“Si.Almost too friendly.She wants to greet you, but I am holding her back until you say if it is okay.”
Uncertainty flashed in her green gaze for just a moment before she dropped to a crouch and held out her hand like one might do for a dog.
“Avanti,” I said to Portia, who gave a small squeal of glee before almost skipping over to greet our guest.I still didn’t know the woman’s name.
Portia snorted and grunted as she soaked up the scratches and attention like the littleruffiana,or suck up, that she was.
“Sei una piccola ruffiana,” I said to my pig as she grunted more loudly when the woman found the sweet spot on the top of Portia’s rump right by her tail and continued to scratch it.
The woman giggled.“She’s adorable.And very sweet.”
I nodded.“Portia, in casa, bella,” I said to my pig.She grunted, then trotted up the steps and through the dog door.
“She’s very obedient,” the woman marveled, standing up to her full height.“Have you had her since she was a piglet?”
I shook my head.“No.She was the runt of her litter, but someone got her expecting her to be a ‘teacup’ pig that would stay small like a Pomeranian forever.When she got big—as all things do—they said if someone didn’t come take this pig in twenty-four hours she was going to the abattoir.”
The woman’s jaw dropped.“Oh my god.”
I nodded again.“Si.”
“I’m glad you got there in time.”
“Si.”
Her gaze drifted back down to the ground, and she toed at the gravel.“So, um … about Francesca and my daughter, Sam.Is that something you would be okay with?”A swath of hair fell across her face as she lifted her eyes back up to me, and I had to clasp my hands behind my back to keep myself from leaning forward and tucking it back behind her ear.
What was going on with me?I hadn’t had a reaction to a woman like this since Erin.
Maybe her coming here wasn’t such a good idea.
But before I could say no, she started speaking again.“My daughter, Sam, is ten.She has severe anxiety.Like, it’s scary.She was self-harming and talking about killing herself.She has very low self-esteem, and I don’t know what to do for her.She sees an online counselor via telehealth, and the new nurse practitioner on the island had prescribed her some anti-anxiety meds, but either they’re not working yet, or it’s a bigger issue than we initially thought.I don’t …” she swallowed and sucked in a stuttered breath from her mouth, “I don’t know what to do for her.Then Cameron mentioned you and your animals and how much it’s benefited Cesca.I’ll pay you whatever you want.I just … if being with the animals will help Sam, I’d … I’d really appreciate it.”
Merda.
“I am … I am very sorry for what you and your daughter are going through,” I said softly as she carefully brought the sleeve of her olive-green sweater to blot the sudden dampness in her eyes.“It is not easy at all.”
She shook her head.“I just feel like a massive failure as a parent.That my child is … is hurting so much, and I don’t know how to help her.”
I’m sure it wasn’t easy for this woman to unload all of this on a complete stranger.It wasn’t easy for me to hear, but I empathized with her, and while I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get over my attraction to her if she kept coming around, I needed to ignore it for the sake of her daughter.
My head bobbed.“She can come, yes.”
Her eyes lit up, and the smile that curled her full lips made my pulse race.“Really?”
I continued to nod.“Your daughter is Sam?”I asked.
“Yes.Samantha, but we call her Sam.She prefers it.”
“I am Tommaso, but I prefer Tom.”
That made her chuckle a little.
“And you are?”I prompted.
“Oh!”A rush of pink filled her cheeks, only making her more lovely.She thrusted her hand out again.“Danica.Danica St.Claire.Sorry.I … I’m so silly.I didn’t introduce myself when I arrived.”
I took her hand again, eager for any opportunity to hold it once more.“Piacere.Pleasure,” I said.“Would you like to come meet the animals?”
