By the time we got home exhaustion weighed heavy on my bones.
Alessandro helped Lorenzo out of the car, already half-asleep, his head drooping against his shoulder.
"Go in," he said quietly.
"I'll put him to bed."
I nodded grateful. I didn't trust my voice anyway.
After freshening up, I slipped into bed and layed on my back, staring at the ceiling. My mind wouldn't rest..... everything felt...… different.
Things between us were slowly easing into something gentler, something steadier, and I couldn't stop replaying the night in my head.
The way he watched Lorenzo. The way he guided him. The way he took care of us without needing applause.
How could one man be all of this?
Good looking, Patient, Powerful, A devoted father, Calm, Kind, and with a soul that felt deeper than most.
How did I ever get this lucky?
The bathroom door opened. He stepped out wearing only shorts, hair still slightly damp, skin warm from the shower.
I turned slightly, giving him space to organize himself.
After a few mins the mattress dipped beside me. Then arms..... broad, warm, strong wrapped around me from behind, pulling me gently into his chest.
His lips brushed my neck softly, once.... twice...… Just enough to make my core tighten before I could stop it.
"Long day...." he murmured.
I nodded, relaxing into him.
We talked quietly...… about Lorenzo, about the fair, about small things that didn't matter but somehow meant everything.
Then he spoke again.
"I told my mother about us," he said calmly.
"She wants to see you.... Both of you...…. Tomorrow."
My body stiffened.
Aunt Isabella...…
Even though she'd been part of my life for years. my mother's best friend, it still felt different and he felt it immediately.
He tightened his hold slightly.
"Don't be nervous,"
"She's happy..... And she misses you."
I exhaled slowly and nodded.
He shifted, turning me gently to face him. His hand cupped my jaw thumb brushing my cheek like he was memorizing it then his lips collided with mine. It was soft but warm and I kissed him back. Our lips moved in perfect motion as his tongue darted in my mouth, and mine chasing his with equal fervor. For a moment, it deepened just a fraction...….. enough to remind us both of everything we were holding back but I wasn't ready to go further.... Not yet….. before I could move he pulled away first pressing a kiss to my forehead instead and drew me closer, chest to chest whispering sweet nothings in my ears.
I smiled into him, eyes closing.
.........
We hadn't even stepped out of the car when I saw her.
She stood on the porch, hands clasped in front of her, posture straight yet soft, still beautiful, still elegant. Time had been kind to her. If anything it made her more graceful. Lorencio's small hand tightened around mine.
He didn't say anything. He never did with strangers. His shoulders stiffened slightly, eyes flicking between me and the woman waiting for us.
As soon as we stood before her, her composure broke.
Tears welled instantly as she stepped forward, bending slightly and opening her arms.
"Oh... my boy," she whispered her voice breaking as she wrapped Lorencio in a tight embrace.
He froze at first, unsure, then slowly melted into her hold. She pulled back only to look at his face properly, her hands trembling as she traced his cheeks.
"My beautiful grandson." she sobbed.
Then she stood and turned to me. Before I could say anything she pulled me into her arms, holding me just as tightly.
"Oh, Aria..... my child." she said softly.
"It's been years.... Look at you..... You've grown into such a beautiful woman."
I blushed, my emotions clogged.
She smiled through her tears, then scooped Lorencio up effortlessly, ushering us inside with warmth that felt like coming home.
........
Later, after food and laughter and far too much running around, Lorencio finally fell asleep curled up peacefully, worn out from excitement.
Isabella settled on the sofa, and without thinking, I lay beside her, resting my head on her lap like I had done countless times years ago.
She stroked my hair gently...….. as we let the silence speak.
We had always been close. She had been my safe place.... my listener, my quiet comfort. I had told her everything..... My fears....even my anger toward Alessandro, when we first met.
That memory tightened something in my chest and I looked up at her.
I shifted slightly on her lap, my voice quiet but steady.
"Mom... why didn't you tell me?"
Her hand paused in my hair.
"Years ago," I continued
"I told you everything.....How Alessandro kept showing up...…How intense he was at the beginning...… How he scared me sometimes." I swallowed.
"Even when we started dating and I was happy, I still came to you with everything...….. Our little fights..... My fears..... My doubts."
I looked up at her.
"You never once told me to leave him. You never warned me. You never said he was your son."
She exhaled slowly, like she had been waiting for this question for years.
"Because it was never my place," she said gently.
"You were young," she continued.
"And Alessandro was.....… a lot...… Powerful..... Persistent..... Used to getting what he wanted and he wanted you so much." She brushed my hair back.
"When you came to me scared or confused, my duty wasn't to defend him... it was to make sure you felt safe."
"I didn't hide the truth because I didn't trust you"
"I hid it because I trusted you too much."
"I knew if you found out he was my son, you would start questioning your own feelings. You would stop speaking freely. You would begin excusing things you weren't ready to excuse yet."
Her eyes softened.
"And when you fell in love with him," she continued
"I saw it...… You were happy...Truly happy...…. I never once told you to stop, because love must be chosen, not guided, not forced, not protected by secrets."
"You didn't need my permission to love him. And you didn't need my interference either."
"I stayed neutral because I wanted you to grow into your feelings on your own. "
"Not as a girl being influenced by someone's mother...… but as a woman learning what she wants."
Her thumb brushed away my tear.
"And Aria," she added quietly
"even if I had told you, it would not have changed what happened..... Love finds its own path...… Pain does too."
I nodded slowly her words settling deep.
She looked at me for a long moment, then asked gently,
"How are things between you now?"
I hesitated then answered honestly.
"We're trying.... It's not easy. We're learning how to forgive…..… how to talk again."
"That's all anyone can do,"
"You've already lost time. Don't spend the rest of it punishing yourselves for the past."
She squeezed my hand.
"Take it slowly as if you have all the time in the world. Because now....… you finally do."