‘Mr Alexi, I showed Jean-Claude the Galanti X,’ he said, shoving the model under my nose. ‘He said it was cool.’
‘Of course he did,’ I said, catching Belle’s eye. ‘Belle, could I talk to you—and Cai—alone for a minute?’
Her face flushed and Edie grinned. ‘I told you so,’ Dante’s wife murmured as a knowing glance passed between the two women.
I had no idea what had been said, but I suspected I had been the subject when Belle’s face heated even more.
‘Yes, of course,’ she said.
‘If you need some privacy,’ Edie said, her grin spreading, ‘there are some steps leading down to a private cove behind the Japanese pagoda. Dante and I always go there when we need some alone time...’
I nodded and gripped Belle’s hand, giving her no time to change her mind. Cai was excited at the sight of the beach, and after I had carried him down the steps I put him down and took off his shoes so he could paddle in the water.
‘Only get your toes wet, Cai,’ I told him. ‘It’s dangerous to go in too deep without me, okay?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, Mr Alexi,’ he said as he sped off. I sighed.
‘What is it, Alexi, is something wrong?’ Belle asked, her concern clear even though she had been careful not to show it in front of Cai.
‘There is nothing wrong. I simply wish to get your permission to tell Cai who I really am.’ I smiled, trying to hide my own nerves. ‘I’m tired of being called Mr Alexi.’
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I think he’d be thrilled,’ she added. Although, she didn’t look thrilled. ‘But why now?’ she asked.
Because I’ve been a coward. Because it’s way past time. Because I’ll have to let you go soon. And before I do I must take this next step.
But I couldn’t say any of that without exposing myself. So I settled for telling her the one truth I could acknowledge.
‘Because I’m tired of not being able to kiss you and touch you in front of him,’ I murmured, and before she could evade me I dragged her into my arms, desperate to feel her surrender.
She gasped but her lips softened against mine as I covered her mouth. The kiss became hungry and seeking instantly, as it always did.
‘Why are you kissing my mummy?’
I ripped my mouth away first to see Cai standing in front of us, having returned from the water’s edge.
He tilted his head, more curious than accusatory.
Belle’s face lit up like a Christmas tree and she crouched down to talk to him eye to eye. ‘Cai, it’s okay, you don’t have to be afraid. Alexi and I are...’
‘Shh, Belle, let me explain.’ I touched her shoulder to halt the guilty tangle of words. ‘Come here,’ I said to Cai. The boy slung his arm around my shoulders as I knelt beside him in the sand, the way I had once seen him do with his mother. ‘I kissed your mother because I like kissing her,’ I said.
His nose wrinkled at that. ‘Why?’
‘Because she is special to me,’ I said, the fear returning as I realised the truth of those words.
‘Why?’ the boy asked again.
There were so many answers I could give to that question, but there was only one I could allow myself to acknowledge. ‘Because she is the mother of my son.’
The boy’s brow furrowed, and although I felt choked at admitting the truth to my son for the first time I could see I’d been too cryptic for a four-year-old to understand.
‘You are my son, Cai—and I am your father. I am sorry I haven’t been in your life before now, but I would like to be in it for a very long time to come.’
‘You’re my daddy?’ The boy’s eyes widened as he caught on, and then his gaze shifted to Belle. She nodded, and then sniffed, and I realised she was struggling to keep her emotions at bay.
‘Yes, I am,’ I said as the boy’s gaze shifted back to me.
‘Can I call you Daddy?’ he asked.