Giovanni Haynes
3:00 am Thursday morning we received tragic news from the hospital. Stefano Amendola past. Father hug mom as she cried for the lost of her younger brother. I stood leaning against the wall of the living room as weeping were heard around the room.
Rayan and Luca were still sleeping but Haylie who had been sleeping in her parents bed was woken up by the loud cry of my mother when the news was received. She now lay in Bentley arms sobbing.
My mother and I was suppose to visit him in the morning. She was going to bring him more clothes and he had asked me to bring him an entire box of pop rocks; joking about not being able to eat his favourite candy once he was dead, something I didn't find funny.
I thought of all the time I wasted loathing him all because of one evil woman. The very same woman who didn't even visit him once while he was in the hospital. Then the imagine of Luca when we tell him that his father was gone. He's so young he won't understand but as days go by he'll start to realize that his father was never coming back, what would he make of it then. It was very clear that his mothers' absence had already gotten to him.
Mateo sat in the sofa looking like his mind was far away. Father however stood still holding mom with a void expression. He wasn't a fan of Stefano and neither was he which makes me wonder if he was feeling any remorse. Whenever they cross paths they would get into a brawl. I am not aware of how the bad blood came along but I remember mother saying once that they were both hard headed and nothing she tries will make them get along.
We stood watching as Stefano Amendola was being laid to rest. Luca stood holding Mateo hand as he watched what happen. There was no telling what that poor kid must have been thinking. When we broke the news to him a day ago all he did was nod and said. 'Daddy's in a better place.' That was the last thing I expected a four year old to say after telling him he wouldn't be able to see his father again.
What surprised us all was Jasmine who showed up in the church and taking one of the seats assigned for family. She didn't care for Stefano despite of them not being together yet here she stood in all her demonic glory with not a single hair out of place.
After the funeral was over I approach her. "What are you doing here?"
Mateo and Bentley came standing next to me as the three of us wait for her answer.
"We didn't get to finish our conversation the last time I saw youâ"
"You went to see her?"Bent says. He was always the last person to know what's going on, which makes me wonder how he is able to run a billionaire company without any trouble.
"That's besides the point, brother." I remove the dark glasses I was wearing for this woman to see the glare directed at her. "I won't repeat myself Jasmine."
She looks ahead at Luca who was in my mothers' arms. "I can't be the mother that I should be to Luca. I was not cut out to be a mother, I'm horrible at it. Whenever he cried I would start to panic because I'm not sure why he's crying. I remember this one time, he was hungry and I gave him a cookie, it was only when he started to choke on it I realize that I shouldn't have given a four month old a damn cookie. He doesn't deserve someone like me in his life."
"Damn straight he doesn't." Mateo says.
Jasmine nods. "I deserve that. I want him to live his best life and I can't give him that."
"What are you trying to say?" Bent ask.
"I want toâ I'm leaving the States and I know he'll be in good hands; I saw how good you all are with him." She pause and look at Mat, "You especially. Would you mind being his guardian?"
We all stare at her in shock.
"I love the little man, but why me?" Mat ask taking a step closer to her. "Why not Aunt Martha are even Gio?"
"Mrs Haynes is getting older everyday, I don't think it's a wise idea to burden her with a four year old and Giovanni, well he has his own life in L.A and after everything I put him through I couldn't ask him to take the responsibility. Please I'm sure you know that this family is all he have."
We watch as Mat turn looking at Luca who was now standing with his cousins. "Iâ"
"You'll have full responsibility of him, I promise I won't come back and cause any chaos. I would ask Bentley and Ashira but they already have two children."
"There's some things I need to work out and after I will be moving to L.A." He grin at Bentley who groans in return."I wouldn't want to take him away from the rest of the family."
Placing my hands in my pocket I look back and forth between the two. "Mat's right. You should at least sit Luca down and find out how he feels about it."
My back was given a hard slap,"I'm proud little brother, when did you become a child expert?"
I shrug putting my shades on while walking away. "Talk with him tomorrow, he's been through enough since the last couple days." I say over my shoulder.
I don't know why I was slightly disappointed that she didn't ask me to be the guardian of the kid. Even if she did what would my answer be, could I even give him the proper care and Ciara, how would she feel about it?
I continue walking towards the car. Where did all this come from, shit I must be loosing it.
Ciara Mendes
"I am so sorry." Was the first thing I said as I open the door and saw Giovanni standing there. Although his Uncles' death was expected it still doesn't decrease the sorrow him and his family felt once it happen.
He look so depressed and vulnerable as he stood there wearing a grey long sleeve shirt and dark jeans. I wrap my arms around him and relax as I felt him wrap his own around me.
"It's not like we didn't know it would happen sooner are later." Was all he said as I close the door behind us.
"That is true but Giovanni that doesn't make the pain any less."
He nods. "What I regret is not forgiving him much sooner. Ciara if it wasn't for you he would have died without knowing that despite of what he did he was still my favourite uncle."
I stood holding his hands as he continue."Thank you."
Leaning up I kiss his lips softly. "You are most welcome."
I lead him to the sofa where he immediately sat looking up at me. "I might sound like a broken record but I missed you so fucking much."
I sat snuggling up next to him. "I don't care how much you sound like a broken record. I like feeling appreciated."
He didn't reply. I look at him seeing him stare straight ahead with an emotion I could not read. Instead of questioning him about it I decided it would be best to change the topic.
"Soâ tell me uncle will I get to meet those adorable children anytime in the near future?"
He look at me in amusement. "You love them don't you?"
"Of Course I do, I fell in love with them the moment you brought them in front of the laptop screen." He rose a brow. "I mean they're children, what's not to love?"
"I must admit, I'm a bit jealous." He pause."They're eager to meet you too especially Haylie, I'll fly them out once they get a break from school; under one condition."
"And what would that be?"
"You Ms Mendes be there to help me take care of them. Obviously you're a bigger fan of them than I am, and the feelings are mutual."
"I can do that."
"I didn't get to congratulate you properly on that promotion." He says changing the subject. "Why don't you allow me to take you out tomorrow evening after work? That's if you're not too tired."
"You're learning." I caress his cheek, liking the feel of his slight stumble underneath my palm. "And yes I would love for us to go out and celebrate. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have even gotten a promotion."
He hug me closer. "You did all of the hard work buttercup. All I did was answer your questions the best way I could."
"Still I want to say, thank you."
Leaning down he press a light kiss on my forehead, that made my heart palpitates and my eyes flutter shut. "Anything for you buttercup."