Falling in Love Page 8

  “Don’t worry about that. First, I’m half-deaf, and second, I love children. Stefan is my only grandson and I don’t expect him to produce great-grandchildren anytime soon.”

  Anna laid her hand over her heart. “I don’t know whether I can accept your generosity.”

  “Nonsense, my child. You know my place from my eightieth birthday party last year. There is plenty of space for more people than you, the kids, and me.”

  “I’d love to. You have no idea how relieved I am.” Anna wasn’t exaggerating. Moving in with Stefan’s grandmother would relieve her biggest worries. She wouldn’t have to sit alone in a flat with two babies, wondering how to get the mother-business right.

  Stefan shrugged. “Anna, you know my Nana, she’s stubborn when she has an idea. You must accept her offer. If my Nana doesn’t live alone, I’m sure my parents will agree with the arrangement.”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself, son.” Stefan’s grandmother frowned at him. “Last time I looked I was still the boss of my life. I don’t need anybody to agree with my decisions.” She laughed and pecked a kiss on Stefan’s cheek.

  The girls passed plates with food around and for a while, everyone was eating and talking. Anna couldn’t believe her luck. Finding a place to live was no longer a problem. She walked to the corner with the Christmas tree and stared into the lights, fighting to hold back her tears.

  Thea’s dad joined her. “I hope those are happy tears?”

  “Yes, they are. I still…”

  “It looks like you have an angel watching over you. I don’t know anybody more deserving.” He put his arm around her. “I know managing kids and studying worried you.”

  She blushed and met his gaze. “Yes, I was. But I will make it work.”

  Eugene smiled at her, pride shining out of his eyes. “That’s my girl. If you need a job, you come to me. I gave my son-in-law a job in my firm, I’ll have a space for you too.”

  Liz came in from the kitchen with a pot of freshly brewed coffee. “And I insist on being one of your babysitters. Someone needs to teach the little ones how to bake.”

  “You guys are fantastic.” Christine leaned over and hugged Eugene. “Isn’t that so, Anna?”

  A lump formed in Anna’s throat. How could people be so kind and supportive? She stared speechless at Eugene and shook her head. “That would be… I don’t know what to say… you mean it?” With the help offered by friends and their families, she could not only make ends meet but also finish her studies.

  “Don’t fear the future, my child. You are not alone.” Thea’s mother kissed her on her forehead. “Merry Christmas, darling.”

  She looked around. It could work. She would not have to rely on handouts. She could have her child, finish university, and start working as a lawyer. It would not be easy, but who’d asked for easy? She was used to working hard. For the first time in months, she could see a silver lining.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Christine raised her glass of eggnog. “That’s wonderful news. We have to drink to that.”

  “Hang on, wait a minute. I have something I want to give to you.” Stefan reached to his jacket behind him and dug out a small woven flax bag. “Open it.”

  “A surprise? You shouldn’t have. We said no Christmas presents.” She sat up, teasing him with a wide grin. “Don’t think for a moment you can bribe me with some baubles. I’m not that easy.”

  “Don’t have to tell me. You’re a hard nut to crack. Stop stalling. Open.”

  “Hard nut? Wow, you’re pulling all registers of the charm offensive.” Without breaking away from his smiling eyes she untied the knot, reached into the bag, and… stopped, afraid to acknowledge what she thought she felt. A ring. She cut him a sharp look. Her fingers played with the ring. Did he plan to propose? He couldn’t… he wouldn’t… they’d never talked about… Her heart pounded.

  Words failed her and for a moment she forgot to breathe. Blood hummed in her ears as she held up a beautiful golden ring with two intertwined bands, one plain winding around the second band studded with tiny rubies and diamonds. At least she thought it was rubies and diamonds.

  “This is my grandmother’s ring. It represents the coming together of two souls,” Stefan said and slid the ring on her finger. “Finding someone to love is hard but finding someone to love you back is even harder. I can’t believe how lucky I am that I found you. You are my first thought when I wake up in the morning, and the last when I close my eyes at night. You have captured my heart and my soul. I love you so much, will you marry me?” He trained his brown eyes on her, waiting for her response.

  Other girls may dream of this moment and can’t wait to storm into a bridal shop for a white, meringue shaped, puffed up dress with frills and flounces. She wasn’t one of them. Stefan wanted to marry her. For real? Why? She shook her head and choked.

  “No? You don’t?” He sounded bewildered.

  “Yes, I mean, no. I can’t believe you asked me. We’ve never talked about marriage. We haven’t even talked about what to do with our summer vacation this year, let alone our future lives.”

  He took her hand and waited until she looked at him. “I know we didn’t, but it’s Christmas. My mother invited you to join us this summer at our beach house. We could marry next year after you’re finished with university.”

  “Well, you’ve caught me by surprise, Mr. Barnard.”

  “I am pleased I still can surprise you, Ms. Kelleher. But you haven’t given me an answer yet.”

  “I’ve never seen myself as the marrying kind, Stefan. I think of myself as a one-day-at-a-time-girl.” This was so difficult. A part of her wanted to laugh and cry and dance with joy. He wanted her. He wanted to spend his life with her.

