Sempre (Sempre 1)

“You couldn’t have known,” Celia said. “It didn’t cross my mind.”

Carmine watched them suspiciously. “Couldn’t have known what?”

A small surge of panic coursed through Carmine when his aunt let out a surprised laugh. She could read him easily, and he hadn’t considered that beforehand.

“It doesn’t matter,” Vincent said, turning away. “We’ll deal with the girl later.”

* * *

Carmine didn’t see Haven again that night. He hung out in the library in hopes she would surface, but dawn broke with no sign of her. Giving up, he went downstairs and sat at the piano, ghosting his fingers over the keys in the darkness before hitting the opening notes of Moonlight Sonata. He played for a few minutes, the mellow tones swallowing him whole, until a floorboard creaked behind him.

Cutting off midnote, he swung around to see Haven. Her wild hair hung loose, framing an exhausted and solemn face. He patted the piano bench, inviting her to join him, and she sat down.

“You really play beautifully.” She gazed at the keys as he played again, picking up on the same note he’d stopped. “Is that the only song you know?”

He rounded out Moonlight Sonata. “I know a few more. Not as well as I know that one, but I can play a bit of the others.”

“Are they all sad?”

“No.”

opped in front of her, holding a large cotton swab and a plastic container. His knees cracked loudly as he crouched down in front of her, the harsh sound making her wince.

She watched him warily as he smiled, something off about his expression. There was a hint of worry, maybe even a bit of aggravation, but it was mostly sadness, which surprised her. She stared at him, wondering what made him that way, but she couldn’t ask. It wasn’t her place.

“Open your mouth,” he ordered.

She obliged, and he ran the cotton swab along the inside of her cheek. He stood when he finished, placing the swab into the container as he leaned against his desk. “You don’t look—”

His words cut off abruptly when his phone rang. Dr. DeMarco closed his eyes. “You’re excused, child.”

* * *

Haven went straight for the family room, sitting on the couch and longingly gazing at the flimsy tree. The boys arrived home from school, their animated voices ringing through the house. Her eyes fell upon Carmine, and he winked as he sat in a chair across the room. Dominic grinned and plopped down beside her, so close he practically landed in her lap. He flung his arm over her shoulder. “What’s up, Twinkle Toes? Did you miss me while I was at school?”

“Uh, yes,” she said. “I guess.”

Carmine shot him an annoyed look, and Dominic laughed, pretending to whisper. “I think my brother’s a wee bit jealous.”

Haven heard footsteps coming downstairs and went to pull away, but Dominic held on to her. Dr. DeMarco walked into the room, his brow furrowing when he looked at them. “Don’t let Tess see you. You’ll start a war, and I’d hate to have to step in.”

Dominic laughed. “Whose side would you take?”

“I didn’t say anything about taking a side. I have a policy of staying neutral.”

“Okay, but let’s say you were betting on it,” Dominic said. “Who would you put money on?”

Dr. DeMarco sighed. “Are you asking who I think would win in a fight?”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

Carmine groaned across the room.

“Well, Tess is good at cheap shots, but the child has a knack for survival. She’s not helpless either, as Squint can attest to. Tess is used to having help, while the girl’s used to trudging through it alone. One on one, I have to say she’d take Tess easily.” Haven’s eyes widened, stunned he would say that. “But don’t tell Tess. She might try to prove me wrong.”

“I wouldn’t tell Tess that if my life depended on it,” Dominic said. “She’d kick my ass.”

“She could probably take you, too,” Dr. DeMarco said. “I know the child could.”