Forever Changed

Chapter 21: Mothers and Mistakes

Angelique POV 

(6 Months Married) 

I felt like I hadn't seen Mattia in weeks. I knew he came home and slept in our bed most nights, and I would sometimes wake up to him kissing me and we'd make love. But seeing him, spending time together, sharing a meal, that had been rare. If there was an important event I would arrive with his parents, or one of his brothers, then he would arrive hours into the evening and spend less than an hour talking to who he needed a conversation, before shaking hands and disappearing again. I saw the looks I was getting. The gossip was swirling that there was trouble in our marriage. His mother, and even his father, reassured me he was just busy, but it was hard not to worry. Had he returned to his old ways? 

Ever since the night of the Senator's dinner things had been strained in the Dicembre family. Heated conversations about why they were being targeted? Why was it taking so long to resolve? Why hadn't Mattia found the rat yet? From what I'd overheard their warehouses were being damaged and products were being stolen. I wasn't sure what products they were, but I knew it was placing a huge strain on Mattia and the other Dicembres. His father's cold manner was even frostier than usual.

We were supposed to celebrate his mother's birthday this evening and I was hopeful that something so important would get my husband in the house for a few hours. I missed him and the way our marriage had been those first few months. He reassured me on those late nights we were together that it would end soon. They were close to resolving things, but I was lonely. My days were full with school and volunteering, plus learning everything I needed to know from Isabella. But the nights, the meals for one, they were hard. 

Stephanie had been staying to eat with me a few nights a week. I think she could see that I was lonely. I appreciated the company, but she wasn't who I wanted to be sharing my meals with. Isabella and Mia also visited me often, especially on the weekends. I noticed my own mother had been scarce these last few weeks and reminded myself to reach out again. We didn't usually go this long without seeing each other, and something didn't sit right that she'd turned down my last two invitations to join us for our weekend activities. Perhaps Papa was caught up in what was causing so much trouble for the Family and she wanted to be there for him. Growing up I wasn't privy to his activities, only knowing that he was often absent from our home and my mother always ensured she was at home ready once he called to advise he'd be home soon.

My phone ringing brought me out of my ponderings. It was a private number, but I knew that sometimes the women at the shelter borrowed a phone from someone if they needed to reach me. 

"Hello."

"Hi my beautiful friend."

"Rachael is that you?"

I was so excited to hear from my friend. My voicemails went unreturned and the few SMS I received were short and vague. None of our previous joking and affection. I missed her so much. She'd been my first true friend.

"Yeah babe it's me. How are you?"

"I'm good. How are things in Chicago?"

"They're good. Busy, but good. Sorry I've been bad at keeping in touch."

I felt my eyes fill with tears. Between missing Mattia and losing my friend I was feeling fragile today.

"I miss you Rach. Did I do something? Are you mad at me?"

I felt like a child with the questions, but I genuinely didn't understand what happened after the wedding and wondered if my standing up for Mattia had offended her enough to cut contact.