“Don't Marc! Please don't !” He shook his head in disgust at his vulnerability.  “Whatever you have or not done Carmen, I want you! I think I shall always want you,” he groaned softly allowing his mouth to burn a trail of fire from a delicate ear to the trembling corner of my mouth. My legs were shaking nervously.  “Marc no! I pushed fiercely against his resisting body, drawing my head away from the weakening attraction.“You want me to Carmen! Do you think that I can hold you in my arms like this and not know that you feel exactly as I do? ““No! I protested again. “No, I won't let you do this. You think I'll be more liberal about Tio if you make Love to me then you are wrong .”The grip of my arms was loosened and suddenly I was free.“Carmen whatever happens, I am warning you I intend to take Tio with me. If you stay here with your fiancé it will be without Tio. You must make the choice Carmen, either you come back to Milan or lose Tio.” “What do you mean come back to Milan? ““I am saying that you should return to me as my wife, your life will be more restricted than it is here of course and I shall expect to behave with dignity as my wife.”“I see and if I don't behave as you expect, will use Tio as a hostage for my good behavior, is it? Have you not been listening to the things that I have said to you Marc? I said bitterly. “If you expect me to come to Milan under those conditions you must be mad !”Marc raked his hair with an angry gesture. “I have to confess that I find you completely infuriating. I came here with a perfectly reasoned plan for being furiously angry with you. I've been here for less than two hours and I already am feeling guilty, partially.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “ I ask you to return to Milan with our son and you see this is as some foul play on my part. It is true,” he added after some moment. “ That I would expect you to be my wife to me in the fullest sense of the word. I can't share you with anyone.”“But then I have reason to believe that you would not find it to distasteful. Who the hell can that be at the door?” He added as the ringing of the doorbell stopped the heavy silence.“It must be Mathias,” I said hurrying thankfully towards the door. “Come in Mathias. Marc is here.”“He is here!” Mathias entered the room and stared enquiringly at his older brother, who was watching him from the kitchen doorway.“Have you seen the boy? Marc said flatly.“Yes, big brother. Have you? ““Yes….”“well, the….” Mathias said with an unsteady breath glancing from my figure to Marcs, “You know then? ““As you say I know.” Marc paused a moment and leaned himself on the door. “I appreciate your bringing Carmen to London Mathias.”“However my presence is no longer required,” Mathias said. “Don't worry Marc, even I can take such a broad hint. I will cancel my hotel room and return home immediately. One of us has to be at the vineyard at this time.”“Oh, Mathias but Tio expects to see you when he wakes up ..” I said urgently. “I should like to meet again with Carmen but he will have his father,” Mathias said with a smile. “You will see him Mathias. As I intend to bring my son back to Milan as soon as he's able to travel.” “ I see,” Mathias said with a sympathetic glance in my direction.Seeing the direction of his brother's eyes, Marc added, “Carmen will also return with me.” “Oh my God, that's the most sensible thing you've said for years!” exclaimed Mathias apparently not noticing my helpless gesture of denial. He leaned forward to kiss my still face.“I'll be seeing you soon then little sister. I've told the taxi man to stop outside, as I was intending to use it to visit the hospital with you first but if you don't need it, it may as well take me back to the hotel. ““we will hire an uber.” Marc said briefly accompanying his brother to the door. “I will inform you and mother about everything that happens here.” He added as Mathias climbed into the waiting cab. “You will let me know the condition of Tios's health and don't be too angry with Carmen, Marc. She had a reason ……” “I'll see you soon Mathias and you can safely leave the problem of my wife to me.” He said firmly as the car began to pull away. “Have a safe journey .”When Marc walked back into the house, I was standing in front of the mirror unsuccessfully attempting to secure my hair into a neat knot.“Oh damn it! I shall never be ready to go to the hospital at this rate !” I grumbled.“Leave it loose,” Marc ordered directly behind me. “ I like it that way.”With an almost impatient gesture, his arms came around me drawing my resisting body, against his own leaving me no doubt as to the extent of his desire for me. With a muffled exclamation, he buried his face in my hair. His hand sent shivers of flame through my veins, banishing all my resistance. Then he lowered his mouth and kissed me possessively. After some time with an effort, he moved his body away from me his voice unsteady as he said. “ There is no time. I've arranged to meet the surgeon at three o'clock, do not look at me like that Carmen! “ As I was staring at him with daze after he kissed me.“Later, we must go now, here are your things Carmen.” He handed me the jacket and my bag, which I had laid on the chair and he pulled me gently towards the door.It was a silent journey to the hospital both of us equipped with our uncertain thoughts. I wished with all my heart that I had not met Bella Costa before I left Italy. If I had not known of his plans for me I would have no hesitation in accepting the invitation to return with him. I might even have forgiven him for cheating on me, for at least I would have had a brief week of happiness until Marc would have won Tio’s confidence and no longer needed my presence. I do want Tio to know his father and want him to meet his father's family who would love him. I sighed inwardly. I would have to visit my lawyer and find out my legal position, for surely I would have some rights where Tio was concerned. In any event I could not rely upon believing that Marc would be so cruel as to deprive me completely of my son's presence. At least I would get some visitation rights.Although I realized with despair that this was exactly what I had done to him during the last six years. The visit to the hospital passed more smoothly than I had feared. The surgeon agreed to transfer Tio to the private wing within the next day few hours as the beds were full and it would take an hour or so for the rooms to be unoccupied and I had to agree with Marc’s decision, as he was also able to set both my mind at rest about Tio's health and show me that our son was on his way to a full recovery.Marc seems a little bit confused by Marc's presence but showed not the slightest sign of blaming me for keeping his fathers presence a secret for