Book 2: Chapter Eighty-Nine - Fame And Wealth
Book 2: Chapter Eighty-Nine - Fame And Wealth
The next morning, Matteo received the biggest shock of his life! Lucas’s blog post and his social media post went viral overnight. His shop became the go-to place for people with expensive cars to repair. The space in front of his shop was teeming with cars left behind by the customers. The men were struggling with work. Matteo employed extra hands to help. He became a star mechanic overnight!
“Mama, look! Papà is on TV!” squealed Mariella as she browsed through the channels.
Amelia emerged from the kitchen and sat down to watch the talk show. Her eyes popped out to see her husband with Lucas Donnelly! They discussed cars and the cars he designed, repaired, and remodeled at affordable prices. Tears pricked at Amelia’s eyes while her heart swelled with pride for him. He had gone through a lot and truly deserved some happiness now.
“What’s your inspiration, Mr. Ricci? Apart from your love for cars,” asked the host.
“This shop is a dream project of mine, but I don’t give up only because of my wife, Emilia, and my five-year-old daughter, Mariella. They inspire me, give me the energy to move on.” His answer made tears stream down her cheeks. She, too, drew her inspiration from him.
For the next eight months, Matteo became very engrossed in his work. The limousine was a super success and Lucas’s girl, Sienna Hensley, loved it. Lucas took her on a trip and returned to post pictures of his car on his social media. It made Matteo get more limousine remodeling orders than he could handle.
He paid off the loan he took from Amelia. He bought the three-bedroom apartment next door and joined the two apartments together into a sprawling living space.
Despite being busy, he still looked after his pregnant wife and child. He dropped Mariella every day to school and picked her up as well. Amelia’s health improved, and she had the energy to think of her career.
“Be ready Emilia! You have your first ultrasound today at 9 o’clock.” Amelia smacked her forehead, since she had completely forgotten about it. Last month, she joined Matteo as his accountant and financial planner. It kept her busy when Mariella was away at school. It suited Matteo too, since he could see her all the time, just like before.
After the ultrasound, they were ecstatic to know she was expecting twin boys. Mariella was a little shocked since she just wanted a baby sister. Now she would have two rowdy boys to control and discipline instead. Her peace of mind would totally be disrupted.
“I won’t share my toys with them. Will they break my toys, Papà?” she asked worriedly.
“No, why would they?”
“My friend Sandy’s baby brother always does.”
“You can train the twins not to, Marie. I’m sure they will obey you,” said Matteo.
Matteo still cooked for them and pampered them with his authentic Italian food. Mariella loved to help her dad, and they made a great team together.
One morning, Lucas arrived with Sienna and his daughter Alexia to meet Matteo.
“Matteo, can you go to my mom’s house to fix their car? She can’t come down.”
“Sure, give me her address.” Lucas introduced his family to Matteo while he introduced Amelia to them.
“How old is Alexia?” asked Amelia with wonder. She didn’t look over five or six.
“She’s five. Even your daughter is five, right?” asked Lucas. “Where is she?”
“She’s at school, but Matteo will fetch her in a few minutes.”
“Oh, we won’t keep you engaged for long. Alexia needs to use a washroom. We were heading towards Forest Park Golf Course. Do you have a clean one here?” asked Sienna.
“Why don’t you come home? It’s just a few steps from here,” suggested Amelia.
“Oh, is it? Let’s go then? I too, need to pee. Sorry for the trouble, Amelia,” said Sienna, whispering to her.
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all.” She led them to their building while Matteo and Lucas went to fetch Mariella. Amelia loved how down-to-earth they were, despite being so rich and famous.
“Your place is huge!” said Sienna, looking around.
“Yeah, we just bought the adjacent apartment and joined the two.” She led Alexia to the washroom and returned to see Sienna inspecting her plants on the balcony.
“You can use the washroom, Sienna.” She led the way to it. After a few minutes, as she prepared lunch, they joined her.
“Mmm, are you making pizza, aunt Amelia?” asked Alexia with interest.
“Yes, do you want some?”
Alexia nodded enthusiastically and Amelia served her the one she had made.
“Let me help you make more,” said Sienna. So they quickly set about making more pizzas from the dough Amelia had already readied in the morning.
