After I finished my shopping I placed it carefully in my spacious handbag, as I walked quickly back towards the café enjoying Marc’s surprised expression at my unexpectedly early return. “All my life I have been searching for a woman, who could accomplish a shopping trip so speedily. Perhaps when you have divorced Marc, you would consider a proposal for me?”Marc grinned wickedly at me but raised his arms in alarm as I picked up his half-finished drink and threatened him with it.“Carmen I apologize,” he said laughing away, blissfully unconscious of the interested glances from the nearby table.” Do you want to drink or shall we get on? “Let's go Mathias please,” I said to ask my cheeks becoming red, aware that we were the focus of attention in the café. “We will go for the Gondola ride if you agree.”“That sounds fine,” I said following him quickly on the street. The boat ride was a thrilling experience as we started to sail ahead and I was enchanted despite the overwhelming heat. It was beautiful and picturesque as we saw people sitting and basking in the sun though it was quite sunny.We ate at a small restaurant, where they served the local cuisine and wine to go along with it. We visited the art galleries which showed the collection of black and white photographs of the city over the decades. The two most worth paying a visit places here are the Basilica di San Lorenzo at the top of Corso di Porta Ticinese and Basilica Sant Eustorgio near the bottom of the street. I dragged Marc down with me as I wanted to see it eagerly, as this is an Architectural potpourri of styles from restorations over the last sixteen century and is fascinating outside as well as inside. I was into architecture when I was married to Marc and it aroused my interest when I was here. It holds a magnificent chapel with fifteenth-century frescoes of Storie di San Pietro Martire by Vincenzo Foppa and the four teeth century Arca di San Pietro Martire by Giovanni di Balducci. Both I and Mathias were silent on the return journey, but it was comfortable silence I acknowledge without any of the overtones which would have been present in Marc’s company. I yawned and stretched luxuriously in my seat. It was an amazing day and for a change, I did not have to face my demons alone and I could forget my sorrows.“You are tired Carmen?”“Yes, a little Marc. Nothing that a shower and a rest won't cure.” I told him assuring him.“As Marc says I am a careless fool,” Marc muttered. “Will you forgive me, Carmen? I had no idea that it could be so exhausting”“Don't be foolish Marc. I am no more tired than if I had made this trip with Marc or anyone else for that matter. We are about to reach home aren’t we?” I said looking through the car windows into the darkening vineyards with growing recognition. And wondered what is it with Italian men and vineyards!“Yes, we've reached home safe and sound. “Marc swung the Bentley expertly into the parking.I found myself thinking with warmth about the good times I spent with everyone here. When I had called home to Marc earlier it has not been a slip of the tongue. If only things had worked out differently, I could have been very happy living here.“Carmen here we are,” Marc interrupted my thoughts with a puzzled note in his voice as he added.” I wonder what has occurred? Ada seems very anxious to speak to us.”“Carmen! Carmen! thank goodness you have arrived. Please come to the study, there is a phone call for you and then he is telling me that it's urgent. He had called twice but you were not available. I had told him to call back and I had tried calling Marc’s number but it was switched off.” She told me in one breath.I felt suddenly sick with fear and got down hurriedly from the car with unsteady legs.“Has something happened to Marc, has he had an accident?” I asked in a worried voice.I saw Mathias looking at me strangely but just at that moment, I did not care what construction was put up upon my actions for concern for Marc had driven me out of any other consideration. “No, it's not about Marc! Your fiancé has called from London. And is saying that your son has been admitted to the hospital and he is seriously ill.” I immediately rushed towards Marc's study. Dear God, I was praying desperately that Ada was mistaken when she heard that, I lifted the receiver with my hand as was trembling. “Hello, Don is that you! What happened? What happened to Tio ?” “Carmen get back here as soon as you can do you hear me? Don't wait to pack or anything, get a flight immediately! Tio was rushed into the hospital as he fell down on the ground while he was playing football in the afternoon, they think he might have spinal injuries !” He added harshly. “Will he recover?” I asked desperately all color-drenched out of my face, as I pictured my son lying defenseless alone in the strange hospital ward and I was in Italy and unable to confront him in any way. “They're giving their best Carmen. Carmen are you there?” a silence stretched for a long time till I regained my emotions. “Yes, Don I am here where is Tio? Which hospital? I asked anxiously. “We have admitted him to Leeds Children's hospital, come straight here, I'll be waiting for you, and remember I love you, darling.” He said before hanging up. “ I know that Don. I will be with you just as soon as I can, goodbye.” I replaced the receiver with hands that were trembling and sat gratefully into the chair which Marc had brought towards me accepting it almost without being aware of it and he also handed me a generous measure of Brandy. “Your son is ill? “ “Yes, Mathias! I have to go home! I shouldn't be sitting here just like this,” I said struggling to my feet gripped by an overwhelming feeling of panic. “Two more minutes will not make any difference,” Mathias said making me sit firmly back into the armchair. “I will deal with the booking for your flight home while Ada will pack some food and arrange for your bags to be packed. There's little point in doing anything for now until we have booked the flight to London.”