She jumped up again, resenting the fact that his coming back was rooting out all of the memories of the way she had fallen into bed with a man who spent his life using and discarding women at will. But something wonderful had come out of that awful night.
Her daughter, her Zoe, and no one, absolutely no one was going to take her daughter away from her.
"He has no right to her."
"And you might be borrowing trouble. Grab the bottle of Chianti from the cooler, will you? I'm taking this out on the balcony." Without waiting to see if she was doing so, he carted the tray with the meal and stepped outside.
The summer was sliding slowly into fall and bringing with it the crisp air associated with the weather. The brutal heat was almost a thing of the past, thank heavens, Andre mused. The heat had been enough to drive even a saint crazy.
Abigail hesitated for a moment, her fingers curling and uncurling around the neck of the wine bottle before she finally pulled it free. She paused at the open door, watching her brother arrange the plates with his usual care, and wondered aloud, "Do you think he'll try to see her? Zoe, I mean?"
The question hung between them, fragile as glass, while Andre looked up with a gentleness that almost broke her resolve. "I'm obsessing."
"Yes, you are." The table was set with a white tablecloth and linen napkins. Her brother believed in formality and fine dining, whether he was alone or entertaining company.
Abigail sank into the moment, letting the scents of lemon and fresh bread settle her nerves. She watched Andre pour the wine with steady hands, the ritual familiar and comforting.
The ordinary rhythm of their lives offered a brief respite from the uncertainty swirling in her mind, grounding her as she tried to imagine what might come next.
"And you know how I hate talking shop or anything unpleasant while I'm having my meal."
"So, we'll wait until the meal is over."
Andre went to fetch the loaf and came back to take his place. "Lovely weather we're having," he murmured, handing her the bowl with the salad. Taking her cue from him, she forced herself to relax.
"The air has cooled down considerably."
He poured wine and handed her a glass, taking the time to sip and savor the vintage before putting his glass down.
"It always amazes me that you are so good at this."
"What? Cooking?"
She nodded, diving into the salad. "I can hardly boil water and here you are dishing up gourmet meals."
"It relaxes me." He sliced bread and passed it to her. "You were always interested in burying your head in the pages of a book.You were obsessed with reading, while I was..." He shrugged. "I was fascinated with recipes. I used to drive our housekeeper crazy with questions."
"She would pretend to be annoyed but was actually flattered that you showed such interest."
He grinned in recollection. "Dad was afraid I was gay. His only son tying an apron on and taking out pots and pans."
"Instead of watching the game or even participating in one."
Abigail laughed at the image and felt the tension easing from her chest. Her brother was right as usual. She realized what he had set out to do. He wanted her relaxed and the tension relieved.
"I showed him when I took Mary Lou to the prom and snuck her into my room after."
"He was trying his best not to show how pleased he was, when mama was lecturing you."
"Good times," he mused and sipped.
They lapsed into silence for a few minutes, two people, siblings, one half of the whole. They were twins who shared a lot of similarities, as close as two people can be. They also shared similar features.
Both had the same shape nose and mouth, full and sensuous. Abigail had hit her final height at a little over five feet, but her brother had gone on to top his six feet by one inch. He had gotten his height from their father. That was the only thing he had inherited.
They had both received their stunning good looks from their mother.
Although his parents had been disappointed that their only son had chosen not to follow tradition by going into the family business, they supported his decision to become a lawyer and were proud of his accomplishment.
