A Hart To Call Home

Chapter Two

"What?" Andre's eyes widened, and he looked taken aback by her question, "why?"

Carly regarded her with curiosity in her eyes, "did you see a picture or something? He's only hot until he opens his mouth."

Andre shot her a dark look, and she shrugged apologetically, "I said until he opens his mouth."

"What? I... no... not for me. I mean for Leonardo. He wants to see him," Kit explained. "You've met him?"

"She did once," Andre said in a tight voice. "We made the mistake of thinking maybe Luca and I could get past our differences. I took Carly to see him with me in New York."

"I'm the one that talked him into it, and it was a bad decision. Luca is an ass," Carly said, crossing her arms.

"Did father say he wants to see him?" Andre asked.

"Not in exact words, but it's obvious, Andre," Kit said as she got a tray ready for Leonardo. "Have you told Luca that he is sick?"

"Yes, I have, and he didn't care," Andre said, his face tight and full of tension. Carly was sensing it and rubbing his shoulders.

"I just can't believe that" Kit shook her head. "It's his father."

"Luca doesn't care about anyone or anything," Andre warned her. "Don't waste your time or get my father's hopes up."

"I have to try," Kit said softly.

"She's got that; I'm not giving up on this; look on her face Andre," Carly said as she ruffled his hair.

"He can't be that bad, can he?" Kit laughed off Carly's dramatics.

"His nickname for me is Goldie," Carly said as she folded her arms.

"Because you're blonde?" Kit guessed, "so?"

"Nope. It's short for a gold digger," Carly informed her.

Kit cringed at that, "seriously?"

"My brother wrote my dad out of his life, and he's not coming back, I have tried. I promise you. It only hurts to call him and get rejected," Andre said sadly.

"What happened between them?" Kit asked.

"I don't know all the details," Andre said quietly. "It started when Luca broke off his engagement with his fiancé Amanda. After that, he dropped out of law school. He and his father got into a huge fight. I mean huge; the entire living room was destroyed. Luca left, and they haven't spoken for almost four years now."

"How old was he at the time?" Kit asked, wondering what could have happened.

"Our age, just turned, twenty-two, and was only twenty-one when he met her. The whole thing with Amanda was fast from whirlwind start to the fiery end. I would guess she hurt Luca badly," Andre said.

"Why would you assume it was her? He's the ass," Carly pointed out, "and an obvious playboy."

"He wasn't then," Andre smiled sadly as a memory must've touched him. "He was a big romantic softy back then. With her, he fell fast and hard. I never liked her, something always felt off. Luca was always a little guarded but after her he became a different guy."

His eyes dazed off, and Carly sighed as she squeezed his shoulder. Kit left them to talk about it. She started upstairs with Leonardo's food and medicines.

She understood a thing or two about being hurt. But to take it out on everyone else? At least, that's what it seemed like Luca was doing. Kit couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Leonardo said it was very bad, so bad he didn't think they'd ever talk again. Despite all this, she was more determined than ever.