Avelyn chuckled beside her father.“Tell your daughter Clyde says hi.”
Then they shut the door in our faces.
We stood there for a hot minute, staring at the “Every Soul is Welcome in our Home” sign on their front door, before the first chuckle broke free.
Gabrielle snorted.“Well that went well.”
Tom snickered.“I think you really got through to them.”
“I can’t foresee our children havinganyproblems from here on out,” I said, my sides hurting from laughing.
“You want a ride home, Tom?”Gabrielle asked him as we made our way off the porch to her vehicle.
Tom shook his head.We were still holding hands.“I will take the donkey trail.Grazie.”
Gabrielle climbed into her SUV but gave me a cheeky smile before she closed the door.
I released Tom’s hand and faced him.“You didn’t have to stay.”
“You were there for me when that lawyer came to my house.I am just returning the favor.”
“Well, thank you.”
“And for the record, if I were your husband, I would not only support you coming to defend your child, I would come too.I would encourage it.Marriage is a partnership, not one person submitting to another.You are a good mom, Danica.Sam is very lucky to have you.”He offered me a small, genuine smile, and brought my knuckles to his lips.“I will see you tonight.Bring your appetite.I am making cannelloni.”Then he released my hand and disappeared into the trees, leaving me standing there, in the driveway of people I hated, all hot and bothered and unbelievably excited—and nervous—for the night ahead.Because if a kiss on my knuckles could turn me on like that, what would a kiss on the lips—or elsewhere—do?
Was I ready to find out?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Tommaso
Candleslit?Check.
Music playing?Check.
Table set?Check.
Portia fed?Check.But she’d be hungry later.
With the tiramisu in the fridge and the cannelloni baking, I went to work on the caprese salad.
I didn’t expect to see Danica today before our date, but when I came out of the trees, tulips under my arms, and she was there with her cousin, an overwhelming excitement filled my body.
Then I saw red, when I realized why they were there and how thatfiglio del demonio, that child of the devil, treated Samantha and her cousins.I already knewSignore e SignoraPickford were difficult people, but to see their daughter be a monster as well, just confirmed how truly terrible my neighbors were.
I could feel Danica’s frustration building beside me, which is why I reached for her hand.I wanted to channel some calm into her, the way she had for me.Let her know that even with her cousin there, she wasn’t alone.
I had a bottle of wine set out, but I knew she would bring some of theirs.So I didn’t want to be rude and open my bottle, or be drinking it when she arrived.I was sure their wine wouldn’t be the worst I’d ever tasted, but I liked what I liked, and I wouldn’t apologize for that.
Staring in the bathroom mirror, I fixed my hair.The vanity light caught on the simple gold band on my ring finger and I paused.This would be my first date since Erin passed.Until now, I’d had no desire to see another woman.
With a deep sigh, I slid the ring off my finger and set it inside the top drawer next to my toothbrush.The tan line wasn’t too noticeable since we were just coming out of winter and I didn’t have much of a tan.
With my nerves in my throat, and my left hand significantly lighter, I returned to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner.
I was just setting the caprese salad out on the table when there was a knock at the door.
Portia grunted and bolted out of her princess bed in front of the fire, beating me to the door.She must have known it was Danica, because she burst through the dog door.