  “I know you do. Every time I talk about the future, you clammed up and changed the topic. Don’t you think it’s time to stop your parents’ memory messing with your life?” He pulled her close to his chest and nibbled on her earlobe. “I love you, Christine Kelleher, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  “The rest of your life with me? That scares the hell out of me.” She gulped as if she found breathing difficult. “But the thought of you walking out of my life is even more terrifying.”

  “I guess you better marry me then.” Stefan pulled her so close she had difficulty breathing.

  “Think so?”

  “Yip, it’s the only solution out of your dilemma.” He grabbed her hand and pressed his lips on the ring. “And out of mine, because I don’t think I can live without you.”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes, what?”

  “Yes, I will marry you. Of course, I will. I love you… but….”

  She looked at Stefan. Did he even understand how huge the chasm was she’d just jumped? It didn’t matter.

  His eyes widened, and a smile spread until it lit up his entire face. He let out a huge exhale of pent-up breath. “But what?”

  “What about the girls? Our flat will dissolve into nothing.”

  “It has to happen at some point.” He tipped his head and the left side of his lips tugged upward. “Unless you’re planning that you four girls plus happy hubbies form a commune, and we all wear bold orange patterned flares and flowers pinned behind our headbands. We would randomly sleep with each other, burst spontaneously into singing Give peace a chance, and be happy ever after.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Then come here. You drive me crazy.”

  Christine pledged she would do so for years to come.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Thea let her gaze swing around the room. Her friends had found their long-deserved happiness. It filled her eyes with tears of joy, and her heart danced to the sounds of love and hope.

  Together they had created a miracle this Christmas Eve where friendship and compassion triumphed over circumstances and loneliness that spanned four generations.

  She didn’t mind that her marriage wasn’t calling for outbreaks of delight. Her t
ime would come. She didn’t know when and how but she wouldn’t give up.

  She went into the kitchen and returned with two bottles of champagne her father had brought. They didn’t have enough champagne glasses, but paper cups would serve just as well. She held one bottle aloft, and the people stopped talking.

  “I’d like to propose a toast to our happiness and the wonderful future we have ahead of us. Merry Christmas. I love you all.”

  ~ The End ~

  Thank You

  Thank you so much for reading FALLING IN LOVE. I hope you enjoyed the story of Anna, Thea, Claudia, and Christine as much as I enjoyed writing it. This novella is the prequel to the Golden Girls series, describing how the four friends created the deep bond that lasts a lifetime.

  If you liked the story, you could support authors by leaving a fair review on one of the e-book retailers, and by telling your friends how much you enjoyed the book. The more reviews a book has, the more the retailers increase the visibility of it. Thanks in advance for posting your review.

  Don’t miss visiting the friends thirty years later as they embark on their big adventures aiming for a second chance of love.

  …Love has no age, no limit; and no death… (John Galsworthy)

  Nobody knows that better than Anna, Thea, Claudia, and Christine as their settled lives suddenly spin out of control. Rather than preparing for their retirement, these Fifty-Somethings are not afraid to take the challenges by the horns. They refuse to sit back and let dust settle even if that means they might lose their hearts… all over again.

  In each book of the series, one of the friends faces her challenges and shows she is far from being done yet. The men who cross their paths better look out!

  A TUSCAN AFFAIR ~ Book # 1 Anna’s story

  A CASE FOR LOVE ~ Book # 2 Thea’s story

  DARING TO LOVE ~ Book # 3 Claudia’s story

  TIDES OF LOVE ~ Book # 4 Christine’s story

  Preview of A Tuscan Affair

  Anna King froze as Mackenzie led the new clients into her office. Her breath—sucked in at the sight of the two men—turned into a lump of disbelief and stuck in her throat. Everything she’d worked and fought for; every night she’d fallen spent into bed; every hardship she’d gladly suffered to help create a future for her children was now at stake.

  Her mind racing like a herd of startled horses, she clutched her desk, desperate for support. Where had the cool composure gone that had earned her the title of Ice Queen in the hallowed halls of Auckland’s Law Society?

  Had he recognized her? It seemed he hadn’t. She needed time to think about her next steps—time she didn’t have. Determined to prove to herself she had enough experience and self-control to deal with this unexpected problem, she took a deep breath, pushed through the confusion and disbelief and pasted a professional smile on her face.

  How many years had she fantasized that he’d walk through her door or that she’d run into him on the street or in a shop? Too many to count. But never in her wildest dreams had she expected to see him now, not after more than thirty years! Curiosity replaced her initial shock.

  “Good morning. I’m Anna King. Please, take a seat.” Without betraying a hint of recognition, she kept her voice level and detached as she directed the two men to the table in front of the modern fireplace and took a seat opposite them.

  The older of the two said, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Francesco Falcone, and this is my son, Antonio. He’s come all the way from Tuscany to help with my divorce.” It was easy to relate to the pride in his voice. She too had children, and nothing warmed her heart more than the love and support of her twins.

  “Your colleague Mark Petersen handles my business affairs, and he said you would be the best lawyer to take on my divorce.” He smiled at Anna. “Your colleague holds you in high esteem.”

