POV Elizabeth Jacobs
James had jumped of the bed. "No, No. Lizzy very bad idea."
"I know. I still haven't answered yet. I don't want to give him the wrong impression."
"Good. But maybe we can use it. Let's see how Lorenzo does with that."
"No, that's a bad idea, James. We talk tomorrow about it. I'm going to sleep."
He nodded "Fine but think about it."
The next morning, I got a call from Ana.
Ana: Andrei invited you?
Lizzy: yeah, he told you?
Ana: of course he did.
Lizzy: it's a bad idea uh?
Ana: That depends on what you want from him.
Lizzy: I don't want any more than friendship. I don't want to give the wrong impression. To nobody.
Ana: you know his feelings about you
Lizzy: Exactly why I don't want to give him falls hope.
Ana: Indeed. But I would love to have you as my sister-in-law.
Lizzy: Ana, not happening.
Ana: Yeah, Yeah. Is James around? I found something in his room. A gift, beautifully wrapped. I didn't know James could do that.
Lizzy: I groaned. Blue wrapping?
Ana: Yeah
Lizzy: That's mine. You can throw it away.
Ana: Are you sure?
Lizzy: Look Ana, it was for Lorenzo's birthday. Given the circumstances, I decided against it to give it to him. So please, just throw it away.
Ana: If you say so. I have to go, Aleks is awake. Say Hi to James and to Andrei from me.
Lizzy: will do, bye Ana. I miss you
Ana: We miss you too Lizzy
POV Lorenzo Romano
Andrei invited Lizzy to Russia, at his home?! I didn't hear the inertly conversation, only Ana's part. But it was enough. "Oh, hey Lorenzo" Ana said to me
"Ana, your brother needs to back off. She is mine."
"Does Lizzy know that, Lorenzo?"
"Yes"
"I don't think so Lorenzo. From what Julia told me, James and Lizzy believe that you are dating Kelly. She is a free woman. When was the last time that you talked to her?"
"When she stayed over at the hotel. That was last weekend. But she left me in the morning."
"Oh boy, still stupid. Maybe she was confused. Scared to give you the wrong impression. That you'd think everything was back to normal."
"I thought that was her way of saying goodbye."
Ana signed "She only wants you, Lorenzo."
"I stopped talking to her. I thought that's what she wanted."
"I don't think so. She is only scared to let you back in."
"Of course, she is. I treated her like crap."
Ana nodded "You did, and now you fix it." She thrust a gift into my arms.
"What is this."
"Another present from Lizzy. She asked me to throw it away, given the circumstances. Those circumstances are, I believe, you dating Kelly. Since that isn't true. Here is her gift."
"Do you know what is in it?"
"No clue. But I start to think something really good." She left to see Aleks.
I took a seat on the couch and first took a deep breath. Afterwards I started unwrapping the present. Julia and Suzy walked in.
"What are you doing?"
"Unwrapping a gift from Lizzy."
"Another one?" Julia asked
"I wasn't supposed to get this, because she thinks I'm dating Kelly."
"Oh, that's why James was acting so strange." Suzy said
I nodded; I was a little nervous "It's a book."
"Yeah, brother I can see that to. Oh, she created you another diary?"
"No, not exactly." I was speechless, maybe crying a bit.
"Come on Lorenzo, what is it?" Suzy yelled
"She made me a book with all the places over the world that she would love to visit with me. There is even a place for a second honeymoon. Rome, Valencia, Prague, and so on. The house at Stinson Beach,... With a post-it on, great to re-marry. Fuck. And here a bookmark, she drew us on it." I flipped it around. "Oh God, a message from the baby... Daddy, mommy is waiting for you. When will you come and get us? We love you."
I looked back up, now everyone stood before me. The girls crying, the guys smiling big.
"Should it not be the other way around. He who gives a big gesture towards her?" Matteo remarqued.
Everybody nodded at that "that's Lizzy." Suzy said
"I'm going to get her."
"Finally," Julia yelled
"I'm calling Andrei."
"What why?" Ana asked
"Well, I need to show her that my trust-issues and jealousy are better, or that I want to work on it. By visiting Andrei together... But I need to ask him first if his feelings for her are too strong... I can't do that towards him, going over there and rubbing our love in his face."
"Brother, you really are a changed men." Luciano said
"Text James first, that he also is informed. Before he does something stupid." Sebastian remarque
"Do somethin stupid?"
"He is thinking of walking away and take her with him, to protect her." He explained
"Okay, good to know. I'll text him straightaway."
Taking a seat in my office I called first James. He didn't pick up, so I sent him a text.
Lorenzo: James, I'm NOT dating Kelly. Lizzy was, is and always will be the only one for me. I'm coming for her.
20 minutes later he texted me back
James: I'm relieved to hear that. We are at the hospital, checkup on the baby.
Lorenzo: Okay, If Andrei is on board, I'm taking her to visit him.
James: Good, she just asked the doctor if it's still safe to travel.
Lorenzo: and?
James: Yes, she may.
Lorenzo: Good, and the baby? everything okay?
James: The baby is fine. She is now 25 weeks.
Lorenzo: Already? I missed so much.
James: I know
Lorenzo: Keep er buzzy, I try to be there as soon as possible.
James: Yes Boss
Now another but more difficult talk with Andrei.
