Bella (17 page)

I gave her a big hug.

  
“
Don't worry she will be ok. I am taking great
care of her.
”
Said Roy in a voice
filled with hope putting his arms around us both.

After I left, I couldn
’
t
stop thinking about it all and hoped that everything would turn out
alright.    

Lizzie came round later
that night; I had just bathed the kids and put them to bed. She cracked open a
bottle of wine, and I told her about Tammy.

  
“
Why does this family always seems to get bad
luck?
”

   
“
Don't worry Lizzie hopefully Tammy will make a
full recovery.
”

Claudio called me to
say he would be over for Christmas. I told Lizzie.

  
“
You
’
re lucky Bella; I wish I could find a decent man.
”

  
“
You will!
”
I replied.
“
It
’
s a shame Ben is our brother because he is the only man I
have seen you get on so well with.
”

Lizzie laughed.

   
“
Yes I loved Ben and we spent most of our
childhood together. But it's a good job, nothing you know intimate happened.
”

  
“
Yeah I know, that would be gross!
”
I replied nervously, trying to make the look on
my face convincingly enough. If only she knew that I had indeed slept with our
own brother.

I changed the subject,
hoping never to talk about intimacy with brothers again.

We both talked about
growing up, and our parents. Laughing at different things we remembered.

  
“
Do you remember the time Lizzie, when we were
all sat in the car waiting for mum and dad to get fish and chips, and someone
shouted.

‘
Simon do you want
fish and chips
?
’
and he shouted
‘
Yes!
’
out the car window, but it wasn't our parents.
”
We laughed until our sides ached. We chatted
for a bit longer reminiscing about the good times, then because it was getting
late Lizzie went home.
 
Feeling tired
myself, I went to bed.

  Over the next few
weeks, Claudio called me every day. Tammy was very tired with her treatment,
but it seemed to be working and she was eventually told she was in remission.

I decided we needed a
party to celebrate. Claudio was due over, and mine and Robert`s birthday was
approaching.

Roy thought it was a
good idea to take Tammy to Paris. It was a place she had always wanted to go.
Simon was coming home for Christmas, but for once I knew I could see him only
as a brother.

   Roy called a few
days after they arrived in Paris to say they were having a fantastic time and
Tammy loved it. They were due home in a few days and Claudio was also about to
arrive.

The next day I decided
to do some baking ready for the party. I kept on clock watching for Claudio to
arrive. The
phone rang, I thought that must be him to say he
had arrived. I picked up the phone with excitement. But it wasn`t Claudio. The
voice at the other end was Marco. I had hoped that I wouldn
’
t hear from him again. He said he wanted to see
me as soon as possible. I inhaled deeply trying to stay calm.

  
“
Can it wait until after Christmas? I
’
m having a party tomorrow, and Tammy has been
ill, I don't want any pressure.
”
Marco hung up.

I finally got the call
I was expecting from Claudio to say he had arrived and would be at my house
soon. I got myself showered and changed, did my make-up and hair to perfection.

I was feeling really
nervous when Claudio arrived. He greeted me with a hug and a kiss and I felt so
much better.

Tammy and Roy had
arrived home safely. Roy phoned to say that Tammy was a little tired but they
’
d be over the following day for the party.

Claudio helped me get
the children ready for bed and when they were safely tucked up in bed, we had a
quiet romantic night by the fire. We toasted marshmallows, drank hot mulled
wine and roasted chestnuts.

   
“
I haven't been this happy in a long time
Claudio.
”
I said. Claudio
cupped my face with his hands and kissed me, teasing my mouth with his tongue.

Then he started playing
with my nipples, first with his hands then gently with his tongue. He slowly
stroked each part of my body passionately, heading down to open the zip of my
trousers; undressing me, without forgetting to give each part of my body the
love it so badly wanted. My hands and lips did the same. I touched him all over
keeping his body close to mine until we made passionate love.

The next morning I
cooked a full English breakfast, got the kids ready, and prepared for the
party. I was going to be twenty-two and Robert turned one on Christmas day.
Claudio had got me a lovely necklace with a love heart, engraved with `
I love you now, forever and always`.

Lizzie, Tammy and Roy
came over. Tammy looked really well and I was happy to see her that way. Lizzie
told me that Simon was on his way. We waited for Simon to arrive to help put
the tree up. I always loved this time of year, with all the family together.
Fifteen minutes later Simon arrived with Victoria and Luke. And for the first
time I didn't feel anything romantic towards him.

But with recent events
I wasn't too pleased; I was hoping that she
’
d stayed in New York.

Victoria seemed quite
pleasant so I wasn't too worried. We  put up the Christmas tree together and
decorated it with lights and tinsel, then sang Christmas carols. Claudio took
my hand and kissed it. For once in my life I felt at ease.

