The Salvatore Twins – Episode 5

The Salvatore Twins – Episode 5

 

© Happy William

 

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★Anne★

 

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We broke apart for an instant, only to change angle and deepen the kiss once more, and I wasn’t sure we were stopping anytime soon.

 

Emilio is still the wonderful kisser he’s always been, teasing and stroking until I felt that I would cry any moment from now because of the all consuming love I have for him, love which refused to go away. Love which was just laying dormant all these years locked away in a dark corner of my heart just waiting for it’s master to unlock it with a small touch.

 

When we broke away and I looked into his eyes, I knew that I was just being foolish…. and selfish. My babies deserve happiness.

 

And there was none other than Emilio who could give it.

 

“I’m really sorry, amora,” he whisper-talked as his stroked my cheek with his left hand and took my free hand in his.

 

I rolled my lips into my mouth for a second, silently reliving the kiss.

 

Then I spoke, “What for?”

 

“For lying to you, or keeping the truth from you. For letting you go and not finding you sooner.”

 

I chuckled. “You’re being dramatic, Emilio. I ran away, and didn’t want to be found.”

 

“I know, but still….”

 

He grinned, and I smiled, letting him join his forehead with mine.

 

“I’ve really missed you. I felt like I would die each passing day I couldn’t find you.”

 

I’m supposed to say sorry for putting him through all that suffering, and to say I missed him too. But I can’t. I love him, but my heart is still too weak and broken to tolerate any other hurt. So I made a decision.

 

The twins could have their daddy back.

 

But I wasn’t getting my love back.

 

Slowly, I pulled away.

 

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

 

“Emilio there can be no ‘us’ anymore,” I breathed out.

 

“Why n—”

 

“Because I don’t love you anymore.”

 

I saw his face downcast.

 

“I don’t believe it,” he murmured, “The kiss—”

 

“Was acted on impulse OK? I wasn’t thinking. But…. I was wondering if you’ll still like to see your — our— kids.”

 

“Kids?” he echoed in surprise that I had to giggle.

 

“Yup. Kids. Two bundles of joy, energy and mischief. Lots and lots of mischief.”

 

We returned to the office, me to carry my bag and Emilio to give instructions to his men and tell Jack the meeting was postponed. Emilia, who was chatting with him got up to join us. The poor guy looked…. hassled?

 

Ignoring the glances my colleagues mostly females sent me, I walked with Emilio and Emilia, and got into their car only after they insisted.

 

Emilia and I talked freely about this and that, while Emilio looked like he was really excited, nervous, anxious about meeting the L². Well, he should be.

 

I called Wendy at the house.

 

“Tell my babies to freshen up. I’m bringing the biggest surprise to them.”

 

Emilio sent me a small smile, and I sent a stiff one back.

 

Remember, you can’t be in love with him.

 

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★Leon★

 

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“OMG it’s gonna be daddy!” Lian screams after Wendy told us about the surprise mommy was giving us, jumping all over the parlour and on the couch I was laying down on.

 

“Geez Lian can you not be a baby for once in your baby life!?” I yelled and pushed her off.

 

Gosh, annoying twin.

 

So girlish.

 

And moodspoiling.

 

“Leon you’re a big meanie,” she whined and hit me on the arm.

 

“Stop it, and don’t forget who the eldest is.”

 

“By three minutes.”

 

“OK little fellas, time out,” said Wendy as she tidied the mess Lian made with all her jumping, “what did mommy say about fighting?”

 

“Well, she started it!” I said.

 

“Did not!”

 

“Did too!”

 

“Did not!”

 

“Did too!”

 

“Did not!”

 

“What’s the matter with you?” I asked.

 

“Well you’re thinking about Betty Fankson that’s for sure,” she grinned.

 

“Hey, I wasn’t.”

 

OK, maybe I was a little.

 

I was just wondering how a girl could be so weird.

 

“Ahh….so Leon, care to share who Betty Fankson is and why you’re thinking about her?” Wendy asked and settled down beside me on the sofa.

 

“I said I wasn’t!” I yelled and threw a cushion….. which went flying towards the door that was just opening.

