Turn Towards the Sun Book Two: After the Rain (30 page)

“Breakfast, amore?” he asks, as though reading my mind.

“Yes, please.”

I watch my husband move gracefully to the kitchen and then I let Maximus back inside. Sitting down at the piano, I touch the shiny wood. It is really the most stunning instrument I’ve ever seen. Slowly, I run my fingers over a few keys, softly, so as not to wake our friends. I close my eyes for a moment and cherish the feeling of those ivories beneath my fingertips.

“Well, are you gonna play or just sit there?”

Turning around, I see a dressed Cassie walking towards me.

I grin at her. “I was thinking about it.”

“Don’t think, play. When was the last time?” she asks.

“I don’t even know, Cass. I think I was still a teenager.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes, really. I was just sitting here, wondering if I still remember how to play my favorite song.”

“I hope so,” she says, “because I can’t wait to hear you play.”

At that moment Chris appears and sits down on the couch. “Are you gonna play?” he asks.

“Yes…”

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and start. It’s a little bumpy at first, but soon the notes come back to me and I play. I’m playing my piano. I cannot wait to tell my parents. Enzo comes out of the kitchen and leans against a column. He watches me intently with a huge grin on his face. When I finish, everyone claps for me.

Enzo calls out, “Brava, Ava. Bellissima.”

“That was great. Can you play any Christmas carols?” Cassie asks.

“Um, like what?”

“O Holy Night is my favorite.”

“Bring me the iPad,” I tell her. “I bet I can find the sheet music online.”

Cassie grabs it from the coffee table. A quick search brings it up right away and I begin to play. We sing the words together. Cassie has always had a terrific voice and hits the highest notes beautifully.

Chris’ eyes open wide and his face splits into a grin. “Cassandra Lynn Cunningham,” he says, astonished. “I had no idea you could sing like that. Have you been holding out on me all these years?”

Cassie actually blushes crimson. “I guess I just never had a reason to sing.”

“You don’t sing in front of him?” I ask her. “That’s a shame. Your voice is beautiful.” She shrugs. “Thank you.”

Chris wraps his arms around Cassie and kisses her. “I love your voice. I’d like to hear it more. I hope you’ll sing for me again,” he says.

“I will, baby.”

I love moments like this when Cassie puts her guard down and lets her sweetness shine through. I love her craziness too, but it’s so nice to see her being emotional.

“The food is ready,” Enzo announces.

We all head into the kitchen nook to eat breakfast. I gaze out the window into our backyard and watch the waterfall splashing into the pool. It is a gorgeous day out there today, expected to be around seventy. I love the containers of sunflowers that we’ve planted around the yard, and how they can grow and thrive in the middle of winter here. Just looking at them reminds me of happy times and the sun. I feel like I live in its warm glow.

The perfection of my life right now is startling. It’s been only six months since Enzo blew into my world and what an amazing trip it has been since. I glance around the room, watching Cassie pile up her plate while Chris sips his coffee and stares at her. Enzo tries in vain to get Maximus to settle down to eat his breakfast.

I rub my belly. In the very near future, I’m going to have my husband’s baby. I could not have imagined this life for myself. If anyone had asked me in June what I would be doing for Christmas, I would have said visiting my parents and hanging out in freezing cold Denver, dateless and bitter. That was pretty much how the future looked before Enzo swept me up. Amazing.

“What are you thinking, amore?” Enzo asks.

“Nothing,” I reply, smiling. “I’m just enjoying my surroundings right now. I should call my parents soon. This is the first Christmas we haven’t been together, so I hope they’re taking it well.”

“You can call after breakfast. We’ll clean up and then I’ll start getting ready to prepare dinner.” Enzo kisses my cheek.

“Who’s coming over?” Cassie asks in between bites of egg.

“Everyone,” Enzo replies. “Paolo and I will be cooking, and all my Arizona family will be here.”

