Page 12 of Bread in The Oven
“I’m so sorry, Romano. I can’t even imagine what that’s like to lose your whole family.”
“I learned afterwards that Amara was three months pregnant.”
Simone gasps and grips my hand tighter.
“When it happened I said ‘no more.’ I would live my life with my club and that was enough for me. But then I saw you crossing the street yesterday. And you flipped my world around. Suddenly I saw a different future. One that incudes you, if you want to be in it.”
Simone scoots closer to me on the bench.
“I would never force you to be with me. But I do hope you feel for me what I feel for you. I know it’s only been a day, and I can hear myself and I know I sound crazy.”
She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tight.
“I don’t know how to be in a relationship, but if you don’t mind being patient with me…I want to learn with you.”
She can’t see the smile that’s on my face, but I look over and see Luciana smiling at us.
“Yes, we will learn together,” I say as I squeeze her tight and she giggles.
Caitríona comes over and sits across from us.
“Simone, we were all wondering if you’d like to come and live on the property with us. I know you’re worried about your parents coming for you. If you and Lucy live here, we can protect you better.”
Simones eyes fill with tears as she listens to Caitríona.
“I don’t know what to say. When we left, we didn’t know where we were going or how we were going to live. And by chance we stopped here in Lake Renegade. At first we were onlygoing to stay for a few days, but I told myself that if I could find a job, then we would stay longer.”
“And then you came into our bakery and the rest is history.” Caitríona smiles. “So is that a ‘yes’? We have a cottage that would be perfect for you and Lucy. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and kitchen.”
“How much will it be monthly?” Simone asks Caitríona.
“You won’t pay any rent. The money you make at the bakery? You save it and use it for whatever you or Lucy need.”
“What about electricity and water?”
“Baby, that’s all taken care of. You and Lucy will move in and not have any worries. We’ll even get a tutor to help Lucy get her diploma. Then she can decide if she wants to go to college. In fact, if you want, you can go to college for baking.”
I watch Simone as she listens to Caitríona. I don’t think she’s ever had any choices in her life. That thought makes me so fucking angry. Who does this to their children? Keep them locked up with no life but to serve their parents. One day I will be paying her parents a visit.
“Can I talk to Lucy before I give you an answer? I don’t want to make any decisions for her. That’s what our parents did and I promised myself that if we ever got out, I would be different.”
“Of course. Take your time. The offer has no time limit, we just want you to know that you’re safe. Even if you both want to stay at the Hideaway for a bit, we’ll still be there to protect you.” Caitríona smiles.
Chapter Seven
Simone
I plan on talking to Lucy tonight after we get back to our room. I’m still in shock that Caitríona would offer something like this to us. They don’t even know us, yet they’re willing to help us. I dreamed of finding a place like this, but it was just a dream. And Romano. Every time he touches me or holds me, my body molds to him. He’s something I never even let myself dream of. He’s so handsome, sea-green eyes, dark wavy hair, tall, muscles everywhere. And the best part? He makes me feel wanted. It’s a new feeling and one that I hope never goes away.
I’ve read about sex in romance books that I borrowed on my tablet. The one thing I was allowed to have was that, and I was allowed to borrow books. My parents saw the books I borrowed, but for some reason they never said anything about them. Books have always been my escape. I read all kinds of books, but the romance ones were my favorite. Big tattooed men who love their women with everything in them. I would have dreams of finding my one. They said in my books that you just know when you meet them. Well Romano makes me feel that way. Like he wasmeant to be mine. I just wish I knew how to help him get through his sadness about his family. I know he said he wants to be with me, but I can still see the sadness in his eyes.
“I’ll drive you and Lucy back to the Hideaway when you’re ready,” Romano says as he takes my hand and kisses it.
“Thank you, that would be really nice.”
I wonder what it would be like to kiss him? It would be my first kiss ever. And the more I think about it, the more I want it.
“What are you thinking about?” Romano quietly asks me.