“Morning,” Rose says as I step into the kitchen.
Already she’s up and fixing Noah’s breakfast. My son is in his highchair eating perfectly sliced fruit.
I walk over to him and drop a kiss on his forehead. He smiles up at me with his two bottom teeth showing.
“How did she like it?” Rose asks with a knowing smile.
The day we got back from our vacation, I had a custom diamond tennis bracelet made for Tiffany. I wanted something to commemorate that trip. Despite why we went on the trip in the first place, that vacation brought us closer together.
The 7-inch emerald-cut diamond tennis bracelet is set in platinum. Every third diamond is replaced with a natural blue diamond. It came in yesterday, and I was so excited I had to show it to Rose who thought it was absolutely stunning.
“She hasn’t seen it yet. She’s just now waking up.”
The glass patio door to the dining room opens, and Evelyn walks in. She smiles at me when she spots me.
“Good morning, Niccolo.”
“Morning, Evelyn.” I go over to the coffee maker. Already my cup is brewed and ready for me. The coffee maker is set through my phone. I can start a cup before I get downstairs, and it will be ready by the time I make it to the kitchen.
“I was on the phone with my friend,” Evelyn goes on to say. “I told her how well you’ve been treating me. You know, taking me to a private island and flying me around on private jets. She is absolutely jealous, but happy for me. I told her I owe it all to you.”
After adding the cream and sugar to my coffee, I turn to face her, leaning my back against the counter. Rose cuts her eyes to me before going back to cutting up my son’s French toast.
“Actually,” I say, taking a sip of my hot brew. “You owe it all to your daughter. She’s the reason you’re here.”
Evelyn’s smile lifts higher. “You’re right. Where is my daughter?”
Right on time, Tiffany’s scream can be heard all the way in the kitchen. Rose chuckles, and I grin.
My wife’s bare feet slap against the tile floors as she runs down the hall. She stops at the entrance of the kitchen. Her hairis still in her pink bonnet; there are gold eye masks under her eyes, and she’s still wearing her pink robe.
Tiffany holds up her arm, the bracelet catches the light and nearly blinds us. The excited and happy look on her face has my lungs expanding to the fullest with a deep breath and a grin covering my face.
“You like it?” I smugly ask.
She runs over to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and plants kisses all over my face.
“Babe, I love it,” she shouts.
Rose laughs. “I told you she’d love it.”
Tiffany turns her back to me and faces Rose. “You knew about this?”
Rose nods as she hands Noah another cut-up French toast. My son cares nothing about the excitement of the grown-ups. He’s too concerned about the French toast sticks the chef makes for him.
“I saw it last night. The old fella has good taste.” She winks at me.
“Well, let me see it.” Evelyn demands.
Tiffany rushes over to her mother and damn near shoves her arm in the woman’s face. Evelyn grabs Tiffany’s arm, her eyes grow wide before she fixes her features.
“This is custom-made.” Evelyn flips her daughter’s wrist over, staring at the jewelry. “Ten carats?”
“Close. Twelve,” I say before taking a sip of my coffee. “You know your diamonds, I see.”
She blushes before letting Tiffany’s arm go. “And you know good jewelry, Niccolo.”
I make my way over to my wife. Wrapping my free arm around her waist, I pull her into me and place a kiss behind her ear.
