The Sitter (18+)

Chapter 8. Preparing for Italy

Closing the bedroom door softly, Elizabeth walked down the staircase meeting with Rafael in the living area. It's been about a week since his release from the hospital, the man's days mainly consisted of resting, redressing his wounds, and making arrangements with travel. He grudgingly admitted his family was right about taking some time to relax. He was beginning to feel less anxious.

Elizabeth, however, felt even more anxious. The last couple days her routine was off all due to Raf. They may have confessed their feelings to one another in the hospital but as soon as he stepped through the home things felt different.

Liz continued on with her daily duties as if Raf wasn't in the home, preparing the girls for school, cooking the meals, and studying for school. Her day was full and busy. Even managing to go to workout classes in order to put off stepping into the awkward air of the home. Tonight, however, there was no putting it off.

The flight was leaving early the next morning and they needed to discuss the plan.

Raf's eye caught her as she walked down the staircase. He motioned beside himself reclined on the couch for her to come over. Elizabeth slowly made her way to him sitting beside him with her fingers held together. The tv was on low with a game show playing in the background and Raf sipping on his water before placing it down.

"What's going on, Elizabeth?"

"What do you mean?" She asked timidly as his fingers moved in between her's to stop the fidgeting.

"Things have been different since I got home from the hospital. The air has been awkward, I know you can sense it."

She nodded in agreement, she had felt the anxiety and distance since he arrived. For a while she wasn't sure just what it was but now she understood why.

"I didn't understand it for a while," Liz started as she laid her head on his shoulder, "But now I think I do. We've only just revealed our feelings to one another and we haven't been able to go out, to explore that. Like on a date, two people getting to know each other and no other distractions with that."

"I see..." Raf hummed, nodding his head.

"Just jumping into this, it's probably what's making it so awkward, you know. Like trying to force myself to act differently and you just recovering is a change in our everyday patterns," Liz played with his fingers, "I know we know each other well, but this could help us to grow closer, you know."

"I understand, so will you go on a date with me?" Rafael asked with a panty dropping smile to which Liz couldn't help but smile looking up at him, "I promise to make it worth your while."

"I'm counting on it," She grinned as he leaned downwards leaving a chaste kiss on her lips.

Liz pecked his lips a couple more times before laying back against him.

"So what is the plan?"

"Well," Rafael started speaking as he grabbed his laptop, pulling it onto his lap and opening it up, "We take the jet out first thing in the morning, it will be about a 7 hour flight, then from there we will drive out to my grandmother's home. We will be staying there for two weeks and the last week will be just the four of us in Tuscany, the family home."

Liz nodded looking over the flight details on the screen, "Sounds perfect, I've never been to Italy before."

"I'm glad I'm able to take you there. You'll like it a lot. The food, the art, and maybe my family."

She heard the smile in his voice, "Which part of the family am I meeting?"

"Well my grandmother, Isabel, my fathers mother is the stereotypical italian woman. She's expressive, loud, and passionate; she will be sure to let you know what she's thinking and she won't care. My aunt Georgia, my father's older sister, and her husband Michael, my aunt is just like my Nonna and might overwhelm you so just let me know.

Then there are my twin cousins Monica and Guilia, Georgia's daughters. They are polar opposites from themselves and their mother. Monica is a tennis player, very driven and serious about all things, not just the sport. Guilia is a divorce lawyer, she lives more of a laid back hippie lifestyle surprisingly even with her line of work.

And my uncle, Matteo, my father's younger brother, is supposed to make an appearance as well," Rafael trailed off uncomfortably as he closed the screen of his laptop.

"What was with that look?" Liz sat up staring him down.

"Matteo and my father... They have a much more complicated relationship than I realized. When I was young, I didn't really see it much or maybe I didn't notice because I was in my own world. What I did see was cool uncle Matteo who would travel around the world and have a new girlfriend at every family event, the cool uncle with new crazy stories to tell. I didn't see the uncle that made shit hard on his family since finding out his father gave the company to his brother instead of him."

"Damn, so it's a sort of jealousy?" She wondered aloud.

"I guess, but we've always had a good relationship so there shouldn't be any drama. And all his kids live there so you'll meet even more cousins."

"All his kids?"

"Six children."

Liz did a double take and Rafael let out a chuckle nodding his head.

"A 29 year old daughter named Luisa, she's the one I'm closer to seeing that she is closer in age with me and I see her more often. A 20 year old named Ilyia, a 16 year old Matteo Jr, a 10 year old named Romeo, a 5 year old named Luna and 4 year old named Rome."

"Are they all the same...?"

"No, Luisa' mother and Matteo were married until she passed away. She was sick for a long time. Ilyia and Junior have the same mother, they live with her. Romeo has a different mother but lives with our Nonna. Luna and Rome have the same mother, Alexandra, who is also Matteo's current girlfriend."

"Wow."

"Yeah, it's a lot. Still want to be a part of this crazy?" He joked looking over at her.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," She cuddled into his side with a smile.

Although she was nervous of what may happen, she was excited for this new step in her life. Getting to know Rafael better, getting to know his family, and even potentially becoming a part of it. She couldn't wait, even with the anxiety of Amal in the back of her mind she would push it aside knowing everything would be fine.

***

Hello Everyone! Thank you so much for the patience and love on the story! I didn't realize just how long it's been and I apologize, Life has been hitting hard the past year but I am back!

What do you think of the story so far and the characters? What do you think will happen next? Comment below!