"Don't Marc! Please don't !"
He shook his head in disgust at his vulnerability.
"Whatever you have or not done Carmen, I want you! I think I shall always want you," he groaned softly allowing his mouth to burn a trail of fire from a delicate ear to the trembling corner of my mouth.
My legs were shaking nervously.
"Marc no! I pushed fiercely against his resisting body, drawing my head away from the weakening attraction.
"You want me to Carmen! Do you think that I can hold you in my arms like this and not know that you feel exactly as I do? "
"No ! I protested again. "No I won't let you do this. You think I'll be more liberal about Tio if you make Love to me then you are wrong ."
The grip of my arms was loosened and suddenly I was free.
"Carmen whatever happens, I am warning you I intend to take Tio with me. If you stay here with your fiancé it will be without Tio. You must make the choice Carmen, either you come back to Milan or lose Tio."
"What do you mean come back to Milan? "
"I am saying that you should return to me as my wife, your life will be more restricted than it is here of course and I shall expect to behave with a dignity as my wife."
"I see and if I don't behave as you expect, will use Tio as a hostage for my good behavior is it? Have you not been listening to the things that I have said to you Marc? I said bitterly. "If you expect me to come to Milan under those conditions you must be mad !"
Marc raked his hair with an angry gesture. "I have to confess that I find you completely infuriating. I came here with a perfectly reasoned plan for being furiously angry with you. I've been here for less than two hours and I already am feeling guilty, partially." He shrugged his broad shoulders. " I ask you to return to Milan with our son and you see this is as some foul play on my part. It is true," he added after some moment. " That I would expect you to be my wife to me in the fullest sense of the word. I can't share you with anyone."
"But then I have reason to believe that you would not find it to distasteful. Who the hell can that be at the door?" He added as the ringing of the doorbell stopped the heavy silence.
"It must be Mathias," I said hurrying thankfully towards the door. "Come in Mathias. Marc is here."
"He is here!" Mathias entered the room and stared enquiringly at his older brother, who was watching him from the kitchen doorway.
"Have you seen the boy?" Marc said flatly.
"Yes, big brother. Have you? "
"Yes...."
"Well, the...." Mathias said with an unsteady breath glancing from my figure to Marcs, "You know then? "
"As you say I know." Marc paused a moment and leaned himself on the door. "I appreciate your bringing Carmen to London Mathias."
"However my presence is no longer required," Mathias said . "Don't worry Marc, even I can take such a broad hint. I will cancel my hotel room and return home immediately. One of us has to be at the vineyard at this time."
"Oh, Mathias but Tio expects to see you when he wakes up .." I said urgently.
"I should like to meet again with Carmen but he will have his father." Mathias said with a smile.
"You will see him Mathias. As I intend to bring my son back to Milan as soon as he's able to travel."
" I see," Mathias said with a sympathetic glance in my direction.
Seeing the direction of his brother's eyes, Marc added , "Carmen will also return with me."
"Oh my God, that's the most sensible thing you've said for years!" exclaimed Mathias apparently not noticing my helpless gesture of denial. He leaned forward to kiss my still face.
"I'll be seeing you soon then little sister. I've told the taxi man to stop outside, as I was intending to use it to visit the hospital with you first but if you don't need it, it may as well take me back to the hotel. "
"we will hire an uber." Marc said briefly accompanying his brother to the door. "I will inform you and mother about everything that happens here." He added as Mathias climbed into the waiting cab.
"You will let me know the condition of Tios's health and don't be too angry with Carmen, Marc. She had a reason ......"
"I'll see you soon Mathias and you can safely leave the problem of my wife to me." He said firmly as the car began to pull away. "Have a safe journey ."
When Marc walked back into the house, I was standing in front of the mirror unsuccessfully attempting to secure my hair into a neat knot.
"Oh damn it ! I shall never be ready to go to the hospital at this rate !" I grumbled.
"Leave it loose," Marc ordered directly behind me. " I like it that way."
With an almost impatient gesture, his arms came around me drawing my resisting body, against his own leaving me no doubt as to the extent of his desire for me. With a muffled exclamation he buried his face in my hair. His hand sent shivers of flame through my veins, banishing all my resistance. Then he lowered his mouth and kissed me possessively. After some time with an effort, he moved his body away from me his voice unsteady as he said. " There is no time. I've arranged to meet the surgeon at three o'clock, do not look at me like that Carmen! " As I was staring at him with daze after he kissed me.
"Later, we must go now, here are your things Carmen." He handed me the jacket and my bag, which I had laid on the chair and he pulled me gently towards the door.
It was a silent journey to the hospital both of us equipped with our uncertain thoughts. I wished with all my heart that I had not met Bella Costa before I left Italy. If I had not known of his plans for me I would have no hesitation in accepting the invitation to return with him. I might even have forgiven him for cheating on me, for at least I would have had a brief week of happiness until Marc would have won Tio's confidence and no longer needed my presence. I do want Tio to know his father and want him to meet his father's family who would love him.
I sighed inwardly. I would have to visit my lawyer and find out my legal position, for surely I would have some rights where Tio was concerned. In any event I could not rely upon believing that Marc would be so cruel as to deprive me completely of my son's presence. At least I would get some visitation rights.
Although I realized with despair that this was exactly what I had done to him during the last six years. The visit to the hospital passed more smoothly than I had feared. The surgeon agreed to transfer Tio to the private wing within the next day few hours as the beds were full and it would take an hour or so for the rooms to be unoccupied and I had to agree with Marc's decision, as he was also able to set both my mind at rest about Tio's health and show me that our son was on his way to a full recovery.
Tio seems a little bit confused by Marc's presence but showed not the slightest sign of blaming me for keeping his fathers presence a secret for the last six years. He was listening with interest about Marc's description of life in Milan, observing every detail, to relate to his friends on a later date. I knew him too well he liked telling tales about anything and this was a big surprise for him.
The afternoon passed very quickly but when the nurse brought the tea trolley into the ward, I took the opportunity to slip away and call up the lawyer for the sake of my Peace of Mind . I knew that I would have to clarify my position. When the lawyer agreed to meet me after an hour, I was relieved rather than otherwise.
"Don't worry, mom dad will stay, I'll be fine. He says we can go to Milan, so that I can get better fast," he explained carefully. "No school for weeks and weeks. On that would be a great mom?"
"We shall have to arrange private tutors at home and also you will have to learn Italian," Marc said in an amused tone. "I do not think you need to worry that you may fall behind with your studies Tio?"
"O...........no! Won't I have any time for swimming or exploring things out there?" He exclaimed with despair.
"Yes, when you are fully recovered, I shall teach you to swim myself. Don't worry, we shall maybe allow you a little free time," he said with a quiet smile."
"you are teasing me," Tio said accusingly.
"Maybe, now say goodbye to your mother , Tio." Then to me, "we shall see you later?"
"Okay, it will not take a longer time for me. Would you like to have a sandwich or something brought back or will you go out to the hospital canteen later?"
"I'll get something when you return. Don't worry Carmen."
"Okay goodbye then I'll see you later," I murmured kissing Tio gently on the cheek.
"Bye mom !" Tio said with a grin.