To Love Again Part 22

She waited, listening, watching, as though he might come back to her and tell her his disappearance had all been a joke. That she should stop everything and unpack. There hadn't really been a kidnapping ' or there had been, but it was someone else they had killed. She stood there, trembling, alone, for a minute that seemed like an hour. Then, tears streaming from her eyes, she closed the door softly and locked it. She held the doork.n.o.b for a last time, knowing that she would never be back.

Chapter TWENTY-FIVE.

You'll come to see me? You promise? She was clinging to Bernardo at the airport. They had both been crying. Now he dabbed at her eyes with his handkerchief and brushed roughly at his own.

I promise. He knew how nervous she suddenly was about running the business alone in New York. But she was staffing it wisely. Peroni and Baltare were unimaginative but solid. Isabella didn't need anyone with imagination, she had enough for them all. Kiss Alessandro for me, he said.

She was crying again. I will. It had been an unbearable week of good-byes. At the villa. At the house. With Gabriela, whom she would see on her next trip to Rome in three months. But still there was the constant pain of leaving, and now Bernardo. In some ways it was like leaving as she had six months before. But this time it was in broad daylight, from the Rome airport, the two bodyguards looked bored, and there had been no more crank calls. It was finally over. Even Bernardo had agreed that she would be safe now being seen in New York. It was no secret that the business was moving, and there would be photographs and phone calls from the press. But the police had a.s.sured her that she was no longer in any real danger. She had to be reasonable, and perhaps a little careful with Alessandro, but no more so than anyone in her position. She had learned the lesson well. Painfully well.

She kissed him for a last time, and he smiled at her, once again through his own tears.

Ciao, Isabellezza. Take care.

Ciao, Nardo. I love you.

They hugged one last time, and she got on to the plane. Alone this time, without bodyguards, in first cla.s.s, with her name on the manifest. Her eyes were streaming with tears.

She slept for three hours, then submitted to a brief dinner, taking some papers from her briefcase and smiling at the prospect of seeing Alessandro. She hadn't seen him in two months.

When the plane landed in New York, she went quickly through customs, without fear this time. She remembered the last time she'd come into New York, exhausted, terrified, her jewelry hidden in her handbag, the bodyguards beside her, and her child in her arms. Today the customs officers dismissed her with a wave, and she muttered a quick thank you, pa.s.sing through the gate, her eyes combing the airport.

Then she saw them, Natasha and the children, waiting, and she ran toward them and took Alessandro in her arms.

Mamma! ' Mamma! The whole airport was filled with his clamoring. She held him tightly in her arms.

Oh, darling, how I love you ' oh, and you look so brown. Bernardo said to kiss you.

Did you bring my carousel? His eyes were wide and happy, a reflection of her own.

Not yet. If we find a house with a garden, I'll have them send it, but you're almost too big for it, you know.

Carousels are for babies. Jason looked at them disgustedly, all that kissing and hugging. That kind of stuff wasn't appropriate for a man. But Isabella kissed him anyway, and tickled him, and he suddenly laughed.

Wait till you see what I've brought you two! There were shrieks of excitement and more laughter, and Isabella looked up at Natasha. Her face sobered, but she smiled gently. h.e.l.lo.

For an instant Natasha hesitated, and then they went into each other's aims. I've missed you, too, you know.

So have I. It was horrible not having a roommate. They both laughed again. Natasha knew as they walked along together that she was no longer angry. The light of anguish had somewhat dimmed in her friend's eyes.

I almost dropped dead when you said you were moving the business. What did they say in Rome?

The same thing. The only one who thought it was wonderful was Bernardo. He knew I was right to do it. It's going to be a madhouse for a while. I have a million things to do. She groaned just thinking of it.

I'll help you.

Aren't you staying out in East Hampton? They all looked brown and healthy from their month in the sun.

Natasha nodded. Yes, but I can leave the boys with Hattie.

Isabella nodded slowly. All right. She had some fences to mend with Natasha. The business with Corbett didn't matter so much anymore. Maybe Natasha's intentions had been good. But it didn't matter. Isabella didn't want to know. The subject was closed between them. This time there was no Rolls, only the ordinary limousine Natasha sometimes rented, with the driver who had taken Isabella to the disastrous premiere in April. Isabella smiled at him. It seemed a thousand years before.

They went back to the apartment. The boys opened their packages, shouting and laughing, trying on sweaters and funny hats, throwing pieces of new games, and playing with their toys.

