Forever in My Heart Read online

After depositing the bulk of the items at Kate’s, the three women walked half a block to the brownstone where Meghan and her husband, Charles, lived.

  “Thanks for coming,” Meghan said as she held open the door for them.

  “Mama’s been itching to hold an infant,” Kate said with a laugh.

  “I need practice for when my new grandchild comes,” her mother replied.

  “How have you been feeling?” Meghan asked Kate. “Are you still getting sick?”

  “It’s been a little better, but I’m exhausted at the end of each day. I don’t remember feeling quite so tired in the past.”

  “Don’t forget, you were in your twenties then, Sis,” Vicky chimed in.

  “Thanks for reminding me of how old I am.”

  A loud wail came from the baby monitor on the table.

  “Sounds like Jesse is awake.”

  “How can you tell who’s crying?” Vicky asked.

  “Jesse wakes up ravenous and wants the world to know. Most of the desperate crying comes from her. Nicole is the patient one,” Meghan said. “Come on, Carmen, let’s get you your baby fix.”

  Meghan led the way up the stairs to the nursery. Kate started to follow, but Vicky touched her arm. “Can you hang back a minute?”

  Kate furrowed her brow. “Sure. Anything wrong?”

  “No. Things are good. Are you really okay? I was worried after what happened at church last weekend.”

  “Worried enough to stop sleeping with Jamie DiSilva?”

  She should have figured Kate would cut right to the chase and throw Jamie in her face.

  Vicky crossed her arms. “My relationship with Jamie is not open for discussion.”

  “So you admit it’s a relationship now?”

  “What it is, is my business. He’s not done anything horrible to our family, and there’s no reason to think he will.” She raised her hand as though to ward off Kate’s next comment. “And I don’t want to hear anything about mutant genes.”

  “You always were stubborn.”

  “Like you should talk.”

  Arguing with her sister was draining. Vicky hated to fight, which is why it took her so long to get her life on track. She’d fumbled her way through college and worked at the family pizzeria, even though it wasn’t what she wanted to do. She would probably have worked at the trattoria, too, if it hadn’t been for the encouragement from her brother-in-law to follow her dream. While she was more assertive now, sometimes she had to remind herself not to retreat when people got in her face.

  “Listen, I don’t want to get into this with you. Why don’t we agree to disagree when it comes to Jamie?”

  “Just as long as you tell someone if he tries to hurt you.”

  “He won’t. Jamie and Tristan have renovated the café. You should see how fabulous it looks. You’d never know it used to be a pizzeria. Plus, he’s trying to get his mom back on track.”

  “I’d heard she’d been having a rough time.”

  “As a result of Mr. DiSilva’s heart attack, she agreed to enter a rehab program.”

  “I’m glad. I always liked her and felt bad that I avoided her after Mario and Tony died.” Kate wound her curly hair around a finger, a clear sign she was anxious.

  “Why did you? She lost a son and grandson.”

  “I was a wreck after losing Tony. A part of me blamed her for raising a son who would do what he did to me.” She held up a hand. “I know, it wasn’t right, but I was really messed up.”

  “And now?”

  Kate fingered her wedding band. “I have a lot to be grateful for, but at times…I feel guilty for having this wonderful life now when she lost two sons.”

  “Even if they brought it on themselves.”

  “There’s that, but I don’t want her to resent me for being happy.”

  “She’d probably resent you more for your hatred toward her family.”

  Kate was quiet, and Vicky knew that meant her sister was considering her words.

  “In fact, I’m having a reopening for the café next week and wanted to see if you could come by. I also want to do a special brunch Sunday afternoon for our family.”

  Kate eyed her warily. “Will Jamie be there?”

  “He will. Please give him a chance, Kate. It would mean a lot to me.”

  With a begrudging sigh, Kate nodded. It wasn’t peace, but Vicky hoped it meant it wouldn’t be war.

  ****

  The week flew by and by Friday evening, Vicky was wiped out. But there was no rest for the weary. Now, she and Lucy divided up the list of things to do to prepare for tomorrow’s grand reopening. They huddled at a table and cross-checked their master list.

  “Tristan offered to pick up the balloons and should be here shortly. It was a good idea to close early so we can finish getting ready. Then we can get everything set up and not have to stress tomorrow,” Lucy said.

  “I printed extra flyers at the copy center and had Vinnie put them on cars in the neighborhood.”

  “I have the display for the news and events ready. One of the guys can hang it up tonight. That was a great idea you had to promote the cupcake competition. I also like the cake decorating birthday parties and think it will be a hit.”

  “I feel like we’re missing something.” Vicky studied the list until she was bleary-eyed.

  “I think we both need a break. I’m going to make my special mocha macadamia nut coffee. You want one?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Make it four,” Jamie called, walking in carrying a huge corkboard. “Tristan’s right behind me.”

  Vicky’s heart stuttered when her gaze caught Jamie’s and held.

  “Hi, beautiful,” he whispered and leaned down for a kiss.

