Gabriella stuttered in surprise,‘Anna, Anna, no, you can’t do that! What will your parents think of you turning up with another mouth to feed unannounced. No, I can’t put your lovely Mother out like that I’ll be fine her by myself honestly, thank you for the offer anyway.’Anna put her hands on her hips,‘Now you listen to me Gabriella, I don’t know what passes for Christmas on that little island of yours but here in the US of A we do not, ever, leave a friend alone. So, Missy, get your bags packed right this minute. Jeez, my Mother would kill me if she found out I left you here all alone at Christmas’ Three hours later she found herself standing in the hallway of a beautiful house blushing with embarrassment and gratitude as Anna’s Mother hugged her and welcomed her into their home.‘You are very welcome Gabriella, I would have been ‘molto croce' [Very cross] if my daughter left you alone at this time of year you silly girl.’She hugged her again and the
She had drunk at least four of them and was beginning to feel warm and fuzzy happily joining in with the others dancing crazily in the large lounge of the house that had been emptied of furniture for the purpose. She was wearing a short, emerald green satin dress that clung to her slender figure and brought out the colour in her eyes, her long hair was loose and she wore silly, flashing reindeer earrings. At first Anna and Antonio stuck close to her dancing and talking but they wanted a little time for themselves, they had just taken their friendship to the next level. Gabriella continued dancing and it did not take long for some of the young guys there started making passes at her. They danced with her and pulled her into their arms, she managed too wriggle free at first but they continued to give her drinks and she began to lose her inhibitions. Rossi and Luigi were cousins of Anna and they had spotted the beautiful English girl the minute they brought her to the party, at nineteen
‘I have nothing for you.’ She sobbed, ‘I feel so selfish after all you gave me over the holidays. I can never thank you enough for your hospitality.’ Anna’s mother enveloped her in yet another maternal hug, she had been very tactile as had all of Anna’s relatives, they were a typical loud, loving Italian family and included Gabriella in everything. ‘Child your gift to us was reminding us of the true spirit of Christmas, that we are Blessed and because of that we must give a little back to those in need at this time of family and friends. You came to church and you worshipped with us, that is all the thanks we needed Gabriella.’ She was
They found a villa high up in the mountains and set up a home far away from the ‘Mafia Families’ to try to make a go of it alone. For a couple of months it worked, their life was quieter but they had each other and their baby girl it was Giovanni who could not accept they loved each other enough to give everything up. He had their villa watched and when it was reported back to him that the couple were making a go of things away from the Mafia he refused to accept it. He sent his men to discover what Carlos’ routine was and then lay in wait for the right time and opportunity, it came quickly, Carlos was a creature of habit and he thought they were safe in the mountains. When Giovanni stepped out in front of him as he walked toward his car he smiled pleased to see his best friend and held out his hand dropping it to his side when he saw the other man holding a gun. ‘Giovanni, what is thi
Gabriella frowned at the elderly man, ‘Why would she light another candle, surely it was not for Giovanni after all he had done to her?’ The elderly man sighed and took the pretty English girl's hands in his he had an instinctive feeling that his next words would affect her deeply.‘No, baby girl not for that monster but for his little boy. Giovanni had been married briefly to another woman one he had met while he was travelling in the USA after Angelina and Carlos declared they wanted to be exclusive leaving him in the cold. He had got her pregnant the first time her slept with her that was why he had done the decent thing and put a wedding ring on her finger. He had not loved her nor had she loved him but they were Catholics and he was from the old country where outdated practices like marrying because the woman got pregnant still occurred. The poor woman had die
She could not even bring herself to call them Aunt and Uncle right at the moment, she felt betrayed and hurt that they had not told her sooner even though she had warned them that once she was eighteen she had planned on moving out anyway. She still loved them, how could she not after all they had sacrificed for her but the trust between them had gone especially when Elena had been honest enough to tell her that if she had not found out they would never have told her the truth. Then she discovered that she also had an inheritance from her parents and her Mother’s parents and it would be enough to buy her place she just did not know where it would be yet. Of course, what she did not know was that her father's fortune was still waiting for her to claim it in Sicily, he had locked a huge portion of it away so that if the worst happened to him his baby daughter would never have to worry about money, it was an account that not even her mother knew about.Two months before her eighteenth bi
She dragged her into the hallway and handed her an envelope, when Gabriella opened it inside was an invite to the Gala. She looked at the other woman in astonishment,‘Is this for real?’Jacinta placed her hand on the younger woman’s arm,‘Yes, Cinderella, you shall go to the ball. The Organiser like to include local businesses so a few of us got these invites.’Gabriella could not stop the tears filling her eyes,‘Why? Why would you give this to me?’‘I am too old for these fancy dances, but you Gabriella, you are young and beautiful this kind of event is made for someone like you.’She hugged her and Gabriella sniffed loudly,‘Come, I have another surprise.’She led her into her private quarters and hanging on a cupboard door was the most beautiful dress Gabriella had ever seen,‘For you.’Jacinta smiled sadly,‘I never got to wear it. You know my story, my Alfredo he died before we went to a similar ball all those years ago. I think it is your size and it should be worn by a pretty
Gabriella was tipsy, so when a handsome stranger asked her to dance she smiled up at him and said yes, letting him take her hand and lead her onto the dance floor. She had been taking dancing lessons since she was a small child, even competing in the ballroom section for a couple of years before she was twelve. The young man was an excellent dancer too and they moved around the floor together well, when the band leader announced a Tango he looked into her eyes with a smile,‘Shall we?’Gabriella loved a challenge and grinned back at him, giving him her hand, as the music started and a few other couples began dancing. He twirled her around and dipped her making her giggle, her glorious hair swirled out as he spun her out and then pulled her close. The other dancers cleared the floor as they moved in perfect sync, arms, legs, and everything. It was sexy and erotic holding the watchers in awe as they entertained. They were flawless, considering they had never danced together before their