It's been 4 weeks since the bar incident. Maya and Amelia had gotten closer and even spent the night together a couple times. Carina has been trying to get over the feelings that she has for Maya. Her best friend from Italy has been encouraging her to just be straight forward with Maya. Carina of course refuses saying that it's obvious Maya is over her. Carina is so desperate to get over her that she even made a dating profile. Nothing promising has come up yet but she is still determined to find someone. Carina quickly learned that trying to get rid of the feelings she has is harder than she thought. Every time she is convinced that she has finally gotten over Maya something comes up that reminds her of her and all the feelings come back. It also doesn't help that she has to see her everyday. For that very reason she has been thinking of just getting a new assistant.
"How's my favorite sister? I haven't seen much of you." Andrew said as he walked into Carina's office with a bag of food.
"Stupido, I'm your only sister. I'm good just been busy." Carina said looking at him with a small smile.
"How's Gio?"Andrew asked looking at Carina as he started to take out the lunch food.
"She's good. I had to hire a nanny for her since I can't rely on Antonio to actually keep his word on watching her. So far that's going good." Carina said taking a deep breath.
"That's good. Maya tells me that you hardly ever leave your office. You better not be getting into your depressive state. I love you and you know you can always come to me with absolutely anything. Even if it means you venting about the feelings you have for a certain blonde with blue eyes." Andrew said with a smile.
"Andrea seriously... I don't have feelings for her. I've told I a thousand times already." Carina said getting annoyed.
"And you can say it a thousand times more but you can't deny it forever Carina... I know you just as well as I know Maya and the feelings that you guys had in highschool are very much still there. There even stronger now. But you guys can deny it all you want but when you guys end up together I'm going to tell you that I was right all along." Andrew said as he handed Carina her salad that he had bought her.
"She clearly doesn't have feelings for me. She has Amelia now so my feelings don't matter." Carina said feeling defeated and fixing up her salad.
"So that's it? You're just going to give up that easy? Carina I never in my life known you to give up on something that you really want. Why start now? Why start with the women you love and who obviously loves you too? She might be with Amelia but I'm telling you right now, I know Maya like the back of my hand and you know it, whatever she has with Amelia whether that be just a hookup or something else it's not going to last. I know it. Life is too short Carina. If you love someone, you tell them. Even if you're scared that it's not the right thing. Even if you're scared that it'll cause problems. Even if you're scared that it will burn your life to the ground, you say it, and you say it loud and you go from there. " Andrew said looking serious at Carina.
"I'm scared. It's not only me anymore Andrea I have Gio to think about. I can't keep bringing people into her life who may or may not have a permanent place in our lives. It already happened once with Antonio I'm not letting it happen again." Carina said with her arms above her head.
"Maya adores Gio. She's always asking about her and about when I'm going to babysit so she could be home." Andrew said with a smile.
"Really? For what it's worth Gio keeps asking when she can come to my office to watch another movie with Maya." Carina said as she played with her food.
Carina and Andrew stayed silent for a couple of minutes until Andrew started taking again.
"Why did you kiss Alex that one day that Maya saw you? You never told me." Andrew said before taking a bite of his food.
"Someone told Papa that I was dating a girl. Papa got mad and he told me that if it were true he would send me back to Italy with Zia Stella. I had to convince him that I wasn't with a girl so I made a deal with Alex to be my fake boyfriend for a few hours and in return I'd do his homework for a week. I introduced him to Papa and when the day was over I kissed him on the porch to seal the deal. I was going to tell Maya when she got back from her family camping trip but it was too late. She saw me kissing Alex since she arrived a day earlier and after that she never let me explain. I would never have hurt her on purpose Andrea she... God she was everything to me." Carina said looking at Andrew trying to fight her tears.
"Carina... you could have told me earlier. I could have made Maya listen to you. Of course I know you wouldn't hurt her. Just like I know she would never hurt you. I'll talk to Maya-" Andrew began to say.
"Don't! When she hears why I kissed Alex I want her to hear it from me. I owe her at least that." Carina said looking at Andrew with a warning look.
"Ok if that's what you want. For the record, Maya only kissed Jack because she was hurt. It was a one time thing and she was drunk. I've never seen or heard about her being with anyone for longer than two month. That's why I'm saying that whatever it is that she has with Amelia it isn't going to last." Andrew said as he threw his trash away.
"Andrea I swear if you tell her anything of what I just told you I'll kill you." Carina said pointing at Andrew with glare.
"I won't I promise! I also came to tell you that I'll be out of town this weekend for a conference so I won't be around if you need anything unfortunately but if it's an emergency I'm only a call away." Andrew said as he went up to Carina and gave her a quick kiss on her head.
"What conference?" Carina asked Andrew as she handed him her trash so he could throw it out.
"Model me I believe it's called. It's in Las Vegas." Andrew said scratching his head.