  He lingered, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth with a sensuality that promised there would be more later. The casual intimacy between them seemed both strange and completely natural—if that even made sense. It was strange partially because it was Jamie and she’d given up hope they’d ever be able to rekindle their relationship, and that had been before the whole Mario and Sal mess.

  Then there was her failed marriage. After that fiasco, she’d stopped thinking of men in terms of relationships. Sure, they were nice to look at and sleep with—when she had the time—but that was about it. No way was she going to risk getting involved with another man, at least not any time soon.

  Yet here she was, in a relationship and living with a guy. But it was Jamie. She’d known him forever, not to mention had given him her virginity. She had trusted him and loved him when she was seventeen years old.

  What would happen once the mystery was solved and she didn’t need a bodyguard to stay with her? Would he stay or would he return to his apartment? And more importantly, which did she want him to do?

  “What’s wrong? You look intense about something,” he asked, dropping into the seat across from her.

  The man could even read her mood.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I’ve a lot on my mind.”

  “Well, put us to work. Tristan and I are your minions for the evening.”

  Vicky brushed aside thoughts of their relationship and shifted her focus to tomorrow’s opening. “Can you hang this corkboard?”

  “Show me where you want it.”

  She led him over to a wall by the entrance. He placed the board down and reached into his tool belt for a hammer and nail. She watched him visually measure where to place the nail and failed miserably at not staring at his ass. How couldn’t she with the way the low slung belt hugged his hips. Lucky belt.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  “Perfect.”

  She moved to one of the tables where stacks of paper were scattered. Grabbing a couple sheets and some thumb tacks, she arranged them on the board.

  “Nice,” he said.

  “There’s one more thing.” She ran back and pulled out something small from her bag plus another sheet of paper.

  “Close your eyes,” she said to him. />
  “Is this going to be your take-me-in-the-café fantasy?” he asked with a hopeful grin that displayed his dimple. “I know how much you like my tool belt.”

  “My fantasy?”

  “Okay, maybe it’s mine.”

  “Does your fantasy include getting it on with our best friends in the other room?”

  “That could be interesting, but no.” He closed his eyes.

  She arranged the paper in the last space and used the staple gun to fasten a small plastic holder underneath. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a stack of business cards and placed them in the container.

  “Okay, you can open them now.”

  Vicky held her breath as he did. The smile vanished from his face, and he stood there for a minute, staring at the board. She started to panic. He hated it. What had she done?

  “I’m sorry. I should have asked if it was okay.” She reached up to remove the cards, but he put his hand on her wrist and stopped her.

  “I don’t believe you did this.”

  “It was silly. I’ll take it d—”

  “It’s wonderful. I love it.”

  Another glance showed tenderness across his face.

  “Really?”

  “A sign advertising my business and displaying my cards. Wow, baby.” He paused as if he was trying to find his voice, and she couldn’t help noticing he swallowed hard. “You can’t even begin to understand how much this means to me.”

  Now his praise was embarrassing her.

  “It’s no big deal.”

  “It is. You couldn’t stand the sight of me when I walked in here six weeks ago. I thought for sure that you pitched all my business cards.”

  “I got these from Tristan. I wanted to say thanks for everything you’ve done. You and Tristan didn’t have to go to the elaborate lengths you did to fix up my place.”

  He reached for her hands. “I know it started out with ulterior motive on both our parts, but we wanted to. It means a lot that you trusted us to make this place look special.”

  “And it does. You worked so hard and created something so perfectly amazing. This was the least I could do.”

  He leaned forward and touched her forehead with his. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”

  They certainly had.

  He cupped her chin and his eyes got serious. “Vicky, I l—”

  She held a finger to his lips, not ready to hear the “L” word come from his lips. Especially when she wasn’t sure of her own feelings. “Don’t say it. It’s too soon for more.”

  “We’ve known each other forever. It’s not too soon.”

  He kissed her, his soft lips pressing hers open. With the stroke of his tongue so tender and full of promise, she could easily fall under his spell and believe herself to be in love with him, too. Only she wasn’t—mostly. She didn’t understand the churn of all these feelings he stirred up in her. She loved being with him, but being in love with him? Such an admission was more than she was willing to commit to right now.

  She slid her hands around his neck but pulled back. “Things are still new. Let’s enjoy what this is between us for now.”

  A brief flash of disappointment flickered across his face before he nodded. “Fine. It can wait. For now.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Jamie watched Vicky maneuver through the crowded café. The ease with which she did, hugging people as they walked in while carrying a tray of coffee samples, amazed him. He was glad she’d taken him up on his suggestion to hire a couple high school students to stand outside the store and hand out coffee and bakery samples. What better way to lure people in than to give them a small taste of what they were missing.

  Lucy, Tristan, and Jenna were busy making coffee for the steady stream of customers they’d had all morning. Vicky had been up at three, an hour earlier than normal, to start baking. He tried to convince her to stay in bed, but she had one solitary focus as she slid out from his arms.

  He admired her determination. She had many ideas on how to expand the business. She’d already started accepting specialty orders for cakes and cupcakes. Now she was offering cake decorating parties for young girls in addition to adults. It was a great idea, including a raffle to award a free party to one lucky person. That was going to be a big hit when word spread.