“Is Grayson coming?” I ask.

“No, he has a flight later today, to go spend a few days back home.”

“Oh, that’ll be nice for him,” I comment. “It’s nice to be with family.”

“It is, amore, don’t be sad.”

“I’m not. You’re my family now.”

A soothing smile is his response. We finish breakfast and then I help Enzo to clean up the kitchen.

“Bella, why don’t you go sit on the couch and relax,” he suggests after a while. “I’ll just get a few things started in here and then I’ll join you.”

Cassie stands and puts her hands on her hips. “Enzo, you have like a hundred nicknames for Ava. I’ve heard bella, bellissima, amore, baby, principessa…” She uses her fingers to keep track. “Why can’t you just pick one?”

“I use whatever inspires me at the time. There are not enough accurate words to describe her.” Enzo grins.

Cassie rolls her eyes. “Wow, you guys are mushy all the time.”

“And it suits us just fine.”

“I think it’s cute,” Chris chimes in. “I’d love to talk to you that way.” He strokes Cassie’s hand and smiles at her.

She looks surprised for a moment, but then a full smile graces her face. “We can discuss.”

I can see that Chris is getting bold with Cassie and it is unnerving her. I love it, especially knowing that he’s going to propose soon.

We head out into the living room to let Enzo start preparing things for the day just as the doorbell rings. Maximus barrels down the hallway to the front door. I see Grayson through the glass. Why is he here?

I open the door. “Hi, Grayson,” I greet him. “Merry Christmas to you.”

“Merry Christmas,” he replies. “I have a delivery.” Smiling, he walks in and puts down some luggage in the foyer.

“Whose is that?” I ask him.

“Ours!”

My parents step out in front of the door and for a moment I can’t even comprehend what is happening. My brain desperately tries to process the presence of my family standing on my front porch. My parents are in Arizona!

“Ava, are you okay?” my dad asks, grinning from ear to ear. “I think she’s in shock, Evelyn.”

My mom throws her arms around my neck and pulls me close. “Merry Christmas, Ava.”

Finally, my brain snaps back into the present and I return my mom’s hug, holding her as tightly as possible.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw! Oh my gosh,” Cassie shouts from the foyer. She hurries towards us and throws her arms around my dad.

“Hi Cassie, how are you? Is Chris here?” my dad asks.

“Yeah, he’s here. Chris,” she calls out.

Chris and Enzo come out to greet everyone. I release my mom and launch into Enzo’s arms.

“You are so unbelievable,” I tell him. “I can’t get over it. Thank you so much.”

He kisses my cheek. “I knew it was important for you to be with your parents. Originally, I was going to fly us out there, but they’ve had such bad weather in Denver lately that I thought it would be better if they came here.”

“We are so happy to be here,” my mom comments. “Denver is expecting another bad snow storm in a few days.”

“Well, it’s nice and balmy here for you.” Enzo smiles and wraps his arm around my waist. “Shall we go inside?”

We all enter the house and Grayson carries my parents’ luggage to a guest room, before saying his goodbyes.

My mom runs over to the piano. “Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful,” she says.

“That’s one of my Christmas presents from Enzo.” I’m sure I’m beaming right now.

She runs her hands along the keys. “You’ve always wanted one.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Place looks great, you two,” my dad says, looking around the living room.

“Your daughter is responsible for this,” Enzo replies, his voice full of pride.

“You decorated?” my dad asks me.

I nod. “I did. It’s my first solo project. I like how it turned out.”

Cassie laughs. “Yeah, like a magazine layout – pretty good for a first timer. I remember when your apartment was decorated with Marilyn Monroe posters and rickety bookshelves that you found at garage sales. Hey, do you remember that weird, blue-and-white striped futon thingy you had? It was atrocious.”

My dad laughs. “I remember it. I wasn’t even sure you should sit on it. I was grateful the day we lugged it out to the trash.”

Enzo smiles. “I would love to hear more stories about Ava.”

