Page 14 of Fix You

I elbowed him in the ribs as the door opened. A middle-aged woman with salt and pepper hair rushed forward. “Yes, sir?” she asked as the breath I’d been holding wheezed out of me.

Furrowing his brows, Edoardo looked past the woman, “Where is Andrea?”

“She’s in the garden, sir.”

Edoardo’s jaw clenched. “And what the fuck is she doing there?”

“She’s playing with the children.”

From his tense posture, I could tell Edoardo was fighting not to lose his temper. If he was anything like my father, he was moments from going nuclear and blowing his top. While my father never physically assaulted us, he liked to verbally berate us. Loudly.

The woman shifted on her feet. “Should I get her for you, sir?”

“I’ll handle it,” he replied tersely.

She nodded before quickly disappearing from the doorway. With a tight smile, Edoardo turned to face us. “My wife is very busy with her charity work, so Andrea is like a mother to her siblings. She’s always indulging them.”

“I’m glad to hear she enjoys taking care of children,” I said.

It wasn’t a lie to try to diffuse the growing tension. Since children were expected of me, I wanted them to have what Ididn’t have growing up, and that was a mother who actually possessed a maternal instinct. While I wasn’t opposed to a nanny, I wanted my wife to do the raising, not the help. Of course, I wouldn’t take anything in the world for the raising that Talia, our nanny, had given my siblings and me.

Relief flashed on Edoardo’s face. “Yes, she has the patience of Job when it comes to children. She is studying art in college to become a teacher. Of course, she is aware that you might prefer she leaves school to keep house.”

Once again, I fought the urge to pinch myself to make sure I hadn’t time-traveled into the 50’s. “I don’t foresee it being a problem for her to finish her education.”

Edoardo peered curiously at me. “Your father didn’t tell me how progressive you are.”

I cocked my brows at him. “Is that a problem?”

“No, no. Not at all.” He continued staring at me. “It’s just surprising. I suppose it’s inevitable that the next generation is a little more lax with traditions. Of course, my sons remain pretty instep with me.”

“To each their own,” I replied diplomatically.

Disapproval emanated in Edoardo’s eyes. “Yes. I suppose.”

“We may have different ideals, Mr. Caruso, but we still come from the same world.Coretto?”

A hesitant smile quirked at the corners of his lips. “Si, corretto.” Motioning to Leo and me, he said, “Shall we have a stroll in the gardens, so you and Andrea can become acquainted?”

“I would like that.”

“Then come.”

While I fell in step beside Edoardo, Leo walked ahead of us to give ussome privacy. As our shoes echoed off the marble floors, Edoardo asked, “Have there been any developments in your sister’s kidnapping?”

“Not yet. My father arrived in Sicily early this morning.”

Edoardo nodded. “As I told Alessio, any resources we can provide to aid in the search for your sister are at your disposal.”

“That is very kind of you. We are in your debt.”

We’d just started out the back door when a bodyguard stopped Edoardo. “Sir, you have a secure call waiting.”

Edoardo glanced between me and the bodyguard. “Didn’t you tell them I was busy?”

“Yes, sir, but they informed me it wouldn’t wait.”

With an apologetic smile, Edoardo said, “Please excuse me for just a moment.”

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