For Katrina, her week of bed rest had flown by, actually the whole five weeks had. She and Alonzo were due in Maria's office for her check-up in an hour. She would finally get to hear their baby's heartbeat. She still couldn't believe that she was thirteen weeks pregnant, even if she couldn't believe it her body definitely showed it. She stood in front of their bedroom mirror, with her shirt pulled up past her stomach and examined her baby bump.
Her eyes became watery and she tried her best to blink away the tears, but it was too late and they ran down her cheeks like waterfalls. Katrina couldn't stand how emotional she was now, but she couldn't help but be happy that their little angel had made it this far. Every now and then her mind would take her back to that very dark place in her life a couple of weeks ago. She thanked God every day that He had given her a warrior.
Katrina rubbed her round belly and smiled through her tears, she wasn't incredibly big at thirteen weeks but you could tell she was pregnant. Every day she woke up it seemed her stomach grew more and more every night. Last week, Alonzo had maternity clothes delivered to the house that would last her whole pregnancy. At first, she was shocked, she didn't think she would need to wear maternity clothes until she was much further along in her pregnancy, but she had been wrong and at least the clothes were cute; her husband had taste.
As she rubbed circles on her belly to soothe their baby as she reminisced about her week of bed rest. Katrina didn't believe she had laughed so much in her life. She honestly believed that Alonzo was the reason she healed so fast. He never left her side, even when he had to work; he had a desk set up in the room and took all calls through his cellphone. At first she thought it was aggravating because she just wanted to be left alone in her own little world, but he wouldn't allow it and to be honest after a while she was happy to have him with her.
When she became drowsy, he would stop working so that he wouldn't disturb her sleep. They ate together and he held her hair away from her face when she couldn't keep her food down. The first sign of a dry heave had him out of his chair, picking her up, and heading to the bathroom. Sometimes they didn't make it as far as the bathroom and she couldn't keep it down. She didn't dare laugh then, but now she couldn't help herself as she remember his horrified expression. After that incident, he special ordered bags and had her own personal barf bags delivered. She'd scarred him for life and she knew he was ecstatic when that stage was over.
Katrina still couldn't believe that her husband had actually watched an entire Twilight marathon with her, but she couldn't say he hadn't complained about it the whole time. At first she was the one that would shout at the screen about how stupid Bella was to keep going back and forth between Edward and Jacob, Alonzo would look at her as if she had lost her mind. She looked at him incredulously when he proclaimed to like Jacob better because he was the alpha male. They argued back and forth about the damn thing until he spit out his juice when Jacob imprinted on the baby. She laughed so hard at his repulsed face that her stomach started to hurt.
They even watched two movies out of the Hunger Games trilogy. Alonzo declared he liked that marathon better because it was more action and less love. She had to point out that both had a love triangle and he pointed back out that both were too obvious about who would end up with who. She still couldn't believe that he was the same Alonzo in those moments.
He even listened to her audio version of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy; she followed with the book as he typed away on his laptop. When he was on the phone he would sometimes sigh and roll his eyes in exasperation, she would move her hand back and forth in a spanking motion, his eyes would light up and a smirk would grace his face. They would sit there staring at each other from across the room just smiling and then the atmosphere would change. His eyes would heat up and her mouth would open with a gasp, it was as if some invisible thread was pulling them towards each other and then the person on the other end of the phone would break the moment.
They didn't finish the trilogy, too much sex for two people that couldn't have any. Too many moments of pulling and the thread breaking and snapping them back into reality. Katrina's face heated up, she knew Maria was going to give them the ok to have sex again. She pulled her white shirt down and walked towards the bathroom. She went to her side of the sink and prepared to do her hair. It had grown much longer during those five weeks and was now a much darker brown than it had been before.
She brushed her hair up into a ponytail and stared at herself through the mirror. She looked healthier now that she could keep all of her food down. Her appetite had returned with a vengeance, she'd never known had existed. Her eyes were brighter and her eyelashes had grown longer. Her skin wasn't flawless but it glowed astonishingly. Besides her stomach expanding, she had put on some welcome healthy weight. Before she was too skinny and looked sick, then again anyone would look such a way if they couldn't keep any food down.
When her father came to visit her during the past weeks, he'd made an uninvited remark about her weight. He didn't believe that Alonzo was taking care of her and the baby, and wanted to come every day to make sure they were fine. That caused him and Alonzo to get into horrible arguments, in Italian nonetheless, outside their bedroom door or any room door where she happened to be. They didn't think that she could hear them, but hearing wasn't the problem, understanding was.
Katrina knew that he was her father and that he wanted nothing more than to rekindle his relationship with her, and she wanted to try too but it all felt so strange. Especially when he would argue with her husband about what was best for her when he himself didn't know what was best for her. She didn't like to see them fight. She had to remind him that she wasn't a five-year-old child anymore but a twenty-year-old woman that was now married and having a child of her own. He understood to an extent but he was still her father and wanted the best for her.
