Page 12 of His UnBearable Touch

Another moment of indecision was taken care of in an instant. Natale took her hand and then her elbow, a secure and gentle hold. “I’ve got you.”

And it felt like she really did.

Allegra smiled and leaned closer. “Thank you.”

Natale gently lead her around the table and leaned closer to whisper into her ear. “No thanks needed. You’re family.”

Inside the bathroom, the first thing she noticed was the soft music over the speakers. Rosemary Clooney’s cheerful version of ‘Mambo Italiano’ that never failed to make her tap her toes was loud enough to hear the lyrics, but not loud enough to drown out normal thought or decent conversation.

And a soft voice offered a welcoming greeting as soon as they entered the room.

“Welcome back, Mrs. Orsino.”

“Thank you, Alva. Good to see you too.”

Natale continued to walk Allegra through the room. “My friend and I want a few minutes alone. Would you mind?”

“Oh, no worries, Mrs. Orsino. I’ll be just outside. When you’re finished, just open the door.”

Allegra didn’t hear anything further from the other woman. Natale walked her to a stall doorway and set her hand on the side of the opening.

A few minutes later when she unlocked the door and stepped out onto the tiled floor, Allegra took a moment to listen for movement.

“I’m here in the sitting room, just inside the door.”

Allegra nodded and moved across the tile to the counter.

Natale gave her a few easy instructions to find the sink, the soap, and a basket of fancy folded cloths to wipe her hands on. Using the sound of Natale’s voice, Allegra easily made her way to Natale’s side.

“I left you half of the bench if you’d like to sit.”

Leaning slightly to the side, Allegra felt the solid side of the bench against her knee and edged along to find her seat beside Natale. “Thank you, for helping me.”

There was a puzzled silence beside her. “Everyone has to go when they have to go.”

Allegra shook her head. “For trusting me to take care of myself. The first time I had to leave rehearsal to go to the restroom, you would think I was the Queen of England with a whole slew of retainers and assistants. I don’t know what they thought I’d need help with while I was in there. I do live alone. I have two hands. I’m just blind.” Allegra felt her emotions running away from her and let out a long shuddering breath. “I’m just blind.”

She felt a gentle touch on her arm and turned on the bench toward Natale.

“Sorry, I must seem like I’m whining.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Natale’s voice was gentle and warm. “You’re frustrated. Trust me. I know what that’s like.”

Allegra’s laugh was thin, almost bewildered. “I find that hard to believe. You’re amazing! An award-winning designer. From where I’m sitting, you have an amazing life.”

“It took a lot of frustration to get there. If it wasn’t for my father believing in my dream and my mate for encouraging me, it would have been an even bigger struggle.”

Tracing her fingers along the edge of the bench, feeling the brass brads that secured the fabric to the frame, she listened to the intensity of Natale’s voice before speaking again.

“It means a lot to have support. If it wasn’t for my teacher, my nurse, and my therapist, I don’t know what I would have done. It was their job,” she took a breath, “but they cared. They really took an interest in helping me do more than survive.” She pressed her eyes closed, trying to ward off her tears. “I know I was blessed to have them for as long as I did. Others don’t have that luxury in their lives.”

Natale’s hand left her arm and settled over the hand that Allegra had set on the edge of the bench, and gave her a friendly squeeze. “After Val called, Salvatore looked you up online.”

“Me?” Allegra felt a nervous flutter in her chest. “Why?”

“Well, I’m sure sisters would do the same thing for each other like the brothers do,” she explained, “but it wasn’t because he didn’t trust Val or you, Salvatore’s not like that. He’d trust Val’s instincts because of the three of them, Val’s the most in tune with his… nature.”

Natale’s hand lifted away and Allegra heard the metal click of a clutch purse opening. Then the twisted whisper of a lipstick case. “What Salvatore did when he found the advertisement for your debut concert is buy the family a block of seats upfront in the Founder’s Circle.”

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