The Twelve Tables Ch. 14

"Sit down, we will go if that is what you want," Antonia said obviously shaken by Peri's words. She waited as Peri resumed her seat. "It's true that I don't understand your need to shut everyone who cares for you out of your life, but you should know, we know that Nik is where she belongs. We are grateful that you did what you did before she hurt anyone else. You have nothing to apologise for."

Peri watched her pick up her handbag and leave the table slowly walking toward the door. She vaguely heard the apology Marisol made as she too left following Antonia. Peri felt ill, and she began to cry.

"Come on, we have to go. If I know Mama she will be back once she thinks you've calmed down," Lucia said gathering her things and helping Peri to her feet. She tipped the waitress twenty dollars and apologised for their premature exit and left the restaurant. She bundled Peri into the car and got in with her. She gave the driver quick instructions and they drove ten minutes further up the mountain to a Bavarian style hotel. "It's not as fancy, but they know me here," Lucia said.

Feeling like she had little choice, Peri followed Lucia into the hotel. She sat on a comfortable couch as Lucia approached the bar and came to sit with her.

"Marisol's a good woman, she will be telling Mama off even as we speak," Lucia said as she poured them both a glass of wine.

"I probably shouldn't be drinking," Peri said looking at the glass.

"One won't hurt you, and you look like you could use it," Lucia said with a smile. "I don't drink as much as I make out. It's my barrier against the family. When I've had enough of their drama and bullshit, I just let my eyes glaze over and stare at them like they are speaking a foreign language. I mean I love a glass of wine, but it's rare I drink to excess anymore. Sometimes you know, I just want to go home rather than sit around with my brother's."

"Yeah, I get that," Peri sighed. "Over Christmas, it seemed so strange to have to sneak away just to get some peace and even when we did that they found us pretty quickly and summoned us back into the chaos. I'm an only child of only children. I have never had any extended family, it's always been just Andie and me." She took a sip of the pale pink wine.

"I used to dream about a life like that," Lucia said softly. "I never fit the family mould. I kept hoping one day that they would realise there was a mix up in the hospital, and my real parents would come and claim me."

"Josh lives for his family, it's such a big part of his life and I thought I could do it, be part of a big family, but I don't think I can. There is so many of you that every time someone finally gives me a bit of space, someone else shows up to fill it. Especially now."

"You'll recover, and everyone will calm down. They're looking for forgiveness. They each know they helped to create the monster that tried to kill you. They're dealing with their guilt, and they want you to forgive them," Lucia said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I've been telling them for years Nik was dangerous, but did they ever listen to me?" her voice took on an angry tone. "I even tried to warn you at our first meeting."

"I remember. I never forgot. So you can to sit back and say, I told you so, now and I will deserve it," Peri sighed heavily.

"Don't you think I haven't been shouting that at everyone who would listen to me," she laughed derisively. "I have been saying that she was dangerous, narcissistic and conceited since we were teenagers, but I never thought she would kill in cold blood," she admitted.

"I don't think anyone's family thinks them capable of it until it happens," Peri said considering her words. "I don't blame any of you. There's nothing to forgive."

They talked their way through the bottle of wine and ordered finger food through the bar along with a second bottle. Peri liked Lucia. They had common ground and a common understanding of how each other felt, and she found herself talking a great deal about what she had been going through over the past weeks. Lucia didn't treat Peri with kid gloves, just as she had said, and asked the difficult and sometimes insensitive questions, trying to make Peri see things from a different perspective.

It was late in the afternoon when they finally ordered coffee and black forest cake. They had been talking for hours and Peri found that just being able to say the things she had been holding inside, for so long, out loud made her feel better. She had even been able to work through some things on one level. She compiled a list of things in her head that she needed to do to get past what had happened to her. She almost wished she had pencil and paper to write some of them down.

"I never even thanked the Marshalls for finding me as quickly as they did and saving my life," Peri said sadly realising just how self-absorbed she had been. She hadn't been looking at how anyone would feel about her, but instead had focused on their feelings toward Nik and that they saw her and her injuries as a constant reminder of what she had done to her.