He had given her a picture of her birth mother and she couldn't help but stare in awe. Her mother Annalisa Porcelli was a beautiful woman. Katrina now knew where she had gotten her looks, yes, she had her father's eyes, but the rest of her was a replica of her mother, from her dark wavy hair, to the shape of her face, and her petite curvy frame. Where her mother's eyes were a rich brown, hers were an olive green. Her mom looked so sophisticated and very much pregnant. She'd traced the picture when he gave it to her. He wanted her to have this one to remind her that her mother loved her unconditionally. She would never forget how he whispered her name, his heavy Italian accent caressing every letter, Anna.
Katrina closed her eyes and rubbed her temples as she remembered what he made her promise. Promise to ignore Marissa's behavior and try her hardest not to hit her again. She still couldn't accept the truth that they were siblings; it made her feel better to know that it was only by marriage. The girl that she had adored so much as a child had become her worst enemy, her own stepsister. It made her sick to her stomach at the thought of her and Alonzo being together, in such intimate ways, and sad that she had once had his heart. Especially when he was making it so difficult for her to even come close to it. Was it true what Marissa had said? Was Alonzo truly not over her?
She bit her lip in worry and decided that it was best to ask Alonzo, than to let her imagination run wild. She rolled her eyes again, why did Marissa have to be her sister? Why couldn't she have been a long distant friend from summer camp that she could hardly remember? Then she wouldn't feel so obligated to keep her promise.
Katrina yelped and jumped in surprise when Alonzo slapped her on her rear, hard. She turned around to see her husband smirking at her.
"You rolled your eyes farfalla." He explained.
Katrina backed out of the bathroom with her hands up in mock surrender and a big smile on her face. She was delighted that she and Alonzo had come so far in these last couple of weeks.
"Someone has had too much Fifty Shades of Grey. You're not Christian, A-l-o-n-z-o. That's the thing he does in the book." She exclaimed.
He rubbed his chin as he thought about it "I'm not so sure you're right about that Katrina."
She could tell by the glint in his eyes that he was in a playful mood today. She only had a second to react before Alonzo pounced on her. She was almost to the door, when she tripped over an imaginary lump in the middle of the floor. Alonzo quickly caught her and held her up so she wouldn't fall "that's enough playing for today. You're bigger now Katrina, you must not move so fast." He said as he let her go to run his finger through his hair "the fault was my own, I shouldn't have started it."
Katrina furrowed her eyebrows as she watched his mood change from spirited to serious. She sighed, as always he was right, she could barely see her feet without bending. It was just at playful times such as this, she forgot that she was pregnant.
Their relationship had changed so drastically that it had her wondering what happened. Now he wasn't going around confessing his love for her, and she really wasn't expecting him to either. One day he came storming in their room looking for Gabe, she had seen a different side to him then, a glimpse of a deadly side.
He'd come looking for Gabe, but when his eyes landing on her, he stared into her eyes as if he was peering into her soul. She sat frozen in the bed, with the remote in her hand, gazing back at him and completely forgetting that Gabe was in the room. When he walked towards her side of the bed, Katrina wanted to get up and run for her life but his deadly glare had an unsolicited hold on her body.
For as long as she lived, she would never forget the words he whispered to her that day. He stepped as close to her as he could and grabbed ahold of her head, tugging so that she was looking directly in his burning grey eyes. "I will never let any harm come to you or our child, if someone was to dare harm you I will kill them. Do you hear me? Io li ucciderli Katrina!" ( I will kill them Katrina!)
Any normal husband would think the same when it came to his wife, but to hear it come from Alonzo in such a deadly voice frightened her. He wanted her to know that he was dangerous, and she believed him. He left her alone for the remainder of that day. Later on in the evening when she saw him again, it was as if nothing had ever happened. Had he blacked out what he said to her? Did her husband have black outs? Nevertheless, he never talked about that day, but he didn't have to for her to know that it had happened.
"Katrina, are you fine? You're just standing there glaring at your stomach." Alonzo's question brought her back to the present.
Katrina nodded her head with a small smile, and then frowned. Alonzo hadn't been hiding anything big from her and since he was being honest most of the time, she wanted to know about his relationship with Marissa. She knew that if you went digging for information you would find things you didn't want to find, but she had to know before it ate at her.
She stood straighter and put her hands on her protruding hips getting into her serious stance. Alonzo looked at her with an arch eyebrow in a small smirk. Dammit, she wanted to look serious right now, this stance would've worked better if she wasn't showing so much.
She squared her shoulders "there is something I want to know and since you've been so open, I don't think me asking this should bother you." She watched as his face became serious and he gazed at her questioningly. "I want to know about your relationship with Marissa." She said evenly.
