Impossible Love

Impossible Love 90

Maxieplus

Gianni was a bit off today he looked like he was deep in thought all through breakfast, and on the way to work. His mind wasn't on the job as he cleaned out his fridges. I did my chores and sat with a coffee, everyone was arriving and Iris and Alice turned up, I had already sat the boys at the back door and Bianca was watching them. I saw Gianni make a coffee and he came to sit with me.

"What's up?"

"Nothing Antonio."

"There's something up, you are deep in thought today."

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I do very much."

"Okay."

"What's the matter?"

"We do not make love anymore."

"We do Gianni, we had a mad round just the other night."

"Yes but that has passed."

"Do you want to go to the bathroom then?"

"No Antonio, I want to make love for hours in our bed."

"Well you know there are two problems with that."

"What?"

"Leon and Carlos."

"Yes, I have been bothered about that for some hours now."

"Tonight we will ban them from our bed and we can be together all night."

"Not all night Antonio, just for an hour or two we also need to sleep."

"Bathroom, we can be quick?"

"No, I like being with you in bed."

"Tonight then." I sipped my coffee and it only took him three minutes, I was swept off my stool and taken to the bathroom, which should satisfy him until tonight.

"Did Jeffrey get away early Iris?"

"Yes Antonio, he wanted to avoid the traffic."

"Is he happy with the agreement?"

"Yes very happy to be involved, he couldn't stop laughing and was very excited to get home to see his munchkins, I filled him in on what was going on last night he laughed again and hoped he got another invitation soon he wants to talk about his kids properly." She rolled her eyes.

"Good, they will be so excited he is back home again, one day I will meet them."

"He is a lovely young man Antonio, he worked hard for his father now he runs the business like a science laboratory."

"Well from what I saw he's a great dad and he will be a good asset to our wine business."

I went for a walk around to the bookstall and bought up a heap of comic books for Lukas to read, he likes them when he's practicing his reading. Remo was busy, I could hear him laughing with a customer as I turned the corner. I walked past the veggie stalls and was grabbed by a familiar face and dragged into the fruit aisle. It was Rona one of my flower ladies.

"Mr.Antonio, please forgive me for asking but I have been nominated by the ladies collective to ask."

"That's okay Rona, what is it?"

"Is your nona okay after last night?"

"Yes she was fine, the boys were just being really silly, I don't know what secrets she has, she has never told me, but I'm sure they are nothing. You know gran she's very secretive."

"Yes Mr, Antonio, we worry for her, she has been a little down lately and she is a wonderful woman and we just worry."

"She's not down any more last night fixed that, she was just being silly Rona, tell the ladies she's back to normal." She thanked me and smiled as I walked off.

"Good morning Remo, how is business?"

"As you can see Antonio, business is good." he laughed, he is the happiest stall-holder here I think.

"Good, my sources tell me you needed to put on more staff."

"Yes, two more ladies on the weekend, it's a constant line up here."

"No regrets?"

"None and thank you again, Antonio."

I was so proud of him I could have burst as I took my comics and myself back to the Cafe. Gianni was giving me filthy looks again and Leon and Carlos had opened a wine so I sat and had one with them, and my man was beside me in an instant.

"Where have you been Antonio?"

"Lukas's comics, the babies destroyed some this morning, so I got him some new ones."

"I think you went to talk to your lover maybe."

"Never, I don't have one."

"Very good." He smirked.

"Yet." I smiled.

"We will find you one Antonio, we are good at that," Leon said.

"I will help." Gianni laughed.

"Well tell him to call tonight I believe my bed will be empty." Gianni made a sad face.

I sipped on my wine and Iris came out to have one, I was happy because I think she's a part of my gang again today.

Alice came over and told us that the workers were ready to show the babies around the build, they will be back in five minutes.

"You go with them Gianni, they cant go on their own."

"I will do that Antonio, maybe I will find a lover for you while I am there."

"What's going on Antonio?" Iris was interested.

"They think I need a lover Iris, just the boys being silly again."

I slapped Gianni's ass when he got up and he wiggled it as he walked into the flower shop to collect the kids, they are going to love their tour.