  “I’m pleased to hear that.” So, his name’s Antonio. Call me amore mio, he’d told her thirty-two years ago, on that blissful night when his soft whisperings had been enough for her. Back then, she’d been a student on her overseas experience and not knowing his name had added a touch of mystery that had only heightened the excitement.

  It was him, wasn’t it? Could she be mistaken? Anna King—the lawyer who never made mistakes?

  No longer the sun-tanned young man with the body of a Roman god in red swim shorts, he looked the picture of sophistication in his expensive, tailored suit. His short black hair showed a titillating dusting of gray at the temples.

  There was no doubt it was him. Back in nineteen eighty-four, he’d swept into her life like a force of nature, and, like the outgoing tide, he’d vanished two days later when she’d boarded the train to Rome. Now, here he stood, without a single sign of recognition! And that’s how it must stay. At least for now.

  It would be unprofessional of her to bring up the past. She couldn’t very well ask whether he remembered their night around the bonfire at the beach. First, she had to establish what her client needed. Perhaps a referral to one of her colleagues might be called for. She looked up from the folder in her hand.

  “I was about to have a coffee; may I offer you a cup as well?” She rose and walked over to her desk.

  Francesco nodded, and Antonio held up two fingers. “Two espressos, black, two sugars. Thank you.”

  She pressed the button on the intercom and relayed the order to her assistant, Mackenzie. Then it hit her.

  Lucca.

  If Lucca came to work this morning, it would be a disaster. Well, maybe not a disaster, but it would certainly take the control out of her hands. Determined not to let that happen, she spoke into the intercom again.

  “Mackenzie, please call my son and tell him he doesn’t need to come into the office this morning. I’ll meet him in court.”

  On the way back to her chair, she caught her reflection in the mirror next to the bookshelves. The carefree young girl with a hunger for life, who’d danced around a bonfire in a backpack and sandals, had disappeared years ago. She’d been forced to grow up quickly. But the years had been kind to her, despite many long days and even longer nights. Not that she regretted a single day.

  Straightening her shoulders, she rejoined the Falcones as Mackenzie entered the office with the coffees.

  As if sensing her tension, her assistant looked at Anna with concern. “Will that be all?”

  “Thanks, Mackenzie. I’ll call if we need anything else.”

  They sipped their coffees until Antonio broke the silence. “Pardon me for asking, but have we met? I have a strong sense we know each other, but I can’t…” He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her.

  Acting on impulse had never served her well, so she tipped her head to the right and studied him as if trying to find a memory to fit him into. “Not that I can recall.”

  He’d come too close for comfort. Their situation was not that of two acquaintances enjoying a reunion after many years. It was much more complex, and it required a well-thought-out strategy. She turned her attention to Francesco. “Would you mind telling me about the circumstances that led to the divorce proceedings? This will assist me in devising a plan of action.”

  Antonio Falcone gazed at her in disbelief. She’d bet a month’s salary he was used to women throwing themselves at his feet instead of dismissing him with five simple words.

  His father folded his hands on the table. “Angelica, my wife, is a New Zealander. She came to our vineyard as part of an organized tour and bought a few boxes of our best wine. I delivered them to her hotel, and the rest is history. We were happy, you know, even though she’s thirty-five years younger than me.” His voice softened, and he swallowed, recalling better times no doubt.

  Francesco’s struggle touched her. He told the story of their marriage like a well-rehearsed script he’d gone over many times, trying to work out where things had gone astray between him and his younger wife.

  As he fought to control his emotions, his son interrupted, “Angelica’s a gold digger. There’s no doubt. S
he told my father she wanted a divorce without any previous indication she was unhappy in their marriage.” He huffed before his voice turned bitter. “Why would she? She lived the life of a princess. I want an investigator to do a thorough background check. I bet there’s more to the story. Why file for divorce now?”

  His attitude showed all the signs of someone used to being in command and having people at his beck and call. He had it all figured out and expected her to jump. She suppressed the urge to grin. He’d find out soon enough that she marched to the beat of her own sweet drum and nobody else’s.

  “You’re most welcome to hire a private investigator. Please ask him to send a copy of his report to my office.” She hoped her smile didn’t look too much like a smirk.

  Francesco cleared his throat. “You must excuse my son. He runs our family vineyard, so he’s used to ordering people around and doesn’t know when to stop. What he meant to say is, we would be most grateful if you could contact one of your trusted investigators and ask them to investigate Angelica’s circumstances. Her demanding a divorce came out of the blue. Nobody can make any sense of it.”

  “I’d be happy to organize that for you. Please send me any correspondence you’ve had so far with your wife or her lawyer regarding the divorce.” She finished her coffee and collected the notes she’d made. “This is an excellent beginning and gives me a line of inquiry to pursue. Can you think of anything else we need to discuss at this point?” She checked her calendar. “If not, we can meet again this Friday at the same time. By then, I’ll have a strategy ready for you.”

  They had no more questions, so they took their leave.

  Anna sank into her chair after closing the door behind the men. She stared at her shaking hands before wrapping her arms around herself. Thirty-two years. Fate had a cruel way of interfering with her life.