His eyes widened and he ran his hand through his hair. "Mio Dio Katrina why?"
Now it was her turn to look at him as if he had gone crazy "because I want to know. Actually, I have every right to know." She responded.
-
Alonzo glared at his wife, out of all the moments, why right now. He was in a good mood, he was finally going to hear his little ones heartbeat today. After all Katrina and their baby had been through, everything was seamless. This was going to be one of the happiest days of his life until he could hold his own child in his arms. It still amazed him, how much he wanted their baby. He wasn't entirely ready to become a father, but his husband and fatherly instinct had already kicked in. He was ready for anything thrown his way, well just about anything.
He was caught completely off guard, even though he'd been expecting this question to come up. He'd expected it when his father-in-law had asked Katrina to behave herself around her sister. Alonzo also knew that Katrina couldn't accept the fact that she and Marissa were sisters. He cursed himself for being the forge in their relationship. Hell, it wasn't his fault, how was he supposed to know they were sisters. He sighed, his ex's were after his wife and he didn't like the fact that it was all because he hadn't kept things clear with Marissa and Veronica was having mental issues. Would he have to kill her? Yes, he would if she tried to hurt his family.
"I'm waiting." She said while tapping her small foot rather impatiently might he add. He'd rubbed off on his wife and to be honest with himself he liked her new attitude.
"Is this necessary Katrina? Do you have to know right now?" he asked and by the arch of her small delicate brow, he knew she was serious. It was almost comical how their roles had seemed to change. He wasn't worried, he could always reclaim control, but his wife was happier and healthier.
Alonzo walked over to the couch in front of their bed and sat down, Katrina turned to stand in front of him "What do you want to know Katrina? You have ten minutes." He said seriously.
"Did you love her?" she asked going straight for the jugular.
Alonzo knew he had to tread carefully when answering this question. "I suppose I did."
"You suppose?" She questioned.
He sighed, "In my own way, I loved her Katrina," he answered.
"In what way was that?" She probed.
He was growing exasperated already and the questions had just started. He looked at his watch and only a minute had passed.
"Don't stall Alonzo." She snapped.
"I wasn't forced to marry her Katrina and on our own terms we would've had children." He snapped back.
She flinched when he reached for her and she moved away, putting her hands up.
"No its fine I understand." She said.
He grabbed her then so that she stood between his legs "No you don't understand and don't pretend as though you do. I don't want you crying about this later, so I want to make it clear. I wasn't forced to marry you Katrina, if anything you were forced to marry me. Even though our baby wasn't planned, I want it with all that I have." He said placing his hand on her rounded belly. "I want both of you."
Katrina looked at him in shock he had surprised himself. He hadn't expected that to come out of his mouth, who was he kidding he didn't expect anything anymore. He wasn't professing love to his wife, because he wasn't sure how he himself felt about Katrina, but he knew that he was no longer regretting anything. He would protect them both long after his death.
He stood up and grabbed her hand, to hell with this interrogation. His brain and mouth weren't on the same team today and he wasn't ready for the consequences his mouth would surely cause him. "No more of this Katrina, Maria is expecting us." He said while leading her towards the door.
"Wait, just two more questions Alonzo." She said while tugging on his hand, he turned around to see her wide eyed and breathless. Surely he hadn't been walking that fast, he had to remember that she tired easily now. He stared at her, waiting for her to ask her last questions. She seemed to be thinking them over before she asked. What could she possibly have to ask him?
"Do you still love her, you know, in your own little way?" she asked sternly.
"In no way do I love Marissa, Katrina." he answered on a sigh.
She nodded her head in understanding. "Is she the one that scarred you?"
To say he was surprised by the question was an understatement; he was completely stunned. He was so startled that he wasn't sure how to answer. He started to open his mouth but wasn't quite sure what was going to come out. He furrowed his eyebrows, annoyed with himself. To be honest, the answer was simple really, yes she had. The thing was he wasn't certain he wanted his wife to know.
"It's fine Alonzo, there's no need to say anything. I'm sure I know the answer to that question." She said while walking towards the doors. "I can't believe she did that. How selfish of her to make it so hard for the next woman. Just makes me dislike her a lot more." She murmured more to herself but he heard every word. That's one thing he noticed about his wife, she didn't know how to keep her thoughts in her head, they just came flying out of her mouth.
He caught up to her, stopping her in her tracks, and pulled her close to his body "I'm already the reason your relationship with your sister is horrible. Let's not add more fuel to the fire Katrina."
"Marissa is a bitch Alonzo. She's just going to keep picking and picking until I explode. Even if she finds out that we are sisters, I think that knowledge would make it a lot worse. She's not the Ri Ri that I remember, so if she pokes then I'll poke back." She proclaimed.
