To Be Yours Again-Chapter 204 Narrow lanes

Danica watches Lorenzo vault up the steps and close the gate behind him. He looks worried, and she wonders where he’s going. Something bad has happened. A frisson skitters up her spine, but she’s not sure why. She sighs. There’s so much she doesn’t know about him.

And he said they might have to return town.

She will have to face the reality of her situation.

Homelessness.

She’s pushed it all aside for the last few days, but so much is unresolved in her life. Where will she live? Will Julio have given up looking for her? How does Lorenzo feel about her? She sucks in a breath as she tries to shake off her concerns and hopes that he can deal with whatever the problem is quickly and return.

Even now the house feels empty without him. The last few days have been blissful, and she hopes they don’t have to go back town. She’s not ready to return to reality yet. She’s never been happier than she is here, with him. In the meantime she’ll finish loading the dishwasher. Then she’ll shower.

***********

*Lorenzo*

I took a shortcut along the back roads to the great house that was my family’s Mansion in this village, it’s faster than going up the main drive. The rain is growing heavier, drumming on the car windscreen and roof as I slice through the narrow lanes.

Passing the gatehouse at the southern entrance to the estate, I slow as the car rattles over the cattle grid, then accelerate up the driveway through the south pasture. In this winter rain, the landscape is dreary and damp and dotted with the occasional sheep. Come spring, the cattle will be out to graze again. Through the leafless trees, I catch sight of the house. Nestled in the wide dale, slate gray and Gothic, it dominates the landscape as if plucked from a novel by one of the Brontë sisters. I’ve always loved this place.

And one day, it’d be mine.

I’d be the custodian.

The car rocks over a second cattle grid as I drive around the back of the great house and pull up outside the old stables where my father’s car collection is housed.

Abandoning the Jag, I dash up to the kitchen door, and I’m pleased to find it open.

Jessie is in the kitchen cooking breakfast, with the family’s dogs at her feet.

“Good morning, Jessie,” I call as I dash through. Jensen and Healey both jump up and scramble after me.

Jessie’s voice follows me out into the corridor. “Lorenzo! I mean, Don Lorenzo!”

I ignore her and head into the study.

The walls are painted blood-red and covered with his photographs, landscapes and portraits, even a couple of my mother.

With canine enthusiasm, tails wagging and tongues licking, the dogs jump up at me while I make my way to the desk.

“Hello, boys. Hi. There. Hi. There. Steady.” I pet them both.

“Sir, it’s great to see you, but is everything okay?” Jessie asks as she enters behind me.

“My flat has been burgled. I’m going to sort it out from here.”

“Oh, no!” Jessie’s hand flies to her mouth.

“No one’s hurt,” I reassure her. “Dante’s there and assessing the damage.”

“That’s terrible.” She wrings her hands. “It’s a pain in the arse, is what it is.”

“Can I get you anything?”

“I’d love some coffee.”

“I’ll fetch some straightaway.” She bustles out of the room, and Jensen and Healey, with mournful looks at me, follow her out. I sit down on the desk.

Firing up the iMac, I log in and open FaceTime, then click on Dante’s contact link.

**************

Danica stands under the powerful shower enjoying the hot water streaming over her. She will miss this when they leave to go back to town. As she washes her hair, the thought depresses her. She’s loved this magical time in this village, just the two of them. She will always treasure the memory of her stay in this extraordinary house with him.

Lorenzo.

As she soaps her hair, she opens one eye, unable to shake her anxiety. Even though she’s locked the bathroom door, she’s nervous. She’s not used to being alone, and she’s missing him. She’s become accustomed to his presence. Everywhere. She blushes and smiles.

Yes. Everywhere.

Now, if she could just work up the courage to touch him... everywhere.

****************

*LORENZO*

Much of my flat is unaffected by the burglary. The darkroom is undisturbed, so my camera gear is intact, and more important from a sentimental point of view,

I still have my precious cameras. And I’m lucky the thieves didn’t find the safe.

They’ve stolen some of my shoes and some jackets from my wardrobe, though it’s difficult to tell, as there are clothes thrown around my bedroom.

The drawing room, on the other hand, is a mess. All my photography has been ripped off the walls. My iMac is smashed on the floor. My laptop and mixing consoles are gone, and my vinyl is all over the floor.

Fortunately, the piano is untouched.

“That appears to be the extent of it,” Dante says. He’s holding up his phone and using the camera so I can inspect the damage on my computer screen.

“Fuckers. Any idea when they broke in?” I ask.

“No. Your neighbor didn’t see anything. But it could have been anytime over the weekend.”

“It could have been after I left on Friday. How did they get in?”

“You saw the state of the front door.”

“Yeah. They must have forced it with something heavy. The fuckers. I must have forgotten to set the alarm in my haste to leave.”

“It didn’t go off. I think you probably did forget. But I don’t think that would have deterred them.”

“Hello...?” A disembodied voice from somewhere else in the flat interrupts us.

“That will be the police,” Dante says.

“You called them? That was quick. Good. Let me know what they say. Call me back.”

“Will do, sir.” He rings off.

I stare despondently at the screen. I don’t want to go back to town. I want to stay here, with Danica.

There’s a knock on the door, and Mona appears in the doorway. “Good morning, sir. I hear you’ve been robbed.”

“Morning, Mona. Yes. Though it doesn’t look like I’ve lost anything irreplaceable. It’s just a mess.”

“Mrs. Blake will be able to tidy up any mess. What a nuisance this is.”

“Indeed.”

“Where would you like your breakfast?”

“Breakfast?”

“Sir, Jessie’s made you breakfast. French toast. Your favorite.”

Oh. I wanted to get back to Danica.

Mona, sensing my hesitancy, gives me The look over her glasses. The Look that made me quail as young kid.

You settle down now, child, and eat your supper. Or I will tell your mother.

She always played the Mothership card.

“I’ll take it in the kitchen with you and the rest of the staff, but I have to be quick.”

“Very good, sir.”

*********

Danica’s wrapped in towels to dry off after her shower. In the walk-in closet, she rummages through the clothes that Lorenzo bought her a few days ago. She cannot seem to shake her apprehension.

She jumps at every strange noise she

hears. It’s rare for her to be on her own. At the orphanage, she was always surrounded by the other kids.

And after escaping Julio, and when she lived with Magda, she was seldom alone; either Magda or John was there.

She wills herself to concentrate on the task at hand. After all, she has her new clothes. She decides on the black jeans with a gray top and a pretty pink cardigan.

She hopes that Lorenzo will like what she’s chosen.

Finally dressed, she picks up the hair dryer and switches it on, its high-pitched whir filling the silence.