ISABELLA VALERI KING decided this was no time for sensitivities. There was very little time left for anything. If she was wrong, Matteo could soon set her right. However, if the situation was what she suspected it to be, action had to be taken before Nicole drove back to Sydney. Once in her home city, it would be all too easy for an enterprising and determined woman to make herself uncontactable in any direct sense.
The contract to write the family history would not be broken. Isabella had no doubt about Nicole's integrity on that promise. The research had been thorough with everything recorded for easy reference. The argument that the writing could be done anywhere was irrefutable. Nicole Redman was going and Isabella knew in her heart there'd be no coming back to Port Douglas. An irrevocable decision had been made.
Unless Matteo stopped it. If he had reason to stop it.
With all this churning through her mind, Isabella entered the KingTours main office, intent on a face-to-face confrontation with her youngest grandson.
"Mrs. King!" the boy behind the desk cried in surprise, this being a rare and unheralded visitation by a woman of legendary stature in the community.
"Is my grandson in his office?" she demanded. He ought to be. It was Friday morning. And she didn't want to hear any excuses for not meeting with her.
"Yes," the boy informed, not seeing any reason to check with his employer.
"Good! You need not announce me," she instructed, leaving him staring after her as she marched into Matteo's office and closed the door firmly behind her.
Matteo looked up from the paperwork on his desk with the same air of stunned surprise. "Nonna! What are you doing here?"
She paused, for the first time wondering if she was about to do him an injustice. Giving herself more time to think, she moved slowly to the vacant chair on this side of his desk and sat down.
"Is something wrong?" he asked in quick concern, rising from his chair.
She held up a hand to stop him. "I only wish to talk, Matteo." He frowned, sinking back onto his seat. "What about?''
"It's Friday. I thought perhaps you might intend to visit me this afternoon."
He nodded, his brow still creased, more in puzzlement now. "I had planned to drop by. Is there a problem?''
"Nicole is leaving us. She begins the long drive back to Sydney tomorrow."
His frown deepened again. "Do you mean she is breaking her contract with you?"
"No. She will write the family history. But she will not remain at the castle to do so."
"Did she give a reason?"
"She says the heat is getting to her. And it is true that she has been unwell all this week."
He grimaced. "I did say..."
"It is nonsense, Matteo," Isabella cut in. "She has been here three months, through the hottest time of the year, with no ill effect whatsoever. Until very recently."
"Last Sunday..."
"Yes. That was the most noticeable." "Since then?"
"She has not been...herself."
"Maybe the heat has gradually worn her down, Nonna." "No. It is not logical."
His eyes narrowed. "So what do you think? Why come to me?" he rapped out.
"I may be old but I'm not blind, Matteo. There has been something between you and Nicole. She is tense in your presence and you are certainly not indifferent to her."
"Are you blaming me for this choice she's made?" he challenged tersely.
"Are you to blame?" she fired straight at him.
His hands lifted in an impatient gesture. "I have tried to put Nicole more at ease with me. If she cannot accept that..."
"Maybe it is not possible, Matteo," Isabella said sadly. "Rosita says Nicole is pregnant."
"What?"
His shock was patent.
Again Isabella paused, not certain that he was responsible. She sat silently, watching him deal with what was obviously news to him.
He shook his head incredulously. Then his face tightened as though he'd been hit by some truth he recognised. He shot an intense look at her. "How does Rosita know this?"
Isabella shrugged. "I have never known Rosita to be wrong on the matter of pregnancy. She says there is a look about a woman. She told me Hannah was pregnant weeks before Antonio announced it. I don't doubt Rosita's judgment, Matteo. And as much as Nicole tries to hide it, her morning sickness..."
"She's been sick every morning?" "For over a week now."
"Before last Sunday?" "Yes."
Clenched fists crashed down on the desk. "She knew." He erupted from his chair. "She knew!" He paced around the desk, his hands flying out in violent agitation. "Why didn't she tell me? She had the chance."
All doubt was now erased. Isabella took a deep breath and said, "Nicole must have felt she had good reason not to tell you, Matteo."
"But..." He sliced the air in angry dismissal. "...I told her how I feel about fatherhood."
"How you feel. Perhaps you should consider how Nicole feels." "It's my child!" he protested. "She can't just ignore that, Nonna."
"If you want any part in your child's life, I advise you to proceed with great care, Matteo. With great care."
She stood with all the dignity at her command, bringing to a halt the wild tempest of energy emanating from her grandson.
"In this matter Nicole has all the rights," she said to sober him. "And if she leaves tomorrow, your child will be gone with her. This is not a time for rash action or anger, Matteo. It is a time for caring, for kindness, for understanding."
She walked to the door. Matteo did not move to open it for her. She looked back at him, saw conflict raging across his face, tension gripping his entire body, the need to act almost explosive.
Was this turbulence they struck in each other the cause of all the problems?
Isabella shook her head. What more could she do?
"It is not the heat nor the pregnancy that has made Nicole Redman sick to her soul," she said sadly. "You would do well to think on that today, Matteo. Whatever you decide to do...you will live with this for the rest of your life."
She opened the door and left him. The decisions were his now.
She could only hope he made the right ones.