He grabbed her under her chin so that he could look her directly in her eyes; he wanted her to know that he was serious, that even though they'd been on playful terms these past weeks he was no longer joking. "Remember what I said to you the day you slapped Marissa." She looked up at him questioningly. "I said that if you ever pulled a stupid stunt like that again, that you would have to answer to me. I can't take any chances with our baby Katrina, so that means no fighting on your part. You should never have to lift those pretty, little hands anymore; I do all the fighting for the three of us. If Marissa says anything negative, ignore her and trust that I will handle it." He said while looking deeply into her beautiful green eyes.
He didn't wait for a reply as they made their way down the stairs towards Maria's office; he knew that Katrina understood him. Alonzo knew his wife realized that he was no longer playing games.
-
Maria walked around her office getting her materials ready for Alonzo and Katrina's arrival. To be frank she was excited to hear her little cousin's heartbeat as well. She was delighted that Katrina and the baby had been strong throughout the difficult times.
She knew for a fact that being with Alonzo wasn't easy, hell she had grown up with him. Well, until she and her father had a horrible dispute when she was much younger. Over the years she'd become a distant cousin, but she was happy to be reconnected with her family. She hadn't planned to come back to Italy to stay, only to visit on holidays, but Katrina and the baby had brought her back and she supposed that was a good thing.
She was rolling the ultrasound machine towards her examination table when strong hands covered her own and a strong warm chest pressed against her backside. "Did you need help with this Maria?" Gabe whispered in her ear and it sent unwanted shivers through her body. She hated that her body wanted him so badly, she hated that he was a distraction.
She spun around in his arms as they continued to move, and then stopped when the machine was beside the table; he stepped closer to her with only an inch between them. With or without that inch she could still feel the heat radiating off his body, and it pissed her off. She pushed against his chest moving him back slightly.
"All the years you've known me Gaben and you still don't know that I need help from no one." She finally answered.
He stepped closer to her "Oh, but I recall you needing my help before. I remember that night as if it happened yesterday."
She put her hand on his chest again to stop his approach. "That was twelve years ago Gaben. We're both mature adults now. You seemed the best candidate for my predicament then, you'd been after me for two years. I'm surprised that you still remember that night it was quite forgettable. You did me a favor and if I didn't thank you that night then I thank you now."
He placed his hand over hers on his chest "you wound me Maria but you lie more to yourself. I made sure to make that night special for you. I guess it wasn't special enough to make you stay in Italy, but you're back now." He stepped so close to her that her breast pushed up against their hands. With his other hand, he brushed her hair behind her ear to whisper, "Like you said, we're both mature adults. I was nothing but a boy back then. We were both eighteen. Gisella let me show you how mature I am."
Oh, he hit below the belt when he said her middle name like that, it hit her hard. She never knew her middle name could make her weak, but that night twelve years ago he'd groaned it repeatedly in her ear, heightening her release. She hated that she ran to him that night, she hated that throughout the years she couldn't forget him, she hated that she still wanted him after all these years. Hated that he'd expected her to stay, when he knew how badly she wanted to escape.
"You say you're mature but you're trying to take revenge on me for something that happened so long ago. Gaben you're thirty years old, let it go." She said as her rear hit her desk, she had been so focused on him that she hadn't noticed they had been walking.
"You were a selfish brat that disagreed with daddy's agreement that you become a housewife. You wanted to lash out and take away something your husband-to-be required you to have. You took advantage of a boy you knew had feelings for you. You asked him to take something precious away from you and he thought that you were finally starting to accept his feelings." He said in a low stern voice.
"You should've kept it real with me Maria, but you didn't you toyed with me. You can call it revenge all you want, but I want you out of my system. I want to be able to walk past you and not spare you a glance. I want to be able to not think about you. I want you back in my bed and I will have you back in my bed. I know you're sexually frustrated Maria and I know you'll only run to someone you know. Just remember when you come running back to me it's not a little boy you're getting into bed with but a grown ass man." He made it a point to get so close to her that she could feel his erection straining against his pants.
Maria gasped, she couldn't do anything but stare up into his dark brown eyes. Her senses were going haywire and she couldn't think straight. Maybe she should take him up on his offer; she needed to get him out of her system as well. His powerful erection was very impressive, he was right he was no longer a little boy.
"Are we interrupting something?" she heard Alonzo say and it made her jump in surprise. She looked to see him and Katrina standing at the door. Her cousin had a smirk on his face and Katrina was blushing a deep red and avoiding her gaze. This caused Maria to blush, why wasn't Gabe moving already.
"I haven't seen you blush so badly, since I caught you sneaking out of my best-friends room early one morning." Alonzo stated and the bastard actually had the nerve to smile.
She no longer felt Gabe's erection and understood why he hadn't moved yet, but she really didn't appreciate him laughing at her discomfort. She pushed at his chest hard and was pissed when that hardly made a difference. She stood up tall and straightened her white coat.
