The Twelve Tables Ch. 27

Ben whistled, and Romey sat considering what his brother had just disclosed about his wife's upbringing and fears. He knew she didn't have a happy childhood and was overjoyed to escape her family when he had proposed, but they had never talked about it in depth. She had said we wanted to leave it in the past and start a new life with him, and he hadn't pushed her on it. He could see now why she craved the praise of his family, especially over the holidays and why she had wanted to be the hero and fix everything for Emily.

"She's an amazing woman, but then, we Donati men have a knack for finding them," Romey said good-naturedly.

"Excluding Peri, our wives grew up within the families, and were taught to know their place, further their husband's careers and be the best of mothers," Ben said. "I imagine they all have good educations and would be assets to any one of our businesses. Emily included, she has a business and human relations degree. I imagine Rosanna and Bianca have degrees just like our sisters."

"Bianca went to a Swiss finishing school, no degree but she speaks a few languages," Romey added. "Carmen never considered working in the family business until you and Peri mentioned it," he mused. "I don't have a problem with it if it makes her happy. As long as she doesn't overdo it and forget she has a family waiting for her at home," he chuckled.

Dante saw Ben's face drop slightly and felt for him. It must have been a terrible thing to see Emily breakdown the way she had and have to commit her for treatment. He tried to find the words to say to make it alright for Ben, as he would have last year when his grouchy, dark view of the world afforded him some leeway in what he said. Now as the oracle he felt the need to dole out words of wisdom instead of barbed home truths.

"Growing up a woman in any of the families can't be easy he said. All that pressure to be the whole package. Beautiful, intelligent, maternal and traditional to the point of sainthood, it's a wonder more of them haven't cracked under the strain. Em's a tough little lady, Ben," Dante said softly. "Once she realises we don't hold her responsible she'll come good. Even Josh blames you two for getting me shot rather than your wives." He finally addressed the elephant in the room momentarily surprising his brothers.

"Ben and I had a chat, and we blame Peri," Romey said in a serious voice catching Dante off-guard. "Before you fell in love and went all soft and squishy again, you never would have tried to be a hero like that. Don't get me wrong, we're grateful and all but that injury," he pointed at the bandaged wound on Dante's calf, "is entirely Peri's fault." He was having trouble keeping the serious note in his voice as he finished speaking and looked to Ben for confirmation.

"I have to agree," Pete interrupted bringing his beer to come and sit with them at the rear of the yacht. "You're not the hero type, Josh gets away with it because that's how he's always been swooping in to help everyone out but as you have kept reminding us for the last few years, you're the evil twin."

"He's got a point," Ben agreed. "I doubt Lio would have been impressed with your heroics. He liked being the nice twin even though he was an asshole at times. Being in love is obviously dangerous to your health, D. Luckily Pete doesn't mind, between you and Peri I hear he is going to be able to afford a tub like this soon."

"Actually, I'm planning on expanding my practice soon, open a few medical centres as the family is spreading out around the suburbs," he grinned.

"I can't help it. I love her," Dante admitted and smiled through the goofy expression that came over his face again. "If you're all honest about it, you love her too. Admittedly, not in the same way but you do."

"If Papa marries Andie, which I think is on the cards, she'll be my sister so technically, I'll have to love her," Pete chuckled. "Going by that definition, though, you and Josh will be sleeping with your cousin," he pointed out laughingly.

"Not like that's going to stop me. We've always been a close family anyway," he joined in the laughter that surrounded him.

*****

"It's so hard with three of them I never have enough arms," Peri whispered picking up Cruze. She and Josh arrived home late in the evening and went straight to the nursery, thinking the nannies would be getting ready to give them their last feed for the day. "Hello little man," she crooned cuddling him close to her chest and breathing in the unique scent of babyhood.

"Hey there little princess," Josh whispered as Eden stretched and yawned in his arms. "Did you have some adventures today?" he carried her over to where Peri sat in one of the recliners as she gurgled away at him. "What's that? Your brothers were picking on you again?" He asked the baby seriously as she continued to gurgled. "Don't you worry, Papa'll have a word with them." He gently placed Eden on the pillow across Peri's lap, next to her brother. He then took Blayze from the nanny and smiled. "You're getting bigger every time I see you," he said proudly as his son gazed up at him silently. Josh sat down beside Peri and undid the blanket that had been wrapped around the baby so carefully. Rubbing his little belly, Josh spoke to him about being a good big brother to Eden and protecting her from bullies not being one himself.