At last Isabella smiled shyly at Natasha, holding out a package. This one is for you.

Come on, Isabella. Don't be silly.

Never mind. Open it. It was the cream of the new winter couture collection, which had opened in June. It was a soft blue cashmere dress with a matching blue coat. Natasha held it up in front of the mirror, looking awed.

It's gorgeous.

It matches your eyes. From the folds of more paper Isabella extracted the scarf and a matching hat. You can wear it to lunch with your publisher.

like h.e.l.l I will. Why waste it on him?

Then you can wear it to lunch with me. At Lutece.

For a moment Natasha stared at her silently. You're going out again?

Isabella nodded. It's all right now. It's time. Corbett had been right, she thought, her imprisonment hadn't lasted forever. Only ten months, though it seemed like a lifetime to her.

In the morning Natasha and the boys went back to East Hampton and Isabella went to work. Not on the phone to Rome this time, but with four real estate agents, who dragged her from one end of Park Avenue to the other, along the side streets, and up and down Fifth. In a week she had temporary office s.p.a.ce, had hired five bilingual secretaries, rented mountains of office equipment, and ordered phones. It was barely more than adequate but it was a beginning.

At the end of the second week, she found what she was looking for. Atop one of the tallest skysc.r.a.pers in the city, two floors for the House of San Gregorio with a view of the entire city of New York.

Finding the apartment had taken her longer, but at the end of another two weeks of searching, she stood in a penthouse on Fifth Avenue, looking out at the view. There was the sweep of Central Park beneath her, the Hudson River in the distance, and the skyline of the city to her left, facing south. The apartment itself was s.p.a.cious and lovely. There were four bedrooms one for herself, one for Alessandro, a guest room, and one she could use as a den two maids' rooms, a hugh dining room with a fireplace, a double living room, and a large hallway and foyer that reminded her vaguely of the house in Rome.

The real estate agent had watched her intently. You like it?

I'll take it. There was an army of doormen and porters, even more than there were in Natasha's building twelve blocks south.

The next day Natasha came in from East Hampton to see it. My G.o.d, Isabella, look at that view. Isabella stood proudly on her new terrace. There would even be room for the carousel, if it would survive the winter snows in New York. When do you move in?

Well, I called the movers yesterday. The s.h.i.+p gets in tomorrow. I was thinking of next Sat.u.r.day. I have to get it over with, so I can get back to work. Her henchmen from Rome had been arriving, and everyone was eager to settle down and dig in.

But Natasha looked suddenly unhappy. So soon? Isabella nodded. That's awful. I'm going to miss you. And Jason says he'll be afraid to sleep alone in his room.

He can come to visit every weekend. Isabella smiled at her.

I feel as though I'm getting divorced again.

You're not.

In the heat of the September afternoon the two women looked at each other, and Isabella finally decided to broach the painful subject. She owed it to her friend.

I owe you an apology, Natasha.

Natasha knew instantly what Isabella was speaking of, but she shook her head and looked away. No, you don't.

Yes. I don't understand what really happened. I was angry at Corbett. But I was wrong to lash out at you. I don't know if you tried to help him or not, but it doesn't matter. If you did it was out of good intentions. I know that. And I'm sorry for what I said.

But Natasha looked at her intently now. You're wrong about him.

I'll never know that.

You could talk to him, let him tell you. You could at least give him that chance.

Isabella only shook her head.

Nothing lasts forever. Nothing good. Nothing bad. Corbett told me that in the beginning. He was right.

He still loves you. Natasha spoke the words softly.

Have you seen him then? Isabella sought her friend's eyes, and Natasha nodded.

He understands what happened. Maybe better than you do. He was afraid of that happening from the first. The only mistake he made was not telling you in the beginning.

It doesn't make any difference now. It's over.

Unhappily Natasha knew that Isabella meant it. It was over for Isabella. But not for Corbett or the boy. But Natasha said nothing, and Isabella spoke no more of Corbett until that afternoon.

She was telling Alessandro about the apartment.

You mean I can have my carousel?

Absolutely. I already called Rome.

Mamma! ' Mamma! Wait till Corbett sees it. His eyes glowed, and for an instant everything stopped.

Isabella looked at him strangely, then shook her head. I'm won't see it, darling.