the last six years. He was listening with interest about Marc’s description of life in Milan, observing every detail, to relate to his friends on a later date. I knew him too well he liked telling tales about anything and this was a big surprise for him. The afternoon passed very quickly but when the nurse brought the tea trolley into the ward, I took the opportunity to slip away and call up the lawyer for the sake of my Peace of Mind . I knew that I would have to clarify my position. When the lawyer agreed to meet me after an hour, I was relieved rather than otherwise. “Don't worry, mom dad will stay, I'll be fine. He says we can go to Milan, so that I can get better fast,” he explained carefully. “No school for weeks and weeks. On that would be a great mom?” “We shall have to arrange private tutors at home and also you will have to learn Italian,” Marc said in an amused tone. "I do not think you need to worry that you may fall behind with your studies Tio?” “O………..no! Won't I have any time for swimming or exploring things out there?” He exclaimed with despair. “Yes, when you are fully recovered, I shall teach you to swim myself. Don't worry, we shall maybe allow you a little free time,” he said with a quiet smile.” “you are teasing me,” Tio said accusingly. “Maybe, now say goodbye to your mother, Tio.” Then to me, “we shall see you later?” “Okay, it will not take a longer time for me. Would you like to have a sandwich or something brought back or will you go out to the hospital canteen later?” “I'll get something when you return. Don't worry Carmen.”“Okay goodbye then I'll see you later,” I murmured kissing Tio gently on the cheek. “Bye, mom !” Tio said with a grinning I looked at his flushed face and felt the warmth that only his smile could give. *******************The office of my lawyer was situated not very far away from the hospital and I walked there with time to spare before my appointment. The waiting room outside the office was very comfortable, I was directed to go inside by the secretary as I walked inside the office. I was forced to admit that managing without a car nowadays was difficult sometimes. At least I would not have that problem if I decided to return to Milan with Marc. If only I were the type of person he imagined, how much easier life would be. I could just accept the money offered and go my own way. If I had been willing to swallow my pride, I would have accepted Marc's help during Tio’s birth and saved myself a hard struggle My lawyer’s secretary interrupted my musings and soon I was comfortably sitting in the comfortable armchair in a rather shabby office. “What problem are you facing now, Mrs. Garcia?” He said coming and sitting near me. “It's about Tio, my son.” I began.“Yes, just a moment let me refresh my memory. Some years ago we handled a certain correspondence between yourself and your husband concerning the boy. And he had refused to enter into any other further communication regarding the child I believe? So what happened now?”“Yes,” I noted.” "He chose to believe that he was not Tio's father but now he discovered that this was not, so any intends to take Tio back to Milan with him.”“I see!” The lawyer spoke softly. “ I see, perhaps you had better start at the beginning from where it started and brief me and put me completely in the picture. Then I shall know exactly where we stand.” He shot me a look. “ I am assuming that if you want to keep the boy with you? “I raised my hands in a helpless gesture. “If there's any chance whatsoever, I will try my best not to let him go to Milan ..”“Well, for that first you tell me the complete story and then I can fill you in, on the legal position .” when I had finished my story, he lay back for a moment and started playing with the pen.“Do I have any legal right to Tio after denying him to his father for all these years?”“Mrs. Garcia,” The lawyer said frowning irritably at the pen and flung it on the table. “The question is does your husband have any right to the boy?”“But his name is on Tio's birth certificate and I am still legally married to him …” I said helplessly as I was the one who entered his father's name.“You assured me that you have kept all the communications, which you received from your husband at the time of your separation? As I nodded, he continued, “you kept a copy of the letter which you sent informing him of the birth of the child and the one he sent in reply disclaiming any further interest ““Yes, but what has it... ?”“You're about to tell me that you deliberately intended to mislead your husband about the paternity of the child, in the hope that he would leave the boy with you? Perfect natural action in the circumstances and not one that you need to worry about at this stage. Legally, in this case, it's the action that you look at rather than any double motive that would concern the court. I think we can safely say that you would be allowed to keep the boy. However, your husband would likely be granted access, although I doubt whether he would be allowed to take the boy out of the country.”“I wouldn't mind that,” I said and then . “Did you mention court proceedings ?”“Yes but there again don't worry about the cost.. …” The lawyer tried to get to the point but......“It wasn't that”, I interrupted quickly. “In the circumstances why are court proceedings necessary at all?” He shrugged his shoulders expressively. “From everything that you have told me about your husband it seems unlikely that he will give in without a fight. And I think you should have strong grounds for the divorce in this case if you wish to pursue it. Your position would be much stronger if you were divorced.” “Yes, I think about it.” I pushed the subject to one side and said intently,“And don't worry Mrs. Garcia.” said the lawyer as he saw my expression. The sympathy would be totally in your favor. And the husband would undoubtedly be the bad man !” “I see, well thank you for giving me your time, and thank you for explaining everything so carefully to me.” I rose to my feet pushing back the chair. “Would you like me to contact your husband's lawyer, Mrs. Garcia?” he rose to his feet politely and walked around the desk to shake hands with me. “Can you leave it for now? I'll ring you probably tomorrow. When I've finally decided what action to take, ” I said. “very well, I look forward to hearing from you,” he said politely opening the door into the waiting room and escorting me to the street.After I left the lawyer's office, I walked thoughtfully down the street. Absently going into the small coffee house I ordered a sandwich and a Cup of rather tasteless tea. By the time I had consumed my snack and began to walk back toward the hospital, I was still confused as I was looking for a solution to my problems but found none.