Bella (30 page)

Simon seemed to have
moved on with his life, so I had to do the same.

My wedding
anniversary was coming up and Claudio booked a week in New York.

Lizzie offered to
have the children. I put the Christmas decorations up before we left for New
York. To be honest I wasn't in the Christmas mood but I did it for the sake of
the kids.

Once we arrived in
New York we unpacked our things. The hotel was near Central Park. The Christmas
lights in New York were amazing and it started to snow.

   The next morning
Claudio wouldn't tell me where he was taking me. He just told me that it was a
surprise. I felt like an excited child.

There we were
standing outside Tiffany's and Claudio got down on one knee.

  
“
I know we are already married, but we
’
ve
been through so much and I want us to renew our wedding vows Bella.
”

What could I say? My
heart sank. How I could I renew my vows when my heart was aching for Simon.

I told him we should
wait because we had too much going on Claudio's face dropped.

  
“
What's wrong with you Bella?  No matter what I try to do you are
never happy. Will anything I do ever be at the right moment for you?
“
  He implored.

I didn
’
t want a row but I knew I had some explaining to do. Claudio stormed
off.

I walked through
Central Park and watched people ice skating.
 
The dark clouds loomed over head and it started to snow. I sat on a
bench numb. Crying was all I could do. I don't know how long I had been sitting
there. I even ignored my mobile phone which was ringing constantly. Eventually
I picked it up. Claudio was on the other end and apologised.

  
“
Why are you apologising?
”
I asked.
“
It
’
s not your fault. It
’
s mine, I am so sorry!
”

We met up that
afternoon for lunch.

  
“
Bella you need to tell me what's bothering you.
”

  
“
If I tell you then I know our marriage will be over.
”
I told him to listen and say nothing until I had finished. I told
him everything, right back to when I was a child and the love I felt for Simon.
The love he felt for me.

   
“
But you see Claudio there was nothing we could do. Yes we did sleep
together and it was a sin. Robert is Simon
’
s
child but I never even told them.
”
     

Claudio didn
’
t say a thing he just sat there looking shocked and betrayed.

  
“
Now we know that we are not brother and sister we could be together,
but I am married to you Claudio. Believe it or not I do love you. But I love
Simon more. I always have and always will. But Simon has made it perfectly
clear that we can
’
t be together.  I was sobbing and the tears were choking me. I was
surprised that Claudio didn
’
t go into a fit of rage, instead he remained perfectly calm. That
was the problem. Claudio was such a nice man with a heart of gold.

  
”
Now it's your turn to talk Claudio.
”
I
begged.

   
“
I don't know what to say Bella. You love another man and I know I
can never ever compete with the love you have for Simon.
”
  He gasped and walked away from me. I ran after him begging him to
at least talk to me.

  
“
We need to make a decision Simon.
”
I
said.  

  
“
Simon! You called me Simon.
”
he scolded.

 We walked back to
the hotel in silence. Once we arrived, Claudio packed his suitcase without
saying a word. When he finished he broke the silence.

  
“
I am leaving Bella. I can't stay here with you anymore. I will go to
Tuscany and visit my parents.
”

With that he was
gone; leaving me standing there. There was no point trying to ask him to stay.
I was feeling sorry for myself, for something I had created. Being in New York
alone just wasn't the same.

Should I regret
telling him the truth about everything?
I thought.
My mobile rang, bringing me back to reality. I reached into my pocket, pulled
it out and answered it.

  
“
Hey Bella. How are you lovebirds doing?
”

   
“
Lovebirds?
Lizzie. I had to tell her the truth about me and Simon.
”
I sobbed.

  
“
Bella you silly girl, why?
”

  
“
I couldn
’
t go on pretending any more,  it was killing me and I was hurting
Claudio. Everything was a lie. The only good thing I have now are my children,
and when they find out they won't probably talk to me either. Lizzie sighed on
the other end.

  
“
What
’
s the point in being angry with you Bella, I think you have enough
hurt going on. I am not going to judge you! I think you have done the right
thing.
”
She sympathised.

  
“
Do you Lizzie? Thanks for your support. I am coming home on the next
available flight.
”
I finished packing my things and was just about to leave when my
mobile rang again.  

   
“
It's me again, change of plans we are coming to you, how about
Christmas in America? Thought it might cheer you up sis.
”

   
“
Brilliant Lizzie, Christmas in New York. I can't wait now.
”

I had a long hot
bath and my mobile rang again.

