“Yours?” Tammy croaked she was too taken in by the beauty of the tiny cottage. Picturesque is what she should of originally thought. It even had a pure white picket fence. She had never seen anything like it in her life.
Dante smiled, “Yes, it was very run down when I found it....” He cringed a little. “All those years ago and my parents decided to do it up. I wasn't entirely sure at the time,” he looked down at Tammy and she swore she saw them twinkle. “But now I do. Come,” he ordered, marching over to the cottage. He took a key out of his pocket and placed it in the lock. “I hope you like it.”
The door opened and Tammy stepped in, scanning, which was obviously the living room. She had stepped into her fantasy world. The whole living room was filled with books, plus two comfy old fashion chairs. An open fireplace sat on the opposite side of the room.
“Funnily enough,” Dante said, he leaned against the doorway watching Tammy's happy expression. “The decoration was done a year ago. Lucky I choose a woman who would appreciate them all.” he looked down at his feet. He had to get on with it. He had brought her here to somehow blunt the blow.
He finally stepped in and closed the door behind him. “Sit down.” He sat down on the pure white rug placed in front of the fire place. Tammy followed and sat down cross legged in front of me. He could feel the paperwork in his inside jacket pocket. How was he going to do this?
Tammy could sense something was wrong with Dante. He looked puzzled and sad. Her hand reached out and she placed it on his leg. He looked up and gave a little smile. “What is wrong?”
He let a little air from his mouth. “We have to deal with the legal matters” a little annoyance filled his voice. Tammy awkwardly moved, but remained in front of him. Dante pulled the paperwork out and placed it down in front of the both. “I trust you, Tammy-- This is just a precaution my father wants to take.”
Tammy picked it up and began to read:
Contract
Commencing July 2012
BETWEEN
Mr Dante Renaldo- Ashville Manor, Ashville, Oxfordshire Ox2 9KH
Miss Tammy Miller- 10 Church Lane, Ashville, Oxfordshire Ox2 9TY
The parties agree as follows:
MISS MILLAR
1. Anything that is spoken about must not be repeated to the following:
Family members outside of the Renaldo family.
Friends.
Press or any other media.
2.An Aids/HIV test is to be taken immediately.
3.Once married, one child should be born within the first years of marriage.
4.If in the incident of divorce or death of spouse... The parties are able to go back to normal life. Refer to 1.
MR DANTE RENALDO
1.Shell not mention anything outside of the family of Miss Miller's role to him.
2.Shell respect that any time Miss Miller will not perform the act he requires.
3.Must never find fulfilment from another woman.
4.Once the first child is born, a bank account should be set up and given to Miss Miller. Refer to 4 (Miss Miller)
CONCLUSION
We the undersigned have read and understood fully those provisions of this contract. We freely accept the terms of this contract and have acknowledged this by our signatures below.
_______________
Mr Dante Renaldo
Date:
_______________
Miss Tammy Miller
Date:
She placed it back down on the floor, unable to find the words to describe how she was feeling. They wanted to legally bind her, keep her mouth shut, and tell her when she should have children. As for the AIDS/HIV test-- were they serious???
Reading that had made it all real, this was all to break the curse. She was never going to be an actual wife or a member of this family. She was their get out of jail card.
She could feel the tears running down her face and her stomach swirled. She thought she was going to be sick. Like she would ever tell anyone. She was falling in love with Dante. The only contract she should ever sign was her marriage certificate. This was never going to be a marriage out of love. Nothing of this was normal, she had felt the same as she did the night she came here.
“Say something” Dante begged, as he reached out to brush away her tears.
Tammy jumped up. She had to think about this alone. She had to weigh up the pros and cons. Was Dante worth all of this? She felt a slight pain in her heart. Just looking at him was making her question this contract. If she stayed around him any longer she would sign it. “I want to be alone,” she sobbed and ran out of the cottage.
