It Takes Two (Italian Summer Book 1) (2 page)

“It would be nice to do
nothing
while the other two are at school,” remarked Rona. She loved Tori more than she ever thought was possible, but she hadn’t considered baby number two yet. She wasn’t sure she ever would.

“Do you really need to have more poop to clean up?” asked Celine. “It seems that’s all babies do all day long. Be little poop machines.”

The bartender came up to them just then with a round of drinks identical to the ones that Rona had ordered. “Compliments of the gentleman at the bar.” He looked over to Rona’s admirer at the bar and then put down four cocktail glasses: two Margaritas and two Mojitos.

“The evening just got better,” exclaimed Jodi, and grabbed hers.

“Thank you,” said Celine and held her glass up to the guy who was watching them from the bar. She nodded her head appreciatively.

“I really shouldn’t,” said Mercedes. “But, heck, we might end up making more babies soon, so I might as well drink up now.” She gave the man her best smile.

Only Rona could see that he’d kept his gaze on her the whole time. She picked up her glass and walked over to him.

Bam. She slammed it down. “I told you, I’m good. I can get my own drinks. Thank you, anyway.”

He appeared amused by her response and grabbed her wrist as she turned to go. She raised her chin and stared at his eyes that now sparkled like diamonds. She enjoyed this thrill—the chase, the knowledge that she still had it—the ability to turn heads. It excited her, especially knowing that it would go nowhere, but also to know that she was still desirable.

This easy flirtation warmed her insides.

“Do you mind?” she asked, breaking her arm from his firm grip.

He lifted an eyebrow. “You’re a feisty little one, aren’t you? I’ve seen you here before.”

“You must get out a lot,” she said sarcastically, leaning back against the stool next to him, not quite making herself at home, but not ready to go back to the girls just yet. She wanted to bask in a little sparring banter first. “Because I don’t come here often.”

“I know. Like I said, I’ve noticed you here before. I don’t know if it’s those hooped earrings, or,” his gaze trailed down the length of her body again. “The way your clothes seem to hug that mighty fine body of yours,” his lips parted as he licked them. He was handsome, in a rough cowboy sort of way. Nothing fine boned about him. Rough, and rugged. Kind of what she’d thought about Carlos when they’d first met. He’d rescued her from a fracas that her group of friends had gotten mixed up in. Carlos had dived right in and pulled her away from the fray.

“Do you often pick up married women?”

“We’re just talking,” he smiled. “And drinking. That’s all.”

“You come here alone?”

“I’m meeting some buddies of mine.”

“Well, it’s been nice talking to you and thank you for the drink but—”

“It’s on me,” he said and refused to take it back. “I promise you it hasn’t been spiked. Ask this guy here,” he nodded at the bartender who grinned at her as he wiped a glass.

“Nothing wrong with it I swear.”

She smiled and wrapped her fingers around the ice cold rim. It made her feel good, always being the one to get noticed, especially when she was out with her friends.

Ruben had noticed her too, but she’d been alone then, in Verona. Alone and bored and often forcing a smile at Gioberti’s lame jokes.

“Take it, no strings attached,” the stranger insisted, and dragged her into the present, back in Denver.

“Just so we’re clear: I’m not that kind of girl.”

“If you say so.”

She took the drink and sauntered back to the girls.

“Well?” asked Mercedes.

Rona shrugged. There was nothing to say.

“What’d he say?” asked Jodi, chewing on a cuticle.

“Not much.” Rona twisted a lock of hair around her finger.

“How come you get hit on all the time and I don’t?” wailed Celine. “Maybe I need to try the five-two diet.”

Rona placed the cocktail glass next to her half empty one and smiled. She still had it, she thought, feeling smug with herself.

Chapter 2

“What the hell is this?” moaned Rona as she looked at the neatly packaged boxes ready to take to the post office.

What had Kim been doing last week?

Rona worked Mondays and Tuesdays and much preferred this new working arrangement. Two days at work was manageable. But her Mondays were busy. She looked at the boxes and knew it would take two car journeys to drop off at the post office.

