Page 46 of Lorenzo & Lily

They had made several visits to their youngest granddaughter. “Poor Eloisa; she’s no longer the first grandbaby in the family.”

“No,” his mother said softly. “No, she’s not.”

Lorenzo’s grin faded. “I know this is a shock. It is to me, too, but I hope it’s not a bad one. You’ll love Liliana, I promise you.”

His mother smiled. “I’m sure we will.”

“I know you probably have more you want to ask me, or talk to me about, but could it wait? I really need to tell the others.”

“Of course, my son. We’ll talk soon.”

After their farewells, Lorenzo took a minute out on his balcony, and let the sea air steady him. It was done. His parents knew. They hadn’t congratulated him, not like they had Arianna or Finn when they’d seen Eloisa for the first time. It was just the shock of it, he told himself. Their reactions had been subdued, and he wondered again if they’d been involved in breaking them apart, or knew who had.

They hadn’t asked about a DNA test, either. Would they ask for that in the future? Or never bother to ask because they already knew the results?

Regardless of the answer, after they all met Liliana, everyone would come around. If he could prove he could be a good father, maybe everyone would believe in him again.

He let out a breath, then left his rooms and walked down the hall knocking on various guest room doors. “Family meeting in the sitting room. Three minutes.” He heard a lot of grumbles and curses, but no one objected.

Alex’s door clicked open and he stood there in a hastily-tied robe. “Is this urgent?”

“Alex?” a wobbly voice called out.

Rebecca. Lorenzo would wager she’d been crying. “I’m sorry, but it is. Is Rebecca all right?”

Alex ignored the question. “Does Rebecca need to be there?”

“She’ll need to know, but you can tell her afterwards.”

“And it can’t wait until morning?”

Lorenzo shook his head. “If it could have, I wouldn’t have just spoken to Mama and Papa about it.”

Alex’s lips tightened. “All right. I’ll be there.”

“Thanks, Alex.”

Lorenzo headed to the sitting room, and started a fire while he waited for everyone else. He thought about calling for some coffee but decided drinks, which were already in the room, would be best if anyone wanted something. He wondered if his siblings would react the same way as his parents had. He wondered if any of them had interfered all those years ago.

One by one they entered, giving him an irritated, frustrated look, with Alex entering last. “What’s going on?”

For some reason, Lorenzo was more nervous facing his brothers than his parents. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that his parents were many miles away, whereas his brothers were mere feet from him. Lorenzo flexed his fingers, stretching them to warm by the fire at his back, then curled them into fists. “I have big news.”

“The strike?” Alex asked.

Lorenzo shook his head, then cleared his throat. “Personal news. I’m a father.”

There was silence except for the crackling of the fire, each of his brothers uncommonly still. Nate shifted first, rising from his seat and walking over to him. “You said youarea father. The child’s been born?”

“Yes.” Lorenzo gave the others a quick glance; shock on everyone’s face but Marcello’s, who often wore a poker face. “You have a four-year-old niece. And before you say anything, I didn’t find out about her until this morning.”

Eddie sucked in a breath. “The beach. It was her you met, your daughter and the mother.”

“Yes, though that meeting was accidental. I’d only recently run into the mother, who I call Lily – her full name is Cecilia Brionne – at Alex’s wedding. She told me there was something she needed to discuss with me. When I saw her with Liliana – that’s my daughter – at the beach, I knew. The resemblance is unmistakable.”

Nate huffed a laughed. “A resemblance doesn’t mean anything.”

He knew someone would fucking saying that. “I had a feeling someone might say that. There was a DNA test done which confirms it. When you meet her tomorrow, however, you’ll see that it was unnecessary.”

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