Growling, he strode forward, intending to say something rude to his father, but he got outside and slowed as he heard his mother say, "I don't know why you two seem to be at odds so much, Julius. But I wish you wouldn't needle him so."
"We're not at odds," Julius assured her as they walked.
"Christian is just frustrated and scared of losing his lifemate so is taking it out on me."
"And when he's not, you're deliberately drawing his fire," she suggested.
Julius shrugged. "It's safer for him to turn his anger on me than elsewhere. Definitely safer than turning it on Carolyn or doing something else to mess this up."
"You're a good father, Julius Notte," Marguerite said as they approached the van, and then added sadly, "I wish all my children had been so lucky."
Christian paused as his father halted at the van and turned her to face him. "They had you, Marguerite. I'm sure they'd agree that more than made up for the lack in their father."
Marguerite gave him a watery smile. "I love you, Julius."
"And I love you, cara." He pressed a kiss to her lips, and then lifted her into the van. Pausing, he glanced back to Christian then. "Well, now that you're done eavesdropping, are you going to go close the door? Or do I have to do that as well as get you your woman on my honeymoon?"
Christian looked over his shoulder. In his rage, he'd left the villa door wide open when he'd stormed out after them. That rage was gone now and a lot of his frustration and fear with it. He wasn't alone. He had backup. If there was a way to claim Carolyn, his parents would help him find it... on their honeymoon, no less. Turning back, he grinned and said, "Get in the van, old man. I'll do it."
Julius smiled. "Just see you don't trip over your own feet while you do, pup."
"You'd be there to catch me," Christian said with confidence.
His father nodded solemnly. "And if possible I always will."
"Thank you for that," Christian said quietly and returned to close the door.
Chapter Fifteen
"How are you feeling, dear?"
Carolyn tore her gaze from the stage where Christian was playing his heart out-well, Christian and the rest of the band, she supposed, though you couldn't tell from her. She'd hardly glanced at the rest of the band all night.
Which just proved she was an utter idiot, Carolyn thought on a sigh, turning her gaze to Marguerite.
"Fine, thank you," she answered politely, though it wasn't true. It had taken a huge meal she only vaguely recalled, a dozen cups of coffee, and about five hours, but she was sobering up. Which really wasn't a good thing, Carolyn decided, shifting uncomfortably on the edge of her seat and tugging at the short skirt of the dress she wore. She was perched on the very edge of the chair because the darned skirt was so short it didn't cover her whole butt when she sat and she didn't want to place her bare ass on the seat. What had she been thinking allowing herself to be poured into the thing?
Well, that was a bit of a ridiculous question, she supposed. In truth, she hadn't been thinking at all. It was probably a good thing she had never taken to drink. She obviously didn't handle booze well, Carolyn decided and tugged at her skirt again, grateful that she was in the back corner of the deck where no one could see her bare butt cheeks hanging off the front of the seat.
At least, she hoped no one could, Carolyn thought and glanced nervously around just to be sure, only to freeze, eyes widening when she spotted Captain Jack weaving his way through the tables in their direction.
"Oh dear," she muttered, worried that he'd forget she was supposed to be Christian's beard and say something to give away the game.
"What is it, cara?" Marguerite asked.
Carolyn hardly noticed the endearment she was so used to them from this group. Honestly, Italians must be the most affectionate people she'd ever met. Every one of them had really been very sweet and welcoming from the start, she thought absently as she warily watched Jack draw nearer.
"Carolyn?" Marguerite said.
She glanced around with a start, and flushed. "Oh...
er... uh...," she stammered, her usual eloquent self when in a panic.
"Carolyn, isn't it?"
She swung her head back at Jack's voice, eyes wide when she found he'd reached the table and was smiling at her quizzically. "I... er..."
"It is Carolyn, isn't it?" he asked with feigned uncertainty.