The Baby Bombshell

She bit her lip. “I went against the principles I was brought up with by getting involved with Matteo. If I try hard to be the best mother and provider I can be for the rest of my life, then maybe I’ll be able to forgive myself.”

“That’s a lot of guilt you’re carrying around. I’m sure your family doesn’t make you feel that way. You’re an amazing woman. You need to be kind to yourself.”

“Thank you for saying that. You’re a terrific listener. It explains why your family looks to you for leadership.”

“I’ve noticed you have trouble accepting a compliment. You’d better get used to it because as I told you, I’ve never been so attracted to a woman.”

This wave of euphoria with the children would pass for him. However Valentina feared her attachment to him went much deeper than that. She buried her face in her arms until she knew no more.

CHAPTER SEVEN

VALENTINA PROPPED THE babies in their swings by the pool while she looked for a job on her laptop. Since Giovanni had taken them down the coast on the cruiser two weeks ago, the time had flown by and she needed to get busy.

He’d gone to work each business day, but had come home early to play with the children. They’d settled down to a routine and last weekend had spent time touring the grounds of the Villa Cimbrone, for which Ravello was famous.

Their long walks and talks while they enjoyed the babies had been heavenly. But pretty soon she needed to register for school if she was going to go at all.

“Valentina?” She looked up to see Giovanni walking toward her. “I missed you at breakfast. What’s going on?”

She was always so thrilled to see him, she could hardly breathe. “I got up early to look for a part-time job that will fit with my studies.”

“I’m glad you’re going ahead with your plans.”

“You really mean that?”

“Of course. I know how important getting that degree is to you. Have you decided where you want to live?”

“I’ve already found an apartment online, but I need to see it in person and visit the day-care center I have my eye on. Rini told me he’d give me enough money until I receive my first paycheck from the job. Then I’ll pay him back.”

“Good for you.”

“Giovanni—you have no idea how much your support means to me.” Her voice caught. “You’ve done everything for me and I’ve done nothing in return.”

“What are you talking about?” He gripped her upper arms, pulling her out of the deck chair. Lines had darkened his face. “You’ve helped me transition from being a robot into a flesh-and-blood human being and father. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Don’t you understand?”

He pressed a kiss to her lips and shook her gently before his hands slid away with seeming reluctance. The contact sent her pulse racing. “A-are you leaving now?” she asked, her voice faltering.

“Yes. I’ll see all of you after I get home from work and we’ll talk some more about your plans.” He acted like he wanted to say more, then changed his mind and walked back in the house. Before long she saw the helicopter fly off, taking her heart with him.

No sooner had he gone than she heard a voice. “Valentina?” She turned her head in time to see Giovanni’s mother-in-law walking toward her.

“Violeta—how nice to see you.” Both she and Giovanni’s mother had come by twice in the past two weeks. Valentina had missed her mother horribly and enjoyed both women’s company.

“The babies are adorable, but it’s you I need to talk to.”

“Please sit down, Violeta. How are you?”

“I need to tell you something because I know you are a good person and a wonderful mother.”

Valentina’s brows broke into a delicate frown. “I think the world of you, too. What’s wrong?”

“If my husband knew I was here to tell you this, he’d have grounds to divorce me. The mood he has been in since the baby switch has been very hard on me.”

“Why has it upset him so much?”

“He’s convinced that if it hadn’t happened, Giovanni would have been to see Tatania by now and help her to get better emotionally.”

“I see.” Knowing how Giovanni really felt made this uncomfortable for Valentina.

“Giovanni’s preoccupation with both babies has changed him. His mind isn’t on the pressures of his position as CEO. He told me he has no intention of suing the hospital for the mishandling of the babies. For that decision my husband blames you for living in this house and your influence over him.”

She shook her head. “I have no influence, Violeta. He loves both babies. That love has prompted him to make certain decisions. I—I love both babies, too,” she confessed. “This has been hard on everyone. We’re trying to do the right thing.”

“Nevertheless my husband has been in conference with Giovanni’s father, and there’s a groundswell from the board to ask Giovanni to step down as CEO. Were you aware of that?”

“No—” Valentina clutched the edge of the table. She felt like she’d been shot. “But you can go home and tell your husband he has nothing more to worry about. I’ll be living in Naples by the end of the week.”

