Her nails polished to match the gown. She felt the butterflies in her stomach and knew Cristiano had to feel even more stress. He was picking her up in another ten minutes. She had prayed all week that no sirens would mar the night. She so needed her man to receive his medal, to stand with those who had served beside him in rescuing all they could possibly save. And to stand in place of those comrades who had fallen and were only present in the memories of the minds of those present. Promptly at the appointed time he knocked on her door. Her downstairs neighbor was watching Dante tonight. Nothing would interfere with the ceremony he so richly deserved. She opened the door and exclaimed at how handsome he looked in his dress uniform. “Wow, I’d want you to save me from all burning buildings,” she said, leaning forward for his welcomed kiss. S
CHAPTER ELEVEN
← Prev
Back
Next →
← Prev
Back
Next →