Christopher turned his head and watched the animated conversation between the two brothers for a few more minutes, before being distracted by a commotion in the hallway.  He turned toward the doorway and watched Carlo step into the room, alone.  Until that moment, he had forgotten how much he despised the man.  Moreover, the look Carlo gave him indicated the feelings were reciprocal.  Never, during his entire career, had he allowed his true feelings to play a part in his work.  But since meeting Vi, emotion seemed to dictate his every act.

"Carlo, where is your friend?" Juan asked.

"She went upstairs to settle her son; the trip exhausted him.  She'll be down momentarily," Carlo responded to his uncle but continued to stare at Christopher.

"So, tell us about her?  Where did you meet her?" Cesar asked.

"Dad, please, let me catch my breath," Carlo said over his shoulder as he approached Vicenta and Christopher.  "Vicenta, you're as lovely as ever.”  He bent and kissed her cheek.  “Uncle, you are a very lucky man."  Carlo turned away from the two seated on the sofa when Juan came over and greeted him.

Christopher sensed an excitement about Carlo that he never noticed before.  He stood and turned to assist Vicenta from the sofa.  He walked to the bar and positioned himself so he could keep an eye on all the occupants of the room.

There were voices in the hall and a servant appeared in the doorway and paused, turning to speak to someone out of sight.  Everyone in the room stood, turning toward the doorway.

Carlo strolled to the entryway and spoke to someone just beyond.  "Come, querida.  I want you to meet my family."  He extended his hand.  A small hand appeared in his a moment before the woman walked into the room.

Juan smiled.  Cesar squinted, bewilderment marring his features.  Christopher went rigid, but only for a moment because the woman next to him drew his attention when she gasped then fainted.  He caught her before she hit the floor, but he never took his eyes off the woman in the doorway.

Vi smiled as she scanned the occupants of the room, puzzled by the myriad emotions that flitted across each face.  From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a woman collapsing.  She turned in that direction and froze, tightening her grip on Carlo's hand.

"Querida, is something wrong?" Carlo regarded her critically.

Vi’s mind went numbed.  Yet she had the forethought to immediately relax her grip on Carlo’s hand.  She even managed to maintain her smile, but her thoughts spiraled out of control in a whirlwind of activity.

Christopher!  Christopher here—damn!

Christopher’s being present meant one thing…he was on assignment.  She had walked blindly into the very situation she’d been trying to avoid for over a year.

Holy shit!  Ricky... Her son…

Her racing thoughts skidded to a stop; her befuddled mind cleared.  She glanced at Carlo, maintaining her smile as he bent and brushed his lips along her jaw.

He knew.  Carlo had done this deliberately.  Of course...the first time he saw Ricardo.  But he’d never seen her and Christopher... Daniel!  When Christopher’s father died, she and Christopher were together.

Vi was scared.  She had no experience with subterfuge.

© Emily Wade-Reid