Page 42 of Carter

We arrive at a little cafe with the most beautiful view of the Amalfi Coast. My father is already at the table with our drinks ready. Luca runs towards his Nonno. My father picks him up, blowing raspberries and making him giggle. We all take a seat, Luca sitting on my father’s lap. A waiter arrives with the menus, and we order our food five minutes later.

I breathe in the fresh air that the Amalfi Coast offers its residents. Our house for the past three years has been smaller than the one we have in New York. Our home is located in Furore, known as the “town that does not exist.” What I love is the access we have to the sea and the breathtaking view, reminding me of my son’s eyes every day.

My parents will be leaving for the States tomorrow, leaving Luca and me alone for the first time in two years. These next few months will be crazy hectic, but I am looking forward to being back.

Life has been great with my son.

Six Months Later

Within the last year, I felt my whole life has finally settled down. I had become a better person and was finally happy and moving on. I was happy with my mental state as it declined after my pregnancy with postpartum depression during the first couple of months. I was happy with myself and the fact that I had moved on in the sense that I held no resentment for Carter. I wished him all the happiness in the world.

Motherhood is a very confusing place to be, especially as a single mother. You’re constantly surrounded by a sense of loneliness and unknowing. Thinking if I could provide my child with enough love. Being both mother and father to him has been challenging, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. The emotional challenge I went through that first year was heartbreaking for me and those around me. The first year I felt overwhelmed, tired, and stressed. I had just given birth and was opening up a new law firm with a different team.

I had worked extremely hard on myself and started talking to a professional about my postpartum depression and the overall stress I had in my life. I learned that in order to take care of my baby, I needed to take care of myself. The hard work definitely paid off as I saw the brighter side of life and was finally happy with myself.

I had my parents' love and my sisters as well as my best friend, who is having her first child later this year, but most of all, I had Luca Grayson Russo.

The last year was spent focusing on myself and my son, who will be turning three soon. My parents left Italy six months ago to prepare everything for my arrival with Luca. I was ready to get back to New York with my family. Ashton took care of the business in Australia, my father handled the business in the States, and I took care of Italy, but it was time for me to come home.

My therapy sessions helped me realize the meaningful relationships I had established, and there was one relationship I was determined to keep—my relationship with my Goddaughter, Eva. Ashton helped me maintain communication with Eva through the gifts and letters I wrote to her for her birthday. I wanted to let her know that the promise I made on the day of her baptism was real and that I would keep my promise till my death.

Ashton never mentioned Carter and I never asked. All I could hope was that Carter and his mate were happy. I hoped he was happy because the thought of him waiting or heartbroken kills me. The voice message I finally got the courage to hear broke my heart. I wanted Carter to let me go so that he could be happy with his mate. I still loved him and will always love him. He gave me the greatest gift in my life. My son.

We arrived safely back in New York. It was a long nonstop flight, almost ten hours. Luca is awake and excited to see his grandparents and his aunts. My best friend is with me, as she has stayed with me for the past month. We disembark the private jet as we make our way inside the airport.

“Luca. Baby go with Jess, okay? I have to do something really quick.” I say, letting go of Luca’s hand and ensuring he goes with Jess as they disappear into the crowd. A few minutes later, I return, heading towards the exit, when I see Luca bump into a little girl. Luca falls, but I can hear him tell her sorry. She must be older than him since she seems taller. She reaches her hand out and helps my son get up. I don’t see her face, but her dress is adorable.

A few seconds later, Jess appears, picking Luca up. “Come on, buddy. Your mom is coming. It’s okay, Luca.” I can hear her tell him, and his face lights up. The little girl runs in the opposite direction. A few more strides, and I meet my son and best friend.

“Mommy, I fell,” Luca says, his eyes full of tears.

“I know, buddy. Let me make it better.” I say, grabbing him from Jess. I wipe away the few tears that escaped his eyes. I rub his back in soothing circles as he lays his head on my shoulder.

Chapter thirty-six

Carter

We arrive in New York ready to start working on the new project. Liam is here to see if we can expand the pack since we do have business here. It would be a great opportunity for other pack members. I watch Eva as she wanders, taking in her surroundings, when I spot a little boy who bumps into her as he falls.

I can’t see his face, but from what I can see, he has chubby rosy cheeks and blond hair. His voice sounds sweet as I hear him apologize, but he sounds sad like he’s about to cry. I see a woman approaching them. I hear her call out his name. My gaze is solely focused on Eva as she runs back to where we’re at.

“Uncle Carter,” she's out of breath from running. She gives me that look that tells me she wants to say something. Tugging on my arm so I could bend down so she could whisper something in my ear. I do just that.

“The little boy that bumped into me looks exactly like you, Uncle Carter. Like the picture you have when you were little,” Eva said. I immediately stand up, my eyes searching for that little boy, and that's when I see her.

I’m numb. I don’t know how to feel. My head is all fuzzy. I don't know if what I just witnessed is real or if my mind is playing tricks on me. It has been three fucking years, and now I see her standing in front of me with a child who is the spitting image of myself at that age.

Is he my son, I thought. She swallows hard and tells Jess, the woman she’s with, to take Luca outside that the car is waiting. I look at her and see she isn’t the Leandra I knew. I’m angry at her for keeping this away from me. I’m angry at myself, and right now, my wolf is going feral knowing she kept our pup away from us.

I watch my son walk away with Jess, and that’s when I get ready to confront her for not telling me I have a fucking son, but before I can say anything, I see little Eva running towards Leandra screaming her head off. Leandra bends to meet her, embracing each other, both of them crying. Liam and Isabella make their way toward us, and I see the shock in their eyes. Leandra stands with Eva in her arms.

Isabella immediately hugs her, crying, and I know why we thought we would never see Leandra again. The past three years have been hell for all of us. I hired a private investigator. We never learned where she was. It was like she fell off the face of the earth, except for when Eva received a birthday gift from her or when Isabella and Liam received their wedding gift. All gifts had no return address and no way to track her.

“Holy Shit! It’s really you.” Isabella says as she wipes her tears away, smiling at us all.

Leandra laughs at that comment. “The one and only in the flesh.” She says with a smile, but I know her better than anyone that’s not a genuine smile. She wants to get away and return to her son, our son. I can tell from the way she keeps looking toward the exit.

Leandra looks at me before making eye contact with the rest of the group. She clears her throat. “I should get going, it's been a long day and my son needs to get home.” She says, and my wolf is now feral and angry at her for using my son instead of ours. He’s our pup, not just hers. As she says goodbye and turns to leave, I grab her arm and whisper low enough so that only she and I can hear. “We’re not done here,” I say through gritted teeth.

---