“How long has it been since we’ve had a baby in this house?”
Milia hasn’t been one for over fourteen years. “Too long.”
“Your mother wouldn’t mind having another one around.”
WHAT? “Then why did you send her home with Gabe?”
My father grins. “I knew you were interested in her.”
“Dad?”
“Because Gabe isn’t. He told me that you two are going to be the cutest couple when you stop dancing around each other.”
What? “Then why did the idiot flirt with her all night?” I almost punched him so many times.
“Because Mom told him to.” Dad grins.
“Nonna and I are going to have a chat.”
Dad laughs.
“This isn’t funny. This is my life we’re talking about.”
“Are you sure it’s that serious?”
That’s the question. “I think so.”
“But?”
“I always thought there was just one. You waited forever for Mom to come back. What if I do this and in a few years find out that what I feel for her is nothing like I did for Ivy?”
Dad chuckles. “Close your eyes. Think about your future. Not tomorrow, but ten years from now. What do you see?”
“Fiona with a baby in her arms and a few playing around on the ground with Daria and Hope while Dash climbs on the monkey bars.”
“Exactly. You don’t need to worry about not loving her enough. You need to worry about convincing that woman to marry you.”
“Then why did you send her off with Gabe?” It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t want to fall for her. Fiona is too sweet and beautiful for any man to ignore for long.
“Because we need to talk before that woman and all the family drama takes all your attention.”
Talk. That sounds ominous. “About what?”
“I convinced your mother to retire or semi-retire.”
“And?” What does this have to do with me?
Dad lifts his glass to his lips and stares at the fire for a long moment. “I need to do the same for her.”
What? “What does that even mean?” Dad works, but most of his income now is based on family business or is passive.
“I could keep an eye on your business investments if you want.”
“That’s not what I need. Though, thank you for the offer. I need to semi-retire.”
The only other — “Dons don’t retire. They die. Are you sick?”
“No. But there’s a lot of work that goes into running this family. Your great-uncle trained me for years before his death. I was able to take some of the burden off of him when he needed it.”
