Page 38 of Hello Goodbye Amore

“I can take Ricky to the park,” the woman said, with Chase hesitating before agreeing.

“Keep a close eye on him and be back in half an hour,” Chase said. “And don’t let him out of your sight.” The glare that Antonello got was as cold as an arctic winter.

She nodded and took Ricky’s hand, leading him down the street toward the Ponte Vecchio, with Ricky smiling and waving to both of them.

“You might as well come inside,” Chase said, holding the door.

Antonello went in.

“I think I deserve some answers,” Antonello said, trying to keep his confusion and hurt at bay, but he failed. This was just too earthshattering for anyone.

“I don’t have many for you, other than I am not going to stay here and let your family take away my son. I have his birth certificate as well as his passport, copies of the adoption papers, and Elaine’s will with me. That is more than enough for me to take my son home. I will not stay here and let your family put me and Ricky through some needless hell.” The stone cold in his eyes was chilling. “No one is taking my son away.”

“But am I the father?” That was all he wanted to know.

“How the hell am I supposed to know? I thought Ricky’s father was the jerk, Rodrigo, that she dated after you. God, I have no idea what she saw in him, other than the fact that he looked like you. So how in the hell am I supposed to know? And why would I give you or your mother the chance to find out? I won’t lose my son and all I have left of Elaine because of you and that fuckingfamily dutyof yours.”

Antonello gaped. “But if he is my son…?” he asked softly, still trying to get his mind around the central issue. “Don’t I have some rights—a chance to be part of his life?”

Some of the cold in those intense blue eyes thawed a little. “Maybe. If you truly are his father. Look, I’m going to pack, and he and I are going back home. It will probably cost me my job, but I can’t let you and your mother rip apart my family. I can’t.” The heartbreak in his voice was almost too much for Antonello to take. “I can’t lose Elaine all over again.” He slumped into a chair, and Antonello wondered what the hell to do. “I think you’d better go. I’m sure your mother is already getting her ammunition out and her weapons loaded for battle, and your precious family duty will require you to stand behind her.”

Antonello growled and then slapped the table next to him. “Fuck it, Chase. Ricky could be my son. I had no idea he existed until I saw him and you on the Ponte Vecchio that day. If I am his father, then I deserve a chance to be part of his life. Hell, I deserve—”

“You threw all that away when you left, remember? You were gone, and we had to pick up the pieces. Shit. I should never have come here.” Chase glared at him with full-on hatred. “Elaine asked me to raise her son, and let me tell you something else. She hated you until the day she died.” Chase’s words hit him like a punch, and he took a step back. “I don’t think she hated anyone… ever… as much as she did you after you left.”

“Chase… stop.” He turned toward the door. “We need to figure this out. We need some answers.”

Chase shook his head. “What I need to do is go back home before your mother calls out her troops and tries to stop me.”

“My mother…,” Antonello started as a firm knock sounded on the door behind him. They both turned toward it, and Chase crossed his arms over his chest, his entire expression screaming “I told you so.”

“Go ahead and let her minions in. Then you can go, and I’ll clean up the mess.” Chase followed him to the door, and Antonello opened it for the polizia. His mother was never one to be patient.

“I don’t know what you’ve been told, but I have everything documented,” Chase said levelly. Antonello had to admire how calm he was when faced with two menacing uniformed officers.

“It has been reported that you are holding the grandson of Contessina Glorioso and intend to leave with him.”

“I am here with my son. Whatever Contessina Glorioso thinks is irrelevant,” Chase said. “I have my son’s US passport and his US birth certificate, as well as copies of the adoption that took place four years ago. I also have a copy of his mother’s will leaving me custody of her son after she died.” He motioned the officers inside and laid copies of everything out on the table.

“Where are the originals?” the officer asked in a heavy accent. He didn’t seem confident of his English.

“They are safe,” Chase said, stepping back.

“And you are?” the second officer asked Antonello in Italian.

“I’m Antonello Glorioso. And my mother is overreacting. We have no proof other than a few pictures that Ricky is my son.” What he needed to do was face facts and see if he could defuse this situation. Otherwise, he was convinced that Chase’s documentation would hold up, and once that happened, Chase and Ricky would return to the States, and it was unlikely that he would ever see either of them again.

“I see. So your mother is unsure of this? Then why did she report a possible kidnapping? That is a very serious charge.”

Antonello sighed. “You don’t know my mother, and for your sakes, I hope you never do.” It was the only explanation he had. His mother was willing to do what she had to for the family, and if that meant using her influence, she definitely would. “I’m sorry my mother gave you an incorrect impression, but I have noreason to contend that any of these documents are incorrect or forgeries. I’m sure they are genuine.” What the hell was he going to do? Start a fight over something he wasn’t sure of? It was best to calm the situation, and then maybe he and Chase could figure out a way to get the answers they needed.

The officers spoke between themselves, and then, after looking over the documents, thanked Antonello and apologized to Chase before leaving.

“What did you say to them?” Chase demanded as soon as they were gone.

“The truth. That your documents are real and that we don’t know that Ricky is my son. They are not going to act on anything other than facts. And yes, my parents do have influence with the police, as well as the city government, but I only told what we really know, nothing more.”

Now it was Chase’s turn to collapse in a chair. “Why did you do that?”

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