The Tuscan's Revenge Wedding (Italian Billionaires #1)(46)

“Not just yet. I only understood about two words in four of what the doctor said, but it seems I’ll need physical therapy. I’m to go to a special spa or facility of some sort.”

“Whatever is best. I hope he will arrange it, since I’ve no idea how to go about it.”

“If he doesn’t, I suppose Nico will.”

“Yes.” Her relief at the thought was instant. Perhaps the facility the doctor had mentioned was actually the villa. And if a part of her gladness was because it might be so, because she need not think of leaving Italy yet in that case, it was her secret.

“But I don’t want to leave here for a while yet,” Jonathan said, echoing her thought unconsciously as he pleated the hem of his sheet between his fingers. “I can at least see Carita for five minutes here and there during the day.”

Nico had, without fanfare, arranged for someone to escort Jonathan down to Carita’s room while he navigated on crutches. Amanda was grateful since it seemed to have speeded Jonathan’s recovery.

“Is there no change,” she asked, “no sign that she might come around soon?”

“I swear she hears me. I can see her eyes moving behind her lids and sometimes she almost smiles. She squeezed my hand, just a little, last night."

“That sounds promising.”

“I think she might come around if I could stay longer, or if Nico or others in her family could come more often to talk to her. She just needs to know someone is there.”

“Nico is away on business, as I told you—”

“Yeah, he came by a couple of times while he was in the city, but said he’d be in Naples a few days.”

“Did he?” Her smile was not quite steady. Jonathan had seen him since she had. “Anyway, possibly Aunt Filomena could sit with her a bit longer when she’s here.”

“Or Carisa, maybe? Carita is really close to her, you know. It’s that twin thing, I guess, though Carita has taken care of her all of their lives. She worries about Carisa, was always trying to make her feel she’s exactly like her in as many ways as possible. She’d come back if she thought Carisa needed her. I know she would.”

“You may be right, but they are trying to keep the seriousness of her condition from Carisa for fear she’ll be too upset. And she might be.” She went on to tell him of how disturbed Nico’s sister had been at the idea that she might be leaving, and how unimaginable the scene could be if she suspected Carita was slipping away.

“Carisa is tougher than they think.” He pressed a fold in the sheet and used his thumb nail to crease it again and again. “At least that’s what Carita always said when we talked about her. Nico keeps her so protected Carisa might as well be rolled up in bubble-wrap and put away. He acts as if she’ll break at the slightest touch, but it’s really that he can’t stand the thought of being responsible if she gets hurt. And she becomes upset at the least little thing because she’s never had to cope. Oh, I don’t mean to sound hard-hearted, but it seems such a shame.”

“You may be right,” Amanda said with a light touch on his fidgeting hands to still them, “but that doesn’t mean Nico would consider letting her come sit with Carita. She might do her a lot of good, but she could also have a very public and embarrassing meltdown.”

“Embarrassing for him, you mean,” her brother muttered.

“For her, rather. I don’t think Nico is easily embarrassed.” Amanda felt the rise of heat to her hairline as she recalled his calm assurance as he’d told her he could handle her climbing into his lap in a public restaurant.

“You’re defending him! For heaven’s sake, why? He can’t go around deciding what happens to people, like his warning me I’ll go to prison if Carita — if she doesn’t make it.”

“It won’t come to that now, surely, if she’s getting better.”

Her brother’s lips flattened into a thin line and he refused to meet her gaze. When he made no reply, Amanda gave a tired sigh.

“What you need to keep in mind is that Nico loves Carisa and has been taking care of her for years, too. As head of his family, he really is responsible for what happens to her, it’s not just talk for him. Before he even thinks of bringing her here, he’ll have to weigh the possible benefit to Carita against the possible damage to Carisa. She is doing better these past few days. She’s getting out more, doing more. It would be a tragedy if something happened to set her back.

“Maybe it’s because he’s gone,” Jonathan muttered.

“Don’t say that!” Amanda heard the irritation in her voice, but couldn’t help it. “Carisa misses him, is beginning to fret now that he’s been away nearly a week.”

Anger and pain surfaced in Jonathan’s eyes. “Meanwhile, Carita just lies there. If I could get out of this bed, I’d bring Carisa here myself.” His face changed abruptly, his eyes zeroing in on her face. “Or — how much longer do you think Nico will be away?”

“No, really—” she began.

“Yes, Mandy, yes. You could bring Carisa here. What’s to keep you from it?”

“To start with, I know Nico would hate it.”

“What do you care how he feels? You’ll probably never see him again once I leave here.”