“You make the best pizza in the world, aunt Amelia,” said Alexia, enjoying her lunch.
“You haven’t tasted your uncle Matteo’s pizza. You wouldn’t want to have mine then,” chuckled Amelia.
“Can I please stay here, Sienna? I don’t want to go to the golf course. I hate golf.” Amelia found it odd that Alexia should address her mom by name.
“I don’t know, Alex. Ask your dad when he comes in.” Alexia took her food to the balcony to wait for her dad.
“Doesn’t she call you mom?” asked Amelia with curiosity.
“No, why would she? I’m not her actual mom. She’s Lucas’s daughter from his first marriage.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for probing. I didn’t know,” said Amelia, feeling foolish for not curbing her curiosity. What she might think of her!
“That’s perfectly alright. How do you manage so much work in your condition? Are you expecting twins?”
“Yes, twin boys.”
“Oh, where are you getting your delivery done? I used to work at Bellevue Hospital as a nurse. Do you want me to book your delivery there?”
“No, thanks, Sienna. Matteo has booked at the nearby Columbia Medical Center. My doctor is associated with it, too.”
The food was ready when Matteo and Lucas returned with Mariella. They introduced her to Alexia, who was already on her fifth pizza slice.
“Dad, can I stay here, please? I don’t want to go to your golf club,” said Alexia. Lucas gave a pleading look at Sienna, who shrugged helplessly.
“No, Alexia. Aunt Amelia isn’t well. I don’t want you to bother her.”
“It won’t be a bother at all, Lucas. Let her stay. You can collect her on your way back,” said Amelia.
“I’ll play with Mariella in her room, dad. I won’t bother aunt Amelia at all. Pretty please?” she asked hopefully.
“Let her stay, Lucas,” coaxed Matteo.
“Alright. You can stay only if you listen to aunt Amelia.”
“I will, I promise.”
Lucas and Sienna left after a while and Matteo drove off to Lucas’s mom’s house. Amelia read out stories to the two girls. Later, they helped her plant some herbs and flowering plants on the balcony.
In the evening, Matteo returned home and made dinner for them. Lucas had called to inform they would return in a few minutes. Matteo invited them to dinner, and they readily agreed.
“Mmm, what are you making, Papà?” Mariella and Alexia inhaled the fresh aroma of food and couldn’t wait a minute longer. They munched on some garlic breadsticks while waiting for dinner. Amelia got up to help him, but a dull ache started deep down in her belly.
“I’ve got this, Emilia. Why don’t you lie down and rest?”
Amelia lay down, but the pain didn’t subside at all. The doorbell rang, and Lucas and Sienna arrived to fetch Alexia.
“What happened to you, Amelia? You were fine in the afternoon. Did Alexia bother you?” asked Sienna worriedly, coming into her room.
“No, she didn’t bother me at all. We enjoyed gardening together. I’m feeling a dull ache since evening.”
“I think you should call your doctor for advice. Maybe your delivery is approaching!”
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll just call her.”
Matteo served dinner and Amelia forced herself to sit with them and eat a little. The pain escalated, and Sienna called her doctor immediately.
“She wants you to get admitted right away, Amelia. Your delivery is due in a matter of a few hours,” said Sienna, disconnecting the call.
Amelia was instantly alarmed and looked at Matteo helplessly. “What about Marie?”
“Pack up her stuff. She can stay with us in the meantime, Amelia. Don’t worry so much,” said Sienna. Matteo packed up Mariella’s things to send her with Lucas and Sienna. With his family back in Sicily, he had to trust them now. He had no other choice.
“I want to stay with Mama in the hospital. Please Papà, let me stay,” cried Mariella.
“Once the babies are born and your Mama is better, I’ll get you, Marie,” he promised her.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her,” said Sienna.
“Call me if you need any help,” offered Lucas before leaving with the girls.
Matteo drove Amelia to the hospital, where they took her straight to the labor room. Matteo quickly completed the formalities and went into the labor room to support his wife. The last time he hadn’t been able to do a thing, but now he would be there for her. He would experience childbirth through her.
“I’m with you, cara. Take deep breaths!” he coaxed, holding her hands in his.