“You mean at Giovanni’s apartment there?”

Valentina knew he kept one, but he’d never pushed it on her. He understood she wanted to be independent. Something about his calm, caring demeanor made her want to do things his way.

“No. Winter semester is starting at the university. I’ll be living nearby in an apartment I’ve found and putting Vito in day care. I hope to graduate in the spring and get a job.”

“You’re going to work?”

“Yes. I plan to be an engineer like my brothers.”

“Oh—” She looked shocked. “You must be very brilliant.”

“I wish.” She’d never felt she could measure up to her brothers, but having given birth to Vito had given her a new sense of self-worth, never mind that Giovanni had contributed to that feeling. “But the point is, I’m convinced that the babies are happy now and that they’ll be able to handle the separation so Giovanni and I can get on with our lives.”

She stared at Valentina through eyes reflecting torment. “So you and Giovanni—?”

“We’re not lovers, Violeta,” she answered the unasked question. “We’re friends who’ve been through a terrible ordeal and are doing our best to work things out.”

Violeta looked downcast. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“It’s all right. Giovanni loves you and loves it that you’re Ric’s grandmother.”

Her brown eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. I love him, and I love both your babies.”

Now Valentina was weepy. “They’re hard not to love.”

“You’re easy to love, too.” Valentina hadn’t expected that confession from Tatania’s mother. “No matter what you say, I see it in Giovanni’s eyes.”

“What you see is a man who has fallen in love with fatherhood.” He was still in that state of euphoria, and it made his gorgeous black eyes shine. “In that respect he’s unique.”

“I agree,” she whispered and got up from the table. “I’m going to tell my husband what you said. It will give him hope that Giovanni and my daughter will get a second chance.” Valentina’s heart sank, but it wasn’t her place to disabuse the older woman. “I know it will stop all the talk over asking Giovanni to step down.”

Valentina kept a smile on her face. “That’s good for the Laurito company. Now, why don’t you stay for a while. You can feed Ric his bottle.”

“You’d let me?”

“Of course. He loves his nonna.”

Violeta walked around and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll come again, but your news is too important. I need to get back home and talk to my husband.”

Valentina walked her to her car. When she’d disappeared, Valentina found Stazie in the sunroom putting flowers in a vase.

“Stazie? I need to fly to Naples. I know this is a great imposition, but could you tend the boys until I get back? Giovanni might get home first. I’m just not sure.”

“Of course I’ll tend them. You rarely let me help.”

“Thank you so much.”

She hurried back out to the children and phoned Rini. Luckily he was in his office. “Rini? Could I ask a great favor?” So much for her independence.

“Of course. How are you?”

“I’m ready to check out the apartment and the day-care center. Could you send the helicopter here?”

“You mean now?”

“If it’s convenient. I’ll fly to your office. From there I’ll get a taxi and check out those places. Maybe you can drop me back here this evening?”

“Tell you what. I need a break. When you arrive I’ll ask my driver to take us where you need to go. We’ll have dinner with Papà before we leave Naples.”

“You’re the best, Rini.”

“Hey—I’ve missed you and Vito. I bet he’s gained ten pounds since the last time I saw him.”

She chuckled. “Not quite. Love you.”

While she waited for the helicopter, she brought the babies into the sunroom and put them on the floor on a quilt. It was hard to leave them, but this was an emergency.

* * *

At 6:30 p.m. Giovanni jumped down from the helicopter, anxious to be with Valentina. He would ask Stanzie and Paolo to watch the children while he took her to a great restaurant for a night of dinner and dancing.

He’d kept his distance over the past two weeks. But while he’d been at work today, his thoughts had been totally focused on her. After the close quarters they’d shared on the cruiser, he’d go mad if he didn’t get her into his arms.

This time of evening he usually found her in the sunroom with the babies. Instead he discovered Ric and Vito in the kitchen. Stanzie had put them in their swings while she cooked dinner. He smiled at her and kissed the boys. “Is Valentina upstairs?”

“No. She flew to Naples. Her brother will bring her home tonight.”

That revelation sucked all the air out of him. “Any other news?”

“Si. Signora Corleto came over this morning.”

Uh-oh. “What time did she come?”

“About eleven.”

