Surrender 01 - Surrender

upbringing, he knew he wouldn’t want to see the heartbroken look on his mother’s face if she knew some of the things he did with his life. But he quickly pushed the thought aside. His parents were good people, but his mother was naïve about the way the world worked. So he’d kept much from her after his divorce, and he would continue keeping most of his private life hidden from his family.
    “Rafe, I think it’s time you come home for a while. All of this money you have is making you too egocentric. You need to remember your roots,” his mother scolded, confirming his thoughts.
    “Mom, I will always appreciate our home in Italy. It’s where I go when the world starts closing in on me. However, don’t you pretend we were peasants. Dad came in and swept you off your feet, then flew you around the world. I wouldn’t say I grew up impoverished,” he retorted as he bent down and kissed her cheek.
    “You watch your tongue, Raffaello Palazzo,” his mother warned.
    “I’m sorry, Mother.”
    “All is forgiven, you wretched boy. Now, give us a tour of your new toy.”
    “Is that a helicopter?” Rachel asked as she looked to the back of the vessel.
    “Yes. If I’m out and there’s an emergency, I need to be able to get back to the offices quickly.”
    “Ooh, can we go for a ride in that?” Lia asked. She loved flying more than any of the rest of them.
    “Next time I’ll have my pilot take you for a spin. I can take only today off, though, so I’d rather hear all about what you’ve been up to lately than send you into the clouds.”
    Although Rafe often called home, he cherished most his visits with his family. Whether his mother knew it or not, being with them did, indeed, humble him. Too bad he easily forgot those feelings once his visits were over, he told himself ruefully. His best friend got on his case about that all the time.
    “As I was saying about my yacht, she’s two hundred and fifty feet long, has a twin-engine format, over three thousand horsepower, and can travel up to sixteen knots an hour.”
    “Stop! Stop! I don’t want to hear any more!” Lia cried.
    Rafe laughed. “I know, I know, that stuff is boring, so you shouldn’t worry your pretty little heads about it.” He laughed again when his sisters stuck their tongues out at him. “You’ll be happy to hear that she has six comfortable guest cabins, each with its own private bath, a game room that will make you very happy, Lia, a swimming pool, patio bar, conference rooms —though that won’t interest you — and a formal dining area.”
    “What about a spa?” Rachel asked mockingly.
    “Actually, I did include a small spa with full-time staff so you can get your hands and feet done, and then finish off with a massage.”
    “Oh, Rafe, I may never leave this ship,” Lia said as she jogged ahead of him up the plank.
    “I may just leave her with you.”
    “My heart couldn’t take it, Mother,” he said as he clutched his chest.
    “It would serve you right,” his father added.
    “I thought I was always a good son,” Rafe said as he trailed after his sisters.
    “You were a wonderful boy. Now, however, I have concerns about the man who’s before me. If only you would settle down, I could stop worrying,” his mother responded.
    “Mom, I’m happy. Let’s just leave it at that,” he answered, hoping the subject would be dropped.
    “I worry about you being lonely. Your ex-wife did you great injury, son, and I don’t want you afraid to try again. You need a woman in your life to take care of you.”
    “I’m doing just fine, Mother. I have had a number of female companions through the years,” he said in self-defense.
    “None that I would be proud for you to bring home. They are more like perfect mannequins, their only thoughts seeming to be how to please you.”
    “Is there not a more perfect woman that one whose only desire is to fulfill my every need?” he asked. If his mother knew what he really meant by that statement, he had a feeling she’d shove him overboard.
    “Rafe…”
    “I’m seeing a nice woman, mother. Her name is Arianna.” Rafe was stunned when the words spilled from his mouth. What was he doing? First of all, Ari wasn’t really with him, and secondly, he didn’t want to pique his mother’s interest. He just wanted her to cease her relentless pestering about his being single.
    “How long have you been seeing this woman, and why haven’t you said anything about her yet?” she