I had made enough food
to feed an army, and plenty of mulled wine. Claudio helped prepare the turkey
for the next day. Simon and Claudio got on very well thankfully. Victoria
seemed happy I had a boyfriend again; maybe she thought I wasn't a threat any
more. I put the children to bed and Claudio read Violet a story while I had a
soak in the bath.

   As we were lying in
bed later that night, I was reading my book when I heard Simon and Victoria
arguing in the next bedroom, and then I heard a door slam.

I wonder what
’
s up with them?
I thought as I put my book down and went to sleep.

   Claudio woke me up
in the middle of the night.

   
“
Wake up Bella!"

I rubbed my eyes;
looked at the clock and realised it was only three in the morning;

  
“
What
’
s the matter Claudio?
”
I said sleepily and yawned.

  
“
Look out the window?
”
It was snowing. Claudio was so excited; he had
never seen snow before. We stood there watching the snow falling, it looked so
beautiful. I wasn't feeling tired any more. Claudio looked into my eyes.

   
“
I have never felt this happy in a long time
Bella.
”

 I must admit I was
feeling very happy and content.

    
“
I was going to wait until morning Bella, but now
seems a good a time as any.
”

Claudio went into his
coat pocket and took something out. Then he went down on one knee.

   
“
Bella will you marry me?
”
  He asked.

  
“
Yes of course I will.
”
I answered happily.

Morning soon came. I
was feeling tired but deliriously happy. We sat down to a full English
breakfast. It was Robert
’
s first birthday and
he had received loads of presents.

 
Tammy looked at
my finger.

  
“
Bella you are engaged, when did this happen?
”

I told her about
Claudio waking me up to watch the snow falling, and then proposed to me.

  
“
I am so pleased for you both.
”
Tammy gave us a kiss on the cheek and Simon
congratulated us.

I put the turkey in the
oven.

  
“
It will take hours to cook, so I reckon we
’
ll be eating about seven.
”
Claudio laughed and patted his stomach.

  
“
With the breakfast we have just had, we won't
want our Christmas dinner until then.
”
He laughed.

We decided to go for a
walk. The sun was out and the snow was white and crisp. Claudio was like a
child in the snow, making snow balls. After our walk, we decided to make a
huge
snowman. We all made it together, laughing and joking,  and throwing snowballs
at each other. Claudio threw a snowball at me.

  
“
Hey you!
”
I said, and chucked one back and we fell over  
and rolled around in the snow like children.

   After I`d had a
shower, I put the vegetables on, ready for dinner.  Claudio poured me a glass
of wine. Then we sat opening our Christmas presents. Roy took Tammy outside for
hers. He blindfolded her and led her outside, there was a lovely mini coup
é
, the one she had been wanting for ages. The car
was a lovely metallic blue. When she saw it she jumped up and down like a
child. She gave Roy a kiss.

     
“
Thank you Roy
”
Claudio took an envelope out and gave it to me.
Inside were tickets to go to New Orleans.

   
“
This will be our first family holiday darling.
”
He whispered whilst holding me tightly in his
arms.

  
“
Thank you so much! I
’
ve always wanted to go to New Orleans.
”
I was so excited, spring time in New Orleans.

   
“
Victoria hadn't come back since I heard them
both arguing and Simon seemed a little subdued. We had all chipped in and
bought Lizzie a lovely charm bracelet. I got her a charm from Tuscany. Simon
got one from New York. After we exchanged our gifts, we sat down to eat.

The turkey dinner was
soon swallowed up, but with plenty left for the next few days. Marco's parents
were coming over from Italy the next day, they were supposed to have come on
Christmas Eve but Emilio had the flu, and wasn't well enough to travel.

We sat round the fire;
Simon played the guitar and we all sang along. I was shattered so I put the
children to bed, and decided to have an early night as I had to be up early the
next morning for Marco's parent.

   Marco's parents
arrived the next day. They met there granddaughter for the first time. She took
her grand-daughter in her arms.

  
“
You are a beautiful Violet.
”
Anna said tearfully.  She turned to me and
said.
“
Thank you for letting
us stays here Bella. You are kind lady.
”
 

  
“
It
’
s not a problem I am happy to have you both here.
”
I reassured them. I showed them around
Lighthouse Cove, and then we all went for some lunch at our favourite
restaurant. It was very busy as it was Boxing Day. The food was very nice; we
decided to have roast duck with orange sauce. For dessert we had New York
cheesecake. When we arrived back home,  I wasn't expecting to find what I did.
I knew straight away something wasn't right. The back window had been smashed.
I went directly upstairs to my bedroom. Marco was sat on my bed.

  
“
What do you want Marco?
”
I demanded. 

  
“
Bella you know what I want.
”
He snapped. I knew I couldn't say no to his
bribes, and that he could keep on asking at any time. I had no choice I had to
call his bluff.