Things were supposed to be getting easier with two of them doing the job she had done by herself until recently. So why did the apartment look so full? It further raised her suspicions about Kim. Her sister seemed to think she was a good worker but Rona wasn’t convinced that Kim was pulling her weight; she’d have to speak to Ava about it.

Carlos was going into work later than normal today and she’d started early knowing that he had Tori until she returned. She had some chance of getting caught up as much as possible. Though it didn’t matter if she couldn’t—Kim worked the latter part of the week and could finish off.

Kim didn’t have a baby to look after, Rona reasoned.

Another shipment was due to arrive any day now and Rona hoped it would arrive during Kim’s working days. It was going to be a big one but where they were supposed to put everything she didn’t know. Apparently Ava had ordered more cribs because they were such a hot item and ordered double of everything else.

Ava, sitting all the way in her mansion, or hotel, in Verona, had simply forgotten how tiny her apartment was. Even with Connor’s garage, there was not enough space. She surveyed the scene around her, the apartment was rammed full of boxes packed from the floor to almost three-quarters of the height of the room.

She’d have to tell her now.

“Hi,” said Rona, and launched straight in, not even stopping for small talk. “Something has happened,” she declared. “Your apartment looks like an Amazon warehouse and Connor’s garage is packed fit to bursting point.”

“Isn’t it early for you?” Ava asked, ignoring her diatribe.

“I’ve done these hours before,” Rona reminded her. “To keep up with your orders.”

“Good morning to you, too,” replied Ava. “The stock, the storage problems…I know. I’m trying to work out a solution.”

“You’re going to need to work it out faster. You thought it was bad when you were here? You need to take a look at it now.” Rona told her.

She heard her sister’s loud sigh. “I know.” She paused. “I’ve been looking at the numbers.”

“They’re exploding. In a good way, of course.”

“Yes,” agreed Ava.

“But it’s taking longer than usual to get the orders out.”

“How much longer?” Ava asked quickly.

“Well,” said Rona slowly. She didn’t really keep a detailed timesheet. It was all based on rough glances at her watch. She’d been here since six this morning. Or was it six thirty? And she’d been doing a few extra hours every day.

“But you’re getting the orders out on time?” Ava asked anxiously.

It was typical that her sister’s concern was centred on the turnaround time for getting the orders out.

“Between the two of us, yes. We’re trying. But I don’t know how fast Kim’s working. Every Monday it seems there’s a lot more to do. Are you keeping an eye on her?”

“Who, Kim? Don’t you worry about her.” Ava assured her.

“I’m staring at the boxes she left behind. I don’t know why she couldn’t take them herself on Friday instead of leaving them for me to deal with today. It’s going to take two car trips to the post office to get these sent out.”

“She came in yesterday because the new shipment came in on Friday and it took her all day to unload it all.”

So that was why the place looked so full.
Rona examined one of the boxes. It was one of the cribs.

“I thought you said you’d ordered forty cribs? Where are the others? They can’t have all fit here and in Connor’s garage.”

“They didn’t. Kim is storing some in her apartment.”

Miss Goody Two Shoes.
“Is she?” Now Rona understood. Naturally, the woman had plenty of time on her hands and no wonder she worked more hours.

“I wasn’t prepared for the Italian products to be so successful so quickly.”

“How come you asked Kim to come in on the weekend?”
Instead of me?

“I didn’t ask her. She volunteered. She’s been doing full days during the week.”

“Oh.” Deflated, Rona reconsidered her options. “I could work an extra hour or so if you need me to.”

“I think we’re okay,” said Ava slowly. “How’s mom doing? Is she still feeling tired?”

“Yes,” replied Rona. “I don’t want to pressure her into having Tori if she’s not up to it yet.” Though she’d need her mom in a few nights time.

“I still think there’s a lot of emotional stuff going on with her. Especially with regards to Edmondo. She was becoming quite fond of him. I think his death has hit her as hard as dad’s did.”

“No way,” said Rona hotly.

“Rona, think about it. What would you do if you lost Carlos? Mom lost dad when we weren’t even ten years old. Your world would break apart. Mom’s already been through that once.”

“She was not becoming fond of him, not in that way,” insisted Rona.

“What makes you think so?”

“She’s past it.”

“Past what?”

“Feeling that way about someone.”

“Says who?” asked Ava.