"Well that's an easy fix," Lucia said brightly turning her phone back on and looking at all the missed calls from her family. "I have his number you can call him. He will appreciate that. First, though you might want to call Josh and let him know I haven't kidnapped you."

"Good grief," Peri rolled her eyes and turned her phone back on seeing the amount of missed calls she had as well.

"I'll call Ben, he can talk to Mama and you call Josh, he can tell Andie you are fine," she suggested.

"Okay," Peri agreed grudgingly knowing it was the lesser of the two evils. She dialled the number and waited.

"Are you okay?" Josh answered his phone in a worried voice.

"Well, now that I am back on solid ground I feel better, I had no idea skydiving was so much fun," she answered with a small giggle and a stunned look from Lucia, who burst out laughing a moment later.

"You what?!" Josh's voice boomed into the phone.

"Honestly Josh, I'm with your sister having coffee and cake what did you think we would be doing today?" She continued to laugh. "You can't keep panicking every time I turn my phone off for a little peace."

"Don't turn your off would be a better solution," he said slowly calming down. "Just put it on vibrate so you can see who is calling and answer it when I do."

"Was there a reason you needed to speak to me so urgently," Peri asked in a sweet voice ignoring his tone.

"I heard your lunch didn't go as planned," he said cautiously.

"I wasn't ready to face your mother, but I wasn't rude about it. I just needed to be given the opportunity to do it when I'm ready. You all pride yourselves on never forcing anyone into anything but that's all that's happened to me lately. I wasn't ready, and I didn't want to be forced into another bad situation, so I left."

"You're okay then?" he asked again.

"I'm just fine, Lucia, and I have had a lovely afternoon together," she said with a smile.

"Good. Will you call me when you get home please?" Josh asked, "I'll be working late, so anytime is fine."

"Sure," she said her voice softening along with his. "I'll talk to you then." She hung up before he could say anything else and she felt compelled to apologise for the way she had reacted to seeing his mother.

*****

When she had gotten home, she had begun writing out the list of things she felt she needed to do or overcome before she could move on properly. She was tired from being out for the first time in weeks, and the effects of wine caught up with her rapidly. She had fallen asleep with the list on her knees, and the pen still clutched in her hand. When she woke several hours later, she found Josh snuggled beside her, and she rolled to look at him. Despite everything that had happened, she loved him deeply and knew she had treated him badly since being hurt. Her time with Lucia today had reinforced that knowledge. She stroked his face, and his eyes fluttered open.

"Always and forever," she whispered and pressed her lips lightly against his.

Josh carefully pulled her closer deepening the kiss. He needed this physical connection with her and knew now that she did too. After reading her list, he knew he had been too careful with her treating her like a fragile china doll when what she needed was his love and the passion he felt for her. She needed him to show her that he still found her desirable, not just tell her she was still beautiful to him. He knew he shouldn't have read her list, but he couldn't help it after seeing his name listed so many times.

"Still Mine," he murmured kissing her neck and shoulder, "Always and forever." He rolled her onto her back pushing the thin straps of the chemise from her shoulders as he kissed her again tugging it down gently to expose her breasts. He lowered his head to kiss and suck on the nipples letting his teeth graze over them lightly and appreciating the sigh of pleasure she let out. His hand slid down her left side to the tops of her thighs, but she reached out and stopped his hand going any lower.

"Josh, I'm," she started to speak, but he cut her off.

"You're the woman I love, I love every inch of you, even the more colourful parts," he smiled and kissed her shoulder and neck again. The bruises there had all but gone, but he did it symbolically.

"I'm like a yeti," she said still clinging to the hand that rested on her thighs. "I haven't been able to shave. My body just won't let me move the way I need to yet, between my sore ribs and my arm."

"Do you honestly think hairy legs will stop me, when this is the first real intimacy we've had in over a month?" he chuckled leaning back and looking down on her. "Here I was worried that I would hurt you, and you're worried about hairy legs?" He brought his hand up to play with her breasts as he spoke.