  
“
Lizzie what do you want this time?
”
I
chortled.  However,  it wasn
’
t Lizzie.

     
“
It
’
s Simon, how are you?
”
he asked I could
feel all my emotions coming up. I pulled myself together.

  
“
I
’
m ok Simon.
”
I lied

  
“
Lizzie told me that you were in New York. I am here for the night
and just wanted to see you.
”

   
“
No Simon; I can't go through this again.
”
I
hung up. But he rang again.

     
“
I know where you are staying, so you can tell me to go when I
arrive.
”

     
“
Ok!
”
I sighed. I couldn
’
t be bothered to argue with him.

My heart was racing
knowing he was on his way. I quickly got myself ready and sprayed myself with
the perfume Simon liked. I looked at myself in the mirror. N
ot bad.
I
thought.

I told Simon to come
up to my room. When I heard a slight tap at my door I quickly checked myself in
the mirror again.

Nervously I answered
the door.He stood there looking all tanned and handsome.

He gave me a kiss on
the check.

   
“
Where's ruby?
”
I asked.
“
Lizzie told me you had found yourself a girlfriend.
”

   
“
It didn't work out Bella, but you already know that. No relationship
will work out because of the love I have for you.
”

I gave Simon a beer
I had in the mini bar and I poured my second glass of wine.

Simon sat on my bed
and leaned on my pillow. I found myself thinking, a
t least when he leaves
I'll have the scent of him on my pillow.

I sat down on the
edge of the bed sipping some wine. I felt unusually on edge, because I knew my
feelings were as strong as ever.

   Simon told me
what he had been doing since he left England. I listened to him and told him
what I had been up to.

I didn
’
t tell him about Claudio, and our split. All of a sudden I was
feeling really excited and wanted Simon to kiss me. I could tell the wine was
starting to have an effect on me. He must have felt the same because he pulled
me towards him. I could feel his breath on me. We both felt the same as our lips
met once again. I can't describe the feeling that I had then. I wanted Simon to
make love to me all night. He took off my top and then unbuttoned my jeans. He
slid his hand under my bra. I could feel myself dripping with desire.

His hard penis was
against me. I undressed him and we both lay there naked. Both our bodies
entwined around each other, fitting together like a jigsaw. He kissed me down
my neck towards my breasts then probed my nipples, then moving away teasing me.
My body was aching for him.

  
“
Make love to me Simon?
”
I demanded.

His eyes met mine.

   
“
Bella I want to make love to you all night, but first, I want to
tease you.
”

When he started
kissing me down my navel towards my pussy I was already having an orgasm.

He put his tongue
near my clitoris and licked me. I wanted to take his penis in my mouth and
please him. We couldn't get enough of each other. I sat on top of him and put
it in side me.
Oh god another orgasm
.

  
“
I love you so much Simon.
”
I was crying with
pleasure. Simon
’
s love and passion exploded inside of me.

Simon kissed my
tears away. We kissed long and hard with so much passion.

  
“
Why did you leave me Simon?
”
I panted.
“

  
“
Shush Bella, its ok I'm here now.
”

I knew this night
would be a one off and he would be gone the next morning.

We made love most of
the night until we were both exhausted and fell asleep in each other
’
s arms.

   We woke up late
in the afternoon and I started panicking because Lizzie and the children were
due to arrive that evening.

Surprisingly enough
it was me who told Simon to go.

Lizzie and the
children can't see us together, it looks too obvious, Claudio and I break up
and Simon is here to the rescue.
I thought.

I shouted at Simon.

  
“
Why is it you are always there to rescue me then leave me?
”

  
“
Bella?
’
He said looking puzzled.

  
“
Go Simon, just go.
”

Simon left. What
else could he do? There I was once again feeling heartbroken and it was my own
fault. Lizzie and the children arrived few hours later.

By the time they had
all checked into the hotel it was late

We all had a drink in the hotel reception before we went to
bed. I was happy to have my family with me.

   The next morning
I had to wake the children up, they were still sleeping so soundly.

I wasn
’
t feeling so good and was upset once again. Lizzie and the children
all had something to eat then we all went on a tour of New York.

We stayed there for
about another week, the children went ice skating nearly every day and we all
had so much fun.

Lizzie made an
announcement.

  
”
We are all going to Long Island for Christmas rather than returning
back to England.
”

Violet wasn
’
t really happy, as she wanted to get back home to her friends. But
Robert and Bella were jumping up and down.