Coming Home (Morelli Family 6)

“Listen, Mia. I don’t know what your deal is, I know you and Mateo have a weird relationship, but that’s your situation. I’m sure it’s not always easy and I know Adrian has to deal with you on a professional level, but let me be very clear.” She pauses so she can look me dead in the eye. “If you ever come looking for my husband half-dressed again, I will rip your head off your shoulders.”

Shaking my head apologetically, I assure her, “It wasn’t like that. I didn’t mean to—I didn’t realize I wasn’t dressed. I wasn’t thinking, I just—”

Elise doesn’t care, so she interrupts. “Well, next time, think.”

I don’t bother trying to explain myself further, I just nod my head. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t.”

With that, she turns around in her Teddy bear pajamas and heads back to her life. Her life is so uncomplicated. I envy the simplicity—a husband who loves only her, an adorable baby they know is his…

Lofty aspirations, I realize.

Chapter Twenty Eight

Mia

I’m feeling even worse by the time I get downstairs. On top of being miserable over Meg and Mateo’s little whatever-the-fuck, now Elise had to go and make me feel like a whorebag. I understand I’m a little underdressed, but I wasn’t there to try to fuck her husband; I just wanted to get away with the only friend I’m allowed to have.

Maybe I’ll see if Alec’s home. Occasionally Mateo lets Alec guard me, though not often. He seems most comfortable having Adrian do it, but that’s obviously off the table tonight.

I’ll have to put some clothes on first. Probably don’t want to show up at Alec’s bedroom door in a short satin robe. I’m already possibly pregnant with someone else’s baby, and he’s spending his downtime with Meg, so I probably don’t want to give Mateo any suspicions that I’m trying to jump ship.

I sigh, sad and alone. Maybe I’ll just go back to the bedroom alone. Bella’s in bed now and Mateo will come in eventually. Maybe I should just go to sleep so I don’t have to see him when he does.

When I get to the end of the hall, I’m surprised to see Maria in the kitchen. She’s just as surprised to see me.

“Do you need something?” she asks me.

I shake my head, absently wrapping my bathrobe more snugly around my waist. “I was just looking for Adrian.”

Her eyebrows rise as she blatantly appraises my outfit of choice.

I nod, rolling my eyes. “Yes, I know. Elise already yelled at me. I wasn’t thinking about what I was wearing, okay? Mateo…” I trail off, shaking my head. “It doesn’t matter. I just didn’t have anyone else to talk to.” Saying it aloud brings on a surge of irrational, out-of-nowhere tears to my eyes.

Maria’s face softens slightly and she opens up the cupboard, pulling out a second mug and a box of tea packets. Wordlessly, she sets up a second one. I look at the stovetop and realize she was making herself some tea.

“Now that Cherie’s gone, I feel that way sometimes, too.”

I blink in surprise, but I move a little closer.

She doesn’t have to ask how I like my tea, since she’s so used to making it for me, but this feels different.

Maria goes on, “Adrian probably isn’t the best person to lean on. He’s a good man, but he’s a man all the same.” The disdainful look she gives me over her shoulder conveys her opinion of that gender. I almost smile, but then Ben surfaces in my mind. He’s probably the reason she feels that way about men. I’ve never heard her so much as mention his name, but I know enough.

I also realize, perhaps belatedly, that Maria is maybe the only person in this house who understands the position I’m in right now. I’m assuming the circumstances were much different, but there’s a commonality no one else has experienced.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ask her, tentatively.

“Yes,” she says, easily.

“It’s a personal question. You may not want to talk about it. I don’t want to upset you.”

“I’m an old woman, Mia. I see a lot. Not much upsets me anymore.”

I roll my eyes faintly. “You’re not old.”

Her lips curve up slightly. “I’m not young. What’s your question?”

“So, you know Vince took me off to Vegas, right?”

Her lips thin with disapproval and I feel even more awkward about bringing this up. I’m tempted to drop it altogether, but I haven’t even made it to my questions yet. Maria nods, opening the drawer and drawing out a spoon. “Yes, I heard the men talking about it. Mateo was very upset.”

That makes my stomach sink, too. I don’t like to think of him upset. “Okay. So… that happened. And I’m not sure if you’ve heard or not, but I’m pregnant.”