"You wouldn't hurt me," she whispered. "I'm practically healed. Pete's just being over cautious with the cast and sling." She pulled him back down to kiss her and wrapped her arms around him. "I know I've been a bitch, and I'm sorry," she whispered holding him tightly.

"I can't even begin to imagine how hard this has been for you. To be hurt and confused and scared. You don't owe me any apologies," he said softly. "Loving me is what caused all of this," he began to apologise again.

"No more sorries," Peri said abruptly. "Not from you or your family. I was there by choice you didn't force me. I'm not sorry for that. I'm not sorry for anything except that I wasn't thinking about how you must have been feeling when I shut you out."

"You've slowly opened that door again," he kissed her, "Now if I could just get these hairy legs open," he grinned, and she smacked him lightly with her cast and laughed before letting him manoeuvre his way between her legs. He kissed her deeply and passionately while moving to enter her slowly. He was gentle and tender as he slowly rocked his hips and pushing his cock deeper into her. He tested her boundaries unsure of the remaining damage to her hip and ribs.

"Josh," she reached up and placed her hand against his cheek feeling him nuzzle into it as he looked down into eyes. "Just fuck me, I will let you know if it's too much," she grinned up at him in the moonlit darkness and squealed softly, and he thrust into her hard and deep.

He didn't hold back as he felt her wrap her legs around his waist and fucked her, a sense of desperation for what they had once enjoyed together and had lost for so long. He mauled her breasts with one hand, teasing her nipples with his fingers, not wanting to lean too much of his weight onto her body. He felt her tremble as he came, realising she hadn't reached the heights of their previous lovemaking.

He collapsed onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. "Next time it will all be about you," he smiled and kissed her.

Peri snuggled against his side feeling like they had just overcome a barrier between them and stroked his chest. "So in a few minutes then?" she giggled, and he smacked her ass lightly chuckling with her.

*****

In Lucia, Peri found the sister she had never had and likewise Lucia found a kindred soul. They spent a great deal of time together over the two weeks following their day out. Lucia had joined her and Andie on their spa day, and she had taken them both to her favourite salon to have their hair and nails done. Peri realised that Lucia didn't drink to excess but rather used alcohol as a ready-made excuse for anything she didn't want to do or to avoid people she didn't want to speak to. It amazed Peri how easily she could slip from normal speech into the slightly slurring words of a drunk.

She realised at the same time that she was hiding behind her cast and sling the same way. Anytime she didn't want to deal with someone or a situation she would claim fatigue retreat. She desperately wanted the cast taken off, but she knew she would have to face the reality that her readymade excuse to avoid the hard things on her list would be gone.

She watched as Pete brought out a small circular saw and cut the cast, prying it apart and allowing her to lift her arm free. She gingerly tried to move it, but winced as the limb was shot through with tendril of pain with each small movement.

"It will take a little getting used to, and some physiotherapy will help," he said as he took hold of her arm and slowly manipulated her wrist, which had been motionless for six weeks. "Give it another week before you try to go back to work," he advised.

"I have a few things I have to do before I consider going back to work," Peri said tentatively. "Things are getting back to normal finally, though."

"Just don't rush it, you don't want to relapse," he said throwing the cast in the bin and wiping down the dust from the table she had been leaning on. "You had a head injury, and that's not to be taken lightly. I understand you just want to get back to normal, as soon as possible, but try not to push yourself."

"Okay, okay. I get it," she sighed, "Can I go now?"

"Yes you can go, I'll see you tonight," he smiled.

Peri hurried out to where Andie waited for her, and they drove home where Peri showered properly for the first time, in almost two months, relishing the fact that she didn't have to worry about the cast. She dressed in a loose flowing floral dress and packed an evening gown and overnight bag into the car. They then spent the rest of the afternoon at the salon Lucia had introduced them to, getting ready for the night ahead.

