SIXTY - EIGHT

SIXTY - EIGHT
CELESTIA

Three days later.
From the third day itself, I started walking with the help of a physiotherapist, but the doctors wanted to be absolutely sure before releasing me. Partly, Raffaele and his overwhelming presence kept the entire staff of the hospital floor on their toes.
By the fourth day, I was growing restless and convinced them to discharge me. And since going back to the apartment Kyla owned was never an option anymore, it was Roselli villa.
Eden insisted I visit her in New Orleans, but security issues were held paramount. Apparently, Kyla escaped once again and managed to conceal her location with a well-connected network. This had alerted both Raffaele and Amadeo, who strongly insisted I stay in wraps for the time being.
"You will like the room," Raffaele said excitedly when all he cared about was that I come back to the villa.
I snuggled closer to him as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. My movements improved, but they were still restricted to light to medium motor skills. "I already know you did the room. Or should I say, hired a bunch of people to do that?"
He raised a brow and feigned a scowl. "And why do you think I needed a renovation?"
I huffed and blew a breath. "Well, you should not have pissed me off."
Raffaele laughed, and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. While I might never tell this macho guy that I cataloged his laughter as 'beautiful' or actually stopped doing that for the heck of it, these were the most beautiful moments that filled my heart and made it soar.
I was going home. A place I vehemently called my own.
The car rolled through the giant gates as I stared in awe like it was a paradise and pulled in front of the Roselli Villa. I realized why Lila called it her safe haven, because in every sense, now it was mine too. There was not a place on the earth I'd ever be than here.
"Come," Raffaele offered his hand as he jumped out before me. "I had called ahead and had the staff members prepare your things."
I wanted to object but knew it would be futile. Lila must have already outmatched the preparation of my arrival, given the way she screamed into the phone.
Holding onto his hand tightly, we slowly entered until I realized that Raffaele froze midway. I looked up at him in confusion and then followed his gaze to the center of the living room.
Among the known faces, there was a woman I have never met. Donned in a beige-cream jumpsuit with a slight vintage look and Casablanca vibes and a skinny black belt around her waist, she has paired her outfit with pretty heels. The look - she could give young models a run for their money.
"Rafe," she acknowledged with a terse but graceful smile.
"Mum?" he asked quizzically.
My jaw dropped to the floor that instant! That was his mother?
She stepped forward, her heels clicking against the floor, and almost made me shriveled up. Her beauty cast a brilliancy of diamonds and emeralds, and honestly, the rest of the world looked bleak in comparison.
"Oh, good. You recognized your mother at least and has not completely written me off." Her eyes rolled heavenward before settling over on me.
Oh, no.
Please don't ask me anything.
I wanted to disappear.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Amadeo come closer, leaned into Rafe, and chuckled low, "Did I forget to mention mum's here?"
To which, Raffaele threw him a scathing glare, hissing, "I am so going to kill you for this."
Then, putting on a charming smile I have never seen him wearing, he abandoned my side to reach for his mother and kissed her blushed cheeks. "Good to see you here. Mum, I want you to meet someone." He tugged my hand and brought me closer. "This is Celestia."
An imaginary spotlight shone over my head as I never felt so conscious of myself. I was not even dressed to meet his mother, who was actually wrapped in designer wear from head to toe. The damn bag she casually dropped on the couch was a limited edition Balenciaga! And because I was a girl, I knew that stuff!
"Well, well," she extended both her hands to have mine. "It is about time you introduce me to a woman." She pulled me in for a long hug, and her laughter was everything I needed to get me through the moment. Pulling me back, she took a good look at me and smiled brightly. "Hello, love."
Did I say that Raffaele has a beautiful smile? He definitely inherited it from his mother.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Roselli," I smiled, sheepishly and awkwardly.
"Aren't you a beautiful one? Come, I'd like to hear the story of how you met my son and all the details that come along with it. Needless to say, I am thrilled to finally meet you."
Did she know? How did she know? Going by the conversation, I knew it was not Raffaele. Maybe, Amadeo? A thousand questions spun in my head and made me dizzy.
"Mum, I think this can wait." Raffaele came forward, only to have his mother wedge herself between us.
"Rafe," her crimson lips compressed into a thin line of annoyance. "If I wanted your opinion, I'd ask for it."
"She has just returned from the hospital," he retorted.
"Oh, dear." She gasped, turning around to look at me and then smacked his shoulder. "Raffaele Roselli, did you get her pregnant?"
What?
"No!" We shrieked in unison as her stance relaxed.
And across the room, Amadeo's laugh echoed around who was having a gala time at our expense (rather at Raffaele's expense). "Wow, that was fast."
"Jesus Christ, this family is insane," Raffaele muttered, exhilarated. "Mum, she was attacked and injured. It is a story for another day. Now, is it really necessary to embarrass her?"
"In all fairness, I was embarrassing you and not the lovely lady here." Mrs. Roselli quickly reached for me and patted my cheeks affectionately.
"I can absolutely vouch for that," Amadeo chimed as he stalked closer, and Raffaele almost punched his face had he not ducked.
This family, these people…they were perfect. There was an insane energy and love saturated in the air, and positive vibes floated around. Is this what having a family feels like?
"Don't mind, Celestia," Mrs. Roselli said, capturing my attention. "I always have a bone to pick up with my sons, given how vague and elusive these boys have grown up to be."
"Mum, it is not very polite to generalize," Amadeo complained. "You know I love you more than Rafe here."
"Sweetheart, flattery like that might work on the women you see on a daily basis, but when it comes to your mother, you might want to try a little harder. Your father had already set really high standards, you know."
"Ouch." Raffaele vibrated with a hearty chuckle, smacking his brother's head, who scowled at him.
"So, Celestia, where have you, my ever-busy son?"
Please, no, don't go there. It is not a story for a living room full of family members.
I opened my mouth to come up with something generic, like a restaurant, club, or mall, but Amadeo butted in.
"Rafe kidnapped her."
Mrs. Roselli looked like she was going to have a heart attack, and Raffaele swooped in to save the day—save both of us actually.
"Shut up." He pressed a palm at the small of my back, just below the injuries. "It's a long story, mother. We can discuss it over lunch."
She nodded and smiled. "Absolutely! I am so looking forward to getting acquainted with you, darling. You have no idea how excited I am."
"Thank you, Mrs. Roselli," I said breathily because having control of my voice was becoming a challenge.
I was happy, nervous, overwhelmed, and floating.
A few minutes of banter continued before Raffaele successfully ushered me out of the living space. On our way to the room, I finally exhaled like I have been holding my breath all this while.
"Easy, love," Raffaele laughed, leaning in to kiss my temple. "You look like you will faint."
"Oh, I am absolutely certain that I will." I paused midway and turned to him. "Oh, my god, have you seen your mother?"
"Er...yes. She is my mother. I am certain I have seen her."
I rolled my eyes and frowned. "Exactly. And she is so pretty and graceful and amazing and—"
"Why are you so nervous?" Raffaele cut into my rant of adjectives.
"I want her to like me, Raffaele. I mean, really like me." Even to my ears, I sounded stupid.
"Believe me, there is no reason to dislike you." To accentuate, he dropped a kiss to seal his words onto my mouth, and I hoped that I could look and behave half decent as his mother when we joined her for lunch.
A few hours later, when I had actually joined the family dinner, it was one of the best times of my life. I almost forgot that I was an outsider. Raffaele's mother, Delphine A. Roselli, was indeed a beautiful soul to be acquainted with.