  In the kitchen, Jamie refilled a tray of mini pastries, popping a napoleon in his mouth on the way out. The downside of dating a pastry chef was that he was surrounded by sweets all day. At this rate, he’d have to add another mile to his daily routine or learn to control his sweet tooth. Yeah, like that was going to happen. He’d deal with the extra mile or find more creative ways for the sexy pastry chef to help him work off the extra calories. Now that sounded much better.

  He was weaving his way through the crowd offering samples when someone touched his arm.

  “You’re Jamie DiSilva, right?” a short, stocky man with glasses asked.

  “I am.”

  “Frankie Bartolo. I went to school with Sal. Sorry to hear what happened to him.”

  Jamie pasted a smile on his face. “Thanks, man.”

  Frankie held up a Two Guys business card and waved it around the room. “I hear you’re responsible for transforming this place.”

  “My partner and I did the work.”

  “It’s great. You never would know it used to be a pizza joint.” The man lifted a cream puff from the tray and bit. “Best pastries I’ve had, but don’t tell my mother-in-law or my wife I said that.”

  “Your secret’s safe with me.”

  “You do basements?”

  “Depends. What do you need done?”

  “The kids are getting older, and the wife’s been pestering me to have the basement refinished. Somewhere the kids can blow off a little steam and play.”

  “Yeah, we do that sort of thing. Why don’t you call me next week, and I can come by?”

  “I’d appreciate that. Thanks.”

  After a handshake and another pastry, the man wandered over to a woman at a table with three school-aged kids. They looked normal sitting there, laughing and passing cups of milk and muffins around. The ache in his heart he’d felt since returning to his hometown spread. This is what he missed. Family. Not that his own didn’t have their dysfunctional moments. When he was younger, it hadn’t always been messed up. His mom had taken them to a fast food joint once a month. It was their special treat if they’d been good. They’d sit at a table and try to throw French fries into each other’s mouths.

  Standing back, Jamie observed the families. Moms with strollers and small babies. Older teenagers huddled in the corner with their phones at the ready—God forbid they miss a text. He wanted that, a family of his own. A woman to love and kids he could teach baseball to. This is part of why he left the army. He wanted a life that didn’t consist of violence.

  Someone clapped him on the shoulder. “You all right?”

  Jamie turned and noticed Tristan standing next to him. “I’m good. I had a conversation with a man who wants to refinish his basement. I told him to call next week.”

  “I’ve had several people come up to me and ask for similar things. Word’s spreading, my friend.”

  It was, thanks to Vicky. Last night she stopped him from telling her how he felt, but she knew. He loved her. She may be afraid of her feelings, but he wasn’t afraid of his. Vicky was the missing piece in his life, the part that made him feel whole. Maybe it was too soon for her to say the words, but she conveyed her feelings every time they made love. Embraced in his arms, she wasn’t afraid to show him. However long it took, Jamie knew they were meant to be together.

  “Hey, pal, is that your dad who walked in?”

  Jamie shook himself out of his fantasy and saw his father standing in line. Crap, this could be a problem.

  “Here.” He shoved the tray at Tristan. “I better see what’s up before sparks fly.”

  He moved quickly across the room. “Hey, Pop. What’re you doing here?”

 
; He’d only seen or spoken to his father twice since their disastrous visit with his mother last weekend. To say things had been a little awkward was an understatement.

  “I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. Nice place. You fixed this up?”

  “Tristan and I did. You like?”

  “I remember coming here with you kids. It was a pizzeria for over twenty-five years. You’d never know it now.”

  Jamie was pretty sure his father meant that as a compliment.

  “That was the point, Pop. To put the past where it belongs, in the past. Now it has a fresh look, a new beginning. Maybe one for all of us. Come, let’s get you some coffee.”

  “And something to eat. Or are you going to give me a hard time if I want a sticky bun?”

  Jamie laughed. To the best of his knowledge, his father had been pretty good about eating healthier—despite his constant grumbling about it.

  “I don’t think it will hurt you to indulge every so often.”

  “Where’s your girl?” his father asked.

  Jamie scanned the room and found Vicky laughing with a mom who stood beside two young girls no more than five or six. He caught her eye and signaled for her to come over. Jamie knew the moment she recognized his dad when her eyes widened. After ending her conversation, she made her way over to them.

  “Mr. DiSilva, what a surprise to see you here.”

  His father stiffened slightly as he gave Vicky a once-over. “I’m sure it is. Is my coming here going to be a problem?”

  “Not for me.” She gave him a warm smile.

  Jamie loved that she was trying. But what about the rest of her family? Would they be as welcoming?

  “What can I get you?” she asked.

  His father mulled over the display case and told her what he wanted. While she ran off to get it, Jamie led his dad to a table a family had just vacated. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt as though everyone in there was staring at them. Watching and waiting for something to happen.

  “Have you spoken with Ma?”

  “I called her, and we talked. Then we argued, and she hung up on me.”

  Jamie tried not to laugh, pleased his mother was showing her independence and not taking any of his father’s crap. Good for her.