Just Tell Me You Love Me (Book 1 in the Just Series) *under editing*

Chapter 14

"You're too cute baby," Arabella said.

"Can we go to the pawk again tomorrows?" She asked, completely forgetting about her other question.

Her question made us all stop laughing. Suddenly everyone was quiet.

I too was silent for a few moments. This is still new, and I will always worry, but, Arabella is right. Things have got to change.

Arabella, and my mother were both looking at me, with a worried look, while Lia was giving me a hopeful look.

I chuckled at the look on their faces.

"Yes, principessa. You have to be good though okay? You have to listen to Arabella, and stay close to her okay?"

She beamed, excitedly. "I pwomise daddy," she said bobbing her head up and down.

My mother was surprised, but she recovered, and breathed a sigh of relief, and gave me a smile of approval. Even Arabella, was smiling beautifully.

She's simply beautiful. She is breathtakingly beautiful.

I cleared my throat and said, "Alright. Mangiamo, Let's eat."

"So, Ara, where you from?" My mother asked.

"I was born and raised here. My dad is Italian. Born and raised. And my mom is American. My mom won a raffle draw at her university. It was a one week trip to Italy. That's where my mom and dad met and fell in love," she said.

"How did they meet?" I asked.

"My mom was being mugged, when my dad saved her from the muggers. My dad said it was love at first sight for him, but for my mom, it was hate at first sight," she chuckled.

"Hate at first sight?" My mother asked.

"Yes. According to my mom, my dad quickly turned from a knight in shining armour, to an arrogant jerk in a matter of seconds. He was angry at her, for almost getting mugged. He was yelling at her and called her stupida, for walking alone at night. My mom was so angry at him, she stomped on his foot."

We all laughed at that.

"Now I know where you get your feistiness."

She blushed.

"Don't you have any grandparents dear?" My mother asked.

"My mom's parents died when I was a baby, so I don't really remember them, but my mom told me stories about them. From what she's told me, they were wonderful parents to her, and loved her very much. I wish I had more time with them, but they're all together now in heaven. I know they're watching over me," she said. "As for my dad's parents, they are in Sicily..."

Sicily? Wait her last name is Canzano. Now, it makes sense. Her last name...why didn't I notice it before.

"Wait a minute. Is your dad, related to the Canzano's of Sicily.

"Well...if you're talking about the Canzano's who owns the largest winery in Sicily...then yes."

"Your father is Giovanni Canzano?" My mother asked.

"Yes."

"I can't believe, I never put two and two together," I said.

She shrugged. "I didn't think you knew the Canzano's" she said.

"We know them through business. Their wine is exquisite. They supply the wine, at our functions," my mother said.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, why didn't you go to them when your parents died?" I asked.

"I never knew them. According to my dad, they didn't approve of their relationship. My mom was from a working class family...an American at that. They didn't find my mom worthy of the Canzano name. My dad didn't agree. He loved my mom. They made him choose. He chose my mom, so they disinherited him...so my dad came back to America with my mom. They married a month later. Had me a year after that. But, I know that my mom and dad sent letters and pictures, but they were always sent back. My dad died, and I doubt they even know..." She said.

"I'm so sorry," my mother said.

She shrugged. "It's okay. I had a wonderful childhood, and my parents were the best. They are the one who missed out. And you can't really miss something you never had," she said with pride in her voice, but I could tell she wants to get to know them, because they are her only family.

I nodded in agreement.

"You are so strong, dear."

"Thank you," she said.

I'm sitting hear, looking at Arabella...again, her strength has managed to amaze me.

She is the granddaughter of one of the wealthiest families in Italy, and she doesn't even care. Most women I know, would have jumped at the chance at going to them, and demanding that they acknowledge her as a Canzano. She has every right to their fortune. Most people would jump at having a chance at inheriting that much money, but not her. She has known all this time, and not once did she ask them for help or reach out to them. From what Evelyn told me before, Arabella put herself through college. She worked whatever job she could get, just to pay the bills. She wouldn't even accept any help from Evelyn and her family, even if she has adopted her as one of her own. And now, she is trying to save up to start her own daycare/education centre for kids. She could easily get that money from her grandparents, and yet, she is here working as a nanny to earn money. She is truly one of a kind. Truly amazing. I am in awe of her.

She turned and our eyes collide.

She smiled at me.

My breath hitched.

At that moment I realized, that she is perfect. I can totally see her as my wife, and a mother to Lia.

She already loves my daughter. This will work. I'll marry her, and she'll be a mother to Lia. I already care about her. That's enough to make a marriage work.

I just have to convince her, that this is the best thing to do.

By getting married, we all win.

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What do you think about Massimo's plan?

He seemed to be looking at this as a marriage of convenience. How do you feel about that?

What will Ara think, and how do you think she'll react?

Let me know what you guys think!