When she went to walk past him, Gabe grabbed her arm "we're not finish with this." He whispered in her ear. "We are certainly not." She whispered harshly back in his ear and excused him from her office. The asshole smiled and winked at her on his way out.
-
Katrina laid down on the cold table and could still feel her blush. She was embarrassed that she and Alonzo had walked in at an inconvenient moment. She could still feel the sexual tension in the air, but she was starting to think it was no longer sexual. That went away when Gabe walked out the door, there was still tension all right but it was all exuding from Maria's body.
Maria looked upset, her eyebrows set in a frown and her lips pinched together made her look almost deadly. Katrina could tell that she was clenching her teeth. The Riccardi family had the deadly glare perfected. Maria could almost give her husband a run for his.
It didn't make it better that Alonzo kept smirking at Maria, it only made her more agitated. The way she was handling the Doppler and the way she squeezed the clear blue gel on it, only scared Katrina. She pulled her shirt up and over her stomach and cleared her throat. "Maria sorry to have intruded on you, but are you alright? You're starting to scare me a little."
Maria looked at her startled "I'm sorry about that, yes I'm fine. Are you ready to hear your little one's heartbeat?" She asked pleasantly.
Katrina nodded her head she couldn't wait. She glanced up at Alonzo to see that he still had a small smile on his face. She hit him playfully on the forearm "stop that." She said and he looked down at her with a full-blown smile meant to melt her heart.
She gasped when Maria smeared the cold gel around on her stomach. She moved it around for a bit and Katrina kept her eyes glued to the screen. She wasn't sure what she was seeing until her tiny baby appeared on the screen. She smiled at her angel.
She watched Maria tap a few buttons and then a beautiful sound came blaring through the speakers. She could hear the fast thumping of their baby's heartbeat. She was speechless all she could do was listen. She thought she could see tiny arms and legs, but wasn't positive because their baby was a mover.
"Ciò che un bel suono che fa, il mio battito cardiaco del bambino." she heard Alonzo whisper, she looked at him for understanding, but he had his eyes closed just listening to the baby's heartbeat.
"He said what a beautiful sound his child's heartbeat makes." Maria clarified and she sent her a silent thank you.
"Congratulations on making it to your thirteenth week. I know you were probably thinking it was too early to know the sex of your baby, but if you like I could find out whether it's a boy or a girl." Maria said while glancing between her and Alonzo.
She looked up at Alonzo for confirmation "yes we would like to know."
Maria continued to move the Doppler in slow motion while concentrating on the screen. She moved closer to the screen and drew her eyebrows downward in a frown. "I thought I saw a glimpse, but since the baby keeps moving around, I can't be so sure. When we do your sixteenth week ultrasound it will be in 3D and we should be able to see everything clearly then."
Maria removed the Doppler and wiped the gel off her stomach. Alonzo helped her sit up and she pulled her shirt down. Katrina had to admit that she was a little disappointed but nothing could take away from the fact that whether their baby is a girl or a boy, she had heard her angel's heartbeat.
"Your baby is now three inches long and weighs about an ounce. You won't be able to feel it yet but as you can see; your baby is very active, a mover. You mommy, are going to experience body aches, such as the back, abdomen, and groin. Stretch marks are likely to show up soon, but there are both cream and home remedies to prevent them from lasting long. Katrina, you're also going to start swelling soon and I don't mean your belly. Your ankles, fingers, and face will feel puffy, but that will go down after the baby is born. We will do the next ultrasound in three weeks' time but if you have any questions regarding you or the baby, you know where to find me." Maria explained.
"You have the ok for sex now." She said while handing her a pamphlet "these are some positions you can try, to make it more comfortable for you Katrina; especially when you get bigger." She finished with a smile.
"Thank you." Katrina said blushing a deep red while Alonzo helped her down. His phone rang and he stepped back to answer it. Maria busied herself with cleaning and Alonzo paced back and forth with the phone to his ear. She thanked God both were busy so she could get her blush under control.
"Fine Mama we'll be there." He said before he hung up the phone "My mother decided to have a family dinner this evening and politely invited us. Which means we have to go. The Porcelli family has known my family since before we were born, they will be attending as well." He enlightened her.
"Good luck with the dinner, when the family gets together it is just dandy." Maria said sarcastically and then her phone started to ring, she answered it and listened to the person on the other end of the phone for a while. She frowned "yes zia I'll be there as well." She sighed and hung up the phone "Mio Dio be with me, my parents will be there. What exactly is auntie trying to pull here?" Maria murmured to herself.
Alonzo escorted Katrina to the door and threw over his shoulder "see you at dinner cousin, I'll make sure to bring Gabe with me." Then he closed the door but they could hear Maria shout his name from the hall.
