“I appreciate your asking. We told her a little of what you went through but not all. I think in the last week she’s talked about it, and it’s still a little raw. Even though it’s been years since the original attack and captivity, because she’s been on the run for most of the time since then, she hasn’t really had a chance to heal. I would wait until she approaches you for now, unless you see her having a breakdown. You know the signs. For now, we’ll l et her take things as they come,” s aid Cloe.
“Thank you, Cloe, I’ll do as you suggest. We all want her to be happy. You go on ahead. I want to pick out a few more outfits for her to try on. And now that I’ve seen Isabella, I have a better idea of what would suit her.”
“All right, you can catch up to us,” and Cloe followed after Cami.
The next several hours were tremendous fun for all the women. Caterina started out buying for Isabella. Isabella protested because Abaven had given her his credit card, but Caterina had overridden her explaining that this shopping trip was a gift from Orfeo. Isabella quickly understood that Orfeo was trying to give his mate pleasure, and if buying gifts for others made her happy, who was she to argue.
At one point, Isabella was together with Caterina in the dressing room , each of them trying on another beautiful negligee designed by Willow. They both favored a dreamy , romantic style. Isabella wished to confide in Caterina, and she didn’t want to offend the nice ladies, so she spoke in Italian. “Caterina , I have a confession.” When Caterina looked up, she continued, “I was scared to leave my home and come here. If Abaven weren’t nearby, I would have asked to stay.”
“Why were you scared?” asked Caterina.
“It seems so silly now. The signoras, they are so nice. I was scared because they are werewolves, and because there were other animals. Would they turn wild and attack everything in sight when they shifted? Oh, now that I remember, I blush. I am so embarrassed.”
“To tell you the truth, I was also a little scared to be meeting them, and I’ve been friends with a werewolf for almost ten years. Cami and Cloe have been really nice to me. They make me feel safe. When I came here, running from Diavolo, I thought I had walked into the lion’s den, literally . But now, I think it was meant for me to come here.”
“We are having too much fun to think of that one; he is going to hell! I am being silly, and I just wanted to tell you, in case it seemed strange I was a bit stand offish before. Now tell me, is this the right color for me? Or should I choose the blue one ?” asked Isabella.
“It looks fabulous!” said Caterina, perfectly willing to change the subject. She’d given her a lot to consider. “I think you should get the blue one too. It looks great with your streaky brown hair. I’m jealous of your hair.”
They continued to try on new things, and after they’d amassed several piles of new items, Bama joked that she was going to have to re-stock. Both Caterina and Isabella instantly frowned , “Did we get too much?”
Bama instantly felt bad for ruining their good moods. “Chicas, there is no such thing as too much. Please don’t be sad from my teasing, I couldn’t bear it if I ruined your day. My only regret is that I haven’t been able to expand quickly enough to have a shoe section. This is my personal weakness; you understand. So I’m trying to find a partner to supply the shoes. When they built my home, I insisted on a special closet, so I’d have room for all of my shoes. I envy you Isabella; Italy is the place for shoes.”
At that point Cami walked up. “Caterina , Isabella, don’t worry about waiting while they ring this up. Bama knows all about our shopping sprees, and she’s prepared for them. Just hand her the credit card, and she’ll take the information she needs and keep it in a secure file. Everything will be delivered with a receipt. That way, we can go on to the next store and no waiting. So, where would you like to go next?”
Caterina handed over Orfeo’s credit card while she thought about it. Then Bama spoke up again. “There’s a new store that just opened up, a block down and the n turn right and go half a block more. The store is called The Finishing Touch. The y have marvelous costume jewelry and accessories. They have everything from funky to elegant. Cloe is a great judge of accessories. She always knows what to get that will be perfect with any outfit.”
“Sold!” said Cami. “I need a new watch and some big hoop earrings.”
Then Caterina added, “Do you have a novelty store in town? I have an idea for thank you gifts for Tripp and Orfeo. They told me to buy something silly. And I’d like to go to a pharmacy or store that sells lotions and things.”
So, on they went out the door. It was kind of silly when the Enforcers insisted on driving them the two blocks to the new accessories store, but she didn’t argue about safety. Caterina was really pleased when she got to the novelty store. They went there last and had exactly the thing that she had in mind. They were on sale too because they’d been leftover from the holiday.
She had enough cash in her purse to pay for them. It didn’t seem right using Orfeo’s card to buy him a gift. Isabella laughed and laughed when she told her they were car accessories. She couldn’t wait to see it on Orfeo’s Mase rati.
Ruby and Trinity joined them for lunch. They said that Shea was finished with her book and had sent it off to the publisher, b ut she had wanted to give herself a nap and wasn’t really hungry. Cloe made a mental note to check on her later. They finished their extended lunch and gossip session in time to get back to play with the children. They were just getting up from their naps.
Isabella was very tired so she hugged each one and gave them all a kiss on each cheek before heading off to sleep. She had time for a four or five-hour nap before the sun set.
