Page 62 of Forgive Me, Father

Thank heavens they spoke Italian.

I made myself comfortable with a book on the sofa by the window overlooking the ocean.I couldn’t wait for Alfonso to come back.

Half an hour later, Loretta graced me with her presence just as my book was getting really good.

“You know it’s rude not to introduce yourself to Alfonso’s sister.”

I closed my eyes.“I don’t have time for this, Lorette.She can come say hi too, if she really wants to meet me.”I carried on reading.

“I really would love to know what my cousin saw in you.”She mumbled something in Italian and for the first time, I wished I knew what she said.

I played it cool, pretending I couldn’t care less.But fifteen minutes later, a stunning woman with long black hair and piercing blue eyes approached.Her body was flawless, and she wasn’t shy about showing it off to anyone who was looking.“My name is Fiona,” she said in perfect English.

“You sure you are Fiona?”I asked and she smiled.

“I get it.Big Italian family and here I come with a real American accent.I was in a US boarding school since the age of ten, if that makes sense.”

“It does.”

“You and my brother seriously stirred some shit in Verona.”She looked out into the distance but I think I caught the hint of a smile as she tried to fight it.

"If it helps," I said, "I had no idea who he was when I married him.I knew he was an Italian Don, but I didn’t know he wasPonticello."

She raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t care whether she believed me or not.The other girl spoke loudly, and Fiona laughed at whatever she said.

"Is it true you can’t understand Italian?"

"I tried," I said as I shrugged."It just didn’t stick."

"I get it," she said, her tone dripping with something I couldn’t quite place."It’s a tough language, not for everyone.But you’re married to one of the most important men in Italy.Surely, you’ll put in some effort?"

The way she emphasizedeffortrubbed me the wrong way.I nodded and smiled, wishing she would just disappear.Glancing at my watch, I realized I had no idea when Alfonso would be back.I missed him.

“So, Loretta tells me that you really push the wrong buttons with my brother.”

“Oh, that was before we found our groove,” I said with a chuckle, hoping she’d take it as a hint that we were still fighting—just in a different way now.

“Found your groove?”she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Fuck, she was nosy.“Yes, before we discovered what a good fuck the other one is.”

She froze, and I had to fight every urge not to blush.Without saying a word, she stood up and walked back to the balcony.I grabbed my book, trying to focus, but the words blurred as I tried to push the moment from my mind.

“It’s not funny, Bas.”

“Sorry,” he chuckled.“But it was priceless seeing Fiona speechless.”

“Do you know when Alfonso will be back?”

“Tomorrow morning, why?”

“Only tomorrow?”Why didn’t he tell me that?

“Sorry.But you are stuck with them for the night.”

Great.I couldn’t shake the unease knowing Alfonso wouldn’t be back until tomorrow morning.

I did my best to stay out of their way for the rest of the day, but interaction was inevitable as dinner arrived, and we all gathered around the table.They spoke in rapid Italian, clearly oblivious to my presence.