-
Hours later Katrina stood in front of the full body mirror in their room and checked her appearance. She had so many designer clothes that she wasn't sure which designer she was wearing tonight. She just walked in her closet, put her hands on her evening gowns, closed her eyes and walked while counting to ten. When she got to ten, she stopped and opened her eyes to a beautiful emerald dress.
It fit firmly around her chest, slightly pushing up her breasts then flowed loosely down to her ankles. The sleeves were made up of pearls, which she was sure weren't real pearls, or she hoped not. She could never be sure, especially when Alonzo bought all of her clothes. What mattered most was that her protruding stomach had a lot of room, it didn't matter what she wore now, everyone could tell she was pregnant.
She paired the beautiful gown with low satin heels and a high bun up-do. Her mother's pearl necklace would've been perfect, but since no one new she was really Amalia Porcelli, she had to keep it a secret close to her heart for now. Instead of her mother's precious pearls, she selected dangling pearl earrings from her jewelry collection. She finished her look with simple mascara and reddish-pink lipstick.
Overall she was happy with the way she looked tonight and was pleased that she'd done it all by herself. No makeup artist or hairstylist maneuvered around her, pulling her hair and plucking her eyebrows.
"If it's just a family dinner, why do we have to dress formal?" She shouted to Alonzo, who was in his closet getting dressed.
"We have a big family Katrina and a big dining room, I suspect about thirty family members tonight, maybe more. My mother likes to play dress-up; she still lives in her debutante days." He replied and she could hear his voice clearly from the closet.
"Why doesn't Maria want to see her parents?" She asked curiously. She could tell that Maria had felt agitated about being around her family.
"Let's just say that my uncle agreed with something Maria didn't, so she went and did something he didn't agree with it. My uncle is still furious about it, it caused Maria to run to America, and she became distant with our family. At least she ran away and accomplished her goal of being a doctor. I just wished she hadn't stepped on a couple of hearts on the way out." He answered, but she was sure he wasn't aware that he'd said the last part aloud. Katrina put two and two together and concluded that Gabe was one of the hearts that she'd stepped on.
Through the mirror, she watched as Alonzo stepped from his closet and her mouth watered. Their eyes met and she had to keep in the moan that was threating to spill past her lips. As always, the thread of tension was there between them. His eyes darkened and she could see the same desire for her within him.
He looked handsome in a simple black suit with an emerald tie and handkerchief to match her gown. He'd gotten a haircut and looked attractive with it cut lower on the sides. She felt like she was holding her breath as he walked up to her like a predator stalking its prey, slow and precise.
He hadn't touched her in a sexual way since post wedding day and her hormones were erratic. She knew soon that if he didn't take her, then she would be the aggressor. She knew he was giving her time to think about everything without getting sex involved but to hell with what she said before, she'd think about the consequences after her orgasms.
He stood close behind her, her back touching his front. Katrina breathed a sigh of relief; finally!
"Sembri molto bella stasera Katrina, very beautiful!" He whispered while he traced her collarbone. Their eyes locked on each other through the mirror. "I think we are nicely matched for tonight's occasion." He placed his hand on her stomach "pregnancy suits you."
She outright blushed, when he took her hand and led her to the door; she grabbed her clutch before they exited their room. They descended the stairs to find Maria and Gabe waiting in the foyer. Gabe looked his usual charming self with a black suit, tie and handkerchief to match. His dark hair styled fashionably and his hazel eyes shining with mischief.
Maria had Katrina doing a double take. She had never realized how beautiful Maria truly was. Her professional look wearing doctor's attire with her hair pulled back did her little justice. The Maria that stood in front of her now was stunning. She always wore her hair in a bun at the back of her nape, tonight her hair fell loosely around her face in deep waves. Her hair was long and hung right above her elbows, Katrina couldn't help but wonder how in hell she got all of that hair into a bun.
Katrina thought her hair was a light brown but now noticed that it was highlighted with a honey blonde. She had on a deep red floor length gown and red lips to match. Mascaraed eyelashes framed her dark blue eyes. Katrina knew now that Maria was putting out a statement, this said she was a woman, this was meant for her Father.
"You look stunning Maria." Katrina said as she walked over to her and gave her a hug.
"And you have such a beautiful glow going on. You look beautiful tonight Katrina." She replied as she assessed her from arm's length.
"Both of you look very beautiful tonight, now shall we get this night over with." Alonzo said grabbing ahold of her hand again and leading them out the house and into an awaiting limousine. They had two black trucks leading and following them the mile it took to get to his parent's residence.
Katrina couldn't believe how many cars were parked outside of the house when they pulled up. Alonzo was being honest when he said he had a big family, she just wished he hadn't sugar coated how many people would really be here. Now she was nervous.
When they exited the limousine, Alonzo squeezed her hand for reassurance and they ascended the stairs. Katrina couldn't help but think that this gathering resembled more of a ball than a family dinner. She was introduced to so many family members, most of whom had attended her wedding, but in her defense, her wedding had been full of people she didn't know.