After Isabella left, about ten minutes later she returned and walked over to where Cami was sitting. She leaned down an d spoke to her for a few minutes. Cami nodded and said she’d take care of it. Seeing that all the other women were occupied, she took the opportunity to walk Isabella back to the basement door, and on the way back took a small detour to the kitchen to bring back snacks for everyone —dinner would be delayed this evening .
***
At sunset, Orfeo came upstairs with his people to join the people in the large Pack living room . Fifteen minutes after the sun set, a large bus with no windows pulled up to the guard shack. The Ambrosetti’s had arrived.
Cami ducked out of the living room and met her mates in the entranceway. Together they approached the front doors.
Orfeo was speaking with Devon about Vampire training techniques and how they differed from those the Pack used. Caterina was being careful to remain on the opposite side of the room from Orfeo; she wasn’t ready to speak to him. Though she did choose to wear one of the new outfits, she’d purchased that afternoon. She and Isabella were sitting and playing with Cami’s three older children. The twins were being watched over carefully as they toddled around the room. They figured out what hugs and kisses were, watching mom and their dads no doubt , thought Caterina . They would toddle over to someone; lift their arms and say, “UP!” After being picked up, they would say, “Hug, kiss , kiss , “ e xchange hugs and kisses and then says, “DOWN!” and move on to the next person. She thought they’d been around the room once and hadn’t tire of the game.
Out at the front doors, Sofia and Attilio were descending from the bus to greet their hosts. “Buona sera , Signore,” s aid Attilio as he reached out his hand. “Grazie for allowing us to come on such little notice.”
“Attilio, they are parents; they understand the worries, ” Sofia turned to Cami. “You have bambini , yes?”
“Yes, I have five babies, triplets and then twins,” said Cami.
“So many all at once! God smiles on you. And these handsome men are your mates?” At Cami’s nod, she went on , “We will have to talk; you must give me your secrets. I have one and sometimes he’s too many. Come; come; now we bring you homemade sauce and wonderful bread and pasta. Everything grown on our lands, you show us your kitchen and then before we cook,
you take me to meet your bambini.” Sofia then went over to Quin and Jaden, gave them each kisses on both cheeks, and admonished them to take care with their wife!
She then followed Cami into the Pack house, a trail of men and women following behind carrying bags and boxes. “Now, you tell me woman to woman, this young girl, Caterina , she is well? She makes my Orfeo happy and sad at the same time. Young people! They must live their lives; it’s hard for a mother not to interfere. Oh well, everything is better with a good meal in the belly. We will have a nice meal, and Caterina will see we are happy family, good people, yes?”
Cami was amazed. It hardly seemed the woman had taken a breath! She’d just come in like a steam roller. She’d given Quin and Jaden a look and a little shake of the head because she could see the worry in Sofia’s eyes. Yes , she was a mother too .
Attilio, still standing on the stoop with Quin and Jaden, turned to them when the whirlwind that was his wife had swept by. He looked over at the Alphas and shrugged, “Sofia, she worries. As men, we must indulge them. Orfeo is the only child we were blessed with. You understand?”
Quin and Jaden, still a little dazed, just nodded. Attilio then gestured to the three men standing behind him. “Food was not the only thing we brought , that is Sofia’s domain . I also bring something; a small gift , from our private reserve, six cases of our regional wine. It’s just reached its peak in the cellars , so we will open a case for tonight and the rest you keep for another time.”
Coming from the wine regions of France, both Quin and Jaden knew something about wine. Attilio ‘s ‘small’ gift was worth around five thousand dollars a case.
“Come; let us decant a few bottles, so they will be ready for the meal .” So the three men went inside to show Attilio ‘s sommelier to the butler’s pantry off the kitchen.
Five minutes later, they met with Cami and Sofia outside the door to the living room . As they opened the double doors, the first thing, they saw was their two youngest being set back down on the floor. Quin almost groaned when he saw the smiles on their faces; l ooks like they had just spotted fresh victims.
Samuel and Destiny, toddling over as fast as they could , ma d e a beeline, not for their parents, but to the two new faces. Everyone in the room had turned to see who had come in and saw them stop in front of Sofia and Attilio and shout , “UP!”
Sofia and Attilio both had big smiles as they reached down to the babies. Sofia exclaimed , “Una bella bambina.” She was turning to ask Cami which child it was when Samuel put his hands on either side of her face and said , “Hug, kiss , kiss.” Sofia and Attilio both gave the babies hugs and kisses. Th en Sofia reached into her large, beautiful, leather bag, while holding the baby and handed him a biscotti. Then she handed another to his sister . Both were distracted enough not to ask to be put down. So Sofia walked into the room holding a baby when Orfeo came over to greet his parents. The babies loved it when there were more hugs and kisses, joining in when Orfeo kissed his parents.
Caterina could see it all from where she was sitting, and for a moment, she wished she wasn’t so scared to accept what was being offered.
