“He’s enjoying himself,” she said. “It’s nice to see him here.” She nudged me with her elbow. “He should have come before now.”
I glanced at her. “I’m trying, Charly.”
She smiled. “I know. It’s good to see. Should I ask what prompted this reconciliation?”
My gaze drifted to Kelly, who was sitting next to Gabby. She was in a pretty dress, her legs bare and pale in the sun. She held her hand over her eyes as she spoke to Gabby, shielding them from the brightness. Her dark hair gleamed in the light, and I recalled how soft it was under my fingers. I had to pull my eyes away, but Charly noticed.
“Ah,” she hummed with a small smirk.
“Don’t read anything into it,” I growled quietly. “I listened to her advice, is all.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I rolled my eyes and stood, going to get another plate of food. I paused by the table, smiling at my dad and Rosa, who were talking. “Doing okay, Pops?”
“I’m great,” he replied. “Best food I have eaten in years. My poor attempts at cooking will seem even worse now.”
Rosa patted his hand. “I send food. You be okay.”
I laughed as I went inside and filled my plate. I stayed for a few moments, enjoying the cool. It had gotten warm outside. After a bit, Kelly came in, setting down her half-eaten meal.
“Is that all you’re going to eat?” I asked. Kelly had always had a good appetite.
“I just needed a break. I, ah, felt a little off.”
I set down my plate and hurried toward her. “What is it? What’s wrong?” I gripped her shoulders. “Are you ill? You’re pale.”
She shook her head. “Just a little too much sun, Brett. Since I got sick, I’ve been a little more sensitive.”
I laid my hand on her head, feeling the heat of her skin. I pulled out a chair, tugging her into it. I went to the freezer, taking out one of the ice packs Rosa always kept on hand, and wrapped it in a towel, returning to Kelly and resting it on the back of her neck. She yelped quietly when the cold hit her, then sighed in relief.
“That’s nice,” she whispered.
I crouched beside her. “Do I need to take you home? To the hospital?”
“No,” she replied. “A few minutes of cool will help.”
“You need to move to the shade.”
“I-I didn’t want to intrude.”
I shut my eyes at her words. I was sitting in the shade. She didn’t want to bother me.
I slipped my fingers under her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes. “You sit beside me when we go back out. And if you don’t feel well, you tell me, you understand?”
She furrowed her brow. “Okay.”
There was no thought to my actions. I leaned close and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Promise?” I asked against her skin.
“Yes,” she breathed out.
I kissed her again. “Okay.”
She let her head fall forward onto my shoulder, and we sat in silence as the ice cooled her down and I felt the slight tremor in her shoulders ease away.
“Ready to go back?”
She lifted her head. “Yes.”
I stood and held out my hand. “Okay. Let’s go.”
No one commented on us returning together. Or that I pulled another chair over beside mine and sat her next to Charly.
“Too much sun over there,” I grunted as Charly lifted one eyebrow in silence.
“Ah,” was all she hummed.
I ate, keeping one eye on Kelly and glancing at my dad on occasion. Rosa said something to him I missed, and he followed her to the kitchen. Beside me, Charly and Kelly chuckled. Gabby clapped her hands.
“Go Mama Rosa.”
I frowned. “Go Mama Rosa what?”
“She’s got Daddy Mack following her.”
“They are so cute together,” Charly mused.
“Mama Rosa still got some moves,” Kelly added.
Stefano and I exchanged confused glances.
“What?” I asked.
“The flirting. They are so cute,” Kelly said patiently.
I gaped. “Pops isn’t flirting. He’s being friendly.”
Stefano shook his head. “Not my mother. She is being a good hostess.”
The girls all laughed.
Charly snorted. “She just asked him to help her open a jar.”
“And that’s considered flirting?” Stefano scowled. “I don’t think so, Charly.”
Charly sat back, shaking her head. “Rosa Borelli can open any jar in that kitchen of hers. She’s stronger than you are, mister. She just wants Daddy Mack’s attention.”
“Shut up,” I said. “That is not true.” I met Stefano’s shocked eyes. “Is it?”
The door opened, and Rosa and my dad came out, laughing and talking. I zeroed in on the fact that his hand rested on the small of her back. They sat down, and I blinked as she lifted a piece of cake to his mouth and he took it, shaking his head and saying how delicious it was.
Stefano and I shared another look.
“Well, I didn’t fucking expect this,” I muttered.
“Maybe you and Stefano will be stepbrothers,” Gabby said gleefully. “Can you imagine?”