“Tammy!” Dante called after her, he just remained where he was sitting. He ran his hands through his hair... The anger from earlier was beginning to erupt through him. He had a strange feeling this was what would happen.... She was going to leave, this had freaked her out and she would run away as far as she could get.
He flung his self back and stared at the wooden beams above him. The damn curse had taken over his life again. He really was cursed, in more ways than one.
***
Tammy hugged the pillow and let her tears flow. She must have been crying for over an hour now. How could a dumb piece of paper destroy everything, make her feel dirty and nothing. That's what she was nothing, something to produce a baby and something to feed on. Her lungs were beginning to burn and her ribs hurt from crying too hard.
She thought about Dante's distraught look he gave her before she ran off. God, she loved him. How could it work with that contract hanging over her head? She would be looking over her shoulder all the time to make sure she wasn't breaking anything.
Was Dante worth this? Yes! He was everything she thought she could live without, now she had a taste of it, she couldn't let it go. She had accepted everything else, but this? Why was this harder to deal with?
She finally let go of the pillow and stared up at the fancy painted ceiling. She wished he was here right next to her this second.
As if on cue the door opened and Dante strolled in, still wearing his jacket. His mouth turned down at each corner and his eyes full of sadness. Tammy quickly sat up and tried to wipe away her tears. She knew she looked a mess. She watched as he walked and stood in front of the bed. He grabbed hold of both posts and bowed his head.
“You ran...” he whispered. “Does this mean you're leaving?”
Tammy felt a lump in her throat, she had hurt him. He was a shell of a man who she had met not that long ago. She tilted her head to the side and took in a deep breath. She didn't want the tears to start again. She took a look at Dante, who had remained still and not made eye-contact with her.
He really was a beautiful man, who was kind, loyal, and trustworthy. Okay, he had a temper but she was pretty sure she could deal with that. In fact, she already knew how to get round him.
Why was she allowing a piece of paper to get in the way? After all he had said, I trust you, Tammy-- This is just a precaution my father wants to take. Was this actually nothing to do with him?
Had he just been a messenger? Now Tammy felt even worse and understood how Dante must be feeling right now.
She sat up on her knees. “I'm sorry...” Her voice small and weak.
He finally looked up at her, her eyes all red and puffy. His heart was beating fast in his chest, unsure of what her next reaction was going to be. He wouldn't allow her to leave him without putting up a fight. He had come too far now, he felt too strongly for her.
“Sorry you ran? Or sorry, you're leaving?” He tried to keep his voice calm, but he could hear it break in places. He had never had an urge to cry before, right now he felt weak and not very in control of his emotions.
“For not realizing you were against that contract too.”
His eyes opened wide in shock. In such a short period of time she had come to understand him. Of course she did--- Why hadn't she seen that in the cottage? Didn't she trust him? Tammy moved over towards him and grabbed hold of his waist
. She pushed her head into stomach. As if in reflex, his hands cupped her head and he pulled her in tighter.
“Are you leaving me?” he asked.
“Tammy!” Boomed a voice, both their heads turned in Sir Renaldo’s direction. “Your Grandmother has had a bad turn and is asking for you.”
Tammy looked up at Dante terrified. He grabbed hold of her wrist, picked her up and placed her on the floor standing in front of him. “Forget this for now,” his fingertips glided over her cheek. “You have greater things to worry about.”
“Will you come with me?” She asked, once again the tears and sickness had kicked in. “Please, Dante, I don't want to go alone and I need you by my side.”
“Of course,” he leaned forward and placed a little kiss on her forehead. He gripped hold of her hand and led her out of the room. Tammy prayed she wasn't going to be too late.
Chapter seven
The whole drive to her parent’s house she had clung to Dante in the back of the car as his father drove. Every so often Dante would kiss her forehead, she was glad he was by her side. Every worse possible outcome was racing through her mind. She would kick herself if anything happened to her Gran and she wasn't there.
Then the realization of seeing her parents again and once more that guilty of saying they were dead to her hit like someone had punched her hard in the chest. She buried her head into Dante's side with shame.