“What time did Valentina leave?”

“Around noon. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Stanzie. I’m going to take the boys for a short walk.” He put them in their strollers and left the villa.

Whatever conversation had gone on between Valentina and Violeta, it had prompted his houseguest to take off. She didn’t have to tell Giovanni her schedule, but the fact that he hadn’t heard from her let him know something had alarmed her.

Violeta was not a vindictive woman. Quite the opposite. “Hey, guys—we’re on our own until Valentina comes home.” He kissed their heads. “Let’s go back and eat. Stanzie has made something that smells good.”

Later that night after giving them a bath and putting them to bed, he started down the stairs just as Valentina was coming up. In the dim light her classic features and gleaming blond hair emphasized her beauty.

“Welcome home,” he said in a quiet voice.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“You don’t owe me any explanation. Stanzie told me where you’d gone.”

She nodded. “After Rini and I returned to the villa, he drove me here. How are the children?”

“I put them down. Why don’t you tell me about your day?”

He walked with her to the nursery. After she peeked at the boys, they tiptoed out of the room and went back downstairs to the sunroom. The night called to him. She must have felt it, too, and followed him out to the garden, where the roses were in full bloom.

She leaned over to smell one. “Their scent lies heavy on the air.”

“My parents have a garden in Naples, but the fragrance here is much more powerful.” His gaze wandered over her. “Did you accomplish a lot today?”

“Yes. Rini went with me. I like the apartment I’m going to rent, and I was impressed with the people who run the day-care center. They only allow ten children. Two of the four workers look solely after the babies. Both have had nursing experience. I’m sure Vito will get the attention he needs.”

“Have you had success finding a job?”

“Not yet, but I’m hopeful. Rini and I had dinner with my father. It was a good day.”

“I heard that Violeta dropped by.”

“Yes.”

“Want to tell me what you two talked about, or was it confidential?”

“She said her husband is suing the hospital.”

“We already knew that. What else did she say that caused you to leave so fast?”

She turned to the view of the sea. “Whatever we talked about is no longer important.”

“Why? Because you’re going to move to Naples, therefore you’re no longer a threat? I’m not unaware that Tatania’s parents would like us to get back together. With you out of my villa for good, that removes the biggest roadblock to effecting a reconciliation. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

Giovanni grasped her shoulders and pulled her back against his chest. He buried his face in her hair and felt her tremble. “When I got home from work, I was planning to take you out for a night of dinner and dancing.”

“At this point that would be a mistake.”

“Explain what you mean.” He turned her around. Their mouths were only centimeters apart.

“I can’t. You’re holding me too close to think.”

After expelling his breath, he let go of her, but it took all his strength to do so. “Is that better?”

She backed away from him. Her shimmering blue eyes held a haunted expression. “Did you know there’s a movement within your company to ask you to step down as CEO because everyone believes you and I are lovers?”

His blood ran cold. “Violeta told you that?”

“Yes, but she didn’t say it in a mean way. We like each other. She wanted me to know the truth because she loves you and Ric. I allayed her fears by letting her know that you and I are not lovers. Furthermore I told her I’m moving to Naples by the weekend.”

Maybe he’d misjudged the situation. “In other words, you don’t have deep feelings for me.”

“Of course I do,” she practically shouted at him.

“But it seems not deep enough, otherwise you wouldn’t have flown to Naples the moment Violeta stopped by to give you the bad news. I thought we were going to do this together. Like partners, remember?”

Valentina shook her head. “We’ve been through all this. You knew I was planning to leave. What she told me helped me to get on with my plans a little sooner. Giovanni—you’re not just anybody. You’re the head of the Laurito Corporation.

“I knew we’d have to face a lot of bad publicity while we tried to do the right thing for our babies. But what I didn’t know was that the board would actually remove you from your position. You’ve worked so hard for everything you’ve achieved. I refuse to be the woman who brings you down.”

“Tatania’s father worked on Violeta to get his own way before she showed up here. Surely you must see that.”

“All I know is, I can’t stay here any longer. I’m trying to put away the guilt I suffered over my bad judgment with Matteo. But if I thought that you could be toppled by your own board members because of me, terrible guilt would consume me. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t asked the hospital for a DNA test, we wouldn’t know of each other’s existence.”