I put my glass down and followed, three little yellow hard hats were placed on their heads as Gianni had two in his arms and the other was in a burly tradies arms laughing his head off. I watched as they walked over to the other men at the build and I took many photos.

They screamed so loud as the workmen they had been watching came to say hello to them, and they wanted to know all about the way these things are built. They didn't ask, but they were shown how to mix concrete and tie off nuts and bolts. Leon came over with a box of wine and placed it in their lunchroom. They cant drink on the job but they were very grateful for their liquid present. The tour took an hour and they weren't put in any danger there wasn't much activity happening today. Back at the flower shop, they had worn themselves out, so they were placed in front of the tv which will put them to sleep. I watched them talk amongst themselves and smiled because they were so tired.

Around three we prepared to go to pick our son up from kindy, I wanted to be there it makes him happy to see us both. He was waiting outside the front entrance with his teacher, she handed Gianni an envelope and winked at me. Lukas was placed in his big boy's seat and I could see his face was beaming as his curls flopped everywhere.

"What is in the envelope baby?"

"Lukas's one-month assessment I think Antonio." He looked over at his son and said.

"We will open it when everyone is around, I know it is going to be good my gorgeous bambino."

The excitement was too much for him and he almost dragged us into the market, Alice and Bianca were called along with Nina and Gino, Remo had to come over also. His Nona Sabine wasn't in today so she will miss out.

Gianni stood him on a stool and opened the envelope.

"Listen up everyone, Lukas has received his first month's result and I will now read it to him. I pulled him in closer to me and we waited.

"It is with great pleasure that Lukas Cartasso has received a high honor for his sums his art and his friendliness. He is one of the most popular boys at the kindy and thinks nothing about sharing his gifts and lunch with others. He is a delight to teach and everyone is very happy for his future." They all clapped and wanted to read it themselves so Gianni passed the note around while I kissed and hugged our son. His face was priceless and he had done very well at school and will also do very well when he goes to a real school.

The party started and he gathered up as many hugs as he could, we were all so proud of him. I will ring gran when we get home and he can tell her and thank her for her guidance. He got a nice cake from our staff and the four of them received baby cino's which made them scream some more. He was as proud as punch to get the attention and even prouder when Nina said she had some work for him. She wanted him to push buttons on the photocopier.

So he eventually disappeared upstairs with his uncles and aunty for the next hour or two and I sat outside people watching with Iris.

"Another mad show iris, I think the boys went overboard but it all ended well. By the way, they took another small movie of you being put to bed last night."

"I will have to find it and delete it, I cant have my followers thinking I am an old drunk, which one took it?"

"Carlos with his phone."

"Good, sometime in the next few days I will confiscate it and delete the offending film."

"You do that," I smirked.

"Why the smirk?"

"Because knowing the boys it's already on the site."

"What?"

"They are one step ahead of you Iris, we had better come up with another plan."

"Ummm." She was deep in thought but she won't win not with those naughty boys anyway, ask gran.

My next chore was to ring grandad and find out how their day went.

I took myself to the tea room and made that call, he said she was still reading the write-ups and was smiling, he had already printed off the photos for her because she had none of her parents. She will ring Roberto again tonight and I told him to expect a call from Lukas about his letter. I inquired about our bet and he said that he had won, she hasn't stopped with the tears all day, and he would be collecting payment from me tomorrow.

The boys arrived back and said Lukas was having fun upstairs pushing buttons and Nina had him placing them in three stacks and she will staple them together, he might not be any good at that and it is dangerous for his tiny fingers if they get in the way. I watched them open yet another wine and they settled in to have a good talk, I was overhearing it all and they were talking about an event in the US that started yesterday. I have no idea how they coordinated all that side of the business but I was assured they are on top of it all.

"Yes Antonio, we did place a small booth for Gianni's wines."

"Thank you." I suppose they had done the right thing and I also knew that Gianni had his very own display at all the big events they run, we have no secrets remember.

He came out the back and I got another stare, then I told him about ringing grandad and I had lost my bet because gran had cried many times over the write-ups. I remembered something then said I would be back in a minute and headed off to the veggie stall.

"Rona, how are the renovations going, I forgot to ask you before?"

