“Hey, listen to me,” I said, hoping like hell she could hear me over her sobbing.“We're fine.She's perked up considerably after drinking and showering.”
There was more shuffling and talking in the background.And then Eve's voice blasted into my ear.“Why the heck didn't you call us twelve hours ago?We've been worried sick!If I were there right now, I'd kick you.I swear.”
I laughed, and put her on speaker so I could pour the juice.“She's doing well, now,” I said confidently.Because it was true.And I knew this because Francesca's smart mouth was back.And I was enjoying the fuck out of it.
“Well, thanks for not letting us know.”Yeah.Eve was mad.She'd get over it, though.Like she always did.Eve Rosetti never stayed mad long.
“I've had my hands full over here, Eve.I'm sorry for not calling.”I poured the orange juice into a glass.Just halfway, though.If Francesca drank that, then I'd get her more.
“What was that?What are you pouring?”Eve shot questions at me.
“Juice,” I said, and put the lid on the orange bottle.Then I grabbed the apple juice and opened it.The smell made me wince.But I poured it for her anyway.
“Oh, good.Did you get her ice pops?You should get her some of those, too.”
I laughed and closed the apple juice.“Already got a freezer full of them, Evie.You taught me well.”
A sigh of relief echoed through the kitchen.“You're a good man, Stefan.Have you started making pastina en brodo?”she asked in her best Italian accent.She'd been learning Italian for a while now and was improving all the time.But she wasn't the natural speaker Giselle was.
“I was just about to start when you called.”I opened the next bottle.This one was a mixed fruit juice.It smelled okay.Better than the apple juice, at least.
“That's good.Don’t forget to use a blender before you add the noodles.So her stomach doesn't have to work too hard.Oh, and don't forget the garlic.That's the most important part.Besides the pastina, of course.”
Fuck.
I loved this woman.
She and her best friend were two of the most caring people I'd ever met in my life.
“I will make sure to do all of that.”
There was more shuffling with the phone, and then I heard Eve say a muffled, “Just a minute.Let me say goodbye at least.”And then her voice came through more clearly.“If you need any help with the soup, just call.And please, please, please call us when Francesca's feeling better.We want to talk to her.”
I grinned and felt my eyes water at the worried tone of her voice.
“Will do.Look after the kids.And that pregnant woman beside you.Okay?”
Eve sighed.“I'm trying, Stefan.I’m really trying.”We said our goodbyes before my brother took the phone back.“Are you in a place where you can talk?”he asked.I heard the sound of footsteps through the phone.
“Yeah, give me a minute.”I grabbed the plate of popsicles and set them in the freezer.I wasn't sure how long Carlo wanted to talk.But these things might be puddles by the time I came back.
I left the juice out.A few ice cubes would save them if our conversation went long.
As I walked to my office, I tapped the screen off speaker.Whatever Carlo had to say, it was likely for my ears only.Otherwise, he wouldn't have specified.
I walked through the living room and down the hall to my office.“Okay, what's up?”I shut the doors and strode to the chair behind my desk.
“Raul is on the hunt.He's fuckin' pissed.As we suspected.Our guys have ears out there.So far, nobody suspects you've left the country.I imagine it will only be a matter of time before Raul and his idiots clue in.”
I sat down and looked out the window at the sea.I had visions of taking Francesca out sailing when she got better.And if worse came to worse, we could always disappear on the yacht for a few months.Or a few years.
“How much time do you think we've got?”I asked an impossible question.But my brain wasn't working all that well at the moment.And we both knew that.It was full of worry about Francesca.Besides, even though I didn't always get along with my brother, I respected his point of view.
“Hard to say.A few days.A few weeks.Depends on if Raul finds a shiny new toy or not.”
My jaw clenched, and I rolled my head from shoulder to shoulder, trying to relieve some of the built-up tension there.“Anything else?”I asked, eager to get back to Francesca.
“Yeah,” he said, and I braced for whatever he was going to tell me next.
