Franco shakes his head. “Nah, I’m going to meet Chloe at the bookstore to grab my baby girl. I’m good, sweetheart. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Franco hugs his brother and calls out a goodbye to his parents, his voice echoing through the mostly empty house.
Lucia and Mario are next to leave.
“We’ll bring food tomorrow once you’re more settled,” Lucia promises. Her eyes grow misty, and she stands up on her tippy toes but I still have to bend down a bit so she can hold my cheeks. “I’m so happy for you, Eden. This is going to make the most beautiful home.”
Mario kisses me goodbye and claps Vito on the shoulder. “See you in a couple days, son.” Then he turns to kiss my cheek. “And I’ll be back tomorrow.” He leans down to whisper in my ear. “Lucia already decided you need a dog for that yard. I don’t know how long I can hold her off.”
Sassy comes into the kitchen with Junie. “Getting dark out there,” she calls out. “And I think this little one needs some dinner.”
“Do you want to stay, Auntie? Let me buy you dinner.”
Shirley shakes her head and holds up a hand. “I got to get these knees in a hot bath. I’m on lunch service tomorrow.” She kisses my daughter on both cheeks and blows raspberries against her neck. “You let your mama sleep tonight, you hear?”
Junie giggles and leans her face against Sassy’s velvet leggings.
“Thanks, Sassy,” Vito says, hugging my aunt goodbye.
“You.” She wags a finger at Vito. “I love you, you know that? And you’re damn lucky this niece of mine didn’t meet Benito first.”
Vito waves her off and laughs as he throws an arm around my shoulders, and I melt into his side. We stand at the front door together, watching as the last of our family pulls away.
True happiness always seemed like something other people grabbed so easily. But now, the life I always wanted isn’t just close. I’m in it. And I never dreamed it could feel this good.
15
VITO
The first monthafter Eden moves into her house goes by in a blur. I spend almost every night at Eden’s place, except the nights when I’m working. It’s not that I’ve moved in; it’s just that so much shit comes up with a new house. Furniture to be moved, boxes needing to be unpacked. Eden has rearranged the kitchen pantry so many times, I don’t know where anything is from one day to the next. But I don’t care. She’s over the goddamn moon every day. This home has brought her so much pleasure, and I am just happy to be a part of it.
And it’s hard to deny that I’m becoming a bigger part of all of it—not just the house—I’m talking Eden’s and Juniper’s lives.
Tonight, we agreed that Eden would take the night off from organizing cabinets and we would just sit back and enjoy the place.
I stretch out and rest my head back against the cushions. The TV is on, but the volume is low. I’m not too interested in watching anything. I just want to spend time with Eden when we’re not deciding whether heavy canned goods should go on a low shelf or a high shelf. Don’t get me wrong. I love the process, but tonight, I don’t want to watch her alphabetize soup.
She comes out of the kitchen with two glasses of water. She leaves our drinks on the coffee table and then collapses next to me on the couch. She’s quiet for a minute, and I tap her on the thigh with my fingers.
“Go on,” I urge.
“What?” Her lips curl into a knowing smile.
“I know what you’re thinking. Just say it so we can move on.”
She opens her mouth to say it, and I time my words so we both say it at the same time. “Can you believe this is really my house?”
“You’re the worst,” she says, looping her arms around my neck. She kisses my ear. “I’m not that predictable.”
“Eden,” I say, tilting my head so our faces are close. “You totally are, and I love seeing you this happy.”
She kisses me lightly on the lips, then snuggles against my side. I put an arm around her shoulders and pull her close. “Your mother wants me to get a dog,” she says. “She has almost got me convinced.”
I shake my head. “I do not get between Lucia and her rescues. That includes you.”
“Hey.” Eden elbows me. “But I guess I deserve that. You know your mom offered to give me cooking lessons.”
“Better you than me,” I say. “Ma and Pops are great cooks. I am a great microwaver.”
We hold each other tightly and watch the images cross the TV.