"Very well Mr, Antonio they will begin next week, everything is sorted out and it shouldn't take long."

"Good, if you all need anything just let me know."

"We will, but the deal is cheap rent, and we do all the upkeep when required. Your gran was very generous to our collective, and thankfully so are you. There is nothing we need Antonio." She smiled.

"Okay."

I then walked back to be met by an excited little boy, he was finished his chores and now he needed a big hug from his daddy.

"You have done well son, I told Nonno you will be ringing Nona tonight to thank her for her instructions, she is looking forward to it. I also purchased some more comic books for you to read, they are out the back."

He grinned and said thank you then slipped down to the floor, he then ran out the back to check the comics out.

"Antonio, you are doing much business today I am chasing you everywhere, can you sit still for me for a minute."

"Yes of course I can I forgot to ask the ladies how the renovations for the Italian club were going that's all."

"So you are now free to talk?"

"Yes my husband, do you want to talk business?"

"Yes Antonio, I very much want to talk about business, what time do you think we can make love tonight? I think I have to pencil you in."

"About nine Gianni, after dinner after the boys go to sleep."

"Good, I will put down nine to eleven that should give us some time together."

"Thank you husband, do not forget to tell the boys they are on their own tonight."

He kissed me and went to tell them, I followed a minute later and they were in a big argument, Iris was giggling.

"But Gianni we always sleep in your bed we feel safe in there."

"Not tonight you both need to find some lovers."

"We don't want lovers Gianni, we have already got us."

"My bed is empty." I heard Iris say.

"Good then we sleep with our Iris tonight and no hankies panky's Iris just sleep," Leon said. I laughed my head off, boy is Iris in for a frustrating night.

I leaned in and said.

"You may never sleep the same way again Iris, be prepared for anything they have cameras don't forget." She blanched.

It was time to lock up and Gianni and I collected the kids, Lukas held onto his letter and comics like they were gold. We had to have his favorite cartoon playing in the car on the way home, nothing is too good for our boy today.

We had visitors when we got in, gran and grandad had finished what they had to do and she had made up a small party for Lukas, fairy bread sausage rolls and cakes were on offer. She had made the colorful spread and placed it all on the coffee table, with a plastic mat on the floor in case they wanted to have a food fight, they had also collected Sam from downstairs and he was waiting for his mates to arrive before he had any of the delicious fares.

"Wow!" Lukas ran to her and thanked her for his little party, the babies ran for Sam and gave him his yellow hard hat. I hugged her and grandad, then the boys opened wine as Gianni supervised the get-together.

"Did you have fun gran?"

"Yes Antonio, I read some very much needed information and some photos of my dear parents. What a terrible time it all was back then."

"It was gran, and I am glad you got to know the real story at long last."

"Roberto is going to the Vatican this week so I will know more when he goes through it all."

"There will probably be more photos and family stuff you will want to keep gran, maybe even a nice diamond tiara you can wear to the Italian club," I smirked.

"Do not make light of my intellect Antonio, I am excited to see my treasures but not at the cost of my dear parent's lives, but it is what it is."

"The other stuff Roberto will help with, do you want to go to Roma sometime to go through it all?"

"I will go Antonio, but first I need to know what is in there."

"He could send it all over in one of Gianni's containers gran, maybe that's a better idea."

"I will speak to Roberto, now who is for some dinner?"

We were all a little hungry and when the kids arrived they did the emails and then we ate. The babies had already destroyed their little party and we had to take a million photos of it for Lukas's memory stick."

The night was an early one, because of our date Gianni had moved everyone along faster than expected, the babies were tucked up in bed and Lukas was read one comic before his eyes slowly closed.

At precisely nine o'clock Gianni grabbed me said goodnight to everyone and had me naked on the bed before I could blink. He was trying to make it all last but it was hopeless, I was the first to shoot then he followed shortly after. At nine-thirty I turned the lights out and snuggled into my husband's awesome chest. He was kissing my head then his lips found mine and we almost restarted our get-together but sleep caught up with me and that's the last I remembered.

The bed was full in the morning, restless babies will do that sometimes, even Lukas had been unsettled. When I placed them in bed with us they eventually stopped giggling and went back to sleep, Gianni held Lukas and was now kissing his head as he dropped off again.