“But Mathias my passport is with Marc and he has threatened me not to give it back what are we going to do about it ?” I said helplessly.“Well about that I think I know where he can keep it, just wait here for some time and I'll be back just relax yourself.” he said and left the room.“After five minutes he came back and showed me my passport, which was in his hand.Tears were running down my eyes and I hugged Mathias tightly thanking, him again and again.“Don't worry Carmen everything is going to be fine,” Mathias replied confidently and it was clear to me at a moment like this that his likeness to Marc was not only physical. The next half an hour was a nightmare. I was gripped by the most terrible foreboding, as I knew that I would find it hard to forgive myself for not being by my son’s side when he needed me the most.I was tormented by doubts about my past action. The events of the past had made it abundantly clear to me that if only for Tio’s sake I ought to have swallowed my pride and forced Marc to accept the truth of his son's paternity. It had been wrong to deny in Marc the son he so desperately wanted and I admitted to myself that he would have made an excellent father, even though Marc sometimes represented Marc high-handed manner ,It was obvious that he, like the rest of the family was devoted to Marc.In many ways, I was thankful that Marc was not at home at this time. I knew that I would willingly have allowed him to take complete control of the situation, placing absolute reliance upon his firm strength and the temptation to unburden myself and completely explain the truth about Tio would have been immense but to do so at this time will be needlessly cruel. To stop I would just have to bear the burden on my own shoulders. When Tio begins to recover it would be time to tell Marc the truth about him. I ate the food as soon as Ada had provided me with the least interest in eating. I was drinking my second Cup of coffee when Marc entered the room and I felt that the meal had made me more ready to face the future. “There is a flight from Milan in just five hours from now, don't worry we'll make it!” Marc told me laying a restraining hand on my arm as I began to scramble to my feet.“You have the cases, Ada?” Marc asked turning to the housekeeper for confirmation. “Yes, Marc,” Ada answered.“That is good! see that Dimitri puts everything into the car, please. Now we are almost ready here is your passport Carmen and a jacket for the journey. I think we have everything now ?” “I don't know how to thank you, Mathias,” I said, fighting back the rain of tears that fill my eyes. “Save it! You will have the opportunity later. I am coming with you to London and all the way to Yorkshire if necessary,” he said firmly in a tone that needed no more argument.“Goodbye Ada,” I said. “Thank you for taking good care of me.”“It had been a pleasure Carmen ,please come back soon .”I merely smiled at her as Marc opened the door of his car and I sank into the seat.“Ria! My God Mathias I haven't said goodbye to her.” I said with regret.“Calm down,” he said quietly climbing into the driving seat. “Ria has gone to Madrid with Marc to see the doctor in the afternoon and will be Staying with mother tonight don't worry, I have left a note for Marc explaining everything and we shall not have time to contact them from the airport as we hardly have any time left. “ I looked at him with pleading eyes and told him not to tell Marc about it now.He turned the key in the ignition and the powerful engine roared into life. “Relax Carmen and try to get some sleep. It will not be an uncomfortable drive, I'm afraid, I must drive quickly if we are to catch the flight but it will I will be very careful don't worry.”In the normal circumstances, I would have been completely terrified the way Mathias was traveling and for once my heart leaped into my mouth with fear and for the most part, I found myself urging Marc to drive at a greater speed, visions of Tio lying in hospital bed overriding all other circumstances. At Milan airport terminal it was brightly illuminated and bustling with travelers as I felt completely disoriented and confused but Mathias did all the formalities taking charge of my suitcase and setting them both properly. And making both of us sit on the plane with minutes to spare.I put my head against the seat and closed my eyes thankfully too concerned about my worry then about the takeoff, of the flight. I did not notice any fellow passengers except for Mathias and myself, as I thought about my injured son.I have to finally tell everything to Marc but for now, I just pray that my son would recover soon and will be able to meet his father.