She stuck out like a sore thumb in this room full of Italian Gods and Goddesses. The Riccardi family was a very loud family. Even over the lovely melody coming through the speakers she could still hear most of the conversations taking place between family members.
There were so many names to remember but one she wouldn't forget anytime soon was Alonzo's twenty-year-old cousin Frankie; he had a tendency to make her blush like a virgin bride. Alonzo just laughed at the obscene things he'd said to her and it took her awhile to figure out that Frankie was a jokester.
The time came for her to meet Maria's parents and she was completely overcome with nerves. Her parents were a beautiful couple, she could see that Maria got her looks from her petite mother Dorotea Riccardi but got her striking eyes from her father. Her father Leandro Riccardi stood tall and intimidating and she realized that her father-in-law was a spitting image of his older brother. As they approached, Katrina noticed a nervousness in Maria's steps but it only handicapped her for a second before her stride was just as intimidating as her father's gaze.
"Buonasera padre e madre." Maria said without a fault in her voice. Katrina notice that Maria's father hadn't even spared her a glance but her mother hugged her fiercely. "Oh Maria, my daughter, why are you being so formal? I've missed you and I'm glad you're home now."
"So this is your bride Alonzo. My sincere apologies for not making it to your wedding, but what a pleasure it is too finally meet my niece." He said while staring deep into her eyes with a small smile on his face. That small smile blew Katrina's mind. He was a very handsome man when he cracked his sculptured face with some sort of emotion.
"Yes dear what a pleasure. Congratulations on the wedding and the baby. I want to personally thank you for bringing my daughter back home." Maria's mother said while giving her a small hug, as if she thought if she were squeezed too hard, she would pop.
"It's nice to meet both of you, but it was this angel in here that bought Maria back home." Katrina said with her hand on her stomach.
"Alonzo, avere un bambino, mi sento così vecchio ora." His uncle spoke in fluent Italian.
"Nonsense uncle, you don't look a day older than forty." Alonzo replied with his hand on her lower back, giving her some sort of insight of what his uncle said.
For a minute she thought Gabe had disappeared because he was so quiet but when she looked over her shoulder there he stood, gazing around the room and when their eyes met he smiled at her. It hit her then that even though he'd known these people for years and they acted as family toward him, he was first and foremost Alonzo's friend and protector; he never let his guard down.
Alonzo and his uncle kept up a conversation, while Maria's mother fussed over her. When a server came around with flutes of champagne, she felt left out when she was the only one without a glass; Alonzo made sure of that. Maria, ever her savior, grabbed a glass for her when the next server passed by and told her that it was fine to sip but not drink the whole thing. She was glad not to be Maria when Alonzo shot her a deadly glare, but the woman had the balls to smirk and wink back at Alonzo.
Her father-in-law rescued her just in time before Alonzo took her glass away from her. He whisked her around the room to meet more family members. He was pleased to boast about his new daughter and grandchild. Her niece and nephew ran up to her touching her stomach and asking when their cousin was going to "be done baking." She laughed as Bianca and Angelo came running up behind them breathless and exhausted.
She was introduced to her stepmother as Katrina Riccardi and was stunned when the woman was amazingly polite to the woman that had taken away her supposed to be son-in-law. Then again, the fault lay with her own daughter. This wasn't the stepmother that she remembered, but then she didn't know who Katrina really was.
She spotted Marissa mingling among the crowd and when their eyes met, you could feel the hatred radiating off their bodies. She looked as if she wanted to approach but her eyes glanced to her father-in-law at Katrina's right. Then her eyes caught Katrina's far left, causing Katrina to look over her shoulder just in time to see Alonzo frown at Marissa. Marissa kept her distance but Katrina knew it wasn't by choice.
The volume of the music was lowered and they all turned in the direction of a lovely but stern voice. "Ora cena." She announced and everyone headed towards the dining room. Alonzo wasn't kidding when he said his mother had a big dining table, it could easily fit over fifty people, which was about how many family members attended.
She was seated with her husband on her right and Maria to her left. Gabe sat next to Alonzo and Maria's parents sat right across from them. Her father-in-law and Mother-in-law sat at the head of the grand table. Servers came in and out of the kitchen placing meals in front of everyone, who still mingled amongst each other.
Katrina started to eat immediately, she couldn't believe how hungry she was and the food was delicious. Alonzo placed his hand on her knee and whispered in her ear "slow down farfalla the food isn't going anywhere." She could hear the smile in his voice. She looked up to see several family members staring at her, Frankie winked at her and she rolled her eyes and slowed down.
"Maria, my daughter, how was business in the US." Her mother asked.
"Business was really good Mama. I have my own office and my partner is taking care of it while I'm away." Maria replied.