Andrei: Lorenzo, what can I do for you?
Lorenzo: You invited Lizzy?
Andrei: Yes, is that a problem?
Lorenzo: Depends on why you invited her
Andrei: Look Lorenzo, I like her a lot. But since your wedding, I have seen you two that day. No man can compete with that. I invited her because I wanted to show her around, give her a change of environment.
Lorenzo: Okay, do you mind if I come to? I'm going after her...
Andrei: Good, would be a nice gesture. She is going to worship you for that. I hope that you know that you are one lucky bastard.
Lorenzo: I know. But I want to be sure if it's okay with you.
Andrei: Lorenzo, I may have met someone. Only recently but I think she is going to rock my world.
Lorenzo: I had that too with Lizzy, after seeing her once on video. I was hooked.
Andrei: I know, Matteo told me
Lorenzo: That little shit.
Rick entered gesturing to me and the phone. I put Andrei on speaker.
Lorenzo: Wait a minute Andrei, Rick is here. I have placed you on speaker
Rick: Can I, Ana and Aleks come to Russia to? You haven't met Aleks, and I know that Ana misses home."
Andrei: YES! You don't need to ask that Rick.
Lorenzo: Well then it is settled. Pack your bags Rick, we are leaving to pick up Lizzy and probably James. We leave as soon as possible. Andrei, I keep you informed when we should arrive. And don't let Lizzy know.
Andrei: Great, looking forward to it.
*****
Lorenzo: James, it's settled with Andrei. Rick, Ana and Aleks are coming also.
James called me 30 minutes later.
Lorenzo: something wrong James?
James: No, no. I convinced her to let know Andrei that she would come to visited him. Andrei played along with not knowing.
Lorenzo: Good thinking. Now you can take her to the airport without her questioning.
James: Indeed. You stay in the bedroom. Adding Rick and Ana is just her first little surprise.
Lorenzo: Perfect. Send her to the bedroom, I'll wait there for her.
James: She is now over to Emily and William. After that we start packing.
Lorenzo: I'm going to pack now. I let you know when we will arrive. See you later.
On the way to the airport, I bought a bouquet of peonies. Entering the plane, I placed my stuff in the bedroom. Is sent a text to James: The plane took off, approximately 1hour flight.
James: She is making her bag... She is a little sensitive since we left the doctor.
Lorenzo: Something wrong with the baby?
James: No. She just feels very lonely. She's acting strong. I think that she is not cooping anymore of not being with you. She cries a lot.
Lorenzo: I will do everything to make it up to her. Thanks for being there with her.
James: Maybe now is a good time to tell you that some nights I slept next to her. Don't kill me.
Lorenzo: Ha-Ha. that depends on your intention behind it.
James: to comfort her, until she fell asleep.
Lorenzo: for doing that I am in you dept.
James: With pleasure. She is ready. See you soon
*****
Rick and Ana were making fun of me, I was nervous, I couldn't sit still. The laughed also with the decoration I placed in the bedroom for Lizzy. Walking around in the plane was the only thing I could do for the next hour. And then we landed. I almost ran to the bedroom. I was waiting 5 minutes... 10 minutes... 15 minutes and then I heard Ana scream "surprise".
I heard Lizzy scream, then laugh "God Ana, I almost delivered this baby, scarring me like that."
"Yeah, yeah. Put your bag in that bedroom. Don't be a cry-baby." Ana said to her
The handle of the door went down, the door opened, and she looked for the light switch. I switched on the little lights that I had put in place. She jumped a little bit being startled. Looking around her eyes fell on me. She dropped her bags. "Lorenzo, what are you doing here?"
"Showing you how much I love you."
She cried in silence "oh"
"I'm here for you Lizzy and our baby. I'm not letting you go. I only want you."
She nodded "No Kelly?"
"Never, Tesoro. I never touched or thought about another woman since I met you."
"Why were you out with her?"
"Only to thank her for helping with capturing Damian."
She nodded "I was so jealous when I heard it. I cried a lot since then. I'm always crying..."
"I know Tesoro. I'm sorry Lizzy, that wasn't my intention."
"I missed you so much Lorenzo."
I walked up to her and dropped down on my knees for her. She sobbed more. Putting my hands on her hips, giving her tummy a kiss. "I know. I missed you too. Even when I was an being ass to you."
"You were a real ass. It still hurts so much. I can't go through that again."
"I'm aware. I watched the footage of that evening, night, and morning. I was disgusted with myself."
"I don't know how to forgive you, but I do know that I can't live without you."
"I will go every day on my knees for you, my love. I love you so much and I am truly sorry for what I did to you. I will spend my entire life making it up to you."
She nodded and bent down putting her lips on mine. It was just a little kiss. I stood back up. Wrapping my arm around her waist I pulled her closer to me. Capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Pulling away I hold her in my arms, enjoying of having her in my arms again. I took a seat on the bed and pulled her on my lap. She smiled at me and slowly moved her hand over my face. Caressing it with her fingertips. Her hand wondered to my hair, slowly combing her hands through my tick hair.
"You need a haircut. Oh, and Happy Birthday."
"Thank you, and thank you for your gifts. I loved them all."
"Ana didn't throw it away?"
"I'm glad she didn't. I loved it. And someday weare going to visit everything you mentioned."