Page 54 of Winter
Inca felt sick.
“A gift. From my mother, indirectly.” Tommaso interrupted as Inca was about to answer her. He stroked Inca’s cheek with the back of his hand. “Made for her, isn’t it?”
Nancy nodded, but her eyebrows knitted together slightly. “You okay?”
Inca looked at her blankly for a second, then nodded. “Sorry, yes. I—”
“She’s had a pretty rough few days.” Tommaso stopped her with a hand on the back of her neck. She looked at him sharply but he ignored her, telling them about the situation with Olly.
“He’s unstable,” Tommaso continued. “And I’m concerned for her.” Tyler shook his head, but it was Inca who spoke finally, weariness in her voice.
“I can speak for myself. Olly would never hurt me.”
Tommaso gave a sharp bark of laughter. “Because he’s displayed such appropriate behavior so far.” He leaned over and nuzzled at her neck, but she pulled away from him and stood, gathering up the empty plates, not looking at him. As she walked into the kitchen, she heard him speak in a low tone.
“It’s okay; she’s just stressed.”
Inca banged the plates down on the counter.Who’s acting like a child now?She sighed, rubbing her hands over her eyes. She felt someone come in behind her and turned. With relief, she saw Nancy, balancing serving plates and narrowing her eyes at her.
“What’s up with you?” Nancy put the plates down.
Inca sighed and hesitated for a long moment.
“Nothing. It’s complicated. It’s between me and Tommaso.”
Nancy searched her face. “You need some time alone.”
Inca nodded. “Maybe I do.”
They went back into the living room. Tyler and Tommaso were seated at the table, photo albums spread across the table. Inca could see they were pictures of her childhood, aged six in the children’s home, at the beach with Tyler and Nancy at nine, hanging by the knees from the branch of the tree in the back yard, laughing wildly at Olly swinging beside her. Inca’s heart thudded with sadness. Tommaso smiled up at her.
“You were such a beautiful child.” He got up and hugged her, whispering in her ear, “And our children will be just as beautiful.”
“You misheard.” Tommaso’s tone was light. He smiled at her before turning his eyes back to the road. Inca gritted her teeth.
“So now I’m deaf too? I know what you said, Tommaso.”
He was silent for a moment. “Is it such a terrible idea?” His voice was apologetic, and she heard something else in his words. Hurt.
She looked away and out of the window, not answering him. The cold front had brought heavier freezing rain and it pounded against the car now, the headlights barely cutting through the maelstrom. For a few minutes, Inca was disoriented, not recognizing which road they were on, then realized they were on the east coast road. For some reason, she had automatically expected they would go back through Main Street. This road was poorly lit, and she saw only sporadic flashes of light as they passed the few houses that were visible in the trees that lined the road. Soon she saw the lights from the high school, as the road curved around the top of the peninsula.
She drew in a long breath, trying to ease the ball of tension in her chest. She risked a look over to Tommaso. He sensed her glance and turn to smile at her. She could read no malice and no anger in his face. He patted her knee but immediately drew his hand away.
“Tommaso … we need to talk. About us, about … Raffaelo.”
Tommaso steered the car to the side of the road and stopped it. For a moment, he just stared out of the window then he turned to her. “I know.”
“I’m so sorry, Tommaso, I have no excuse. It just happened.”
“Yes.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “But perhaps it was inevitable.”
“Why do you say that?”
He touched her face. “Quid pro quo, mio caro. I once did the same to Raffaelo.”
That stung.No, she thought,it wasn’t revenge.That’s not why Raffaelo … but she felt sick. How could she have been so stupid? Tommaso was watching her.
“You are not to blame,bella. Neither is Raff. I got what I deserved.”
