Page 412 of Under Her Skin

Ama grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I think I can agree to that. Thank you, Enda …thank you for being the one person I can trust above all else, the one person who I know loves me beyonddoubt.”

Enda grinned. “I think there’s two of us now, but I’ll take the compliment.” His face grew serious. “Has it helped? I mean, has it erased some of the trauma from what Jackson did toyou?”

Ama nodded. “Believe me, this was a different world. This was about connection and love and adventure; that was torture. Opposite end of thespectrum.”

Enda pressed his mouth to hers. “I’m glad, Amalia. Soglad.”

Ama smiled at him, tears in her eyes. “You make me sohappy.”

And she pulled him into the deepest part of thepool.

Inca’s eyeswidened when she saw Raff coming into the tea house in the middle of the day. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise …but what are you doinghere?”

Raff kissed her hello. “No idea. Como called me and asked me to come here to meethim.”

Inca frowned. “Weird.” But when Como walked in five minutes later, accompanied by a very young, very pregnant young woman, Inca’s heart sank. She knew exactly what this wasabout.

Como saw her face and held up his hands. “Before you say anything, let me explain. Anitha is desperate. She wants to give her child to a good, kind couple. The baby’s fatheris

“Stop.”Raff looked astonished. “What’s thisabout?”

Inca sighed, rubbing her forehead. “It’s about us not being able to adopt a baby. Como, you are the sweetest man, but this is not the solution. Anitha, you look pale. Come sitdown.”

She got the young woman to sit and brought her some tea, shaking her head at Como as she walked past. “What are youthinking?”

Como looked disappointed. “Look, Anitha’s mother is my friend. For months now, they have been trying to decide what to do. They’re illegal immigrants, so giving up the child to the authorities would raise questions. I thought …it would solve two people’sproblems.”

Inca sat down next to Anitha. She was obviously of Indian descent, too, and smiled shyly at Inca. Inca patted her hand. “Anitha …do you really want to give up yourbaby?”

Anitha shot a worried glance at Como, but shook her head. “But we cannot afford to keep it,” she said in a heavily accented voice. “I cannot work and my boyfriend, he doesn’t earn enough for rent, let alone a baby too. We have to bepractical.”

Inca’s heart broke for the girl. She glanced at Raff and an unspoken connection passed between them. Inca sighed. “Look, Anitha, Como …we can’t be party to an illegal adoption. That’s not something we would ever consider. But we need to talk, Raff and I. Como, can you bring Anitha back tomorrow and we’ll tell you what we’vedecided?”

At home,Raffaelo and Inca talked until the early hours, then fell asleep in each other’s arms, satisfied they were making the right decision forthem.

“If I weren't so desperateto see Sera, I’d be loathed to get on this plane,” Ama said as they found their seats ready for the flight back to Italy. Endalaughed.

“I agree. But don’t forget …we’ll be back sooner thanlater.”

Ama wiggled her eyebrows at him suggestively. “With new toys,maybe.”

“Dirtygirl.”

Ama grinned and put her hand on his leg. “I am what you mademe.”

Enda tried to argue, but instead leaned over and kissed her. “To next year,caramia.”

Ama smiled back, her eyes soft with love. “To next year. Or sooner,” she added hopefully and then laughed as the plane took off and carried themhome.

Inca took Anitha’s hands.“Sweetheart, we’re not going to take your baby. It wouldn’t be right for any of us. What we are going to do is help you and your boyfriend. Raff is going to hire your boyfriend to work in one of his hotels, and when you’re ready, there’s a job waiting for you too.” She looked at Raff, who nodded, smiling. “And when you want to go back to work, you can count on me helping out with caring for the baby. We’ll get you back on track, okay? This isn’t charity; we expect your boyfriend to work his ass off. But everyone needs a break sometimes, and we are in a position to be able to help withthat.”

She took a deep breath in as Anitha stammered and thanked her. Inca met Raff’s gaze and nodded. They knew they had made the right decision. So, kids weren’t for them. But they would make sure Anitha’s child, even though she was a stranger to them, had a good start in life. A chance, Raff had said, and Inca hadagreed.

Como was looking at Inca with respect in his eyes. She got up and hugged him. “I know you meant well, Como, and for that, I thankyou.”

She let out a deep breath. “And now, I’m afraid, we have to deliver this little pest.” She mussed Sera’s hair fondly. “She goes back to her mom and dad. Ama and Enda should be home anyminute.”

Ama flewout of the car and gathered her daughter up in her arms, swinging her around. “Oh, nugget, I missedyou.”