Cecilia
- Mama, will you teach me how to make a big sand castle?
I played with the children on the beach feeling Dario's eyes on us. He was sitting on a lounge chair a little far away, since this morning he was solving some problem because he has been talking to someone with his cell phone to his ear for a long time. He also does not let go of his notebook for anything, it is impossible not to be upset with this posture, we are on vacation and he is all the time working.
- Mother's love, I'm going to teach him to make a beautiful castle, get those little buckets and let's build a big one!
I started to make the sand castle with the children even though I was still bothered by the lack of Dario, Valentine and Melina were focused on building the castle but I can't believe that their father couldn't stop for a moment to stay with us, he can't take it anymore so I decided to go to him.
- Kids, mommy is going over there real quick and will be right back. I helped you build the first few piles, now I guess you'll be able to build the rest.
Melina smiled along with her brother, confirming that she would be able to build the sand castle. I got up from the floor, brushed the sand off my beach bag, and walked towards Dario, but before I could reach him I noticed that he stood up with his cell phone in his hand, leaving his notebook on the small table near the balcony of the house.
- Dario, what is going on in the Albertini kingdom that is so important that it prevents you from staying with your children? Is this how you want to win over your son and get to know Melina better? I have to say, you're doing it all wrong!
- Cecilia, I'm really sorry but as Don there are situations that require my undivided attention. Saul is helping me but he can't solve everything, we had some problems with a new supplier, the poor guy is playing double games, working for us and also for the Tolentinos.
I put my hand on my head in disbelief that Dario was talking to me about this, even though I come from a mafia family, all I don't want is to know about these matters during my vacation.
- Let's establish a few points, first, we are on vacation, I understand that you have to solve some problems, it's your responsibility, but you need to let me know, not just stay in front of your notebook and with your cell phone in your ear. It doesn't cost anything to say that you are solving important issues, you have been since early morning without saying anything, you haven't even had breakfast properly. Second, do not comment on these matters with me or with your children during the trip, especially not with Melina because as you know my daughter has no idea of the life we lead and third but not least, come stay with us before Valentine misses you as he did at breakfast.
As Dario has been busy since early this morning, he barely had breakfast and then left the table, Valentine was sad and I know that he missed his father. I can even try to make up for this lack, but I know that my son needs his father's attention. Dario was looking at me with admiration as if he had never seen such an action from anyone, maybe because he is the Don, no one has the courage to face him but I do.
- You're right, I hope you can excuse me because I tried my best not to mess with anything related to the mafia but I couldn't. I'm sorry," he said.
At that moment I felt bad for going all out on him, and from the dark circles under his eyes you could tell he didn't sleep well. Maybe he had to solve this problem during the early hours of the morning, so I went straight away with seven rocks in my hand without thinking that I couldn't help it.
So I decide to redeem myself by reducing our distance hugging him, at first he did not return the hug, his arms were stiff beside his body but soon he snuggled in the hollow of my neck feeling my perfume, suddenly he accepted to hug me with an intensity that he never had with me in the past.
- I'm sorry I was so stupid to you! I didn't stop to think that it really wasn't your fault what's happening and that you can't help it. Did you get any sleep last night?
- No! My brother tried to help but there are still situations that require my strong wrist and the power of my position, I had to stay up late even so I managed to resolve part of the situation leaving the rest for Saul to solve because I know he has the competence for it.
He was talking to me very close to my ear, and it was impossible not to feel a delicious shiver running through my body just because he was so close to me.
- But you are right, Cecilia! I need to be with our children and with you because they are my family and deserve all my attention.
It was impossible not to be surprised and also happy for his statement because I feel it is sincere. I slowly walked away from him looking at his expression realizing how tired he was even though he would stop resting and finish solving the problems of the mafia to stay with us this really delighted me. Dario doesn't know it, but with these small gestures he is winning me over again.
Dario
Smelling Cecilia's perfume and seeing her defending our family was the best thing in my day that already started out shitty. Saul is a good counselor, however, there are cases that only I can solve no matter how hard he tries to help. So I had to stay up all night trying to find out why that bastard is also selling to the Tolentinos, what surprised me was the justification given by the man.
The unfortunate Tolentinos are using the fact of Mariana and Vinicius' engagement to get agreements with our suppliers, the worst of it is that I can't do anything against it. This wedding has been postponed so many times that Francesco has sent a soldier to tell us that he will no longer wait, Mariana must marry Vinicius Tolentino as soon as possible.
- Dario, are you coming?
Cecilia extended her hand guiding me to our children, I didn't have much of a solution for the case of the suppliers so I decided to give priority to my family before any issue or problem. When I got close to them I realized that the sand castle they were making was almost ready, I remembered when Saul and I used to play on the beach with our mother, my father was always an absent man, I imagine because of the position he had assumed, he never gave us the attention we deserved, but it wouldn't be like him.
- Papa, look at the castle that Melina and I made!
- It's very good, my son!
I sat down beside him and enjoyed the sun and their company, trying to relax for a few moments and forget my problems, put my cell phone on silent and stayed beside Cecilia while our children ran around us. Without realizing it, Cecilia laid her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes, if she had been resolving situations too complicated even for me she would have missed this moment with the most special woman I have ever had the honor to meet.
- I think I'd better call the children in, the sun is getting too hot and it might harm them. Could you go get them?
She stretched, giving me a beautiful view of her curves covered only by the swimsuit she was wearing and her beach jacket. Each day it became more difficult to stay away from her body, even more so after having hugged her in such a spontaneous but at the same time strange way, since I have never been given to demonstrations of affection.
I stood up and went towards the children, running after each one and putting them both in my arms. Melina looked at my hair then took a lock of her own hair looking carefully and comparing the locks, the girl is very smart I know she realized that there is similarity between the two of us. I handed Melina to her mother even though she continued to look at me with suspicion and doubt showing that she is an Albertini without a shadow of a doubt just by suspecting that we are much more than strangers.
- Dario, can you help Valentine in the bath? While I give Melina a bath!
I agreed even though I did not know how to help my son to take a bath since I had never done so. It was my sister and my mother who bathed him, so how could I do this? I went to the bathroom to try to help my son, Valentine took off his clothes on his own and looked at me expectantly.
- Well, son, your father doesn't really know how to do this. Can you help me?
- Of course, Papa! You just turn on the shower, then I'll get in and soak my body, then you get the sponge and the soap and wash me.
I turned on the shower following his directions, with the difference that I washed his hair and was careful with his eyes rinsing his body, I never imagined that I could be doing such an act, I always tried to be a good father in my own way but being here with Valentine I now realize that I was doing everything wrong.
- I guess we are done here!
I took the towel that was next to the shower stall and wrapped Valentine in it and went to the bedroom helping him dry off and put on his clothes, I noticed the gleam in my son's eyes because I was paying attention to him.
- Papa, I don't want to go back to Italy, I want to stay with Mama and Melina.
- Valentine, one day we will have to go back but Papa is trying to win back your mama so that she will come with us and Melina too. Can you help Papa with that?
He jumped on my neck, hugging me tightly once again on the day, and I returned the hug. I imagine that you are really changing not only for Cecilia but also for my son.
- I'm already helping, Daddy! You'll be able to keep the breast, I know it.
Having Valentine's support is very good but seeing him happy with the possibility of having a family gives me much more strength not to give up.