Still Falling by Bella Costa Page A

and
she slept soundly all the way home.  

 
 
 
 
    Chapter nineteen

 
 
    “Just in time for a walk to the beach.”   She said when Tony woke her outside the
cottage.  
    “You sure you’re up to it?”
    “For sunset?   Always!”    The time spent with the boys had done much to cheer her up and she felt
rested after her nap in the car.
    “Let’s get going then or we’ll miss it.”
    They took a slow stroll skirting the gardens, Serena still waking slowly
and getting some life back into her body.   They remained silent, each in their own little world.  
    When they arrived Serena sat heavily on the sand breathing the sea air in
deep and feeling content.   Tony wondered
down to the waters’ edge.    She closed
her eye to listen to the waves.   She felt
her world sway just for a second and quickly opened her eyes again.   Heat crept over her body and she placed two
hands firmly on the sand to steady herself as the ground beneath her seamed to
move.  
    “Tony!”   She managed to call out
just before darkness crept in from the edges of her vision and blacked
out.  
    Tony ran over to her and loosed the top button of her blouse.   She was still breathing normally and her
pulse was strong.   He looked around
wondering if he should stay here with her or try to get her back to the
cottage.   From experience and
conversations with Jo, he knew this could last anything from a few minutes to
almost an hour.   He was not strong enough
to carry her up the stairs of the small cliff and in an hour it would be too
dark to see the rocky path back to the cottage anyway.   Worse still there was no moon tonight.  
    Reluctant to leave her here alone to look for help, he took off his shirt
and wet it in the sea to wipe her neck and face while contemplating what to
do.   Idly he wondered why his brother
Nico had no interest in her.   She was
beautiful.   Her skin reminded him of
crème liquor and her neck was long and graceful.  
    Perhaps he would drop a few hints here and there.   Play cupid to the two lonely hearts.   He was just running his shirt down the length
of her breast bone when two massive hands pulled him to his feet and before he
could react, a fist from nowhere, turned out the lights.
            Tony hadn’t been out more than a two
seconds and his jaw ached like he had been hit by a train.   Marco was still standing over him, urging him
to stand up and take some more.  
    “What the hell was that for?”
    “That is for taking advantage of a vulnerable woman.”
    “I’m not taking advantage of anyone.”
    “No?   You’ve half undressed
yourself.   You’ve half undressed her. And
you looked mighty cosy there just now.”
    “You don’t understand.   Serena is
unconscious.”
    “Yes and how perfect for you. First you make her pregnant.   Then you abandon her and now you try sneaking
back and have to wait until she’s in a coma to take advantage.   You sleazy bastard!”
    “Marco stop .   You’re making a fool of yourself.” Said Serena
quietly.
    Marco stopped and turned to where Serena was now sitting up dusting the
beach sand from her hair.   His deep eyes
burned.
    “It’s your life.” He grunted and stormed off.
    “What the hell was that all about?”   Said Tony, rubbing his jaw.
    “He’s just an idiot”
    “Sounds to me like an idiot who might have something for you.   Did you know he thinks you’re pregnant?”
    “Like I said, he’s an idiot.”
    “Well your idiot thinks I’m the father!”
    “Oh Tony I’m so sorry.   I promise
I’ll clear this up with him in the morning.   I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”
    “What? Are you kidding?   This is
great for my reputation in town.   Honestly Serena leave him in idiot heaven as long as you want.”   Said Tony grinning and
clutching his painful jaw at the same time.
    “In the meantime let’s get you back to the cottage while we can still
see.”
    “Um....Tony...?”
    “You