Rona stifled a laugh. “Are you serious?”

“I don’t think love has an age limit.”

“That’s because you’ve just fallen in love all over again. Everything looks fresh and lovely to you.”

“Fresh and lovely?”

“You think anyone can fall in love at any time and it will last forever,” Rona explained.

“I do and I sincerely hope so.”

“I can’t see it. Not for mom.”

“She still has a heart, and emotions, feelings, and desires.”

“Ewwww. Don’t.”

“Your way of thinking is so stunted.”

“I’m sorry if I can’t see or feel their
lurve
.”

“You weren’t here to see it,” said Ava. “
I
did, she looked happier than I’ve seen in a long time. They had a connection, and it was beautiful. It was beautiful that she had another chance to find happiness after all these years.”

Rona huffed. “But they’re both so old!”

She heard Ava groan. “Age has nothing to do with it,”

“How would they even—?” Rona began to think, but couldn’t take the thought any further.

“They connected and you had to be blind, or insensitive not to see it. I feel terrible that it was taken away from her. Don’t you see?”

“Don’t I see what?”

“That Mom had a second chance. They say lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice but it did for mom.”

Rona refused to see it. Edmondo had been a friend, nothing more. “It’s hit her hard because she’s older now.”

“It’s hit her hard because she had genuine feelings for Edmondo and he did too.”

Rona said nothing.

“Whatever you want to believe, I think she’s in deep grief and we need to keep an eye on her.”

“How are you doing anyway?” she asked Ava, wanting to change the subject.

“I’m okay.”

“And the wedding?”

“I think it’s coming along. Nico’s in charge of the legalities. He says there’s a lot of paperwork because I’m American and I’m going to be so obviously pregnant. He’s adamant he wants to get married in the church his parents got married in.”

“That’ll teach you for marrying such a romantic.”

“It’s the least of my worries,” said Ava. “Do you think mom will be okay to have Tori next week? I’d really like you to get all caught up. Maybe if you could do extra hours? I’m only asking because of the new shipment that’s just come in.”

“I could do a few extra hours…next week.”
Only for next week.
She actually liked getting away to Ava’s apartment just so that she could have her own space, even if it meant she was working for Ava. She got paid, too, which was another bonus. A few hours were enough for her and she didn’t really want to work more than that. She left that to Carlos.

“Thanks.” She heard her sister sigh. “It’s all happening too quickly. I thought it was a sales spike, but it seems like I reached a tipping point, and the sales are just pouring in.”

“Shouldn’t you be happy?”

“I am,” said Ava, sounding as glum as ever. “Maybe you could put Tori into childcare or something for a few hours—if Mom can’t look after her yet? I mean until she’s well enough herself?”

“I rang you to talk about your orders going through the roof and you’re trying to tell me how to arrange my childcare?”

Rona didn’t like it when Ava tried to tell her how to run her own life. Tori still wasn’t sleeping through the night and Ava had no idea what that was like or how hard things were for her. Tori was a lively little baby and Rona was just about coping.

“I’m sorry,” said Ava. “I’m trying to plan ahead and figure out what I need to do. Kim’s made some suggestions and I’m thinking things over.”

“What’s Kim got to do with anything? I can make suggestions. I have ideas too. How come you never ask me?”

“I didn’t ask her. She suggested them because the customer queries were going through the roof.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I’m not sure yet but I might need more of your help.”

“There’s only so much I can do but if you’re willing to pay me—”

“I always pay you. I’m not running a sweatshop here. I think I pay you quite well.”

“Yeah,” said Rona begrudgingly, “You do.”

“I have a few ideas, but I need to discuss them with Nico first.”

Rona envied them their close bond. It was early days for them yet; she wondered how much it would change when they’d been married as long as she and Carlos had been.

Chapter 3

“Mommy’s going out tonight,” Rona sang, smoothing down her bright pink dress that almost fit her like a second skin. She admired her reflection in the mirror and smiled. She looked hot and she knew it.

“Tha-tha-tha-tha!” Tori shrieked and slammed the drum set with her doll.

“Tha-tha!” said Rona in return. She adored her little girl even though Tori wore her out most days. But she wouldn’t change anything for the world.