‘For once we agree on something,’ Rico’s voice broke in, and Catherine shot him a furious look.
‘Antonia was talking, Rico. I think we should at least hear what she has to say.’
‘I’m tired of listening to her crap.’ Taking Catherine’s hand, he held it for a moment, slowly turning it over in his palm before holding it up. ‘Notice anything?’ His malevolent tones had shivers running down Catherine’s spine, and there was nothing tender in the way he held her. ‘Aren’t you going to congratulate us, Father?’ When Carlos just sat there in stunned silence he addressed his stepmother. ‘Antonia? Aren’t you going to welcome the newest addition to the Mancini family?’
‘You see, you’re right Antonia. Children do deserve two parents, and I figured with you damaging my reputation, coupled with the hours I put in at the office—well, it might go against me if I were in sole charge. But given I’ve got a loving wife at home—a loving, educated wife, I hasten to add, with not a single skeleton in the cupboard—well, I’m sure the courts will understand that I need to provide for my family. I’m sure the courts will have no hesitation in giving Catherine and I full custody.’
The room was icy cold. Antonia was opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish as Rico’s hand snaked around Catherine’s face and he planted a kiss on her cheek in a curiously triumphant gesture before addressing his family. ‘Antonia, Father—’ Rico smiled in turn at them both. ‘Allow me to introduce my wife.’
‘Your wife?’ The incredulity in Antonia’s voice wasn’t born of affection; Catherine could almost taste her disgust as it permeated the room. ‘When did this happen?’
‘This morning.’ Rico’s voice was insolent. ‘You’ll understand there wasn’t exactly time to send out invitations, and naturally we don’t expect a present, but surely congratulations should be in order?’
‘Never!’
Antonia was shuddering with an unleashed fury which Rico clearly wasn’t going to hang around to witness. As he stalked out of the room, Catherine knew her supposed place was by his side, but her legs were leaden as she turned to go. She was truly torn by what she had witnessed.
‘He’s using you.’ Antonia almost ran to catch up with her. Pulling at Catherine’s suit, she turned her around, and Catherine waited—waited for confrontation, for accusations of what she didn’t know. But more bewildering was a look from Antonia that bordered on sympathetic, a touch that was almost maternal as she squeezed Catherine’s arm. ‘Maybe you think you’re using him as well, Catherine. Perhaps you’ve agreed to use each other. But I’m telling you: you won’t come out of this unscathed.’
‘Please, Antonia,’ Catherine warned her, ‘don’t threaten me.’
‘I’m not threatening you, my dear.’ Antonia shook her head. ‘It’s not me that you have to fear; I only want what’s best for Lily.’
‘So do I.’ Catherine’s throat was dry, her mouth like sandpaper, and she could see Rico out of the corner of her eye, waiting impatiently for her to join him. But still she held her ground. ‘And I truly believe that this is the best way.’
‘Can I at least see her?’ Tears were filling Antonia’s eyes now, and Catherine was appalled at what she had been reduced to. She had read about grandparents being kept from their grandchildren, had moaned with her colleagues about children being used as a weapon in bitter custody battles, and to think she was capable of it truly appalled her. ‘Please don’t keep us away from her while the court case goes on. Whatever happens between the families, surely we should still be able to see her.’
‘Of—of course,’ Catherine stammered. ‘Lily needs people who love her.’
‘And I do love her.’ Antonia gulped. ‘Whatever Rico says about me, I do love her. All I’m asking is that you remember that.’
Oh, she didn’t want to remember that—didn’t want the rules to suddenly change. It had all been so much easier when Antonia was the enemy—a cold, heartless woman who would stop at nothing—but suddenly she didn’t look so cold. Right now she looked like a grandmother having her heart stamped on.
‘I have to go,’ Catherine said. ‘Rico is waiting…’
‘It’s Rico you need to watch out for,’ Antonia warned, her eyes boring into her, almost mesmerising in their clarity. ‘He’s using you, and when he’s finished with you he’ll toss you aside, the same as he did with his father, the same as he did with his brother. You’ll be left with nothing.’
‘I’m Lily’s aunty,’ Catherine said, with a conviction that wavered as Antonia shook her head slowly.
‘You’re a pawn, darling. A pawn in one of Rico’s games.’
CHAPTER SIX
‘I KNOW it all seems a bit strange, but you’ll soon get used to it.’
Catherine didn’t even deign to give a response as she clipped along the marble entrance hall in her high heels, her dark suit matching her sombre mood. Antonia’s words were still ringing in her ears as she tried to fathom the new world she now inhabited.
And he watched.
Watched from a distance as she explored her new surroundings, quietly proud of her detached dignity as she adjusted to yet another new page in the book of her life, again faced the challenges the world seemed only too willing to provide this resilient woman.
You have to let her come to you.
How many times over the last days had he heard that?
Every time Lily had arched her back, sobbed in protest as he held out his arms to her, the social worker had repeated those words. ‘She’s confused, scared—it’s all too much for her to take in. If you can just be there for her, and try not to expect too much, then in time she’ll come to you.’
But it wasn’t Lily worrying him now; tonight his concern was purely for Catherine.