Patrizio suddenly lifted his head and, pulling her dress back into place, faced his nephew. ‘Bruno, did you want me for something?’ he asked.
Bruno’s sneering gaze went to Keira’s dishevelled state. ‘No, but clearly she still does,’ he said with a cynical curl of his lip.
Keira felt her face light up like a furnace and had to look away from that irritating smirk.
‘But you’re not the only one she wants,’ Bruno continued coldly as he held out Keira’s mobile phone to his uncle.
Keira felt her skin shrink all over her body, her heart thumping like a jackhammer in her chest as Patrizio took the phone from his nephew. She held her breath as he looked down
at the text message on the screen, his jaw clenching as he read whatever was written there.
After what seemed an age, he flipped the phone shut and handed it to Keira with an unreadable look, before turning back to his nephew. ‘I am not sure it is very wise to read or listen to other people’s messages,’ he said. ‘There are instances when they can be easily misinterpreted and cause untold damage when in the wrong hands.’
‘I warned you she’s still seeing him,’ Bruno said. ‘Look at the guilt written all over her face.’
Keira lowered her gaze to the phone in her shaking hands and, with fumbling fingers, flipped open the screen and accessed her last received message. It was from Garth and, read out of context, was as damning as any could be.
Meet me Friday, four p.m. at my apartment—Garth.
She looked up to see Patrizio watching her. ‘It’s not what you think…’ she said.
‘No, I am sure it is not,’ he said and, taking her arm, led her indoors back to the table, where Robyn had set out dessert and coffee.
The boys made short work of the cheesecake and strawberries but Keira could see that Patrizio had other things on his mind, even though he was making a valiant attempt to be polite and get through the generous helping of dessert Robyn had set before him.
‘We will take the boys back to school on our way home,’ he said to Robyn after everyone had finished.
‘Thank you, Patrizio,’ she said, blushing slightly. ‘Kingsley’s gone to bed with a headache. He’s been under quite a bit of stress lately, as you can imagine.’
Keira felt like shaking her mother for always enabling her father to get away with his appalling behaviour. She exchanged rolled-eyed glances with Jamie and got to her feet. ‘Don’t make excuses for him, Mum,’ she said. ‘He’s nothing but an overbearing tyrant who’s been browbeating all of us for years. Why on earth do you put up with it?’
‘Please don’t cause any more trouble, Keira,’ Robyn said. ‘Haven’t you done enough for one evening? Your father has an important meeting tomorrow and now he’s unwell.’
Keira blew out her cheeks in frustration as she scooped up her purse. ‘This is such a farce,’ she said. ‘You insist on playing happy families when you’re as miserable as a wet weekend and have been for years.’
‘I’m not miserable,’ Robyn said. ‘I love your father. He’s a good man and stood by me when…’ She paused and put an agitated hand up to her throat. ‘I mean he’s always stood by me.’
‘Thank you for a lovely dinner, Mrs Worthington,’ Patrizio said, coming between Keira and her mother. ‘I will take Keira and the boys home. I apologise for Keira’s behaviour; she is under a great deal of strain with her final exhibition coming up in less than four weeks.’
Robyn dabbed at her eyes. ‘She should have become a teacher as we wanted,’ she said. ‘I hate to see her throw her life away after all I did for her…’
‘Oh, for God’s sake.’ Keira rolled her eyes as she left the room.
Patrizio put his hand on Robyn’s shoulder. ‘Do not worry about her,’ he said gently. ‘I am looking after her now and will not let her throw her life away.’
Robyn looked up at him through eyes brimming with tears. ‘He does love her, you know,’ she choked. ‘Kingsley, I mean. I admit he didn’t for years…not until Jamie was born and looked just like her…. he knew, then…’
Patrizio frowned, his chest suddenly feeling uncomfortably tight. ‘Knew what?’ he asked.
Robyn got to her feet and began clearing the dessert plates with jerky movements of her hands. ‘I’ve had too much wine to drink,’ she said, giving a forced laugh. ‘Silly me, I’ve always been hopeless with alcohol. Keira’s the same. More than half a glass and we can’t remember a thing we’ve said or done.’
‘Patrizio, are you taking us back or not?’ Jamie asked from the door. ‘We’ll get a detention if we’re not back by ten.’
‘Coming,’ Patrizio said over his shoulder.
Robyn gave him a sheepish look as she juggled the rest of the plates. ‘Go on, Patrizio. I’ll be fine…really.’
‘Are you sure?’