Page 38 of Innocent Union
Getting in my car, I head back to Mia’s house. I refuse to be alone in this world. I refuse to be unhappy. I couldn’t save my brother, and I won’t be able to save my mom. But if I can save the burgeoning relationship between Mia and me, then I’ll damn well try.
I knockon door of the Moretti household and wait.
It’s Giulia who answers. Of course, it is.
I give her my most charming smile. “Hi, Giulia. I know I left, and things weren’t the best between Mia and me, but I’m here to change that.”
She shuts the door in my face.
I’d almost laugh if I wasn’t so anxious, I knock again.
And once again, she answers. “Kilian, Mia doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“Let me talk to her. Please. I was being … uncompromising with her. I want to hear her side of things. Come on, Giulia. Mia and I are getting married. Wouldn’t you rather your daughter be happy then unhappy?”
She crossed her arms. “And you can make her happy?” Her dubious tone cuts like a knife.
“I’m trying. And I know I failed earlier today, but I need to try.”
Giulia eyes me for a hot second before opening the door wider. “Fine. You can talk to her. But no promises she’ll want to talk to you.”
“Thank you,” I say, walking into the house.
Giulia lingers in the foyer. “How … how is your mom doing?”
“Not well. But thank you for asking.”
“You must think I’m a monster for how I’ve treated you,” she says.
“No. I don’t think that. I just think you’re a mom who’s protective of her kids.”
Giulia nods before leaving the room. A few minutes later, Mia comes walking down the stairs.
“Hi,” I offer.
She keeps her distance, and I can’t exactly blame her. “Hi.”
“My brother died when I was ten,” I blurt out. “And now my mom is dying of cancer.”
The hesitancy in Mia’s eyes disappears in an instant, leaving only warmth. “Oh, Killian, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that about your brother.”
“Why would you? I haven’t told anyone before. Even Antonio doesn’t know. But I needed to explain why I was acting like an ass before. I’d give anything to have my brother on my wedding day, but he won’t be. It’s impossible. But I’d really love to have my mom there.”
“I get that,” she says, closing the distance between us. “And I’m ok with having the wedding at the hospital. But I still want a wedding at the venue I picked out. We can have both. It’s not a waste, and it can make us both happy.”
I let out a breath. “Ok. I can agree to that. But I need to know why having a normal wedding is so important to you?”
“I …” She looks away from me.
“Mia, talk to me. We can’t make this marriage work if you don’t talk to me.”
“I feel insecure, ok?”
“Insecure over what?”
She gives me a look like I’m crazy for even asking. She mumbles something under her breath.
“What?” I ask.
