Darker The Forbidden Berry

Chapter 11

Aja adjusted her red dress as she stepped out of the car that had dropped them off at a cozy little cafe in the heart of the city Finn’s parents lived in. She stepped off the stone street and onto the sidewalk, stealing a glance at herself in the reflection of the window. Her baby bump was showing a little bit, though she decided she just looked a bit bloated. Hopefully, Richard wouldn’t notice.

“Is he here yet?” Aja asked, wringing her hands together.

Finn took both of her hands in his and smiled, bringing them to his lips and kissing them.

“I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter, okay?” He said gently. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to have a good time, alright?”

Aja forced herself to nod slowly and take a deep breath. “Okay…Okay,” she whispered, squeezing his hands for a moment.

Who could blame her for being nervous? It was not like her first meeting with Finn’s family had gone well. Richard was nice enough, but Aja still did not know him well. Finn had assured her that he wouldn’t bring Linda, but they could not be sure of that – right?

They stepped into the quaint cafe and the moment they did, a hand shot up from a table in the middle. Richard smiled at them pleasantly and waved them over. Aja let out a breath she’d been holding when she realized Richard was alone. They made their way over to the table and each of them settled in one of the bamboo chairs.

Aja finally let herself relax and take in the atmosphere of the cafe. It was filled with the smells of coffee and fresh-baked pastries. Waitresses in aprons bustled around the gold and marble tables, topping off coffees and delivering muffins. It was small, but the open layout and white walls made it look much bigger and Aja could not help but appreciate all of the floral decorations that littered the cafe. It would have been a nice place to paint.

“Welcome!” Richard exclaimed, a pleasant smile on his face as he stood and offered each of them an embrace.

Aja relaxed and returned the hug before settling between Finn and Richard. She took Finn’s hand under the table as Richard flagged down a waitress and ordered them each a coffee and a cake to go with it. He finally turned his attention back to Finn and Aja, a pleasant smile pulling at the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes.

“How are you enjoying Italy, Aja?”

“Oh. It’s amazing! This is the first time I’ve left the country,” she explained.

“Is that so? Well, I’m so glad that your first experience abroad has been a positive one. Linda and I have vacation homes across the world. You two are welcome to stay at any of them any time you’d like.”

Aja pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Are you sure?” She asked softly.

“Am I sure of what?”

“Are you sure Linda would be okay with us staying at your properties?”

Richard sighed and leaned back, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if to ease a headache.

“Listen, I hate to say this because she’s my wife, but it needs to be said.” He dropped his hand and met her gaze. “I don’t really care how Linda feels about you two. Her reason for not liking you is petty. As far as I’m concerned, you’re part of the family, Aja. Finn likes you and he’s a good judge of character. I trust him and you’ve given me no reason to think that you’ve managed to trick him into loving you so that you can run off with his fortune.”

Richard rolled his eyes at the absurdity of what he’d just said and Aja allowed herself to relax just a little more. He really was on their side.

“Thank you, Richard.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

Finn smiled at Richard and leaned back in his seat, allowing himself to relax for the first time since they’d gotten to Italy.

“Thank you, dad. These kind words mean a lot. I know mom is pissed, but it’s not going to change anything about my relationship with Aja.”

“I know, son. That’s why I wanted to come out here and meet with you two properly. I have a feeling this lovely young lady is going to be my daughter-in-law, so I wanted to make as many amends as I could on my own.”

Aja’s cheeks flushed red at the comment. There hasn’t really been any talk of a wedding, though that did seem like the next logical step. Still, the comment had her heart racing. Richard looked between them as silence settled over the table and he could not help the chuckle that left him.

“You two haven’t even broached the subject yet, hmmm?”

“Not really.”

“I figured you would have with a baby on the way,” he said, taking a big swig of coffee.

Aja’s head snapped to lock eyes with Richard’s. He had those same stormy gray eyes as Finn, though his were framed by thick, gray eyebrows.

“What?”

Richard nodded towards Aja’s belly.

“You’re pregnant, right? I mean I know I’m not supposed to assume that kind of thing, but you’re always touching your belly. That’s a pretty good sign that the stork is going to be visiting soon.”

“Does mom know?” Finn whispered – the panic in his voice was obvious.

Richard shook his head and waved his hand.

“No. She has no idea, but I wouldn’t keep it from her for long. The longer you hide it, the worse it’s going to be in the end. We both know that, Finn.”

Finn rubbed his face and let out a little sigh, nodding.

“I know. I know I need to tell her, but I’m just…I’m afraid.”

“What are you afraid of, son?”

“You’ve heard the things she’s threatened over the years, dad. What if she finally makes good on it?” He asked, letting his own hand drift to Aja’s belly.

Richard shrugged and pulled a pen out of the front pocket of his fishing shirt and signed an invisible signature in the air.

“Then I sign over some restaurants to you at the baby shower and you do exactly what you’ve been saying all these years. You start your own empire.”