 

The pillow landed in front of a man’s shoes.

 

Lian and I trailed our eyes up the figure to see a man that was staring at us with as much surprise as we were staring at him.

 

“Uh oh……” Lian muttered.

 

“Be cool,” I muttered back.

 

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★Anne★

 

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“Munchkin, you promised to be good,” I complained as I picked up the cushion pillow and set it on the couch.

 

They didn’t reply me.

 

They kept their gaze focused on the doorway.

 

Emilio cleared his throat, and I turned to find him with his arms folded across his broad chest, leaning casually against the doorframe as if it was perfectly normal for him to be here, in my small flat, smiling at the twins like he’d known them for ages. Hmm…blood being thicker than fanta. Emilia had a smile on her face too.

 

“Kay little guys, this is Emilio Salvatore, your dad, and Emilia Salvatore, your aunt. Emilio, Lia, meet Leon and Lian. Troublesome twins who happened to inherit the trait from both of you.”

 

I ended my introduction with a deep breath and watched how Lian scrambled towards Emilio, arms outspread, and threw herself into his waiting embrace, hugging him tight as he hugged her back.

 

“Daddy! Boy have I wanted to see you,” she grinned as if they’d known each other since genesis.

 

“Yeah princess, me too,” Emilio replied soulfully.

 

Lian giggled, she liked sweet names like those.

 

She got down as Leon angled forward, looking into a face that was an exact version of his, only older.

 

“Dad,” he said.

 

“Piccolo (child),” Emilio replied, squatting on his haunches to be level faced with his son.

 

It was touching watching those two whisper words to each other and I felt guilty knowing that I almost denied them this closure. Wendy held my shoulder with smiles.

 

“I’m happy for you dear friend,” she said.

 

I’d cry any moment from now.

 

“Thanks Wen.”

 

Leon and Emilio did a fist bump, and hugged themselves until Emilia said, “Aw come on, give aunt Emilia a hug too.”

 

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After all the reunion, Leon and Lian made me invite Emilio and Emilia for lunch with us, and I had to give in. Wendy left because she had a class to teach at the orphanage, promising to stay back next time.

 

They were all in the living room, chattering their voices off and I heard Leon and Lian telling their dad and aunt about their pets, school, how much they liked Italian, and everything else. They were getting along pretty fine.

 

I was getting started on lunch, maybe chicken soup? Or stewed chicken? I checked the freezer, the fridge and the cabinets for a hint of lunch. No idea.

 

Sighing, I saw Emilio stride into the kitchen. He had done off with his suit, and his stripped blue shirt was unbuttoned at the neck. The sleeves were folded to the elbows to reveal well toned biceps.

 

“Uhm, lunch isn’t ready yet,” I rushed out my words looking away.

 

“What’re we having?”

 

“I dunno. Trying to make a decision.”

 

“Why don’t I order Italian? The kids sure have a thing for it.” He grinned.

 

I glanced away from how unnerving his grin made me.

 

“Sure, whatever,” I mumbled, then flinched when I felt his finger under my chin raising my face up to meet his.

 

“Anne—”

 

“Stop, Emilio, OK?”

 

“Stop what?”

 

“This…. whatever you’re doing or trying to do. It won’t change anything between us.”

 

“We have kids together. Two adorable kids. Why can’t we make it work for them, if not for me? This rift will surely affect them.”

 

“Well I —”

 

“Mom! Aunt Emilia is starving and she’s fainting!” Lian yelled from the parlour.

 

I sighed. I knew she meant that she and Leon were hungry.

 

“Order Italian,” I told Emilio, “The phone’s over there.”

 

“We’ll continue this talk soon.”

 

“No. Unless it’s anything about the twins, we have nothing more to say to each other.”

 

I ducked under him and began bringing out plates and cutlery.

 

Few minutes later, we were all seated at the table around a hot bowl of steaming Italian carbonara.

 

Lian said grace, and everyone dug in.

 

“Italian!” they’d exclaimed.

 

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I was putting the dishes away. Emilia came in.

 

“Anne?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I might not know or understand whatever happened all past, but…. thanks for being there for my brother, and for giving him these wonderful babies. Hope it continues to be that way.”

