Her eyes narrow slightly, scanning the tag. “What isthat?” she asks, tilting her head. Her voice is playful but tight. “It’s huge.”
“Nothing important,” I lie quickly. “Dea, why don’t you go finish that gorgeous painting? I’ll be up in a minute. I actually have something important to tell you too—”
Romeo glances at the label. “It says it’s from Le Petit MoonBeam?”
Vasilisa freezes mid-step.
Her brows fly up, and her eyes widen, shifting to me with a look of utter betrayal and I swear my soul leaves my body.
“Santo Amato!”
“Romeo, go away,” I grit, glaring at him.
“Yes, boss,” he mutters, retreating fast.
“You bought something from Le Petit MoonBeam?!” Her voice pitches high, that shocked, indignant squeak she only makeswhen I’ve completely overstepped. “The baby boutique?! Why is it so large?!”
“Dea, calm—”
She cuts me a death glare. One that could peel paint.
I lift both hands in surrender. “Breathe. It’s just a crib.”
Her breath catches audibly. She goes still.
“Justa crib?” she echoes, her voice dropping; soft, low, and laced with danger.
I can almost see the emotions war on her face; shock, disbelief, hurt.
“Just acrib?” she repeats, louder now. “Santo, that’s not like ordering onesies or a blanket! A crib is a major decision! And the baby barely exists right now, we haven’t even seen the doctor, and I wanted to choose itwithyou!”
Before I can say anything, a soft throat clear sounds behind the box.
“Mr. Amato?” Dr. Almareti, peeks her head around the large package, offering a small smile. “Is now still a good time?”
Vasilisa blinks, her face draining of color.
“The doctor?” she hisses, her cheeks turning crimson. “You had the doctor come here?Today?!If I could turn invisible, I would.”
I wince, one hand running down my face.
“No, I mean yes. I mean—” I stammer, caught completely off guard.
Dea looks between Dr. Almareti and me, her face cycling through emotions faster than I can track them. Shock, embarrassment, anger, and finally, something that looks dangerously close to tears.
“I can come back,” Dr. Almareti offers diplomatically, already taking a step backward.
“No,” I say firmly, finding my footing again. “Please come in, Doctor. Vasilisa and I just need a moment.”
The doctor nods, stepping around the massive crib box and entering the foyer. “I’ll wait in the study,” she says, clearly sensing the tension.
Once she’s out of earshot, Vasilisa turns to me, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “You ambushed me.”
“It’s just a little blood draw,” I counter, reaching for her hand, which she promptly pulls away.
“You want mestabbedbefore Christmas?“ she huffs, scandalized. “Are you insane?”
“Dea, the dramatics… it was just a little surprise.”
