to put some more distance between them and move into the other house they’d offered her before he got back after all? Sighing, she decided to talk to his father Alberto about it. She’d become rather fond of the older man, and instinctively knew he would give her some good advice.
But four weeks after his son had left the country, Lily’s period was late. And after taking the pregnancy test she’d bought from the local farmacia in a bid to reassure herself, she made the startling discovery that she was pregnant...
* * *
July, August and September were winter months in Brazil, but the temperatures were similar to that of an Abruzzo summer. Being acclimatised to the heat, Bastian barely noticed it. Much more prevalent in his mind was the volatile situation he’d left behind him.
He was well used to women coming on to him, but that hadn’t been the case with his beautiful young tenant. Instead they had become shockingly intimate practically on sight. It was as though some greater power had been driving them that day—a power that they had responded to straight away and hadn’t even questioned. Any concept of right or wrong hadn’t entered their minds.
Maybe it was precisely the fact that Lily hadn’t pursued him in the way he was used to that was the reason he couldn’t put the stunning woman from his mind. Like it or not, his business with Lily was far from concluded, and he found himself counting the days until they could be reunited.
And this time things would be brought to a close between them—one way or another!
* * *
Lily had been busier than usual. Since she’d found out that she was pregnant she’d not only attended to her illustrations and worked diligently on her own children’s stories, she’d also started to make her new accommodation much more homely.
The new house was more spacious than the villeta had been, and just as beautifully appointed. To bring a touch of her own personality she’d draped the generous-sized couch and armchairs with silk shawls and the plumped-up cushions that she’d bought from a local market in the town. She also made sure that the large burnt orange ceramic bowl that she’d found in the kitchen was always filled with plenty of fruit.
It would help to remind her that she had to eat especially well now, due to the baby.
But what was done was done. She’d been responsible for protecting herself but she hadn’t, and this was the consequence.
She’d never properly contemplated the monumental change a child would bring into her life and the prospect was undeniably scary. Some would say her decision to have the baby as a single woman was an irresponsible one. But the idea excited her. Life suddenly seemed to take on much more meaning.
The challenge of writing her own stories as well as illustrating other authors’ work to help pay the rent had grown to encompass the unexpected miracle that was taking place inside her body. In truth, Lily was excited at the prospect of taking care of the child and raising him or her.
The only fly in the ointment was that she hadn’t shared her news with Bastian yet. He was still away. When he found out about it would he think she expected him to support her and the baby? The thought made her shudder. It had undoubtedly come as a shock to discover she was pregnant, but it was her decision to go through with it.
There was no way she wanted to be beholden to another man—especially after the mistake she’d made in marrying her husband. But sooner or later her handsome landlord would be home and, like it or not, she would have to tell him everything.
In the meantime, although she missed the villeta with its inspiring skylight and the vista of olive groves, the traditional stone house she was now renting from the Carreras was just as appealing. For one thing it was closer to the sea, and yet it was surrounded by the most idyllic countryside. Another plus was that every morning she woke to the sound of the waves lapping on the shore, and towards evening witnessed some of the most dramatic sunsets she’d ever seen.
As for Alberto’s advice about moving there when she’d gone to see him, he had been kindness itself.
‘You must do what your heart tells you to do, signora,’ he’d said. ‘Despite what my son may have told you, there is no need for you to panic about the situation. We can wait for you to decide. Whether you choose to leave the villeta in the time suggested or to move into one of our other houses, first and foremost we want you to be happy. We have not always been so fortunate as to have tenants as reliable and charming as you, Lily.’
He’d clasped her to his chest and kissed her soundly on both cheeks. She’d grown very fond of the man, and loved the way his brown eyes crinkled at the corners and sparkled when he was pleased about something. The warmth he conveyed was undoubtedly reassuring.
She wondered if Bastian shared his father’s quality to soothe and reassure...
* * *
He was agitatedly pacing up and down, his boot-heels making the dust motes fly up from the floorboards. Meanwhile his father sat upright in his favourite kitchen chair and patiently allowed his son to vent.
‘I cannot believe you let her move out just like that!’ Bastian fumed. ‘As I understood it she was going to say at the villeta until I returned from my trip. Plus, she said working under the skylight there helped inspire her to do her best drawing. What if that doesn’t come so easily to her in the new house?’
The younger Carrera came to a sudden standstill, dropped his hands to his denim-clad hips and glared.
‘Why are you suddenly so concerned as to whether the signora’s surroundings inspire her or not? You certainly weren’t before. We both know the villeta has to be demolished in order to convert the land. Isn’t that what you urged me to remember when you thought I was being too soft with her? I thought you wanted her to leave as soon as possible?’
‘I did... I do.’
Feeling ill at ease, Bastian impatiently pushed back the rebellious lock of hair that tumbled onto his brow. What was it about this woman that drove him to such levels of agitation? Again he recalled that feeling that she had bewitched him.
‘Forget what I said. If she is quite happy with the arrangement then that suits all of us, does it not? I will call in to see her later, to see how she’s settling in. And to thank her for co-operating at last!’
Releasing a sigh that sounded as if he’d been holding it in for ever, he crossed the floor to squeeze the other man’s shoulder affectionately. Narrowing his gaze, he examined him searchingly.
‘Have you been okay? Dolores tells me that she’s been making sure you’ve been eating well and are getting as much rest as possible. I trust that there’s been no more chest pain or anything like that?’
Alberto scowled. ‘Between the two of you, you make me feel like a sick child who needs round-the-clock care! Now, instead of fussing over me, why don’t you sit down and tell me all about your trip to Brazil. Was it worthwhile?’
His son grinned. ‘Need you ask? You should know by now that I never embark on a business trip that isn’t fruitful!’
IT
