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“I miss you so much when you’re not here Nell. When are you and Max getting married? It’ll be great having you across the hall.” I smile at Nell as she coos at my son in her arms.
“You sound awfully needy, Cam.” Bea chuckles as she stares into Sofia’s eyes.
“I am needy, we need our best friend here. Don’t act like you’re not desperate for her to be here too.”
“I… err… I don’t know.” Nell pinches her lips.
“Err… I don’t know. What does that mean? Surely your papa must have told you something,” I push.
“It’s complicated.” She looks out the window, refusing to meet my eyes.
Slipping off the couch, I kneel in front of her, placing my hands on her knees.
“Nelly, what is going on?” I use mine and Bea’s childhood nickname for her.
“Nell, you’re freaking us out. What is going on?” Bea shuffles herself and Sofia closer to Nell.
“His pa and mine are still arguing,” she whispers.
“What’s there to argue about? Yours and Max’s engagement is the only normal and traditionally-planned marriage out of the three of us. It’s a done deal.” I squeeze her knees.
“Hey, my marriage is traditional.” Bea huffs.
“You were engaged to his uncle, who Leo then killed in order to marry you. It was not traditional, Bea. Anyway, that’s beside the point. What’s the issue?”
“Fillipo still wants to call the wedding off.” Nell scrunches up her face as she stares at Andrea, still refusing to meet our eyes.
“What! Why? Why would he want that?” Bea whisper-shouts. Not quietly enough, though, as Sofia starts to wail. “Shh, sorry, baby,” she coos.
“There has to be a reason, Nell.” I squeeze her knees as I stand up and squish myself between the two of them.
“He… he still thinks they… they touched me. He said to Papa that he doesn’t believe him and we are trying to cover up that I was abused. He said his son is too important to marry a tainted bride.” A tear slips over her lashes.
“What? That’s ridiculous! They didn’t touch us. We’ve been through this weeks ago. He surely can’t still be spouting his shit.” Bea jumps up and starts bobbing Sofia to keep her calm. “And what does he mean, too important? They took me too, and I’m married to the second most important man in our world. He has a cheek. I’ll speak to Leo. This is crazy. He can’t just break our rules. You’re betrothed.” Bea is in full-on fixer mode.
“Bea, please don’t say anything. My papa is in talks with Fillipo and Giuseppe.” Nell gives Bea a sad smile.
“There is no way Max is okay with this.” I take Andrea as he starts to fuss.
“I don’t know what to think. After they took us, in the hospital, he was so attentive. We swapped numbers, he checked in regularly, and then his papa said he wants it called off. Since then, Max just keeps saying it’s complicated and he’s sorting it.” Nell wipes the tears from her cheeks. “I’ve given up asking now. No one is telling me anything, I just sound pathetic and desperate.” She sniffs as she sips her coffee.
I pull her in for a hug, and Bea joins us on her other side.
“I’ve spent so long being scared of him, but if he chooses not to marry me, what will that mean for me?”
“It’ll be fine. Bea has the Bianchi brothers wrapped round her little finger. She’ll sort it, won’t you, Bea?” I plead with my eyes that she says yes.
“I do not have Enzo wrapped around my little finger. Things are still a little strange after the whole ‘my husband’s brother is in love with me’ thing.” She waves her free hand around as she jumps up and paces the floor. “I can speak to Leonardo if that’s what you want, Nell.”
“No, please don’t. I’ll let you know if I need you.” She gives us both a sad smile.
I lean over to put Andrea in his crib. “Okay, we don’t do anything for now.” I hold my hands up.
“How did our lives get so screwed up?” Bea states glumly.
“Sheesh, if you think your lives are screwed up, mine’s a train wreck.” I grit my teeth as I shake off the sudden feeling of misery that my life currently makes me feel.
“Carmella, your phone is ringing,” Mel chimes from the kitchen.
