Hanging up the phone, he called his own father to let him know what he had done.They were in agreement that Lily-Mae’s insult to Adelina couldn’t go unpunished.Now, he picked up some roses from a nearby florist, along with a book he heard her talking about.It was the latest romance by one of her favorite authors, and he made his way home.
Isabella came downstairs, holding her cell phone.“I did what you asked.”
“Thank you.”He nodded toward her.
He had told her to spread the word of the Ricardo troubles.No one could spread gossip better than his sister.He hated it, but to deal with Lily-Mae, he had to be brutal.Adelina was hurt.She had withdrawn into herself in a way he had never seen, even at those damn parties when she was in those awful clothes.He should have protected her.He’d failed.
“Where’s Adelina?”he asked.
“In the garden.She has spent a lot of time there today.”His sister put a hand on his shoulder, and then left.
He made his way out into the garden, going down the path and working his way through the small maze his mother had insisted had been created when he and Isabella were kids.Massimo had lost count of the number of times she would chase them through the summer, and all the fun they would have.When his father got home, he would join in.
He knew it was strange to have a happy family within the Russo Mafia.His parents had been the exception to the rule.They had tried to shelter him and Isabella as long as possible, until his training had to start.
Massimo had known he was going to be the man of the house one day.His father, even though trying to protect him, had told him there would come a time he wouldn’t be able to hold back, or pretend he was just a kid.There would come a time when he was going to have to grow up.
He found Adelina on a bench, her knees brought up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them, as she stared out toward the bird feeders.His mother had loved to spend hours watching the birds.It was where she would clear her head, at least that was what she used to tell them.
“Hey,” she said.
Massimo moved toward her, and he crouched in front of her, stopping her from attempting to get up.“You don’t need to get up.”
She frowned.“What is this?”
“These are for you.”He handed her the red roses.
“They’re beautiful.”
“I saw them and I thought of you.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” he said.
The smile on her lips that reached her eyes made it worth it.Then, he presented her with the book.“Here you go.”
She gasped.“You remembered?”
“Of course I did.”
“I didn’t even realize you were actually listening to me.”She looked at the book, and then flipped it over to the back, before turning it back over, and then smiling at him.“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to worry about Lily-Mae,” he said.
He instantly saw her tense and at that moment, he truly believed he’d let the other woman off lightly.
****
Adelina had been tryingto forget all about Lily-Mae, but she hadn’t been able to get her cruel words out of her mind.
When they got home, she just couldn’t be with Massimo.Every insecurity came rushing toward her, and it felt like a plague which only consumed her with every passing day.
She should have been married to Diego.Massimo was supposed to be another woman’s husband.She hadn’t told him about her predicament in the hope he would intervene.Her love for him would have forever remained a secret, and she’d have taken it to her grave.
“Maybe she’s right,” Adelina said, looking up at him.
“Don’t, Adelina.”