His anger flared. “If you hadn’t followed your mother’s intuition, we wouldn’t have the joy of loving two sons. Can you honestly stand there and tell me you’re sorry for discovering the truth?”

“You know I’m not,” her voice shook, “but I don’t want to be the one responsible for ruining your life! Violeta’s visit was a blessing in disguise. Just so you know, I’m going to pack everything up tonight. Rini is going to come for me and Vito in the morning. I’ll stay with him until Friday. The furnished apartment will be ready then, and he’ll help me move.”

Blind with anger over what was happening, he knew he had to get away from her in order to calm down. Gutted by the sudden change in their arrangement, he needed to channel his negative energy with action.

“Don’t let me keep you, Valentina. Buonanotte.”

He raced back inside to his room and changed into his trunks. A good dozen laps in the pool wouldn’t take away the rage he was feeling over Tatania’s father. He’d always been the ultimate manipulator orchestrating everyone’s lives, including Giovanni’s father. But the physical exercise would help Giovanni clear his head before he put his plan into action and fought fire with fire.

When the next morning came, he purposely stayed in the bedroom so Valentina could feed the babies and say her goodbye to Ric before Rini Montanari came for her. From the other guest room window at the end of the hall, he saw her get in the car with Vito and drive away.

Now that she’d gone, Giovanni contacted his pilot, who would be picking him up within a few minutes. He’d called for a morning meeting of the entire Laurito board. For the occasion he’d dressed in a formal suit and tie.

On his way out, he stopped in the sunroom, where Stanzie was entertaining Ric in his swing. She looked up.

“You just missed Valentina.”

“We said good-night last night.” He leaned over to kiss his son. “I’ll see you this evening.”

“Is everything all right?”

Giovanni smiled at her. “Things couldn’t be better.”

“But...she said she was moving to Naples.”

“That’s right. She had a lot on her mind today. Don’t worry about it.”

Stanzie frowned at him. “I don’t like it. Paolo and I enjoy her very much.”

“She holds you two in the highest regard. I’ll check in with you later to see how Ric is doing.”

A half hour later he entered his office and checked with his assistant. “Has anyone bowed out of this morning’s meeting?” It was scheduled to start in ten minutes.

“No, but your uncle Benito said he’d be a few minutes late.”

He nodded. “I’ll be making an announcement. When the meeting is over, I’ll tell you what I want you to say to the media.”

His assistant’s eyes widened, but they’d worked together too long and he knew better than to question Giovanni.

“I’m headed for the conference room now.” He left his office and started down the hall.

“Giovanni?” His father had just gotten off the private elevator.

“Papà—” He gave him a hug.

“I’ve been anxious to talk to you about something that has concerned me for the last month. After the meeting let’s go to lunch.”

“We’ll do it.”

They entered the room. Little by little most of the members of the board had taken their seats around the long oval table. As he stood to call the meeting to order, his oldest uncle came in with Tatania’s father and took their places next to Giovanni’s father.

“I appreciate all of you rearranging your busy schedules to attend this emergency board meeting. I wouldn’t have called for it if it weren’t for the most vital of reasons. After you put me in as CEO of Laurito’s two years ago, I made up my mind to bring results that would satisfy your faith in me.

“But as all of you know, I became a father very recently. The birth of our son Vitiello has been the most soul-changing experience of my entire life. I say our son Vitiello because he was the son I took home from the hospital to raise. But three weeks later I discovered there was a mistake made at the hospital. Vitiello was not our baby.

“The courageous mother who went home with her baby realized something was wrong, and DNA tests were done. It turns out we had each other’s babies. The hospital arranged for the mistake to be rectified. Our birth son, Riccardo, was returned to me, and her son, Vitiello, was returned to her. But not without a lot of agony because the bonding between parent and child took place before the mistake was caught.

“I now feel as if I’m the father of twins. I love both babies with every fiber of my being. I never knew how wonderful it was to be a father. It has crystallized my vision of the future in a new way. In order to be the kind of father my sons deserve, I’m stepping down as CEO, effective by the end of the day.”

The gasps he’d expected were louder than even he had imagined. Both his father and Tatania’s father looked like they’d had a coronary.

