“I had no idea,” Rome said. “Born on the Yale campus, was she? Now I know why she’s such a brain. It must be something in the air.”
Vittorio laughed. “Or in the genes. Her mother’s a neuroscientist, after all.”
“Yeah,” Rome conceded with a sigh. “That, too.”
By this time Rome had had enough of talking about Maria. Time to change the subject to more important things, things that included the soon-to-come arrival of a brand new baby.
“Papa, I have a surprise for you,” he said. “Are you sitting down?”
There was a pause then Vittorio gave a grunt. "I don’t like the sound of this. When somebody asks if you’re sitting down it’s not usually to deliver good news.”
“Rest assured, Pa, this time it’s good.” Rome had absolutely no doubt about that. In fact, he was dying to share his good fortune. “Pa,” he said, unable to keep the smile from his voice, “in less than a month I’m going to be a father. I'll have a daughter and her name is Maya.”
“Scusi? What are you saying? Your fiancée, she is pregnant?”
Rome laughed. “No. That’s what I thought when she told me but it’s nothing like that. Before we met she applied to adopt a baby and she just got word that she’s been approved. Isn’t that great?”
Vittorio’s reaction was nothing like what Rome was expecting. He’d thought his father would be shocked and then curious, plying him with all kinds of questions, but silence? That, he wasn’t prepared for.
After a long while Rome frowned. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here,” came the answer but where he’d sounded relaxed and jovial before, Vittorio’s voice was now so tight he almost sounded angry. “You are not serious, I assume. You’re pulling my leg.”
“No, I’m not,” Rome said, his frown deepening. “I’m dead serious. Why? Is there a problem?”
“I’m surprised you would even ask that. Of course there’s a problem.” Now Vittorio wasn’t sounding ‘almost angry’. Rome knew that tone very well. When his voice started vibrating that meant he was pretty angry. “I had my reservations when you surprised us with this whirlwind engagement but now I'm one hundred percent sure it's a mistake. When a woman starts a relationship by keeping secrets from you that’s a bad sign. A terrible sign. A woman like that cannot be trusted.”
“What are you talking about? I would trust Arie with my life.” If it had been anybody else who’d made that remark he would have blasted him with all the force of his fury. He would not let anybody badmouth Arie and the only thing saving Vittorio right then was the fact that he held the position of 'father'.
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” Vittorio retorted. “Not after this trick she just pulled on you."
“It was not a trick. She’d been turned down. She had no idea they would then come back and offer the child to her.”
“When they did, she could have said no.” Vittorio’s response was abrupt and devoid of emotion.
“No, she could not.” Rome knew Arie and that was the last thing she could have done. Not after meeting the child. Not after falling in love with her.
“Rome, listen to me.” Vittorio’s voice was stern.” There’s something wrong with this picture. I don’t think you should trust this girl.”
“No, you listen, Papa. The baby doesn’t change anything-” Rome stopped abruptly as a soft knock sounded on the door and Iyana pushed her head in.
“Your meeting,” she whispered, tapping her watch. “You’ve only got four minutes.”
“Thank you.” He only mouthed the words and then he was scowling again, his attention focused on his father’s words.
“Before you marry her,” Vittorio was saying, “I need to meet her. I need to see what kind of woman you’re bringing into the family.”
“That’s not necessary,” Rome said, his voice just as firm. “I think you know you can trust me.”
“You, I can trust. It’s her that I’m worried about. Rome, I know you’re a man who makes his own decisions but just humor an old man. Before you walk down the aisle bring her to Italy. Let me see the woman who’s so mesmerized my son he can’t think straight.”
“Fine. If that’s what it will take to get you off my back, then you got it.” Rome gave a snort. “But you’re going to see you’re wrong. You’ll fall in love with Arie. Just watch.”
“That remains to be seen.” Vittorio’s voice was skeptical. “I just want to figure out if this Arie of yours has any more surprises up her sleeve.”
His tone made Rome realize there was no point in continuing the conversation. There was nothing he could say that would make his father change his mind. It was time to wrap this up before both of them got so riled up they ended up saying things they’d later regret.
“Listen, Dad. I’ve got to go. Time for my meeting.”
“All right, son. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”
The phone call ended on a civil note but several seconds after his father had hung up Rome just sat there, his forehead still furrowed in a frown. It was only when Iyana stuck her head in, this time with her face sporting a frown of her own, that he made any attempt to move.
Because, try as he might, he couldn’t shake the thought. What if there was some inkling of reason to what his father had said?
What if Arie held more secrets behind those brilliant blue eyes of hers?
CHAPTER THREE
“Isn’t this exciting? We’re going to get to see her.” Arie was grinning as she gazed over at Rome.
He gave her a quick glance and a slight smile. “I thought you saw her already.”
“I did, but she was only five months old then. Now she’s all of ten months old.” She sighed. “She’s such a big girl now. I can only imagine how much she’s changed.”
“Hmm.” That was Rome’s reply, a noncommittal response that had Arie tilting her head to get a better look at him.
She couldn’t put her finger on it but something was not quite right. As soon as she got the call that she could visit the baby she'd told him about it. He'd insisted on flying her there but since they'd set off he'd seemed preoccupied, even distant, and each time she’d started talking about the baby he’d either been nonresponsive or had changed the subject.