It was strange to have gone to work in the car, every day we went and came walking. But the strangest thing, and I didn't know if they were my ideas, was that I felt as if someone was watching us. I looked dissimulate in all directions but never saw anyone suspicious. Maybe it was just my paranoia, so I didn't say anything to Christian, I didn't want him to worry about it. Around 6:20 pm I was parking the car at my parents' house. I turned off the engine and turned to Christian.
—Are you ready? —I asked him anxiously while he smiled seductively at me before he stole a kiss from me.
—With you I'm ready for anything, plus it's not like they're strangers to me. —he replied as he turned to the back seat and picked up the suitcase.
—But I don't think they'll remember you, you've changed a lot. —I said to him as we both laughed and got out of the car.
As we turned the car around, he took my hand while carrying the suitcase in the other and together we walked towards the door. I took the key out of my jeans pocket and opened the door by passing it.
—Mom, we're here. —I shouted as I closed the door behind Christian.
My mother came out of the kitchen and arrived where we were. For a moment she stared at Christian carefully. I guess she was trying to remember whether she knew him or not and whether she knew him from where.
—How are you, Mom? —I asked her arriving where she was and hugging her.
—Where do you look familiar to me? —she asked while we were both laughing.
—Mom, you remember Christian, the son of our neighbors. —I said to her as she looked at him in astonishment and amazement.
—You' ve changed, I remembered you more skinny. —she said while we laughed. —Now you look like a man. And your parents, they still live in London. —my mother asked him, and at that moment I stared at Christian and waited for him to answer.
—My parents died 3 years ago. —he replied stop laughing for a moment.
—I'm so sorry, I didn't know. —said my grieving mother.
—Don't worry, Mrs. Stelle, it was a long time ago. —he replied, smiling slightly.
—Please don't call me that, you can call me Carla. —asked my mother while she smiled at him.
—All right, Carla.
—Then you're Anastasia's boyfriend...again. —my mother asked him as we went to the living room and sat down, Christian and I on the sofa and she in an armchair in front of us.
—Yes. —he replied, giving me a crooked smile as he squeezed my hand lightly, I didn't even notice that it was intertwined with his.
—And how did you meet again? —my mother asked, staring at me curiously.
—We worked together. —I replied as I smiled slightly at Christian.
He looked at me slightly smiling before looking at my mother.
—I am his boss. —he answered while I stood like a stone and squeezed his hand tightly.
Of all the things he could have answered why he told my mother that he was my boss. How would she react to this discovery? If there was one thing I had learned, it was that my mother never reacted the way one imagined.
—I'm so happy for both of you. —she replied as Christian smiled. —Why don't you drop things into your room and go bathing in what I finish making dinner. —said my mother getting up from her chair and heading towards the kitchen, completely changing the subject of the conversation and leaving us alone.
—This conversation was strange. —he smiled at me as I stared at him.
—Very strange, let me show you the room. —I said, pulling his hand towards the stairs and towards my room.
As he entered, he left his suitcase in one of the beds while he looked around and I went to the windows to open them.
—It's been a long time since I've been in your room. —he said, sitting on the edge of my bed. —I see not much has changed since I was last here. —he smiled at me as I stood in front of the window overlooking his old house.
—I don't like to remember that much, the last time you were here was when you left. —I said to him, staring at him as I folded my arms.
—I promise not to leave this time. —he said to me as he got out of bed and approached me. —Not without warning. —he smiled at me as he uncrossed my arms and then embraced me tenderly.
—All right, now how about we take a bath for dinner.
He wouldn't let me out of his arms, he hugged me from behind as I walked to bed to find the clothes to bathe in.
Twenty minutes later we were going down the stairs and headed for the kitchen where my mother finished dinner.
—Can we help you with something? — I asked him from the door.
—You can set the table. —she told us while I took the plates and passed them to Christian and then took the cutlery.
We were finished putting the table on when I felt a car park outside, it must have been my father. The front door opened and a few minutes later he entered the dining room.
—Hello Dad. —I said as I walked over to where he was and hugged him.
—How are you? —he asked me as he stared at Christian.
—Dad, this is Christian, my boyfriend. —I said to him as Christian approached him and shook his hand.
—How are you, Mr. Stelle? —he said as they both shook hands.
—Very well. —he said, looking at him thoughtfully for a moment. — What does your face look familiar to me? he asked as I smiled.
—Do you remember the son of our neighbors? —I asked him as he nodded his head. —It's him, that's why he looks so familiar. —I replied, still laughing.
—How you've changed, boy. — he said as he slapped him on the shoulder.
—Can you help me, Anastasia? —mom said from the kitchen.
—Let's go to the living room and have a little chat. —my father said to Christian while I was on my way to the kitchen.
—I'm sorry. —I articulated with my lips as I watched him go with my father. The last thing I saw was that he was smiling at me slightly.
—Go carry those plates to the table. —she said to me, pointing to some salad plates. —And Christian?
—In the living room chatting with Dad. —I answered her as I took the plates and brought them to the table.
Ten minutes later the table was completely ready. I went to the living room to call my father and rescue Christian from what I imagined to be an interrogation. But when I got there, I got a surprise. Christian and my father laughed and talked animatedly.