Since that first night when they had reconnected as a couple, Josh and Peri had talked openly about everything. How she felt going through the ordeal of waking up in the hospital not knowing what happened and at the subsequent trial. In turn, she had listened properly to what Josh had said about his feelings and memories of seeing her so badly broken. She listened and began to understand that while he and his family cared what happened to Nik, they knew she was where she deserved to be, and they would see to it that she got the proper help needed despite cutting her off from their power and influence.

Their relationship they admitted could never go back to what it was, but their love for each other was such that the passion and devotion to each other were rekindled rapidly. Peri was feeling more and more like her old self as the bruises faded, to barely blemish her skin and she learned to appreciate the help offered by her mother and friends rather than resenting the fact that she could do very little for herself left-handed.

She and Andie had gone to dinner on a double date after their day at the spa. Josh and Charles had booked rooms in the hotel the spa was attached to, and Peri felt relaxed and happy during the evening. It was as they stood on their balcony late in the night that Josh had proposed to her again.

"There will always be bumps in the road and mountains to climb but if we do it together, I promise our life will be amazing," he had said getting down on one knee. "I love you for your strength, your honesty and your wisdom to do what is right for you in the face of overwhelming pressure. I love your smile and your heart and everything about you." He had taken a small box from his pocket. "Marry me, Peri."

"I already said yes, and I already have the ring," she had said startled by the proposal.

"We needed a do-over," he had grinned. "We both did. This," he said taking her hand, "Is an eternity ring," he came to his feet and looked at her and murmured, "Because what we have is forever and always."

They had stayed up most of the night enjoying each other and talking about their future once again. Josh had wanted to host an official engagement party for their family and friends, and Peri had agreed that once her cast had come off, she would like that. She just hadn't expected him to plan it for the day her cast had come off but caught up in his enthusiasm she had gone along with his plans.

Peri had still not spoken directly to his parents or the majority of his family, and she wanted to look her best. Without the cast and with makeup hiding the pale remnants of the damage to her face she hoped that no one would mention her recent trauma and just celebrate the event. As the time got closer, though, she became nervous about facing them all. Not only his family but also their friends.

At her insistence, Josh had invited the Battaglia men who had saved her life, so she could finally thank them properly. Lucia had given her Marco's phone number, but each time she picked up her phone to call him she couldn't think of a way to adequately thank him. They had accepted the invitation, and she knew from Josh's earlier phone call that they were already at the hotel.

Peri and Andie arrived at the hotel just after three and checked in. Peri helped her mother take her bags up to her room. She retrieved the three small gifts she had bought for the men while Andie went to put her bag in her room before returning. She nervously checked the time not wanting to be late, fashionably or otherwise. She rotated her wrist which still protested movement but didn't want to spoil her appearance with any sign of the injuries she had sustained at the facility. She went to the full-length mirror and checked her reflection.

"Well this is as good as it gets," she said out loud to the empty room and fidgeted with the dress. Despite losing some weight during her recovery, she still sported a curvy full figure.

"You look beautiful," Andie said coming back into the room. "You're practically glowing with happiness."

"I am happy, nervous but happy," Peri laughed lightly and went to gather the three small gifts before going back downstairs with her mother as some protection again her anxiety.

"Andie, I know I have said it a few times but thank you. You've been so good putting your life on hold for me since, well since you came to get me, from Canberra," she gave a half smile. "I love you, Mum."

"I love you too baby, and thank you for not shutting me out. You make me a very proud mother."

At three thirty in the afternoon, there was no one else in the small lounge bar. Peri smiled as she saw them sitting with Lucia, who they were staying with, while they were in town.

"Wonderful they're here, I'll get the champagne," Lucia stood up.

"That's not necessary," Marco said also coming to his feet. "I will get it after we have had a chance to say hello and ask the girls what they would like to drink."

"It's so good to see you all," Peri gushed nervously and went to embrace them one by one as they stood awkwardly allowing her to move between them. "A drink would be lovely but please let me get it, it's the least I can do."

"Nonsense," Andie said. "Sit down and talk to your guests Lucia and I are quite capable of ordering a few drinks. Gentlemen what would you like."