"Hmm I have to be at one next weekend as well. Unique model. That's in Chicago I think. All I know is I have to speak." Carina said taking a deep breath.
"You're going to kill it!" Andrew said pointing at her before heading out of the office.
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"Carina? You sound horrible." Andrew said on the phone.
"Gee thanks. I have a horrible cold. I was calling to see if you are willing to take Gio for the night? Antonio was supposed to come and of course he's out on business." Carina said rolling her eyes.
"You know I would sis but I'm at a conference this weekend remember?" Andrew said through the phone feeling bad.
"Cazzo. I forgot. It's ok don't worry about it. I think I can manage Gio I just know she's bored of being home." Carina said before sneezing.
"Are you sure? I can check if Andy is available to go at least give you a break for a couple hours. Maybe take you some soup?" Andrew offered.
"No it's ok really. We should be fine. Right now she's coloring so I'll color with her. We can maybe have a movie night." Carina said trying to sound like she was sure.
"I'm sorry Carina I wish I was there. The conference is about to start. I'll call you after. I love you. Tell Gio I love her." Andrew said before quickly hanging up and calling his best friend.
"Maya I need you to do me a huge favor." Andrew said on the phone.
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"I really need a new best friend." Maya said to herself as she went up to Carina's door.
Part of Maya was expecting Carina to live in a mansion with maids and security but to her surprise Carina's house was relatively simple. It was a 2 story house with two garages doors. Nothing to fancy. Once she made it to the door she took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. She waited a few seconds before the door opened.
"Maya? What are you doing here?" Carina asked with a surprised expression.
"Hi. Andrew called and said you were sick. He asked me if I could bring you by some soup and fluids." Maya said looking at Carina and lifting up the bags she had.
As soon as Maya saw how sick Carina actually looked all her annoyance turned into concern. All she wanted was to make sure Carina felt better.
"Of course he did. Thank you Maya. For bringing the stuff. You didn't have to." Carina said taking a deep breath.
"It's ok I wasn't doing anything anyways so I thought I'd just come over and cook for you and Gio. That gives you time to rest as well." Maya said with a smile.
"No Maya you really don't have to. I can manage to cook some soup for me and Gio. You probably have other things to do with Amelia anyway." Carina said trying to brush her off and take the bags of food Maya had.
"You are way to stubborn to let anyone help you out huh? Carina you are sick. You can't even finish a full sentence without coughing. Your eyes are red meaning you obviously have a fever as well. Let me just help you out. I have nothing else to do. With Amelia or anyone else." Maya tried once again.
Just as Carina was about to protest Gio comes running up to Carina telling her she was bored.
"Hi Maya!" Gio said excitedly once she saw Maya.
"Hi Gio!" Maya said back with the same excitement.
"Are you here to work with mamma?" Gio asked looking at Maya.
"No not today. Someone told me that your mamma was sick so I came and brought her some stuff to make her feel better. I also brought things to make her chicken soup. Wanna help?" Maya said to Gio while she was kneeling down to her height.
"That's so nice!! Mamma Maya is so nice!" Gio said with a smile looking at Maya then at Carina.
"Si She is bella." Carina said taking a breath and smiling at Gio.
"Come Maya! I'll show you the kitchen!" Gio said as she took Maya's hand and pulled her inside passing Carina.
"Ok but you have to help me find everything we need while mamma goes and takes a nap so she can feel better." Maya said looking at Carina who glared at her.
"Maya-" Carina started.
"Si mamma! Go take a nap me and Maya will be your doctor's!" Gio said trying to push Carina out of the kitchen.
"Here take these. It will help with the fever you have. I'll be up to take you some tea"Maya said handing Carina two pills.
Carina mouthed a thank you and went to grab a water bottle before heading upstairs to her room. She wouldn't admitted it but she was grateful for Maya being there. Having Gio entertained is a full time job. When she was in bed she was putting in some essential oils in her defuser when there was a knock on her door.
"It's open." Carina called out with her back turned to the door.
"Hey here's the tea. It's elderberry. Hope it's still your favorite?" Maya said handing Carina her tea.
"It is. Thank you." Carina said with a smile while holding the mug with two hands and smelling it.
"Maya. Why are you doing this? Taking care of me. It's just a cold it's not like I'm dying. You could be doing so many other things." Carina said with a serious face stopping Maya before she walked away.
"It's not just because you are sick. Believe it or not I care about you. A lot.
Yes we have had our differences but that doesn't mean I don't care about you Carina. What ever happened between us already happened and we can't change it. We can say the most hurtful things to each other but that won't change the fact that I will always be there for you when you need me to. I could be married and have 5 kids and live in China and I will still be on the next flight out to be there for you." Maya said making Carina laugh a bit before she started coughing.