"Is it always like that Antonio?"

"Like what Iris?"

"Legs everywhere bums in faces, midnight cuddles those things."

"Yes they do get a little restless sometimes, maybe because they were in a strange bed Iris, but usually they sleep through the night."

"I will have to get them to go to bed earlier next time." She had an evil look on her face.

"It will never happen Iris, they love each other forever."

"I wasn't thinking that Antonio, I was kept awake because I wanted to film them in all their glory."

"What are you up to?"

"Nothing Antonio." She smirked.

"I will get the kids to pixelate their naughty bits before I post it."

I laughed, revenge is so sweet sometimes.

They came out looking for the babies, and I steered them to our bedroom, Carlos made a sad face but it is what it is, he shrugged his shoulders and went to find them. The fight started about then, I could hear Leon shouting that they were wet and needed changing, Gianni was saying he was going to do it. I walked in and grabbed two of them then went to get them some dry clothes, Gianni followed with the other two. Lukas had already lost his night nappy he was in a hurry this morning so I wiped him down and put his undies and shorts on. He ran out to see his uncles and to maybe watch his programs.

The other three were easy, two had pooped and the other one was wanting to follow Lukas.

Iris was in a good mood and when gran arrived she helped put the breakfast together, out of the corner of my eye I spied Carlos doing something to Iris's phone while her back was turned. I guess she will notice her evil movies were gone when she looks at them again, I must talk to her about setting up a password. The kids came up and did the emails, more orders for the new cd, and lots of fan mail.

"Well he doesn't get an invite, I will be very pleased to tell him we already have a resident rock star."

"Who Leon?" I had to ask.

"Elton John." He smirked.

"He's a personal friend of Conners."

"Not enough recommendations Antonio anybody can be his friend, so he does not appear." He placed the email on a stack of requests to appear on the show.

"This one is interesting Iris," Maxie said.

He passed it to Iris and Leon snatched it before it even had the chance to reach its final destination.

"It must go through your producer first our Iris, we do not want any naughty emails for you to read, and do not think last night did not go unnoticed by my Carlos and myself." He glared at her red face. He read the email and put it aside Iris went to grab it but he slapped her hand.

"Breakfast is ready, Lukas please come to the table." Gran sang out.

He didn't budge, but grandad did, and he grabbed some food for our son and himself then went to sit in front of the tv again.

"You will spoil that boy nono," Gran said.

"Yes, nona." He smiled.

The babies were placed in their high chairs and Gianni gave them a good fatherly talk, no playing with their food, no laughing, just eating if they wouldn't mind. The three of them fed the boys it takes ages to do so I ate with the kids then we took over while the others had theirs.

I was dying to read the email Leon put aside but his eyes were everywhere, he eventually said.

"Iris we need you to take some time off tomorrow after we organize something. Dress to impress and you will need your loafers."

"Where am I going?"

"To do some PR work for a change."

"Oh, will I need to sing?" She giggled.

"No, Carlos sings, you dance." That was all we got and I suppose I will be the last to know when she gets back.

He finished his breakfast then picked his phone up.

"Good morning to you sir, this is Leon Cartasso from the Iris Wilson wine show, how are you keeping today?"

"That is fine we are pleased you are on top of the world, our Carlos has sold many many cd's this week he will pass his previous cd on our Iris Wilson top of the pops list." I figured he's calling Conner, and can only imagine he would be laughing down the phone.

"Will you make yourself available tomorrow at three to do some PR work for the show?"

"Yes, but you also work for Iris Wilson, and you have obligations to meet, you can do the tv interview next week."

"Do not argue with me Mr. Conners be ready at three we will pick you up."

He hung up and I detected a slight smile on his face.

"He will be coming with us our Iris."

"You really shouldn't treat him like that Leon, he's pop legend royalty."

"He's an extra on your little show Iris, he has many obligations to fulfill." He smirked again.

"What is this all about Leon don't keep me hanging," I asked.

"Nothing to concern yourself with Antonio, do you work for the iris Wilson show?"

"Well no, but I appear every month."

