I posted Chapter One of "One Major Mistake," the newest release in the Ivanovich series, on July 25, 2012. You just need to go back and look for it on this blog if you missed it. Now, I'm posting Chapter Two.
Enjoy the FREEBIE!
CHAPTER TWO
“Felice! I wasn’t
expecting you.”
Felice Bellicini Thornton
was Pavel’s ex-lover and mother of their daughter Rita Grace. She was just as
beautiful as Teresa, but of course, Teresa would never admit that. Teresa knew
Pavel was attracted to good looking women, much like any man, but she also knew
assuredness went a long way with him. Teresa knew her confidence in herself was
a defining factor and one of the reasons why Pavel loved her and not Felice any
longer. At least, that’s what Teresa told herself.
Teresa knew that Pavel’s
ruthlessness and desire to bring down the Mancini crime family was the root of
his breakup with Felice, and oddly enough, was what brought Teresa and Pavel
together. But Felice moved on and married Darryl Thornton and was happy with
the new life she chose. After a lot of trauma for both he and Felice, his
relationship with her was now amicable and they harmoniously shared custody of
Rita Grace. Even Teresa came to like Felice. Unfortunately, his job didn’t
allow a lot of visitation time and Pavel always said Darryl turned out to be a
good second father to Rita Grace and he was grateful for that.
“I know I should have
called first. Can I come in?”
“Of course,” Teresa moved
aside so Felice could enter. “Let me put some clothes on. I’ll be right out.
There’s coffee, if you want some. Pavel made it before he left this morning.”
“Thanks.”
Teresa changed her clothes
and towel-dried her hair. She came out, poured herself a cup of coffee and joined
Felice, who had already helped herself.
“What brings you by?”
Teresa asked, sitting down at the table.
“Well, I need a favor.”
“Okay.”
“The minute I met you, I
knew I liked you.”
“After what happened when
we first met, it sort of surprises me.”
“You mean when you were
let’s say . . . admonishing Pavel for something he said?” Felice laughed.
Teresa laughed with her, “Yes,
and when he walked in the front door and I didn’t know you and Rita Grace were
there when I threw an egg at him.”
“Yeah, getting me instead.”
After Pavel’s acceptance
of Felice’s new life, his own with Teresa became more real to him. Felice was
no longer a threat to Teresa and because of that, Teresa didn’t have a problem
when Felice came over. Consequently, Felice was a first-hand witness to some of
Teresa’s outbursts.
The two were laughing hard
now. After a few minutes, Felice turned serious again.
“Teresa, since then, we’ve
spent some time together. You can be irritating, but,” Felice held up her hand
to stop Teresa from interrupting, “you are also genuine.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I’ve seen you with Rita
Grace. For someone who professes she detests children and doesn’t want any, you
sure are terrific with her.”
“I try. What’s going on,
Felice?”
“She also loves spending
time with you. So,” Felice took a big breath, “I have a favor to ask.”
“You said that. So, ask.”
“I know Pavel’s job keeps
him away from home a lot, so this would fall on you, really.”
“Felice, get to the point.”
“I need you and Pavel to
watch Rita Grace for a few days.”
“That’s it? That’s what
you’re so nervous about?”
“Well, yes.”
“I haven’t spent more than
an hour or so alone with her before, always with Pavel.”
“I know.”
“How long are a few days?”
“Three days, tops.”
“That’s a long time, at
least for me. I don’t know how to take care of her for that long.”
“I’ve gotten to know you
over the time you and Pavel have been together. I know for a fact that if Pavel
didn’t trust you, he wouldn’t be with you, let alone allow you to be near our
daughter for any length of time. Because of that, I trust you.”
“Why?”
“Why do I need to leave
Rita Grace with you? Because Darryl will be attending the New York Dentist Convention and we thought
it would be good to make it into a vacation. The twins and Joseph are staying
with Tracy, our longtime babysitter.”
Darryl had two children,
Glenn and Gabriella with his previous wife, Rita who was killed in a car
accident. Rita had also been Felice’s best friend. After Darryl and Felice got
married, they had Joseph.
“Why can’t she take Rita
Grace as well?”
“She’s still young and
it’s too much on Tracy .
It’s not a problem for the twins because they’ll be in school during the day
and Joseph as an infant is tough enough for her to handle without her having to
watch Rita Grace. Besides, I will always ask Pavel first because I know he enjoys
having her. He is her father.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Next Monday, but I can’t
wait until the last minute. That’s why I’m asking a full week in advance. I
need to make sure the kids are being taken care of.”
“I work too, you know. I
can’t very well bring her with me.”
“Don’t you have some guy
running the store for you?”
“Dillon, but . . . well,
let me see what I can work out. I can get back to you. It’s the best I can do.”
Dillon was a young college
student working for Teresa and was turning into a good employee.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,
Felice. I still haven’t said yes and even if I do, Rita Grace may end up hating
me by the time you get home.”
Felice smiled, “I doubt
that.”
“I’ll speak with Pavel, even
though it may not matter. He’s been working too many hours lately and I’m not
happy about it.”
“Pavel is that way. He’s
always been a hard worker.”
“Why did you decide not to
get back together with Pavel once you found out the real reason he left you?”
“You get right to the
point, don’t you?”
“Always. So, why?”
“Regardless of the reason
he left me, he still did. Our daughter and me. I made a new life for us with
Darryl and the twins, and I was happy.”
“Too bad for you, good for
me. Pavel makes me happy.”
“You’re an odd woman,
Teresa Mancini, but I like you.”
“You’re not too normal
yourself. Leaving a man rippled with muscles like you did. You’re nuts.”
They both laughed. Teresa
reiterated that she would get back to Felice.
After Felice left, Teresa
called a cab and told him to take her to a Mercedes dealership. Once there, it
didn’t take her long to find the car that was meant for her. She test drove an
E350 coupe and when she found out the cost, figured it wasn’t bad.
She called Pavel to tell
him.
“What’s the price?” Pavel
asked.
Teresa told him.
“That is a bit more than I
want to spend.”
“I could have decided on a
convertible for more money. You should be happy about that. You luck that I
don’t want a convertible anyway. Do you know what those things to do a woman’s
hair?”
Pavel snickered.
“I’ll agree to this, but
no extras that what come on the car already.”
“Fine.”
“Can you put the dealer on
so I can speak with him?”
After Pavel agreed on
details, the dealer put Teresa back on the phone.
“I’m driving straight to
the phone company as soon as I’m done here.”
“I expected as much.”
“I’m just reminding you.”
“I know. I won’t be able
to speak with you later though. I will give you my credit card and you can use
that for a cell phone. But Teresa, please nothing elaborate and don’t use the
card for anything else.”
“I know. I won’t.”
Pavel gave her his
information.
“I’m also reminding you
that you need to come down here to give your official statement of what
happened at the Russo’s house.”
“When?”
“Come down as soon as you
get your cell phone. I need to get back to work now.”
“Pavel?” Teresa stopped
him from hanging up. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome.”
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