Frozen in place, I could only stare at her. My whole life clicked into place. As if a film had been lifted from my eyes, Rose’s pink shirt appeared to brighten and her brown eyes glowed. I could see clearly for the first time in weeks. Maybe forever.
“Are-are you serious? Really? Me?” I heard myself babbling but couldn’t stop. “Are you sure? I mean, I’d love it. I’d do a great job…whatever you need.”
“I know, honey. Now let’s go back out there. I’m afraid to see what Roberto’s done to my register area.”
Both of us chuckling, we walked out to the store area. Rose needn’t have worried, as Javi had taken over checking out the customers, and Roberto stood at his side, busy handing people their bags with a cheerful, “Come back and see us again soon.”
“He’s too cute. A future employee.”
“I hope so,” she said solemnly. “He truly loves plants and flowers.” Before we reached the register in the center of the store, Rose put her hand on my shoulder and gazed up at me. “So? Do you wanna work here with us? Join the family?”
I’d never had a real place to call my own. A home. Frankie was the closest I’d gotten to a family, but he knew the old me. Suspicions lingered in the air around us, ones I hated but hadn’t yet been able to dispel, that Frankie still feared I’d return to my old ways. Here, I had a chance to show them the new Aaron. Rose might’ve been clued in to my past, but I was determined to let my present shine.
“I’d be thrilled. I really appreciate you giving me this chance. I won’t let you down.”
“I never thought you would. If I did, I wouldn’t be offering you a place in my life.”
“A job? Atthe garden center?” Frankie jumped me when I told him the news, and I twirled him around the kitchen. It felt like we were in some cheesy movie, but I didn’t care. I hugged him close. “That’s like, exactly what you wanted.”
“I know. I couldn’t believe it.” I set him down but kept my arms around him. “Rose called me to the back, and I had no idea what she wanted. We talked about her husband and how he died and stuff about her life, and then all of a sudden she offered me a job.”
The smile on Frankie’s face couldn’t have been any brighter. “This is it, babe. The fresh start you were looking for. Rose is good people. She’ll treat you right, I know it.” Without saying another word to me, he pulled out his phone. “Hold on a sec.…Hey, Ma. You and Dad home? Me and Aaron wanna come over.”
We do?I hadn’t planned on going to Frankie’s parents this afternoon. My plans involved getting naked and into bed with Frankie.
“See ya in a few.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket. “I can’t wait until you tell them.”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”What the hell—we’ll make a quick visit and then come home and get naked.“I gotta call Rhoades and tell him I ain’t gonna take the construction job. It was really nice of him to offer it to me.”
“Yeah. He seems like a really great guy. He has to be to have Austin fall in love with him.”
We left the apartment, and when we walked outside, I took Frankie’s hand. “Do you think Austin’ll ever trust me?”
“I think he’s well on his way. Besides, he’s so busy now, he don’t have time to worry about anyone else.”
The ten-minute walk to Frankie’s parents’ house gave me the chance to build up my defenses. I had zero expectations Frankie’s parents would care I got another job. No doubt Jeannie expected me to fail. I set my jaw in a hard line.I’ll show them. All my doubters will see the best me.
“We don’t gotta stay long. I wanted them to hear it from us, before anyone else tells them. You know?”
I didn’t get the chance to answer him, as Jeannie opened the door. “To what do I owe the honor of a midweek visit?” Frankie breezed by her with a kiss to her cheek, and to my surprise, she stayed to greet me.
“Come on in, Aaron.”
Surprised but gratified, I gave her a half smile, still not sure of my welcome. “Hi, Jeannie. Thanks.”
As usual, Carmine was in his chair with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. His reading glasses rested in his thick, gray hair. Seeing Frankie greet his father with a hug and a kiss, I recognized the strong resemblance between them and that Frankie would look like Carmine when he grew older, while I, with no family history, had no clue what awaited me in the future.
“Siddown and have some coffee.” Carmine waved at the sectional couch. “I just made a fresh pot.”
“You want?” Frankie turned to me. “I’ll make you one.”
Might as well give me something to do with my hands. “Yeah, sure.”
Jeannie took the cups down from the cabinet, and Frankie made us both our coffees. He brought me mine in a mug with the Italian flag that said Kiss Me I’m Italian, in black script. The scent of cinnamon teased me, and I took a sip.
“Good.” I put it on the table next to me.
Frankie waited for Jeannie to sit. “Guess what? Aaron got a job today. At the garden center byNonna’shouse.”