"Then you are not one of the core group so you do not need to know about corporate business." Fuck you Leon I was just asking.

"I would also like to hear what your plans are Leon, please tell me." Gran walked over I guess she's interested also.

"Our gran please read this email." He passed it to her and winked.

She read it twice and placed it back on the table and the bugger winked back then went to get Lukas's now empty plate, but she also looked like she wanted to say something else.

I dived across the table and grabbed the paper then rushed into our bedroom to read it locking the door behind me, Leon banged on the door and the babies started crying, all hell broke loose as they tried to calm them down, serves themselves right.

The email was from a very familiar little boy I had gotten to know this year, Teddy Richards, Conner and Brent's eldest son.

He wanted to know if they could come to his show and tell at three on Thursday, he would like his classmates to meet Iris and Carlos and Leon from the radio show and could they sing a song for them. He said he would ask his daddy but he is very busy and he didn't want to disturb him.

I walked out and placed the email on the table and said.

"So what's the problem?"

"Your big mouth Antonio you can do a lot of damage in twenty-four hours you know. Keep it zippered please or you will never appear on our show again."

"That suits me Leon, I must ring Brent today and have a word with him."

"Do that and I will break your leg again." He sneered.

"Oh for God's sake Leon, Gianni shower time."

He followed me to the shower and asked me about the mail I told him what it was all about, and hopefully, he will ring Brent and word him up.

It wasn't until after we settled the babies in to watch the builders that I got a text from Brent.

`We know.' was all it said.

`Good' I sent back.

See if they like that one, at least Brenten is on top of things and not pushed out of the way.

"So what are we doing today baby?'

"I would like you to help me with something Antonio."

"Gianni, we only had sex an hour ago."

"No Antonio, it is for the tax stocktake, we should close down to do it but I do not have the time, please can you start counting the cakes and biscuits I will start on the wine."

"That time of year I suppose, who is doing your tax return?"

"Grandad and Stavros Antonio, they know things." He smiled, my heart skipped a beat.

I took the exercise book and started counting the stock I suppose he will just take the warehouse stock off his computer.

The florist shop is easy it changes daily so I will get the ladies to do a list of what is in stock maybe tomorrow. I had better word the kids up there will be a big panic coming from them, but although it's illegal they can just take it off the books anyway.

As I wandered in and out of the florist shop to the cafe I watched Gianni doing his chore and waved to Bella who was waiting on tables, she was such a pretty kid and Angelo was watching her from his serving desk, I winked and went into the cafe to finalize the totals, it didn't take me long.

The boys came down and were once again flustered and I couldn't be bothered asking why, so I opened a bottle and sat with Iris who had the prestige job of counting coffee beans, well not each bean she was weighing the bags. They sat with us and started complaining that they had to go and help Federico do his stock take and they didn't think they would cope, would Iris and I like to go and give them a hand?

"Take it off the computer like you usually do and don't bother Iris, she's doing a very important job."

"Yes so important she forgot our little conversation this morning."

"What conversation was that Leon?" Iris was listening.

"Have you checked your camera?"

"I will show you how to place a password on it Iris, I think they deleted your little show."

"Oh did they, I hadn't noticed. luckily I uploaded it to the website at five this morning then."

"You what?" Leon screamed.

"I uploaded it, balls and all." She smiled then winked at me, they immediately turned to the computer to see what was on it. All I could see was Carlos's bare bum and Leons very nice naked chest, it was a fleeting film and she had captioned it also. "They got me drunk again, wink wink."

"Carlos please delete it immediately," Leon yelled.

"You can't I placed a password on it, only I can access it."

I laughed so much Gianni came to see what was up he had a look at his brother's little film and laughed.

"Our Iris got you so bad brothers."

"Oh by the way Leon, I had a message from Brent this morning, he said they know about Ted's email."

"They do?"

"Yes so whatever you have in mind for Conner you had better change it, do not embarrass their little boy by trying to belittle his father please, it's not right to do that in front of his friends."

He got on his phone again.

"Mr. Conners this is Leon Cartasso from the Iris Wilson wine show, your presence is not required tomorrow you may go on the tv instead, thank you very much for your involvement." He hung up.

