Page 27 of The Doctor's Promise
“Hello.”
Rafa turned to see Noemi, her eyes wide and blinking, standing in the doorway. “Hey, lovely. Come on in. Noe, this is Zani, my brother.”
Noemi’s face registered surprise, and Zani laughed. “My reputation clearly precedes me. Yes, the prodigal son has returned.” He went to Noemi and took her hand. “My dear, I’m so sorry about your loss.”
“Thank you.” Noemi’s voice was strangled, and she looked between Rafa and Zani, unsure of what to say to the man. Bepi saved her. He hopped from his chair and went to her, hugging her legs. She picked him up, and he threw his tiny arms around her neck. “Nommy, I am sorry about Jack.” He kissed her cheek and squeezed her neck. Noemi’s eyes filled with tears, and she hugged the child tightly.
Rafa looked at Zani and nodded out of the room. Give us some privacy. To his relief, Zani nodded and politely excused himself.
“Bepi, come finish your breakfast while I make some coffee for Nommy.”
Noemi slotted Bepi back onto his chair. Rafa kissed her cheek. “You didn’t have to get up.”
“I think I should go to the hospital whether Leo wants me there or not. There might be an autopsy; there’ll certainly be an investigation. God, I can’t believe I’m even saying this out loud.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she turned her head, burying her face in his sweater so Bepi wouldn’t see her cry. Rafa held her as Bepi gazed at them, his green eyes scared. “Bepi, pal, go find your uncle, buddy.”
Bepi nodded and slid off his chair, disappearing out of the room. Noemi let out a sob and Rafa held her as she cried.
Finally, she drew away. “I’m sorry, you don’t need this.”
“Hey, hey, hey, stop that. We’re a partnership, Noe, we support each other.”
She nodded, wiping her face, and tried to smile. “I have to go.”
“At least let me drive you.”
Noemi shook her head. “No, I have my car. I’m sorry I dumped this on you—I just—I didn’t want to go home.”
He slid his hands onto her face and kissed her. “Why don’t you stay here for a few days? I don’t think you should be alone.”
Noemi hesitated. “Can I think about it?”
“Of course.”
She hugged Mouse. “Do you mind looking after her again? Just for a while?”
“More than happy to, sweetheart.” Rafa frowned. Noemi really did look unwell. “Darling, please, let me drive you to work.”
In the end, she relented, and he drove her into Seattle. At the hospital, he wanted to offer to come in with her, but he could already see she was ready to run and hide. He kissed her goodbye. “Later. Call me and I’ll come pick you up, unless you’re with your family. Just… don’t shut me out.”
“I won’t. You’ve been incredible, Rafa, thank you.”
She got out of the car and Rafa had the strangest feeling that he wouldn’t see her again. No, don’t be paranoid. It’s just the heightened emotion.
The next moment, Noemi disproved his point by dashing back to the car, climbing in and kissing him. “I love you,” she whispered.
And then she was gone.
14
Chapter Fourteen
Noemi chickened out at first and went to hide in the changing rooms. Luckily, it was deserted, and she sank to one of the benches and put her head in her hands. What was she thinking, telling Rafa she loved him—even if it was true?
Now he would just think it was because she was so mired in grief that she couldn’t think straight, when Noemi knew with all her heart that she spoke the truth. She did love Rafael Genova—every inch of him.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