Katrina noticed her father looked disinterested and began a conversation with Alonzo. "Alonzo my boy how is business in New York?" he asked and Maria's mother looked disappointed that her father wasn't acknowledging their daughter.
Alonzo cleared his throat and answered his uncle "the company is thriving, but as usual it needs a boss to run it. I've been away from the company long enough and it looks like I'll be heading back to New York this week." He announced and when Katrina looked up at him, he mouthed that they would talk about it later.
His uncle looked at him proudly "you've done a good job with this boy Amo, both of your boys. My wife should've given me a boy, things would've been easier."
"Leandro!" her mother exclaimed and you could hear a pin drop as the room suddenly went quiet.
Katrina glanced at Maria nervously and could feel the heat coming off her body in waves. Maria put her fork down, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and leaned back in her chair in a calm manner. Katrina knew that she appeared calm but was anything but. "Its ok Mama, let him say what he wants to say." Maria said while holding her hand up.
"I have nothing to say to you." Maria's father said while looking at her coldly. Katrina squeezed Alonzo's knee, she wanted to leave.
"Obviously you do." Maria replied looking back at him. Katrina was seeing a different side to Maria, a side very well hidden.
"Che pensi che la tua a parlare?" he asked, pinpointing Maria with his gaze.
"I'm talking to my father." She answered
"You are not my daughter. My daughter died long ago." He said in a deadly voice. Katrina couldn't help the gasp that escaped her mouth. How could he say such a thing to his own daughter, whatever Maria did in the past couldn't be so bad that her dad would wish her dead.
While Katrina's emotions were running wild, Maria was displaying a disturbing calmness. Maria picked up her champagne flute and finished it off with one big gulp. She pushed back her chair and stood up elegantly "Well then whose daughter am I?" she asked her father.
"Sit down." He said through clenched teeth and at the very moment, Katrina wished that she would just sit down, because she feared what the man would do if she didn't.
"I will take my leaving now." Maria announced with a boldness Katrina wished she had. Alonzo was still as a statue beside her and she wished she could read his mind to get a glimpse of what he was thinking.
"Don't you dare move a muscle, I am your father and I said for you to sit back down and show some respect to your family." He said and Katrina watched the muscle tick in his jaw, she'd completely lost her appetite.
"So now you're my father?" Maria asked sarcastically.
"Sit down." He whispered.
"Maria darling please sit down." Her mother pleaded and Katrina couldn't agree more.
"No mama I will not. If I don't sit down, what will you do, disown me? Oh wait you've already done that." She spat.
"Chiudere la bocca di mia figlia." He said loudly through clenched teeth. Was it mandatory for everyone to keep his or her mouths closed during this intense argument? Why was no one doing anything? Katrina didn't think she'd ever witnessed Alonzo so quiet.
Maria glared at him "I will not close my mouth; it's not as if no one knows." She stated loudly, gazing around the room. " My father disowned me because I didn't want to agree to an arranged marriage. My father didn't care that I had my own dreams and aspirations. So I took away the one thing that was needed from me in the agreement..."
"I SAID CLOSE YOUR MOUTH!" he roared as he stood up and hit the table hard with both fists.
The glasses and plates rattled and Katrina reared back in her chair and out the corner of her eye, she saw Maria step back in fear. She really wanted to leave now.
"You ran away and Riccardis' don't run!" he said in a deadly voice.
There was the sound as a chair pushed back and Katrina turned to see her father-in-law stand up and clear his throat. "As everyone can see, this wasn't one of our usual family nights." He spoke with a smile on his face. It caused everyone to breakout in a nervous laughter. "Alonzo il mio figlio, please escort your beautiful wife and cousin back to your resident."
Alonzo stood then, grabbing her hand and Gabe stood as well. The toll of what happened must have finally hit Maria, because Katrina witnessed how her shoulders slumped and her body trembled slightly.
"Katrina il mia figlia, I thought that you would've been married into the family for more than a few weeks before you were witness of how crazy we truly are." Her father-in-law said light heartedly and it caused everyone around her to laugh. She had to give it to him, the man knew how to put out a fire, but she couldn't help thinking that he wasn't joking at all.
Alonzo led them all out the door and into the limousine. The ride home was quiet, and Katrina focused on Alonzo's thumb moving back and forth on her hand. He was clearly in deep thought as he stared out the window. She wanted to comfort Maria in some way but wasn't quite sure what to say and the only two people who could possible say something were leaving her be.
When they pulled up to the house everyone got out and walked into the house without saying a word. Gabe turned left at the first floor, Maria turned right on the second floor and whispered a cracked goodnight, and she and Alonzo walked up and into their room on the third floor and closed the door behind them. The night had not been what she'd expected and she knew that once she got out of her dress she would be fast asleep.
As she laid her head down on her pillow and let Alonzo bring her closer to his body, she tried to fall asleep but she couldn't stop thinking about Maria.