Page 100 of Dare To Free Us
I watched in fascination as Maria’s little bottom lip poked out and her eyes turned sad, to which Matteo’s hand twitched, as if he would hand it back. She had him so wrapped around her finger.
“I’ll make some eggs and toast,” I assured her. Eggs and toast with jam were her favorite. Maria’s dark hair swung like a flowing curtain as she turned her attention on me when I approached the stove across the counter from them.
“Can we do a breakfast picnic on the beach?”
My smile widened. Breakfast picnics were my favorite. Since we lived on the beach, it was only a few steps out our back door to the sand.
We’d built our home next to Becka and Luca’s. I believe the guys had been more enthralled by the idea of living no more than a few hundred feet apart then Becka and I were. It was adorable how they leapt into action on house plans and where to build.
In the end we stepped into a beautiful Spanish style home with lots of open space and simple elegance. My favorite part was the living room facing the water of the cove, where the two walls of glass could retract and open half the house to the fresh sea air and elements.
Maria loved the water, and the sand. I hated the mess it made of our washing machine, but the smile she carried on her cute little face when she was enjoying the beach was worth it.
“I love that idea,” I smiled at her. “Go get some clothes on while Mommy gets it ready.”
“Ok!” Maria cried happily, leaping off the stool and skipping towards the back bedrooms. Matteo chuckled as she went, watching her hair bounce and sway behind her.
I’d already put on a loose sun dress so all I had to do was gather up the food and blanket. Turning my back I reached for the basket and began to search for things to stuff it with.
As I set a tupperware container with homemade muffins in the basket strong hands curled around my belly. Matteo pressed into the back of me and I smiled at the way he gently kissed the back of my neck. My hair was up in a messy bun and knew he could never resist kissing that part of me when my long hair wasn’t covering it.
“This morning was amazing. You’re amazing,” he whispered into my ear. My heart fluttered as my hands settled over his that were resting on my belly. “I’m so happy, Arianna.”
Tears threatened to form in my eyes. Matteo never stopped telling me how happy he was. I’d worried he wouldn’t be able to settle into a calm life, but from the start he’d embraced it, especially when our daughter arrived. Not to say he didn’t get bored, but the constant scheming he and Luca did for future plans kept him busy.
“I’m so happy, too.”
“I can’t wait to meet our son.”
“Me too.”I turned my head so I could kiss his lips. “Go get dressed, and make sure Maria isn’t putting on one of her good dresses.”
“Ok.” Matteo pulled away after planting one last kiss on me, then slapped my ass for good measure. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” I said before he turned to go check on Maria.
I took a moment to let my heart melt in my chest. Those words would never get old. I would never get tired of saying them or hearing them. Until the day I died I would make sure that man knew I loved him and our daughter with every fiber of my being.
I love you, Matteo Russo.
MATTEO
The air was a bit cool as it brushed off the water onto the beach where Maria and Arianna played in the surf. Maria had fought me when I made her put on a light sweater but I was glad I didn’t give into her little plea. Even with the sun bringing warmth, a bit of last night’s chill hung in the air.
Maria was the spitting image of Arianna. She had all the same facial features and expressions that sometimes stunned me. But her eyes were mine, a deeper brown with a lighter center. Her hair was just as dark as Arianna’s, looking almost black in most low lighting.
She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Watching her play with Mommy in the sand was one of my favorite things to do. I would get mesmerized in their smiles and laughter as they splashed in the water and dug in the sand.
But every so often my eyes would stray to our surroundings, that old habit of not trusting our safety surfacing without warning. I scanned the cliffs, the beach and behind us.
I faced back forward and wondered if that feeling would ever go away, and if I should even allow it. Over four years of being gone without a hiccup, but that didn’t mean it was smart to let my guard down. There would always be a chance of our old life reaching out to taint us.
Footsteps in the sand sounded behind me. I turned to see Luca approaching with Becka and their two small boys. Levi was a few months older than Maria, and Matthew, who perched on Becka’s hip was almost one. Both of them looking like little clones of their dad with green eyes like their mom.
Luca plopped down beside me on the blanket, eyeing the remains of our muffins, juice and fresh fruit. Becka waved a quick hello, then continued down to the water with the boys to join Arianna and Maria.
“Good morning,” Luca greeted, assuming the same position as me, with his legs bent, elbows resting on his knees.
I thought about how it started. “A good morning indeed.”