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Had he really thought the pain of his past had taught him distance? How to step outside of any emotional involvement, creating a virtual out-of-body experience as he used his skills to do what had to be done?

This was his daughter and something inside Mario was ripping apart.

He couldn’t let his child die again. He wouldn’t.

Somehow he had to gather the strength to save Gemma. To watch himself from somewhere else, as a participant in an unfolding drama. He dealt with this kind of scenario all the time. He knew exactly what to do.

He sealed his mouth over Gemma’s. He breathed life-giving oxygen into her tiny body, keeping his fingers on her pulse. It was strong enough to suggest she’d only just stopped breathing before he’d hauled her from the water.

He was relieved when she finally drew a ragged breath. He even felt tears in his eyes—but he realized it must be the kind of empathy he would have shared with all his patients and their parents. He could not lose himself again. He must seal over whatever part deep within him that had begun to tear.

He turned to Belinda. “I will tell the housekeeper to get your things together. You and the twins have to leave.” She offered no resistance as she scooped Gemma out of his arms and held her tightly.

Not long after, he watched from the library window as Belinda walked out to the car packed with their luggage, a child attached to each hand. Gemma had been given dry clothes and looked comforted, if still a little shell-shocked. Mario had arranged for the ER staff to give her a checkup, but tomorrow they would all return to England, along with Lizzy.

Could he return to his normal life then? His usual control? A dangerous part of him wanted them to stay. Well they would be back. Mario had spoken briefly to Belinda about joint custody. Told her his lawyer would be in touch. She had paled, but simply nodded.

Belinda still looked a little ashen as she paused in front of the car. Then she turned, looking back at the house. The children turned to see what she was looking at.

They were all looking at him. Pulling him in. Dragging his soul from that protected space and leaving it exposed.

Raw.

He’d almost lost his child all over again. He was losing his children, and the only woman he had ever truly loved. The truth hammered into Mario—Bella had never broken his trust. She never would. She had said she had fallen in love with him. Last night her body had told him she still was.

Mario had to move.

***

The roller coaster ride had become wild enough to be terrifying and all Belinda wanted to do was escape. To hide. She needed a haven for both herself and her children and while it was going to be temporary, going home to her old life was all that mattered.

She couldn’t help one last look backwards, however. To where Mario was. One day she would be able to thank him properly for saving their daughter but this wasn’t the time. He wasn’t ready to be part of their family. To love any of them. But at least now he knew the truth. At least she didn’t have to feel guilty because of that.

Belinda was still staring at the house when she saw the figure emerge from the front door. Running.

It was Mario. He was panting by the time he faced her. “You can’t go,” Mario said.

“Why not?”

“Because...” He held her gaze. Belinda could feel the hand of each of their children holding one of hers and the weight of Mario’s gaze felt like another physical touch.

“Because you belong here,” he said softly. “With me.” He knelt on the driveway in front of Belinda and reached out to touch the head of each of his children. “You all belong here.”

“Do we, Mummy?” Stefano asked with interest.

Belinda couldn’t look away from what she could see in Mario’s eyes. The pain of someone who thought he was about to lose what he loved most.

“Yes,” she managed. “This is where we belong.”

“With Bruno?” Gemma sounded pleased. “I love Bruno.”


“Yes.” Belinda smiled through her tears of joy. “And with your father.”

They needed to know, to have the chance to love him as much as she did.

Mario stood, picking up a child with each arm. Somehow, he managed to fit his arms around Belinda as well, drawing her into the circle.

Completing it. Completing their family.

The End




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