Cassie nudges me in the arm. “Can I go first?” Her eyes twinkle with mischief.

“No, you may not. I’m pretty sure he’s looking for cute, endearing stories, not the single years.” I roll my eyes.

“I’d like to hear all of them, actually.”

“Last time I checked, this was not an episode of This is your life, Ava, so I’ll decline storytelling hour, thanks,” I reply, playfully shoving Enzo in the direction of the kitchen. “Shouldn’t you be cooking anyway?”

“No, I have plenty of time before Paolo gets here.” He plops himself down in a lounge chair. “Please, everyone, sit down.”

“Do you guys need to freshen up or rest?” I ask my parents.

“We’re fine. We’d like to hang out with you all for a while,” my dad says.

I exhale loudly. Clearly, I’m not going to avoid this, so I sit down on the couch in a huff and get ready for the embarrassing stories to begin.

“Your dog is adorable. What’s his name?” my mom asks.

“Wait.” Cassie raises her hands. “Guess, Mrs. Bradshaw. Think of one of her favorite movies.”

“Scarlett, wait no, it’s a boy. Um, Don Vito? Corleone?” my mom guesses.

Cassie giggles. “You’re getting closer.”

“Oh, I know.
Gladiator
, right?” she guesses again.

“Yes! You got it.”

I narrow my eyes at them both. “I’m glad you two find this so amusing. His name is Maximus Decimus Meridius. We call him Maximus,” I add.

“You do indulge this girl, Enzo. I guess better to give the dog that name than your son,” my dad says, chuckling.

Enzo laughs. “That was partly my plan.”

I shove his arm, but I can’t help laughing too.

“Okay, so what’s the most embarrassing Ava moment? I’d love to hear that,” Enzo says, smiling.

I cringe, waiting for my worst moments to be revealed.

“Where should we start, Evelyn?” my dad asks my mom.

“What about the time she tried to sneak in after her curfew and tried to get into the wrong house? That was pretty funny. For us, at least,” my mom says.

I pout. “That was not funny, mom! That was awful.”

“How on earth did that happen?’ Enzo asks.

“Yes, do tell,” Cassie presses, amused.

“Well, what we think happened is that when Ava climbed over the fence in the backyard, she didn’t notice that she was one house off. But the neighbor’s dog noticed and chased her across the yard. She was so scared that she climbed back up the fence and stayed on the ledge. Our neighbors heard the commotion and came out ready to call the police, until they saw it was Ava.”

Enzo tries to look concerned, but laughs. “Was the dog dangerous?”

“Not at all,” my dad replies. “He was just protecting his yard. I think Ava learned a good lesson that night. She never snuck out again.”

“How old was she when that happened?” Cassie asks.

“Fifteen, I think – right, Edward?”

“Yes, fifteen,” he agrees. “She was grounded for a whole month, mostly for scaring the neighbors.”

“Oh,” my mom starts, “when she was about six, she went through this phase where she wanted to dress like Wonder Woman every day. No matter what else she had on, her costume had to go on over the top of it. I finally found some Wonder Woman underwear and convinced her that wearing that was like having a secret identity.”

“I can just see you now with your little golden lasso,” Cassie tells me, cackling all the while.

I sit quietly, annoyed, but amused, in spite of myself.

“Then there was the time when you threw up in the middle of the school recital,” my mom recalls.

“Geez mom, really?” I say. “You came up with that?”

“I remember it because it was your first solo and you were so excited.” My mom pats Enzo’s knee. “Ava was a nervous wreck that night, and right before it was her turn to sing, she threw up on the poor kid in front of her. She gets a little queasy under stress.”

The smile leaves Enzo’s face just briefly, before returning. “Yes, we should guard against Ava having too much stress in her life.” He strokes my hand.

“I have one!” Cassie looks way too excited for my liking.

I pray she’s smart enough not to share one of my man escapades.