Larenzo's Christmas Baby

‘Cavelli,’ the man called, ‘is it true that you planted the evidence on Raguso? People are saying—’

‘Come on,’ Larenzo said, and took the stroller from her. ‘Let’s go.’ He began resolutely walking towards the park entrance, and mutely Emma followed.

She waited until they were back up in the penthouse apartment and Ava was settled with some toys on the floor of the living room before she started asking for answers.

‘Larenzo, what on earth was that all about?’

‘The photographer?’ He shrugged out of his suit jacket, not even looking at her as he answered. ‘He was a member of the paparazzi. I should have known they would realise I was here. Until the press dies down, you shouldn’t take Ava out in public.’

‘So I’m a prisoner here?’ she demanded, and Larenzo turned to look at her, his mouth twisting grimly.

‘It doesn’t look like a prison to me.’

She flushed, realising her poor choice of words. ‘You know what I mean, Larenzo. I’ll go crazy if I have to stay in here twenty-four seven.’

‘For a few days only. These things never last long.’

Emma took a deep breath. ‘Why does he think you planted the evidence on your business partner?’

Larenzo’s nostrils flared and Emma could see how the skin around his mouth had turned white. He was angry, very angry, and yet when he spoke his voice was measured and controlled.

‘Because he is trying to sell newspapers, and to do that he needs a story. Surely you know how these things work, Emma.’

She thought of her sister’s phone call this morning. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. ‘Is there any truth to that claim, Larenzo?’ she asked quietly.

He stared at her for a long, taut moment, and beneath the icy anger Emma thought she saw a flash of hurt in his eyes, quickly veiled.

‘What exactly are you accusing me of, Emma?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know.’ Belatedly she realised what she’d been implying. She didn’t really think Larenzo was guilty, but she still didn’t understand him. ‘I just wish I knew more, Larenzo. I feel like there are things you aren’t telling me—’

‘I told you, Raguso is guilty. There is no doubt. The evidence was there.’

‘You said there was evidence against you—’

‘Because it was planted!’ Larenzo’s voice rose in a sudden, anguished roar. ‘It was planted, all right? I was framed, and I was too stupid and naive to realise it.’ He let out a shuddering breath as he raked his hands through his hair. ‘Satisfied?’

Emma didn’t answer, and Ava looked up, her lip wobbling at the shouting and the tension she sensed crackling between the two adults. ‘If you were framed,’ Emma asked slowly, ‘why didn’t you tell me that from the beginning? There is no shame in it—’

‘I feel shame,’ Larenzo answered. He dropped his hands and looked away from her, his expression shuttered even as his voice thickened with emotion. ‘I feel great shame.’

She blinked back tears at the raw pain she heard in his voice. ‘Oh, Larenzo—’

‘We will not discuss this any more.’

Emma could sense when a door was being slammed in her face. And yet she’d finally received some insight into Larenzo’s experience, even if it left her with more questions than ever. ‘All right, fine, we don’t need to talk about that. But why were you so angry when you found me in the park? I don’t need you to keep tabs on me—’

‘I phoned the apartment several times and there was no answer. With Ava’s nap schedule, I thought you would have been in the apartment at least for the afternoon. I was worried.’

‘But you said there was no danger—’

‘I was worried you’d left,’ Larenzo said starkly. He stared at her, his face filled with bleak honesty. ‘I thought you had taken Ava and left me.’

Emma gaped at him, amazed and humbled by the vulnerability she saw in Larenzo’s eyes. ‘If I was going to leave, Larenzo,’ she said quietly, ‘I’d have the decency to tell you first. And anyway, I just got here. I’m not going anywhere.’

He shrugged, his face hard and impassive once more. ‘I know your sister doesn’t want you here. You are close to her. She is probably like a mother figure to you since you are not close to your own mother. I was afraid she’d spoken to you, and you had changed your mind.’