“Hey,” Dante said softly. “It will be fine.”
Tammy nodded and looked out the car window, they were here so soon. The sight of her family home brought more tears, this was where she had grown up and been happy. Well, what she thought was happiness. It was nothing compared to Dante's cottage, how she had loved to spend afternoons laid out on that overgrown grass with her head buried away in a book.
Dante got out of the car and helped Tammy out. If it wasn't for Dante holding her tight she was pretty sure she would fall face first on the pavement. She slowly looked up at the front door, her mother clinging to her father looking exactly how Tammy felt. She rushed up the garden path and into her mother's arms.
“Is she okay?” Tammy sobbed.
“She is fine” Tammy's mother sobbed back. “She caught a cold a few days ago and she just seemed to be getting worse. She wasn't eating and she was sleeping all day.” Tammy pulled away from her mother. “Today she is just asking for you.”
“Mr and Mrs Miller,” Tammy felt Dante's presence behind, she watched as he shook hands with her father. “I'm Dante, it's a pleasure to meet you both,” he was using that crisp fine tone again.
“I need to see her” Tammy protested.
“Go on up” her father smiled. Just from that smile Tammy knew any hatred she had for her father was now. Both men she loved dearly were here. Tammy grabbed hold of Dante's hand and led him upstairs to her grandmother's room.
Before she opened the door, she turned to face, Dante, both hands resting on his hard chest. “My Gran has dementia, so if she says anything odd either ignore or humour her.”
“Anything for you” his own hand resting on Tammy's face, he loved how she would fall into his touch, as if it melted her each and every time. The aching from earlier was finally easing away and he had no doubt now that she was his future wife. He was going to fill the role of her husband like no man before him.
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, her skin soft and smooth under his lips. The minute they got home, he was going to rip that stupid contract into bits. Tammy wasn't signing anything and she was taking no tests. He might not be normal, but Tammy was going to live a normal life. He would find a way to live round this curse. It was going to be hard, but she was worth it. He was going to do anything to keep her by his side.
“You ready?” Tammy smiled up at him.
“Yes.” Tammy reached for the handle and the door opened. A frail little old woman sat up tucked in bed. Her brown hair combed smoothly and her green eyes looking at the strangers in the doorway.
“Tammy?” Her voice horsy and she gave a cough. “Is that you?” Tammy stepped into the room, her Gran looked awful, and she had lost a lot of weight in such a short period of time. Her lips cracked and dry. Then Tammy noticed. Her Gran's eyes were fixated on Dante behind her. “You brought Angus?” A slight smile came to her lips and her eyes widened.
“No,” Tammy laughed, she was still talking about that Angus bloke.
“Angus, you’re here...” she replied, ignoring Tammy completely.
Dante froze in the doorway. He felt the colour drain from his face. Angus? His eyes moved from Tammy to her grandmother. Surely no! The look of worry spread over Tammy's face and he remembered what she had said outside. He took in a deep breath and stepped forward towards the bed. “Yes, Edwina... I am back.”
“Dante?” Tammy looked at him. She was confused with what was going on. She watched as he gracefully walked over to her grandmother and leaned over to kiss her on her forehead. “What is going on?”
Dante rose back up and shook his head, he didn't reply just walked out of the room. Her Grandmother screamed after him, she was now crying. Tammy rushed to her Grandmother's side and tried to calm her down. What was all that about? Why would she think Dante was this Angus bloke? Watching her grandmother cry set her off.
“Who is Angus, Gran?” she begged. “Tell me?” Tammy waited, but her Grandmother just closed her eyes. She took in a deep breath and raced out of the room and downstairs. Dante was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He looked like he was posing for Vogue. Tammy stared at him, he looked calm and controlled. Tammy hated his attitude sometimes.
“What was that about?” She asked, as she stepped off the last step.
His head turned in her direction and he smiled, she could tell it was fake. “Nothing, I was doing what you asked me to do?” His voice low.