Peri laughed quietly as Josh continued to have very serious conversations with each of his offspring. They were four months old now and growing fast. Pete would be coming with the paediatrician during the following week to do their check-up. She was so lucky they were all healthy and happy babies, who seemed to be able to cope with all of the travel they had been doing over the last few weeks. Perhaps commuting between their two homes wouldn't be as bad as she envisaged, especially at this young age. Even if they spoke to Dante and Ben about next week, it would take time for any of the plans she had mentioned to Josh to come to fruition.

After noticing several concerned looks the nannies gave them after checking their watches, Peri urged Josh to begin putting them to bed. Waiting until they were all sound asleep before leaving the nursery, Josh and Peri walked past the now silent living area of the children's apartment toward the stairs up to the penthouse. Josh stopped walking and squinted into the darkness. He let go of Peri's hand and walked over to a soft strangely shaped couch.

"Angelina?" he whispered squatting down beside the couch.

"Zio Josh," she said in a heartbroken voice and wrapped her arms around him. "I want my mama," she said sobbing.

"Mama's not well, and we have to let her get better before we can see her," he said softly holding her close. "We just need to be big and brave for a little while longer. Can you do that for me?"

"Papa is sad all the time without mama to make him laugh. I need her to come back and take us home so Papa will laugh and play with us again," she was crying now as she spoke.

"Zio D. has taken Papa out on a big boat and is making him laugh right now. How about tomorrow we give him a call and you can hear him laugh," Josh tried to calm the young girl.

"We can't he's not answering his phone or returning my messages," she held out her phone to him surprising Josh.

"That's because he's on a big boat and his phone doesn't work so good out on the ocean, but I have a special way of calling him," his mind was working. Vincenzo was out on the yacht with his brothers, but Zita would know how to contact him and get him to call. "It's very late, and he will be asleep right now, but I promise in the morning we'll get him to call us."

"Papa doesn't sleep he watches to make sure we are safe all night, and he's not here to make sure," she looked around into the gloom the only lighting come from a dim overhead light in the kitchen left on for the nannies.

"That's why he left you here with me, so I could make sure you are safe and sound. Not only that but Nonna and Nonno are upstairs making double sure this weekend while Papa is on the yacht," Josh hated that she was still crying despite his words.

"When I was little my mama always made me hot chocolate when I couldn't sleep. She said it chased the monsters away from my dreams because it was so sweet and yummy," Peri said. "Would you like to help me make some, I miss your Mama and Papa too. So I could use some hot chocolate to make my dreams sweeter." Peri held out her hand in invitation.

"You miss them?" Angelina said sceptically.

"Of course, I do, I love them. They are so smart, strong and good at making sure that the whole family are safe," Peri answered. "I was on that big boat last night and called Zio from there. I bet if he checks his phone the number will still be on it, and he might be able to get hold of your Papa in the time it takes to make the hot chocolate."

"I bet I could," Josh said wondering why he hadn't thought of that.

"Okay," the young girl agreed reluctantly and took Peri's hand tentatively as if it might sting her. Peri walked to the kitchen and made small talk about what she was doing and the time she had spent with Emily when they were both pregnant at the family gathering. She was trying to give Josh as much time as possible to reach Ben.

"Zia Nik didn't like you, but I think she was wrong, you're not an evil witch like in our story books," Angelina said as she placed five tiny marshmallows into her cup and blew on the steamy milk.

"Do you think your Mama and Papa would have left you here with Zio and me if I was?" Peri asked astonished at the young girl's statement.

"Maybe if you magicked them like she said you did too Zio," she frowned. "Are you magicking me?"