Yes, he will! He's my friend. Defiance blazed in Alessandro's dark eyes. No one had said anything to him, but he had sensed a rift between his Mamma and his friend. Alessandro didn't like it. Not at all. He could tell in the way Corbett now spoke of his mother. As if he were afraid of her. As if she were dead. I will invite him over to see it. He looked up at her, challenging, but her voice grew hard.

No, Alessandro, you won't.

I will. I promised him this summer.

Did you? When?

When I saw him at the seaside. He was in East Hampton too.

With that Isabella turned on her heel and marched off to find Natasha. Once again she found her in her office, with a cup of coffee in her hand, reading a fresh page. Isabella slammed the door hard behind her. Natasha jumped at the sound, then stared at her friend as though she'd lost her mind.

What's the matter? The look on Isabella's face was strangely familiar, but before Natasha could place it, Isabella began to rage.

Why didn't you tell me? He was there in East Hampton all summer, hanging around Alessandro, trying to get to me again!

Natasha stood up, hands on her hips. This time she wasn't giving an inch. Alessandro needs him, Isabella. And Corbett is not trying to get to you. Stop being so paranoid, for chrissake. What is it with you? You think everyone wants to steal your G.o.dd.a.m.n business, everyone is using you or your child.

They are, G.o.ddammit! They took my husband too.

They' did. They.' People who were crazy, who wanted money. But that's over, Isabella. Over! No one is trying to hurt you now.

I don't give a d.a.m.n. I don't want that man near him.

You're wrong. But tell him that, don't tell me.

But you knew it! You knew how I felt when I went back to Rome.

I thought you'd come to your senses, that you'd get over it.

I never will. I already came to my senses. The minute Bernardo mentioned his name. I don't want that man near Alessandro again. With that she slammed out of Natasha's office, went to her own room, and with a trembling hand, picked up the phone.

He was quick to come on the line. Isabella? Is something wrong?

Very much so. And I want to see you. Now! Can you see me?

I'll be there in half an hour.

Fine. I'll meet you downstairs. She didn't want Alessandro to see him. She watched the clock in her bedroom, and in twenty-five minutes she went down. Four minutes later the Rolls pulled up in front of the door. Corbett was alone in the car, driving. He got out and opened the door for her. She slipped into the car with him, but when he began to turn on the ignition, she quickly waved the hand wearing her new ring from Bernardo.

He noticed it and understood instantly what it was. He wanted to tell her that it was pretty, that she looked beautiful, that he still loved her, but she didn't give him the chance.

Don't bother, Corbett. I'm not going anywhere with you. But I didn't want to speak to you upstairs where Alessandro could hear us.

His face tensed with worry. What's wrong?

I want you to stay away from him. Is that clear to you? I want you out of his life, entirely, permanently, and completely. I've had enough of your games working on my friends, my a.s.sociates, my business, and now my child. The other you had a right to do; how you conduct your business affairs is up to you. But when you use me personally, or my son, Corbett, then you are engaging in a war you can only lose. If you come near him again, if you send him gifts, if you try to see him or call him, or if you let him call you, I will call the police and my lawyer. I will sue you for hara.s.sment. I'll have your business, and I'll see you in jail. Molesting a minor, attempted kidnap, rape, call it anything you want to, but stay the h.e.l.l away from my child! She was screaming so loudly that the doorman would have heard her, if Corbett had not had the foresight to roll up the windows.

He looked at her for an instant, disbelieving what he was hearing. Then anger overcame him. Is that what you think I'm doing, Isabella? he asked. Using the boy to get to you again? Is that what you think? Is it? How pompous, how arrogant, how incredibly stupid you are! I told you months ago that you should keep your business, I told you my offers had been withdrawn. I fell in love with you, and to tell you the truth I felt d.a.m.n sorry for you. Locked up like an animal, afraid of everyone, trusting no one. You've had a bad break in life, Isabella. And so has the child. He lost his father; he's as lonely as you are. And you know what? I love him. He's a wonderful little boy. And he needs me. He needs a lot more than just you! You're a b.l.o.o.d.y machine. Your business, your business, your business! I'm sick of hearing about it. Now leave me alone and get the h.e.l.l out of my car!

Before she could answer him, he had jumped out, gone around the front of the Rolls, and was holding the door open for her, as, astounded, she stepped out.

I trust I made myself clear to you. She glared at him icily.

Absolutely, he said. Good-bye. He got back in his car again, and before she had gotten back into the building, he was gone.

Chapter TWENTY-SIX.