“Really?” Now Tammy folded her arms. “Who is Angus?”
Dante shrugged. “No idea!” His voice was like ice and his eyes not once looking at her. After everything else from today, he really didn't need this on top of it all.
“You called her Edwina?” Tammy clenched her jaw tight, he was lying, and she knew that. She looked down at her left hand-- No ring! And she hadn't sighed, his stupid contract. Right now she was free, free of him and his family. She looked back up to his beautiful face, he was lying to her. This honest man, who had confessed all his dark secrets and she trusted. He knew exactly who Angus was, why wasn't he telling her?
“Dante...” she hushed. “Please, don't start lying to me now.”
He stood up straight and shook his head. “Just don't!” He replied firmly. “I don't need the whole guilt trip rubbish. I'm leaving... Are you coming?”
“You really have to ask?”
Dante rolled his eyes and headed outside to the car. Tammy stood for a moment, weighing up the situation. Something had happened upstairs and she knew she hadn't day dreamed it. Dante knew who this Angus was... Why wouldn't he tell? The more she thought about it the more it hurt that he was keeping something from her. She had to go with him, once in Ashville Manor he would surely tell her.
Dante got into the back of the car and placed his head in his hands. Was this real? Had he just witnessed that? Everything felt surreal, he always knew something drew him to Tammy but he had never thought about this reason.
“Something wrong, Dante?” His father asked. Dante hadn't even realized his father was sitting in the car.
“Believe me” Dante laughed. “If I told you, you wouldn't believe it yourself.” He rested his head on the back of the seat and let out a deep breath.
“I think I know” his father replied, softly. “Tammy's Grandmother,”
“You knew?” Dante's eyes widened. “Why didn't you say anything?” His fist clenched, he really wanted to hit something. He had been lied to by his own father.
“It wasn't anything important. There was no need for you to know... Have you told Tammy?”
“No! She would freak out again...
Like she did with the contract. Which by the way, I'm destroying.” The car door opened and Tammy got in, Dante gave a little breath of relief. She had decided to come home with him. He had a little idea why. Her thirst for information was probably her drive behind it. She didn't speak, just looked down at her hands. Dante had a funny feeling the horrid day he was having wasn't over yet.
They both trailed behind Sir Renaldo as they entered the open hallway. Sir Renaldo put his keys down and turned to face them both. Neither of them looking at one another and both with their arms folded.
“Okay,” he smiled, Tammy could Sir Renaldo could feel the tension between them. “I'll go. I have some work to do in my office.” He quickly disappeared, Tammy was glad. Maybe now they were alone Dante would stop being childish and tell her.
“Hungry?” He didn't wait for Tammy to reply, he just strolled off into the kitchen.
Tammy pressed her lips tightly together. He was doing that thing again! Tammy took in a deep breath and followed behind. She stood in the doorway and watched as he gracefully moved around from checking the cupboards to the fridge. “Well???”
“We haven't got much in” he held a loaf of bread. “Will a sandwich do?”
“Will you just stop?” She yelled, surprising herself with the tone of her voice. “I am not hungry.”
Dante raised a perfect eyebrow and a slight smile hit his lips. “Looks like I am not the only one with a temper.”
“Tell me!” She demanded. “Tell me why you said that to my Grandmother.”
Dante slammed the bread down on the counter and glared at Tammy. “Fine!” He growled. “You want to know... Come!” He headed back in her direction, grabbed her wrist and dragged her along with him. “You'll leave this time!” He snapped, quickly looking over his shoulder. He came to a door and opened it... It was the banquet hall. “And I won't blame you!”
They stopped and he released her arm. “There!” He pointed to a portrait of a man with shoulder length black hair, sculptured nose and cheeks. His eyes a striking green that caught your attention immediately, dressed in a ruby coloured jacket and standing as if he owned the world.
This was the same portrait that had caught Tammy's attention the last time she was here. Although last time it had reminded her of the perfect stranger who had walked in and out of the book shop. She just stared at him, fascinated once again.