The only one that hadn’t noticed the newcomers to the room was Abaven. It seemed he was a big hit with the children. They’d never seen anyone that big who wasn’t shifted. He quickly became their favorite jungle gym. He was crawling slowly around the floor in front of the couch where Isabella and Caterina sat. He had four little ones on his back, and he was worried they might fall off. Hope sat on his shoulders and kept saying , “Giddy-up horsey!” Isabella gave up trying not to laugh . She couldn’t wait until they had babies of their own.
Tripp was standing behind the sofa that Caterina was sitting on. He didn’t want to be co-opted into a ‘horsey’ like Abaven. Sofia slowly approached that part of the room, Cami walking beside her. She still held Samuel in her arms as he was too busy gnawing on the biscotti to ask to be let down. Cami would stop and introduce her to various people as they made their way steadily to where Tripp and Caterina were.
Caterina could see them approaching and knew it would be rude to duck away. So she stayed where she was. She felt safer than she had, was it only yesterday? when Orfeo and his entourage arrived.
Destiny, seeing her older sister on Abaven’s back, turned to Attilio and said, “DOWN!” and of course, Samuel had to copy her. They went over to their sister, damp, chewed on biscotti in hand, and they tried to climb up onto Abaven. Hope turned, and seeing them, pulled on Abaven’s hair and said, “Whoa horsey!” at which point all the surrounding adults laughed.
Abaven looked up at the Signore and Signora and stuttered out a greeting. “Practicing for the future are you?” said Attilio . “It’s very difficult to be a proper horse; Orfeo always accused me of not galloping fast enough.” He turned to his son. “My bones are too old; you show Abaven how it’s done.” And he handed the children on Abaven’s back some biscotti from his wife’s purse. He spoke to Quin as he handed out the treats , “Sofia makes the best biscotti, good for the coffee, and it helps when the bambini are getting their teeth.” He pointed to Samuel and Destiny, who were well on their way to making biscotti mush with their drooling and gnawing.
“Yes, Orfeo you must let Abaven have a rest. But before you become a horse for the bella bambini, first you introduce me to your mates, ” said Sofia. While they had been talking, the other children in the room were coming over. They wanted treats too. So while Orfeo introduced Tripp and Caterina , who had risen from the sofa, Attilio handed out biscotti.
“Mama, this is Caterina Bonadado . She is from Montespertoli,” s aid Orfeo .
“Toscani?” She tugged Caterina to her bosom for a hug. She was please d that Orfeo’s mate was from their same region in Italy. Montespertoli was just outside Florence in Tuscany, and their Castle was just a little further south in Certaldo. “Molto bella figlia,” she said and Orfeo translated in an aside to Tripp. “Mamma said Caterina was a very beautiful daughter.” Sofia kept hugging Caterina and telling how pretty she was, though she needed to eat more. His father, of course, having to add his opinion, told her that if either of the males ever disrespected her to just come to papa, and he would show them the error of their ways.
Then, before his parents collectively made him feel sixteen again, Orfeo interrupted, “You have to excuse my mamma, when she is emotional , she loses her English. Mamma! I would also like to introduce Tripp , my other mate .”
Sofia instantly turned her attentions to the large, handsome man. “A nice , big boy, and handsome! He looks virile, like my Attilio ,” s he said to Orfeo, embarrassing Tripp with her praise and her effusive affection.
Tripp noticed the tears in her eyes. “Mrs. Ambrosetti, are you all right?”
“My son, the pain you must have gone through! A magical wound, yes ? I know the pain is almost constant until it finally heals. Does it hurt very badly ?” She kissed his cheek. “I will make you a soothing compress; it has magical properties, it will help.” She would have continued with plans for home remedies, as she couldn’t stand to see anyone in pain, when she felt a tugging on her dress. She looked down to see a little girl of two or three .
“Pick up, please,” s he said.
Sofia picked her up and would have continued speaking if the little girl hadn’t put both her hands on her cheeks and looked into her eyes. “Don’t be sad, kisses make it better, ” then she turned to Tripp, holding out her arms and nearly falling out of Sofia’s.
Tripp, catching her up , held her close. Cami could see that it was Jo’s girl, Cassandra, and stepped over. Cassandra put up her hands and held onto Tripp ‘s ears, pulling his head close until their foreheads were touching. She rubbed her nose against his and then leaned to the side and kissed his scar. She moved her hand over the scar and said , “Kiss it, all better now!”
When she sat back on his arm with a big smile on her face, those gathered around could see that the scar had been healed.
Now laughing with happiness, Sofia hugg
ed and kissed Cassandra , put her down, and the n hugged and kissed Tripp. While Sofia was asking Tripp how he had come by such an injury and how he should take better care of himself, Cassandra walked over to where Caterina was sitting on the sofa again.
“I feel so selfish, worried about myself when he was in pain all the time,” s he whispered to herself as she lifted Cassandra into her lap to give her a hug. “Thank you , Cassandra, you were right; kisses made it all better.” And she gave her another squeeze.