need for that camper van anymore. I have a home now, you gave me that.”
“It’s not a perfect home, though. Are you sure you’re happy here?” He stroked a lock of hair out of her face and kissed her softly.
“I am, Matteo. It’s wonderful.”
“Not quite, but I think you’ll make more friends as time goes by. It’ll turn into a small town before you know it, believe me.” He kissed her again and rolled to his back. “Now, let’s sleep. I’m going to get you up early to have that lesson.”
She grinned and turned her bedside lamp off. This really was perfect she decided. What she’d said was true, she had a home and it lived in Matteo. Wherever he was, was good enough for her.
19
Darkness crept along the street as Matteo drove up to his aunt’s house. His fists clenched on the steering wheel as he stopped the car. She’d called him, summoned him really, that morning and he’d been able to defer the meeting until the end of the day. Now, he had to go in there and pretend he didn’t care about anything she said.
He took a deep breath, got out of the car, and strolled up to the door. His jaw clenched as he opened the door and waltzed in. He didn’t bother to knock this time or wait for the doorman, he just went in, because this time he was alone. She’d dress him down, brow-beat him, he’d nod his head and go home.
He’d wondered when this summons would come and now that it had, he felt relief mixed with anger. Celeste spent a lot of time in Italy now, she was confident in Matteo enough that she left matters in his hands more and more. But she would question him over his decision to marry Marie and he knew it.
That relief didn’t stop the way his eyes narrowed, or how his nostrils flared as he thought about Celeste and how she ignored Marie. There were no more dinner invitations, no attempts to reach out to her, and that was a snub in Matteo’s mind. He stalked through the house, up the stairs, and flung open the door to the office Celeste preferred.
“I’m here,” he announced as he went to the drinks cabinet and poured out a measure of whiskey.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Celeste’s voice came from the darkness around the desk to the left of him in the large room.
She must have a migraine, he thought, something that happened often. That or she wanted to hide her features from him.
He sipped at the whiskey while he settled himself on the couch and watched the haze that came from that darkness. The acrid scent tickled his nose and he turned his head to inhale fresh air. She was smoking again, something she did when she wanted to appear confident, in control. She used the cigarette, the way she held it, the way she’d jab at the air with it, and the way her eyes would narrow as she inhaled, to underline points she wanted to make.
He hated the affectation, but it was effective. Or it had been before he met Marie. Now, he felt more in control of himself, more capable of dealing with Celeste. There was someone in his corner, at last. His own mother hadn’t protected him from Celeste, or the life she set up for him, but Marie would. Not that he needed protection now, but he’d needed someone to be on his side, he just hadn’t realized it until Marie came along.
“You know, Matteo, that I’m not happy with you right now, right?” Celeste’s raspy voice came out of the darkness, and an image flashed in Matteo’s mind.
Some fictional movie character with all the power, wheezing out of the darkness about how much control they had, even as they lost it. It made Matteo snort and he heard her heels hit the floor as she sat up.
“I raised you up out of nothingness, Matteo, a life of mediocrity, and you snort at me?” Her voice shook as she tried to control her outrage. He didn’t care.
“Look, Aunt Celeste, I did what I thought was best for all of us. You sent me down there to take care of an old debt and to get the heat off of me up here. Heat I did not bring down on myself I’d like to note.” He paused and took a deep breath to calm the racing of his heart. He’d never defied