“It’s amazing. A gorgeous place.”
“Not as gorgeous as my soon to be wife.”
I laughed, although the sound was stilted. “We need to talk.”
“About?” He took a sip of his drink, not bothering to look at me and that made me feel that much more uncomfortable.
“Us. Our family. Things I’ve done. Things I didn’t tell you. Things I tried to tell you but didn’t know how. Something that you’ll hate me for. I just…”
“Wow. That’s some serious baggage.” He laughed and I turned toward him.
“I’m not kidding. Please listen.”
“I could never hate you, Rafaela.” He crooked his finger, lifting my chin so I was forced to look into his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“When I mentioned sometimes people do things for a very personal reason, I meant myself.”
“Alright. Go on.”
“I thought you were dead. Yes, a tiny part of me hoped that you were alive, but I couldn’t allow myself to believe it. When my father sent me away, I was devastated by losing you, but not by losing what I had. I couldn’t care less about the car or the clothes. Or the money. I was free, but without you, I suffered.”
His eyes were far too soulful, looking right through me.
“Something else happened and I was forced to try and get someone to help me. I tracked down my brother. He came when I needed him the most.”
“He did?” There was something about his question that caught my attention.
I narrowed my eyes. “Yes.”
“In the United States.”
“How did you know?”
“You told me that’s where you thought he might go.” He wasn’t angry, merely relieved that I was sharing the truth.
“Yes, but he came to help me. He spent time with me in a little city in France. He was all I had. Well, not all. You see. I… When you and I… Oh, God. I can’t believe I didn’t tell you before, but I didn’t know how you’d react.”
“Just say it, Rafaela. Whatever you need to tell me, just say it.”
I closed my eyes, taking several deep breaths. “I lied to you. I wasn’t on birth control. I wanted to bear your child and I… I waspregnant. If I became pregnant, I wouldn’t be good enough to marry. I know that’s awful. Horrible. But that’s what I wanted deep inside. And when I felt the little life growing in me, I just… I loved my little boy so much. If it hadn’t been for Dante, I don’t know what I would have done. He stayed until I gave birth and when we knew my father was sniffing around, trying to find him, he took my little angel with him to America. To keep him safe. I was going to go there when I graduated. So I could be with him. I wanted him safe. I didn’t want my father to get ahold of him.”
As tears streamed down my face, I fisted his shirt, unable to look in Kazimir’s eyes.
“Look at me, Rafaela. Look at me. Please.”
When I didn’t respond immediately, he lifted my head so gently I could barely tell. But I was forced to look into his eyes. I didn’t see hatred or even anger. Just love.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Will you please forgive me?” I was hiccupping, close to being hysterical.
“We have a child.” He swiped his finger under my eyes, his entire expression full of joy.
“Yes.”
He cupped my face, forcing me to look toward the ocean.
And to the men walking in our direction, a man holding a little boy in his arms, the other following closely behind.
“You knew. All this time. You knew. You bastard.”