—Dinner's ready. —I said announcing my presence by having them both look at me.
They got up from the sofa and walked to where I was. Christian came to my side and ran a hand around my waist.
—Promise me that someday you'll show me that car.
—Next time it will be. —he answered while my father disappeared on his way to the kitchen.
—You told him about the porshe! —I exclaimed in amazement.
—I had to, we started talking about cars and at the end he asked me what I was driving.
—At least you didn't tell him you were a millionaire, and you had several clubs and restaurants, I can't imagine what his reaction would be. —I replied as he laughed and he pressed me harder against him.
—No, we didn't get to talk about that much.
—We're going to dinner. —I said to him as we walked towards the dining room.
There we sat side by side. Christian's legs brushed lightly against mine, which only made me stare at him for a moment and he did nothing but smile. Mom had prepared spaghetti bolognese and Christian had stared at the table for a moment.
—Don't you like the food? —I asked him very softly.
—It's not that, this is my favorite food, well it was a long time ago. —he said while I smiled at him.
—Then why do you have that face? —I asked him as I began to serve the food on my plate.
—It's been a long time since I've eaten it homemade. —he replied thoughtfully.
—Then serve yourself and eat as much as you want. —I replied while he smiled at me and began to serve himself.
We finished dinner and Christian offered to help me clear the table.
—I'm done scrubbing, go for a walk. —my mother said as she took the washcloth out of my hand and smiled at me.
We left the house and walked around the city while holding hands or Christian hugged me. When I returned there was no sign of my parents, so I assumed they were sleeping. We went up to my room and when I went to get my clothes to change, Christian stopped me.
—Let me undress you. —he whispered to me as he hugged me from behind.
I looked at him sideways, but in the end I left him, I liked to feel his hands slide slowly down my body. He took off my clothes slowly until I was left with only my underwear. I turned to him who was still smiling at me with his jeans and shirt on.
—May I? — I asked him to point to his clothes.
—Anything you want. —he answered me as I approached and began to undress him slowly as he had done himself until he was left with only his boxers.
—Are you done? —he asked me, sticking to me. —Because now what I want most is to make love to you in your bed. —he said to me as I laughed at his witticisms.
He began to kiss me languidly as he carried me and led me to the bed where he slowly slipped his lips over my body. We made love slowly, unhurriedly until we hugged each other and both fell completely asleep.
Saturday was a splendid day with a lot of sunshine. Dad and Christian grilled in the yard while we prepared the rest of the food.
It was late afternoon, the four of us sitting with a beer in each hand as we talked. At that moment Christian's cell phone began to ring and he caught it still smiling as he looked at who was calling and frowned.
—Tell me Elliot. —he replied as he stared at me. —Wait, wait, a little slower. —he said as he put the beer on the floor and suddenly became very serious rising from the seat. —How did it happen? — I heard him ask as he moved a little away from me.
What would have happened? I didn't understand why Elliot called. Something bad must have happened for him to get as serious as he was at the time. He could say that he was nervous, as he passed his free hand over his head, he seemed even worried. I tried to listen to what he was saying.
—No, don't worry...don't touch anything until I get there. —he said as he looked at the clock. —Yes, I'll be right there. —he said as he stared at me and returned to my side. —See you there. —he replied before hanging up.
—What happened? —asked my worried mother without giving me time to ask the question.
—Just a little problem, I'm sorry I can't stay any longer but I have to go back to New York. he said, staring at me.
But the answer he had just given to me had not convinced me, I knew the problem was much worse than what he was saying.
—Let's go pick things up. —I said to him as we both left for my room.
I had already picked up his things and was going to start picking up mine when he stopped me.
—You don't have to come back with me, you came to see your parents, I don't think that would be fair. —he said, holding my hands.
—What happened? —I asked him intrigued by what had happened.
—A problem in one of the clubs, nothing important. —he answered without looking me in the eyes.
—It seemed important while you were talking on the phone, you don't want to tell me? —I asked him while he looked me in the eyes and shook his head.
—I'll tell you as soon as I'm aware of the situation, Elliot didn't tell me much on the phone. —he said to me as he slid one hand down my cheek.
—Take my car, I'll take a taxi tomorrow. —I said to him, holding out the keys.
—Don't worry, I'm going by taxi, so I know that tomorrow you'll arrive safely in your car. —he said while he was taking his cell phone and calling a taxi.
—Call me when you get there. —I asked him as we left the house a few minutes later.
The taxi was parked in front of the house. The truth was that I didn't want him to leave, but from his worried face at the time, I imagined that he was very worried about whatever had happened.
—I'll call you at night. —he said, giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
—I'm waiting for your call, if you don't, you can be sure I'll be there at any time. —I answered him while he smiled at me.
—Thank you for having me in your house, Carla. —he said goodbye to my mother.
—It's been a pleasure, you can come whenever you want. —she replied with a smile.
—I promise to bring the car next time Franklin. —he said as he shook my father's hand.
He went back to where I was and stared me in the eye.
—See you tomorrow, drive carefully, I'll call you at night. —he shoved one hand down my cheek and gave me another quick kiss.