“What I would like to do is be the head of our marketing department, but that will be up to the new CEO.” He eyed his second cousin, who’d been considered as the pick before Giovanni had been installed. “Never question that my loyalty will always be to Laurito. But it’s a privilege to be a father and I want to be there to enjoy as much of it as possible.

“That’s all I have to say. Thank you for coming to this meeting.”

He left the room and headed for his office to talk to his assistant. “You can tell the press I’ve stepped down as CEO to devote more time to my family. Between you and me I hope to be given a lesser position in the corporation that suits my needs.” His assistant looked so crestfallen he added, “Don’t worry. If I’m given another job around here, I’ll want you with me.”

Before there was a stampede to his office, he texted his father.

Meet u at Alforno’s, Papà. Come alone. We need to have a long talk.

* * *

Valentina set up the swing in the kitchen for Vito while she cooked dinner. Having moved out of Giovanni’s villa, she felt like part of her had died. He’d done nothing to prevent her from leaving. In fact he’d stayed away while she’d gotten up this morning to feed the babies. She’d thought he might come downstairs and try to persuade her not to go, but of course he didn’t do that.

The only remedy to her heartache was to keep busy. She told Bianca to take the night off. Valentina would fix Rini’s dinner herself. He liked her veal-filled cannelloni with white sauce, a recipe their mother often cooked.

She turned on the radio while she stuffed the pasta. Her favorite news station was RAI1, and she half listened to the Tuesday evening news. In the midst of cooking, she bent over to kiss her baby’s precious face. She put the pacifier back in his mouth. “Next week I’ll be taking you to the doctor for your next checkup. You’re such a good eater he’ll probably tell me you’re getting too chubby.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks to realize she wouldn’t be living with Ric or Giovanni anymore. She knew he’d been upset over Violeta’s visit, but he’d made it clear that he honored Valentina’s decision to move out.

What did you want him to do? Take you upstairs and make love to you?

She didn’t dare answer that question and put the dinner in the oven. The news was still on as she set the table for Rini.

“Today the country is stunned by the announcement that Giovanni Laurito, the dynamic CEO and entrepreneur of the Laurito Corporation, has stepped down from his position to devote more time to his family.”

What?

With her heart thudding she rushed over to the radio to turn up the volume.

“The corporation’s spokesman has shed no other light on the resignation, but already the announcement has negatively affected the stock market. Members of the board have declined comment at this time. But there’s speculation that due to his divorce from Tatania Corleto, the daughter of Salvatore Corleto, one of the pillars of the company, certain internal domestic problems forced him to make this unexpected decision.”

“No—”

“His two years as head of the corporation have shown unprecedented growth in a market that has catapulted Laurito to the top of medical machines technology throughout Europe. His reputation for—”

Valentina turned it off, not wanting to hear any more. Tears streamed down her face. “Oh, Giovanni— Look what I started—I can’t bear it.”

“Valentina?” She jerked around to see her brother walk in the kitchen. “What’s wrong?”

“Have you heard tonight’s news?”

Lines darkened his face. “It was on the noon segment. Everyone at Montanari’s was surprised.”

“It’s my fault, Rini.”

“Of course it isn’t.” He hugged her. “Whatever he did has nothing to do with you.”

“Yes, it does.” She pulled away from him. “None of this would have happened if I hadn’t called the hospital about getting a DNA test.”

“You can’t blame yourself for wanting to know if Ric was your son!” He drew Vito out of the swing and hugged him. “Because of what you did, you have your birth son home with you.”

“When I tell you what happened yesterday, you’ll understand why I feel so fragmented by the news.” Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Valentina recounted the conversation with Violeta.

After she’d finished, he said, “So because of what she said, you think Giovanni Laurito fell on his sword because of you?” He sounded incredulous.

“Yes! I stayed with him for a few weeks and because of that, he had to step down.”

Rini shook his head. “I know enough about his character to promise you he doesn’t do anything unless he wants to. He asked you to live with him for the babies’ sakes. It was a joint decision, Valentina.”

“I should have known better.”

“Where is all this guilt coming from?”

“You know,” she mumbled and walked over to the oven.

“The circumstances with Matteo were entirely different.”