"Now what to do with big mouth Antonio Cartasso, I know you told them."

I blanched because I had nothing to do with it.

"He didn't say anything Leon, gran did," Iris said.

"Our gran told on us?"

"Yes anything to do with the children has to go through her Leon, you know how she is and like Antonio said, don't belittle the father for a cheap laugh. You are both professionals so act like you are." She went back to counting her coffee beans, I laughed so much I had to go and find my babies it is almost nap time. They were asleep already Alice had fed them some lunch and they dropped off shortly after, when I got back the boys were gone and Gianni said they went to Federico's.

"It's a big job Gianni, I don't know whether grandad and Stavros will cope."

"They will be set up in the board room Antonio, and they are doing the tax in a few hours I think."

"They have to do mine also you know."

"Yes Antonio, we know that and thankfully the Cartasso one is done by our family accountants."

I guess grandad and Stavros are going to be pretty busy

I wasn't doing anything much today so I sat with Iris it wasn't busy in the cafe, Angelo popped his head in for a moment he was looking for Leon so I asked him if they had settled into the new apartment yet.

"Soon Antonio, grandad is having a few things fixed before we start living there."

"Is there anything you need?"

"No thank you, we are good to go."

"What do you want Leon for?" I'm such a nosey person.

"Nothing." he smiled then took his fine tush out to his restaurant.

"He's on the next show," Iris said.

"Good, it's about time he got some advertising in, how did you find out that piece of news?"

"I have my sources." She winked.

"Well I hope they are kind to him, he's a friend."

"Rick Conners is a friend also, do you think they are kind to him?"

"No." I sat back and smiled, she's a cunning one that Iris.

"Antonio, I have finished my task so do you want to deliver it to the computer for me?"

"Sure, hand it over." He gave me a book and I opened it, my man is messy, but I eventually understood what he had written, he wanted a meeting in the bathroom within the next hour. I laughed at his note then I sat at the computer and started entering the numbers which I will eventually print off.

Iris went to give him a hand to clean up because he had virtually emptied every wine cooler onto the floor, he had turned a one-hour job into a three-hour one by doing that.

"Antonio, can you give us a hand for an hour or so?" Alice poked her head in, there goes my easy day, and my important meeting with Gianni.

"What's up?"

"Ten big ones for the government house, they need to be delivered today for a big event tomorrow. Someone had forgotten to place the order a week ago." I rolled my eyes and said.

"Coming up." I slowly walked past Gianni and whispered.

"Later big boy." I winked, he groaned. If I don't fix him up Angelo will be attacked today, I'm sure of it.

You know when everything is running smoothly, and your life couldn't get any better? I was having those kinds of thoughts while I stripped stems, thorns, and clipped ends to place in the big display I was doing. I watched the babies sleeping in front of the tv which was showing cartoons but the sound was turned down. I watched Alice and Bianca working away with big smiles on their faces, they take such pride in their work and I must admit, so do I.

So when everything is meeting at the same time, and the harmony is at peace, something, just a little thing, comes along, and just maybe your whole life is upturned and is heading in the opposite direction. Like I said before look out of the windscreen, not through the back window. So when I looked out the shop window I saw Stavros, sitting having a vino with his four friends they were playing yet another round of cards. I saw Gianni poke his head out of the cafe several times he was watching me work, or was he making sure I wasn't with my current lover.

Something small but significant caught my eyes, two men, who had come through the entrance of the market, looked around, and almost cased the area before they sat at a table. They were just ordinary men, not suits, no jewelry that I could see and no intention of shopping, just having a vino at Gianni's beautiful cafe. They looked like they fit in and they also looked Italian, and a feeling, just a dropped stomach feeling came over me. It was nothing they did, it was their demeanor that triggered me off on another pathway, they did fit in... but they didn't. They weren't from around here, and if I was to go one further they are not even from Australia. I was about to find out that my Impossible Love wasn't what I thought it was, and the journey that Gianni and his brothers were to take me on in the next few days was the scariest and most frightening trip I will ever undertake in my whole life. I stood watching for several minutes until Alice took the scissors off me and said.

"Have a break Antonio, do you know them?"

"No."