"Thank you bambina. For what it's worth I will always be there for you also. I'm just a call away." Carina said giving Maya a sweet smile while she held her hand running her thumb over it.
"Thanks. Now get some sleep you look horrible. Plus I left Gio in charge of washing the veggies." Maya said making Carina give her a small laugh.
"Stupida. Thank you again Bella. I mean it." Carina said with a smile and letting go of Maya's hand.
"Anytime. I'll wake you up when dinner is ready." Maya said before closing the door and heading out.
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"Ok now we add all the seasonings." Maya said as she helped Gio place the seasonings in the pot.
"I got it!" Gio said trying to do it by herself.
"Alright careful ok? It's really hot." Maya warned her. Gio just nodded eagerly.
Once they were done preparing the soup Gio asked Maya to play with her in her playroom. Maya of course agreed.
"Maya. Do you have a boyfriend?" Gio asked taking Maya by surprise.
"Nope. No boyfriend. How about you? Do you have a boyfriend?" Maya asked looking at Gio with an amused face.
"Eww gross boys are smelly!" Gio exclaimed while she pinched her nose and waved her hand back and forth making Maya laugh.
"I totally agree boys are smelly." Maya said winking at Gio making her smile.
Gio's questions were non stop. It made Maya laugh because she was definitely Carina's child so smart and curious. She would let some Italian words slip in here and there just like her mamma. Maya loved it. When they got bored of playing with Barbie dolls they decided to play candy land as Gio requested.
"Ok that time you definitely cheated! That's not fair!" Maya said crossing her arms.
"I did not! You just don't know how to play! You are getting beat by a little kid!" Gio said laughing making Maya laugh. They were both laughing when they heard Carina's unique laugh behind them. Maya instantly turned around. She knew she had been watching them for a while.
"Ciao mamma!" Gio said waving at Carina.
"Ciao amore mio. Did you behave?" Carina asked Gio who instantly nodded.
"Hey! Did you sleep?" Maya asked as she smiled at Carina and standing up.
"Yeah. The tea really helped so thank you." Carina said as she kept her arms crossed looking at Maya with a smile.
"Good. The soup should be ready. I'm going to go check." Maya said before making her way to the kitchen.
While Maya was doing that Carina asked Gio to help her put the game they were playing away.
"Mamma. Are you and Papa ever going to get back together?" Gio said making Carina take a deep breath before she sat next to her and held her hands in hers.
"Bambina... we've been through this. Papa and I are not going to get back together but that doesn't change the fact that we both love you." Carina said making Gio look at her.
"I don't think Papa loves me as much as you do." Gio said with a sad expression.
"Why do you say that amore? Did something happen?" Carina asked confused.
"Papa doesn't like spending time with me and when he does he is always working or has friends over." Gio said looking down.
"He does like spending time with you bella. He just has other priorities and things that he has to work through. But he loves you bambina." Carina said as she kissed Gio's head.
"Has Papa said anything else to you?" Carina asked after a few minutes noticing how quite Gio got.
"He said that we can't be a real family anymore because you don't want to. Mamma I want us to be a family again and for Papa to live here." Gio looked at Carina with pleading eyes.
"Bambina, remember when Papa did live here?"Carina asked her as Gio sat on her lap.
"Yeah you guys would scream and yell so much and be mean to each other." Gio said laying her head on Carina's chest.
"Mhm exactly. And that wasn't healthy bella. It wasn't healthy for me or for Papa and it was especially not healthy for you amore. We all deserve better. You deserve to have two parents who love each other instead of two parents who hurt each other." Carina said as she kissed Gio's head.
She hated how Antonio always made her seem like the bad person. He always tried to put Gio against her which is why she didn't want to share custody with him in the first place. She couldn't fathom putting Gio against Antonio. One day Gio Will grow up and see what actually happened and why they couldn't be a family.
"Are you happy now that Papa isn't living here?" Gio asked with her head still on Carina's chest.
"Yeah. I don't have to be worrying about fighting with him and you having to see and listen to it all. I'm pretty sure you didn't like to hear us argue right?" Carina said looking down at Gio who shook her head.
"I didn't like Papa screaming at you or pushing you or making you cry." Gio said taking a breath.
"Which is why I'm saying that it wasn't healthy for us to live like that." Carina said as she started to rock Gio in her arms while she was fighting her tears.
She hated that her daughter had to see that. She always swore that she would never want her kids to witness the abuse that she had to witness when she was a kid and she failed at that. It's not that she stayed because she cared about Antonio because she didn't. She stayed because of Gio without realizing the pain that it was causing her.
"As long as you are happy mamma then Papa doesn't have to live here." Gio said kissing Carina's cheek.
"It will all get better amore. Now let's go check in on Maya and see if she hasn't burned down the kitchen." Carina said making Gio giggle as she got up from Carina's legs.
"Ok let's go!" Gio said running to the door.