“When I called the university to see about classes, I found out by accident that Matteo is no longer teaching there. Because of mistakes I’ve made, he has gone elsewhere and now it has cost Giovanni his position at Laurito’s. I’m the loose, unmarried woman who—”

“Valentina—” He cut her off. “I don’t ever want to hear you talk like that again.”

His anger surprised her. “What are you saying?”

“I thought you made the wrong decision to go with Giovanni, but have since changed my mind. I’ve seen a remarkable change in you. I’m proud of you for doing what you thought was right. Anyone can see both you and Vito are thriving. Being with Giovanni has done that for you.”

“You honestly believe that?”

He nodded. “I wasn’t in your skin or Giovanni’s. You both followed your intuition. Good for you.”

She took the cannelloni out of the oven, hardly able to believe her ears. “If you’ll sit down, I’ll serve you.”

He reached for Vito and sat on a chair at the table. “This little guy is worth everything you’ve gone through.”

Valentina nodded. “I adore him.” She put Rini’s food and coffee on the table, then plucked the baby from his arms and sat down across from him.

“This tastes delicious. You’re not eating?”

“I couldn’t.” She looked at him. “Rini? I’m so upset I can’t think about going to school right now. A job is all I can handle. I don’t want to work at a restaurant or a department store. There’s an opening at one of the university bookstores. The hours are good and it’s close to the apartment and the day-care center. I’m going to arrange for an interview tomorrow.”

“At least that’s an environment you’re familiar with, but since you’ve decided not to go to school, there’s no hurry for you to see about a job.”

“Yes, there is. It’s time you led your own life.”

He shook his head. “I do.”

“But there’s more to life, brother dear. You need your privacy to make that happen. Excuse me while I bathe Vito and put him down with his bottle. Thank you for being my rock.”

“I wish there were more I could do.”

“If I can fly to Naples with you on Friday, I’ll move in the apartment and leave Vito at the day care while I see about that job at the bookstore. I really do need to be on my own. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Little sister? I’ve never been more proud of you than I am at this moment.”

She stared at him, knowing in her heart he meant it.

In another hour she’d put Vito to bed and went to her room, but she was so racked with pain over Giovanni, she couldn’t stand it any longer and phoned him. It rang a long time before going to voice mail.

“Giovanni? I—I heard the news on the radio this evening,” she stammered. “Please call me when you get an opportunity. Please.”

She clicked off and clutched the phone in her hand. Where was he? What was he doing? Valentina could only imagine the storm he’d created at the corporation after an announcement like that. He was so young to step down from a career of such magnitude. What would he do if he left the company outright?

Absolutely sick about it, she phoned Stanzie. They’d shared phone numbers when she’d been living at the villa in case of an emergency, but Valentina had never had a reason to call her.

Not until now...

“Pronto?”

“Stanzie? It’s Valentina.”

“Ah—I’m so glad it’s you. His family has called and called. His mamma is worried sick about him.”

Valentina heard the anxiety in her voice. “I tried to reach Giovanni. Where is he?”

“He came home for the baby earlier and took him out on the cruiser. They aren’t back yet. By the things he took, I think maybe he’ll be gone for a long time. But he shouldn’t be alone, not after giving up his job.” Stanzie sounded shaken. “You need to come. You are the only person who makes him happy.”

“That’s not true.”

“I know what I see. When you came in to this house, everything changed. Why did you leave?”

She could hardly swallow. “So I wouldn’t be the one to cause trouble for him at his work.”

“If his work were that important, he wouldn’t have given up the position. Nothing is as important to him as the babies. You come tomorrow and Paolo will help you find him. All the time you were here, I heard you two talk like he has never talked before. Talking and laughing. He was a different person with you. Please come, Valentina. He needs you.”

Stanzie clicked off before Valentina could say anything else.

He needs you.

She sank down on the side of the bed with her head in her hands. Heaven help me. I need him.

Quickly, before Rini went to bed, she hurried to his den, where he usually worked after dinner. She knocked on the door and he told her to come in.

He looked at her tearstained face. “What’s wrong?”

“I just got off the phone with Stanzie. She says Giovanni has gone out on his cruiser with Ric and doesn’t know when he’ll be back. His family is terribly concerned about him. She wants me to come because she’s worried, too.”

Rini gazed at her through veiled eyes. “You’re in love with him.”