 

Her smile was suspicious, as if she had a plan up her sleeves.

 

” Uhm…”

 

“It’s okay. We’re leaving now. Lio says he’ll be back tomorrow.”

 

“Yeah. Bye bye.”

 

“Aren’t you coming to see us out?”

 

“No I’m… busy. Sorry.”

 

She winked. “It’s cool. And oh, I’ll be keeping in touch with my little neph and niece. Bye.”

 

From the kitchen, the twins exchanged hearty byes with their dad and aunt especially when they promised to come around the next day.

 

I let out a pent up breath when I heard the car zoom off.

 

“Mommy!” Leon said.

 

“Yes, handsome?”

 

“You didn’t want to say bye bye to daddy,” he added.

 

“Why?” Lian asked.

 

“Nothing. Mommy’s busy.” I replied.

 

They exchanged glances.

 

“Okay. Daddy says he’s coming tomorrow, I’m so excited! Thanks for bringing him back mom!” she said.

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

“But aren’t you two, like…. talking?” Leon asked.

 

I squatted to face them.

 

“You see, mommy and daddy have a teeny weeny problem right now.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well —”

 

“I don’t like that. I want us to all play together all the time. Camobunga!”

 

“What?” I asked, confused at Leon’s strange word.

 

“Camobunga!” they repeated.

 

“Let me guess. Another made up Italian word.”

 

“Yup. This one means I’m serious.” Leon said.

 

“Dad says he’s gonna teach us to speak it. Aunt Emilia too!”

 

“We showed him Salvy, our pet spider. And Rufford, Lian’s beetle. He was pleased.”

 

“That’s nice,” I said and washed the plates, drying them on the drainboard. “But it’s time for you to shower and get ready for our evening telenovela, and then bedtime. Let’s go. You can tell me all about it in the bathroom.”

 

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The three of us cuddled on the sofa watching “Shade of Sin”.

 

In today’s episode Paulo had accepted to live with Mr Alphonso, and he still hasn’t recovered his memory. Preta’s tapioca stand has gone down badly and she has no money to sponsor her son Ride. She still refuses to tell Paulo about their son because she feels betrayed that he has another son, Octavio, with Barbara who’s her archenemy. Meanwhile, Greta and her gang are still looking for a way to steal Mamushca’s secret formula for power, but they are stopped by her three sons and super Tina. That part got us all laughing.

 

After the movie, I tucked them into bed with a short prayer and went to my room, unable to sleep because Emilio’s on my mind.

 

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★Lian★

 

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OK, Mommy’s gone. Come on Leon, we gotta plan against tomorrow!” I got out of bed and he did too.

 

We took out our big Plan Book from under the cupboard.

 

“Now Lian, mommy thinks she doesn’t like daddy anymore, but aunt Emilia says it’s obvious they’re still in love. Our main aim is to make sure that they realize this by themselves. Especially mom.”

 

“Yeah, she could be stubborn sometimes,” I giggled.

 

“But we’re stubborner, and hardheaded. Mommy and daddy will be together no matter what.”

 

We highfived and set to work.

 

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★Emilio★

 

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“Hey Lio, can I come in?”

 

I snapped out of my thoughts of Anne and nodded to Emilia.

 

“So, what’re your plans now?”

 

“I’m taking my kids back with me to Italy. Gosh Lia, did you see how beautiful they looked? Exactly like me, but with Anne’s brown hair and nose.”

 

I couldn’t help smiling.

 

I’m a dad now.

 

Those paternal instincts just jumped in outta nowhere.

 

“Yeah, but what about the sweetheart?”

 

I sighed. “I don’t think Anne and I were meant to be.”

 

“Whatdahell bro, you’re giving up just like that?”

 

“Perhaps it’s for the best. The only thing we have in common now are the twins.”

 

Not wanting to talk about that or relieve the hurt when Anne told me we’re over, I opened my laptop.

 

“I have to get started on the draft for the postponed meeting,” I told Lia, signalling the end of conversation.

 

“Yeah, sure,” she replied looking thoughtful.

 

What was going on in that mind of hers?

 

To be continued

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