"Hey. Ti amo." Carina said looking at Gio with a smile.
"I love you too mamma." Gio said running up to Carina and wrapping her arms around her.
When they got to the kitchen they saw that Maya was just about done serving the food. They all sat down and ate while Gio started asking Maya non stop questions again. She was making Gio laugh with the answers she was giving her. Carina was enjoying every bit of the interaction with Maya and her daughter. Growing up Maya was positive that she never wanted kids. That was one big discussion that Carina and Maya had because in all reality, both Maya and Carina saw their future together. Maya would always argue that she wouldn't make a good parent because she didn't like kids. But with the way she was with Gio she could have fooled anyone. Maya instantly saw that Carina looked sad. Not because she was sick but because of something else that she couldn't pinpoint.
"You ok?" Maya said looking at Carina who was across from her.
"Yeah. I'm just exhausted. I think it's the cold that I have." Carina said trying to play it off.
"Well after dinner go take a shower and I'll take care of cleaning and organizing everything out here." Maya said.
"No bella you've done enough. How about you guys pick a movie and I'll clean up the kitchen?" Carina tried to protest.
"No mamma! You are sick! You have to rest!" Gio said grabbing Carina's face in her two hands so she could look at her.
"Yeah what she said! Go shower and get in bed! We will be up when we are done." Maya said making Gio laugh as well as Carina.
"Ok fine!" Carina pouted.
After they were done cleaning it was already 9:00 and Maya noticed how Gio was yawning a lot more so she went up stairs to check on Carina and saw that she was asleep so she decided to go ahead and put Gio to bed.
"Alright love bug bedtime. What's the routine?" Maya said as she held a yawning Gio in her arms.
"Well before bed mamma gives me gelato!" Gio said with a smirk as she tried to get ice cream from Maya.
"Yeah and then she hangs me by my feet huh? I highly doubt your mamma gives you Ice cream before bed so try again." Maya said making Gio laugh.
"Ok we brush our teeth and then put on our PJs and read 2 books before lights out." Gio said as another yawn escaped.
"Sounds more like it." Maya said as she headed into the bathroom with Gio.
After her night routine was done with Maya turned on Gio's night light and placed her water bottle on the nightstand.
"Alright goodnight booger." Maya said causing Gio to laugh a bit.
"Goodnight Maya. Thank you for taking care of mamma. She needed it." Gio said before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
After Gio was asleep she placed a kiss on her forehead and headed towards the door only to see Carina standing there with a smile and that same sad expression.
"Hey." Carina said holding out her hand for Maya to take which she did. Carina pulled her out of the room and went down stairs.
"How are you feeling? How's the fever?" Maya asked looking at Carina with a shy smile.
"Better. Fever is finally down. I'm sure tomorrow it will just be a little sore throat. Do you want some wine or anything?" Carina said going to the kitchen and getting two glasses.
"Sure one glass won't hurt." Maya said as she stood behind the counter watching as Carina grabbed the wine.
"Thank you again Maya. I really did need the help with Gio. She adores you." Carina said with a smile.
"She reminds me so much of you. Always asking questions and trying to get her way one way or another. Those brown eyes I swear get me every time." Maya said laughing causing Carina to do the same.
"She's my mini me. I'm happy about that." Carina said with a smile as she looks down.
"You were kinda sad earlier. I hope you know you could talk to me. About anything. Even your ex husband if you want." Maya said trying to get Carina to talk to her.
"Gio. She told me her dad told her that she can't have a real family because I don't want to. I just hate how he always puts everything on me. Like he didn't do anything. This is one of the main reason why I wanted full custody of her because I know how he likes to manipulate people into believing him and his story. I hate that he's doing that to Gio. She's only 5" Carina said as she looked like she could brake at any moment.
"Hey Carina. Listen Gio is a smart girl! She's brilliant. I don't think that for one second she's going to believe anything he tells her." Maya said going up to Carina and holding her hands.
"She does if she's telling me she wants him to come back and live with us. And I tried Maya I tried to stay with him for so long but after the third time he cheated and he began getting physical and I couldn't put myself or Gio through it. It's not that I had feelings for him because I never did." Carina said taking a deep breath and finally letting her tears go.
"Of course she wants her parents together. What kid doesn't want that? But Carina you know what's best for her more than anyone. By what Andrew told me he cheated on you? Carina you deserve better. Gio deserves better. If you don't mind me asking why did you stay with him if you didn't have feelings for him?" Maya tried to finish.
"At first I got married to satisfy my papa. I never loved Antonio. I was going to file for divorce but then I became pregnant and decided just to suck it up." Carina said wiping her tears.
"You. Always putting others happiness before your own. I'm sorry." Maya said hugging Carina.
"I was the stupid to let my papa ruin my life not once but twice." Carina said looking at her hands.