"No," Peri laughed. "I wish I knew magic, but I don't. I think love is a little like magic. Zio and I fell in love, like the prince and princesses in your stories, and we didn't pay as much attention as we should have to the other people we love, like Zia. We were a little bit mean, and I feel bad about that. When we love someone we try to do the things that will make them happy and worry about them when they aren't happy. Just like you tonight worrying about your Mama and Papa. Love makes us do things like that, but we also have to remember to be patient and kind because it can be tricky too. If we don't pay attention, we sometimes hurt the people we love by sharing that love with other people too. Zio and I fell in love and forgot to pay attention to Zia Nik, and her feelings were hurt. She didn't really think I was a witch she was just mad at her brother. I bet you get mad at BJ sometimes even though you love him."

"Yeah, but he's so gross. He purposely farted on me once," she said indignantly.

"I never had any brothers or sisters, so having such a big family is new to me," Peri confided trying to hide her smile as she said it. "I make mistakes all the time so maybe you could help me out if you see me forgetting to pay attention again."

"I don't know why Zia was so mad at you. It was Zio who forgot to pay attention. Besides if you had made her hot chocolate, I am sure you would have been friends. She was super cool you know," Angelina said honestly untouched by any of the evil Nik had done in the last year of her life.

"I'd love to hear about her sometime. Maybe we could make hot chocolate for your sisters and cousins one night now that you have helped me do it once you can be the expert," Peri picked up her cup as she saw Josh walking towards them putting his phone on the bench and picking the cup they had made for him.

"Josh?" Ben's disembodied voice came through the speaker of the phone.

"Papa!" Angelina cried.

"Angie, what are you doing out of bed?" Ben's voice sounded concerned and slightly cranky.

"She's having hot chocolate with me because I couldn't sleep," Peri said as she saw the girl freeze and Josh about to growl into the phone. "She's a good little cook, she must take after her mother."

"Wait what are you doing home I thought you went away for the weekend," his sleepy confusion was evident.

"I missed my babies too much," she laughed. "Poor Josh had to bring me home so stop me from crying all night long."

"I miss you like that Papa. I was crying, but Zia Peri explained that Zio D. is helping you find your smile again," Angelina said in a small voice.

"Zio D. has a funny expression on his face all the time lately. It's hard not to smile when he's around," Ben chuckled into the phone.

"Patient and kind," Peri mouthed at her.

"I love you Papa don't worry about me. I'll look after the little ones while you and Mama get better. But do you think you could call just one time tomorrow and tell BJ to stop being so gross?" Angelina asked seriously.

"He can't help it, Angie, he's a boy," Ben chuckled. "I will call and talk to you all tomorrow. I love you, sweetheart. Go to bed and get some sleep, okay?"

"Good night, Papa," she smiled.

"Josh?" Ben's voice asked, and Josh picked up the phone taking it off the speaker and pressing it to his ear as he walked away from the kitchen area again.

They finished their hot chocolate and washed the cups together. Then Angelina showed Peri where her room was, and Peri tucked her into bed.

"I'm glad we had the chance to talk, I think we're going to be good friends," Peri smiled down at her. "Sweet dreams, I'll see you tomorrow."

Quietly Josh and Peri made their way back upstairs to the penthouse and trying not to wake anyone stole into their room.

"You never cease to amaze me," Josh pulled her into his arms. "I think our love is a lot like magic too," he bent his head to kiss her. He could see how exhausted she was from the last thirty-six hours, and he felt the same way. Their need for each other showed again as they shed their clothes, but he pulled her down onto the bed with him and kissed her softly. "Sleep," he murmured. "We both need some sleep."

Peri was about to protest that she was fine, but she could see that he was as worn out as she was. She stroked his face tenderly and kissed him, letting him pull up the light blanket to cover them both. Content to be in his arms she closed her eyes and drifted off rapidly.

When she opened her eyes again, he was gone, and she could see the small chink of sunlight showing the corners of the blackout blinds that hid the deck and pool from her sight. She rolled over picking up her phone to check the time and gasped. She had slept half the morning away. She got up and showered getting dressed into something casual before going in search of Josh.

"He's downstairs with the children," Antonia said as she spotted Peri in the living area. "Come and have some breakfast you must be exhausted coming home so late last night." There was a question in her voice, but she didn't voice it.

"It's a bit late for breakfast," Peri said dismissively. "I might just get a glass of juice and wait for lunch."

"Nonsense you need to eat something, sit down I will get you something quick and easy," Antonia frowned at her. "You may not be feeding those babies anymore, but you have other priorities that will sap your energy like those two big babies of mine." She laughed.

