Dante surprises me as he pulls out bread and jam.
He finds peanut butter in the refrigerator then toasts the bread and spreads it thick with jam and butter and cuts it into strips the way Sofia likes.
He sets the plate in front of her without asking if she's hungry.
It's such a warm gesture, it almost brings tears to my eyes and I can't articulate why.
She opens her eyes and picks up a strip.
"Thank you," she says before yawning.
"You're welcome,Tesoro, eat up."
I watch him as he walks back toward the stove and chuckles briefly as he takes out a mug.
His back is chiseled muscle that makes me swoon a little.
He pours himself coffee and leans against the counter across from us, watching Sofia take the first few bites of food.
He's handsome like this, fatherly, domestic, disheveled. I like it.
"I'll be gone most of the day," he says.
His eyes meet mine over the rim of his cup. "Finalizing a deal that should put the business back in order before Christmas."
I understand what he means without his having to say it directly and I'm grateful he’s wise enough to understand that Sofia doesn't need to be exposed to details.
Though, being reminded of his exact plan would reassure me.
Still, I can't control any of it anyway.
At some point, I just have to trust him.
"Will you be back for dinner?" I ask.
"I'll try. But don't wait for me if it gets late."
Sofia swallows her bite of toast. "Where are you going?"
"I have meetings," Dante says. "Boring business things that would put you to sleep."
"Can I come with you, Papa?" she asks, and I watch his eyebrows draw together as the words touch his heart.
I imagine it feels very touching to hear her call him that.
It doesn't cause the same painful recoil in my chest this time either, so we're making progress.
"Not today. But maybe another time."
She pouts but doesn't argue.
She's learned over the past few weeks that when Dante says no, he means it.
There's no point in pushing.
I take a sip of coffee and try to keep my voice steady. "Be careful."
He looks at me and something passes between us—an understanding that goes beyond words.
