Turn Towards the Sun: Book Three- Forever in Bloom (The Sunflower Trilogy) by Jennifer Domenico Read Free Book Online Page B

once and then gained five pounds and it never fit right again. I slide it over my head and alas, it fits. Loosely even. Well, at least I have a valid reason to go shopping. Not that I need one.
    I turn around to find some shoes and see Enzo standing behind me, leaning against the closet door. “What?” I ask as I slide into my cream colored Tory flats- another one of my expensive purchases. I’m clearly over my fear of spending money.
    “Nothing, amore. I was just watching you dress. We need to fatten you up again, no?”
    Frowning, I respond, “I guess.”
    “What did I say to make you sad?”
    “Nothing. It’s just that…” I run my fingers through my hair. “I shouldn’t be so thin right now. I should be gaining weight.”
    He moves towards me and wraps his arms around me. “I know, bella, and you will eventually. You’ll be as big as a house!”
    “Is that supposed to be comforting?”
    He shrugs and chuckles. “It’s the best I could do.”
    “It’s perfect actually. Let me fix my face a bit and then we can go.”
    “There is absolutely nothing broken about your sweet face.”
    I roll my eyes and run past him before he can say anything else. I quickly add some eye cream, lip gloss and a little blush to my tired face and finger brush my hair leaving it wavy. Back in the bedroom, I put on some earrings and my prized diamond necklace.
    I slide into the passenger seat of our car, happy to be heading back to La Bellissima. We drive silently down the freeway to the site of the hotel and even though only a few days have passed, it feels like a hundred. I pull out my notebook and look at the notes of where I left off, wondering how much Checca has accomplished since I’ve been out of work. We pull into the drive and I wait as Enzo walks around to my side to open my door. I see workers in the back tiling the pool and Dax standing nearby surveying their work.
    We walk inside and are greeted in the lobby by Checca. Rushing towards us, she hugs and kisses both of us. “Ava, are you sure you’re up for this? I can handle things here, no?”
    “I’m fine and I’m quite sure you can’t handle things here. There is too much work for one person and we both know it. Besides, I really need to get back into a rhythm. So if it’s alright with you, I’d like to get back to work.”
    “It’s more than alright. I need you so much,” she says, giggling.
    I turn and smile at Enzo. “We’re fine here, amore. Go do what you need to do.”
    Enzo leans in and kisses my cheek. “I’ll see you soon. Don’t push yourself and take breaks.”
    “I will.” I set my handbag down on a nearby table. “So, what needs to be done?”
    Francesca and I sit down and start looking over our task list. She explains in her animated way what things are finished and what she still wants to do. We are getting to the final details and the hotel is still way ahead of schedule. Francesca gets that wild look in her eyes that I call her designing high, and speaks so fast I can barely keep up. She’s on designer overload.
    “Checca, why don’t you go and take a couple of hours off. Go get a massage or a pedi or take a nap. You are clearly overworked and the last thing this hotel project needs is both of us collapsing,” I suggest.
    Looking up at me with her big blue eyes, she starts to argue but then stops. “Yes, Ava, I think you are right. I’m exhausted. I don’t want to leave you so soon though. You need your rest too, no?”
    Picking up our task list, I look it over quickly. “Most of this is supervision. I’ll go up to the rooms and check on the painters, the flooring installers, and tiling in the bathrooms. Then I’ll go check with chef that we got the table linens and centerpieces. I promise I’ll take a break and eat lunch with my husband. After that, I’ll make calls on all the outstanding purchase orders and update the database.” I put down the list and take Francesca’s hand in mine. “I have it under control