We walk out of the Parents Bay and back into the mall continuing to shop. We shop around at a few more stores before we hit Starbucks for an Ice Coffee and a Muffin.
After we finish Chrissy suggests we go get a manicure, I agree and suggest a pedicure too. My nails getting done may just give my head the thinking space it needs right now.
Once we leave the mall I'm already feeling a little more relaxed. We reach our car and I push the button on the key unlocking the car doors.
We place our bags on the back seat and I open the driver’s door to hop in. Chrissy’s phone starts to ring and she pulls the phone out of her handbag and looks at the screen. Her face lights up and she looks at me waving her phone.
“It’s Conrad. I’ll be quick okay.” She walks off to answer the call in private.
I hop in the car and put the key in the ignition to put on some music while I wait for her. I watch as people hop in their cars leaving the mall carpark. It's crazy busy, the minute they pull out someones already waiting to fill the spot. I look to the left as movement catches my attention.
The couple parked next to us is hopping into their car. The man opens her door and the middle-aged lady laughs as tries to get in. Her hand constantly rubbing her growing baby bump and I unashamedly stare at the happy couple.
She awkwardly lowers herself into the passenger’s seat still laughing at herself as the man leans in and gives her a loving kiss; before he closes her door and whistles hopping into the driver’s seat.
I want that someday. I sigh quietly thinking to myself.
The lady looks up and our eyes meet. Still smiling she waves at me and I wave back as their car leaves their parking spot. I instantly place my hand over my stomach wondering if I have a small human forming and growing inside me.
I dig my phone out of my bag and swipe the screen unlocking the lock mode. I need to call Sanz and let him know I'll be able to return next week. I miss my Care Bears!.
I have two text messages and I open them.
Luca: I’ve just landed in Auckland.
Luca: We need to talk Vanessa, I will pick you up at six for dinner tonight to discuss the possibility of you carrying my son.
He’s back…
I didn’t think he would be back for a few days at least. I’m not ready to see him right now.
Shit...
I don’t think I'll ever be ready. My heart suddenly feels heavy knowing he wants to see me. But he doesn’t want to see me because he loves me. No, he wants to see me because he wants claiming rights to his son. What if I have a girl? Will he still want her? Business, it’s always straight down to business with him.
Vanessa: I can't. I'm not in Auckland.
I hit Send…
I scroll down my contacts and open up Sanz Contact icon. Just as I'm about to tap 'call' my phone blares to life ringing.
It’s Luca……
I take a deep breath and tap the answer icon.
“Hello?” I answer quietly.
“Where are you?” His voice is clipped. Not missing a beat in getting straight to the point.
“Out of Auckland like I stated in the text message, Luca.” I sigh knowing what’s coming.
“Si, I saw that but… I asked 'Where are you?.” His voice holds a ‘Don’t test me’ tone.
“I think it’s best we don’t see each other right now. I’m not ready to see you.” I stifle a cry.
“This is not up for discussion. You could be carrying my child…”
‘You’re right, it’s not up for discussion…” I cut him off. “I need time to process all of this. If I am pregnant I will let you know. Until then… Just BACK.THE.FUCK.OFF Luca!” I yell at him before hanging up.
I throw my phone onto the passenger’s seat gripping the steering wheel with both hands watching my knuckles turn white with the building tension. Tears slowly trickle down my face.
The phone rings again and I look over at it and just stare at it as it rings on the seat till it goes to voice mail. Seconds after, it rings again, and again, and.. again. I just sit there watching the damn thing ring wishing he'd leave me alone. The passenger door opens and Chrissy leans in and picks up my phone as she hops in. She looks at me and looks at the phone.
Lucas name lights up across the screen again...
“Hello.” She answers it while she's looking at me.
“No. You listen to me… My girl is sitting in the car ugly crying over you again. That’s all she's done since the night she walked out on you AGAIN. You’re causing her more grief than good…”
She pauses as she listens to him on the other end of the phone.
“Yes and no. If she said she doesn't want to see you, then you're to stay the fuck away from her. Don’t make us hide from you, Luca... Cause you know we will until she's ready to speak to you.”
She pauses again.
“And if she's pregnant you can bet your sorry ass you will be hearing from her….”
She looks at me as she listens to him.
“Impulsive is her best trait.” She grins at me slyly.
“Your threats are not welcomed here nor will they be taken lightly.”
Her brows furrow as she takes my hand from the steering wheel and clasps it in hers giving it a light reassuring squeeze.
“She was mine before she was yours. We would not be in this mess if you just kept your distance and gloved up….That’s not what I said, yes, yes okay. I'll think about it and yes I will tell her. Oh…. And Luca… Tell Rosalia her Aunty Nessa and I say hi.”
She hangs up and takes a deep breath before exhaling loudly.
“God damn… he is a hothead when it comes to you” She looks at me shaking her head.
“He’s Italian, what else were we to expect of him?” I rub my hands over my tear-stained face.
“He loves you.” She looks out into the carpark distantly causing me to laugh.
“The only thing Luca Venturi loves is himself and a good root.” I look at her.
“He’s a hard man to read but I can feel it in my bones that he loves you, Nessa.” She looks at me and stares.
I clear my throat and start the engine of the car.
“If that’s his way of loving me… I don’t want it.” I reverse out of the carpark and start driving us back to the hotel.
“He wanted me to tell you to give him another chance to explain himself and that he hasn’t been able to get you out of his head since the night you walked from him.”
“He feels guilty, we both know he can’t give me what I want or need Chrissy.”
“You might want to tell him where you are though.”
I slam on the brakes a little too hard at a set of lights causing the car to jerk forward. People in their cars behind me start beeping their horns as the light's still green. I have no intention of moving forward until I get a satisfying explanation from Chrissy.
“What!” I ask her.
Jeez, I hope I heard you wrong.
“He will explain why when you call him.”
‘God NO! I thought you were on my side. That bastard has away with…”
“He brought Rosalia with him” she quickly cuts me off.
“Rosalia.. sh... She’s here?” I turn my body towards her.
“She’s here.” Chrissy looks at me smiling.
“She convinced her dad to let her come and see you.”
“But…But I thought it was too dangerous for her to come here.”
“Luca used their private jet to return and has ordered more men for his security detail.” She says smiling. “Conrad just finished telling me. He thought it would be better coming from me instead of you finding out some other way”
“Holy shit.” I’m shocked and too scared to move in case I somehow screw this all up.
“Can you drive us back?”
I neglectfully get out of the car and jump into the passenger’s seat. Horns are tooting with an angry mob of people yelling for us to hurry up. Chrissy gets into the driver's seat flicking her hair. She takes her sweet time adjusting the seat and mirrors before she drives us back to the Hotel.
“You wanna grab an early dinner after we give Robert Aroha’s birthday presents?”
“How about we eat in so I can get my head straight before I make the phone call?”
I stare out the window absentmindedly watching the passing scenery.
“Yeah, we can do that.” Chrissy lightly rubs her hand up and down my arm before she places it back on the steering wheel.