Page 241 of Forced Vows

"Papa loved you, but he thought his art was a weakness. That's what Miceli said," Giulia comforts her mom. "He didn't share it with anyone until he saw the same so-called weakness in his son."

"That kind of talent is not a weakness," Aria says fiercely. "I would have told him that if he'd ever shared that part of himself with me."

"Of course you would." I squeeze her hand.

"Are there other paintings?" Aria asks. "Where were those portraits stored?"

I tell her about the studio and all three women pepper me with questions. Catalina is just really curious. You only have to know her for a minute to figure that out.

But this is a part of Enzo I'm able to give to his wife and daughter that they didn't have before. "There are more paintings. They're all portraits."

"And Enzo painted them all?"

"Yes. The only portraits Miceli has ever painted are of me."

"Portraits as in plural?" Giulia asks, a mischievous glint in her dark eyes so like her brothers.

"One is very…" I look at Aria and blush.

She blushes too and hushes her daughter.

Catalina grins.

We've been chatting a while when the men join us, Severu holding the baby.

"Dinner is on the table," Miceli says.

"You served it?" Giulia presses her hand against her chest. "Watch out. I may faint."

"Don't pretend you cook any more often than I do," Miceli snarks. "You've got a housekeeper, maid and a cook, not to mention two nannies."

"Will you be hiring staff?" Aria asks, sounding more like her usual dignified self.

I nod. "But they won't live in. If we lived on Long Island," I tease Miceli. "And we had an estate like my uncles, maybe."

"This isn't exactly a studio apartment," Raff jokes.

And that's how the rest of the night goes. We have dinner, talk, laugh and enjoy each other's company.

When they leave, everyone hugs me and then Miceli.

Severu makes sure he and Catalina are the last to go. "You're going to be don soon."

Miceli nods, his expression turning wary.

"Don't think like our father. Your gift isn't a weakness. Don’t hide it from your family."

His jaw taut, Miceli nods again.

Then they hug.

Catalina swipes under her eyes. "These darn pregnancy hormones."

"What's my excuse?" I ask, blinking away moisture.

After they're gone, Miceli wants to make love. In his studio.

I want to suck him off.

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