"They aren't so bad. They're always lecturing me about overdoing things," she admitted stopping short of explaining that Josh put her straight to bed when they came upstairs last night. She was fairly sure that he was as tired as she was but that was beside the point. "They look after me very well, thank you so much for training them so well," she grinned following the older woman into the kitchen as Antonia ignored the startled look of Bridgette and helped herself to the juice in the fridge and some leftover Danish from breakfast.

"I would have got that for you, ma'am," Bridgette said politely, but her voice held a disapproving tone.

"Nonsense you have better things to do than to be waiting on me at this time of day. I am quite capable of looking after my daughter by myself," Antonia took on the high-handed voice of the Donati matriarch. Even Peri was a little intimidated when she used that voice, and she was hardly going to correct Antonia's slip of the tongue about their relationship despite the look of surprise Bridgette gave her.

They went back out to the table and sat together. Antonia had a small cup of coffee while she encouraged Peri to eat.

"I already had breakfast with Joseph and Joshua," she smiled. "He was lamenting leaving behind some pasta that you cooked for him. He said it's the best pasta he's ever had."

"He's probably just saying that because I made it for him a lot before Bridgette came to help us and took over the kitchen. I'm sure there are dishes you make that he loves just as much," Peri brushed aside the compliment he had paid her in telling his parents about it.

"Do you enjoy cooking?" Antonia asked at hearing her say that Bridgette took over her kitchen.

"I love cooking for Josh," she smiled around a mouthful of food. "Aside of Andie, he's the only person I've ever cooked for."

"Maybe you could make your special pasta for us tonight. I'd love to try it based on Josh's description," Antonia said.

"I don't think Bridgette would appreciate me invading her space," Peri said dubiously hating to disappoint her mother in law.

"Peri this is your house and your kitchen if you want to use it," Antonia said as if it was the simplest thing on earth. She noted Peri's worried expression and softened her voice. "I understand that you haven't grown up with servants, but you are in control here, you own everything, including their contracts. They are not your family or housemates even. You can cook or do laundry or any chore you want, and they will make way for you, send them to their room for a rest if it makes you feel better. My mother used to send all of the kitchen staff away when she baked traditional Christmas treats for us all. Emily's are good but not as good as my Mama's." She said proudly.

"Is she still in Adelaide?" Peri asked.

"No, I lost my Mama some years ago now," Antonia said sadly. "I was never one to cook myself, but I have a book with her recipes somewhere in my little haven if you're interested in giving some of them a try. You could try the Anginetti for Easter.

"I would love to look at it if you don't mind sharing it with me. My mother was never much of a cook so I doubt there are any family recipe books to be handed down by her. I hope Lucia doesn't mind if I borrow it," she said carefully thinking that it should be handed down from mother to daughter.

"Lucia? Why would she mind?" Antonia laughed.

"I guess I just think of family recipes passing from mother to daughter like your mother did for you," Peri said unsure of the woman's laugh.

"You became my daughter the day you married my son. You are the daughter who will take my place in looking after the family, alongside Joshua and his brothers," Antonia explained once again struck by Peri's lack of understanding of her position with the family now. It wasn't exactly a lack of understanding exactly, Antonia corrected herself, it was that Peri always put others needs and feelings before her own. Sometimes to her own detriment.

"I know you are still coming to terms with our ways," Antonia spoke in a softer tone. "I have seen what a strong and intelligent girl you are. You need to come to terms with who you have become in the eyes of the family. Be kind and patient and thoughtful of others because that is who you are but you must also be strong and not let others keep you from what you want to do. If people think you are weak or uncertain, they will try and exploit you and your position for their own benefit."

"Lucia isn't like that, and they're her grandmother's recipes," Peri said defensively.

"At heart, Carmen isn't someone who would seek to take advantage of perceived weakness, but she did," Antonia rebutted. "The reasons don't matter, what matters is that you are the one in charge of your household and your family. People will want to help bear the burden you face, but you must let them know in no uncertain terms that they do not speak for you, make decisions for you or that your sweet nature and genuine love of your friends and family will not stop you from making the hard decisions when needed. The only people you can truly rely on to help you make those hard decisions are the two men who love you without reservation."