“I’m not sure how to answer that,” Fox responded. “Other than Genesis, everyone and everything feels new to me.” Fox looked at Vale, who was staring at him.
“Don’t force things. Your memory will come back in time.”
If Fox had a thousand bucks for every time he heard that one phrase, he’d bribe Nafri into allowing him to tell everyone who he was, stopping the guilt from eating him up.
“What if I don’t?”
Dilen turned Fox’s head so that they were face to face.
“How many times have you asked that question?” Dilen asked.
Fox chuckled. He liked Dilen. The man was easy to talk to and had a relaxed air about him, putting Fox at ease.
“Enough times to wonder if it matters in the end.”
“Your memories matter, but if they never come back, we’ll make new ones.”
Fox sighed. “That’s what everyone keeps telling me,” he whispered.
“Then believe them. Live your life whatever way you choose, Fox. Don’t worry about the rest.” Dilen kissed the side of his head.
“Oh, Fox dear. I was just coming to get you,” Aria said, entering the foyer. “Dilen, I’m glad to see you’re here as well. I was going to call and invite you to lunch in honor of Captain Vale.”
“Please tell me you didn’t cook?” Fox asked. He hadn’t been around the family much, but one thing he learned was that Aria was a terrible cook.
“I resent that question,” Aria huffed, putting her hands on her waist, glaring at Fox, who could only chuckle.
“I love you, Auntie. But my stomach cries each time you try to cook.”
“Dilen, do you remember the time we were around fifteen and mom tried to make pizza?” Fox snickered. “I still can’t figure out how the toppings got burnt so badly, but the dough was still uncooked.”
Dilen looked at him, grinning as if he’d said something fantastic. “How can I forget? I have nightmares of a burned pizza with drooping uncooked dough trying to swallow me.”
“You two are always picking on me,” Aria pouted.
“Aw, Mom. I’m not picking on you purposely.” He stepped over to Aria, kissing her on her cheek. “You just can’t cook. EvenIknow how to cook pasta.”
“Should we talk about your baking skills, Crevan Hannigan? Or how Dilen burns pasta when that’s the easiest thing to cook?”
“I forgot to add water one time, Auntie.”
“And I can bake,” Fox said confidently and prayed he was right. In his past life, unless it came to eating, he didn’t know his way around the kitchen.
Dilen placed a hand on Fox’s shoulder in pity. “Hate to break it to you, baby Fox. But your baking sucks.”
“I grabbed the salt instead of sugar one time, and I’m penalized for the rest of my life.” Fox smiled, realizing that every word he spoke was a memory left deep in his mind. He was starting to understand why Nafri didn’t show him everything.
Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.
Fox looked at Vale, who had been silently watching their interactions with suspicion in his eyes. It made Fox wonder what he’d said or did to cause an air of suspicion around him.
I feel like a suspect waiting to be interrogated by the big, bad cop.Fox mentally chuckled at his thoughts.Then again, I could be reading too much into things.He could still feel small traces of Vale’s emotions coursing through his veins. He could tell that someone had hurt Vale.Maybe he just broke up with his lover, and I happened to cross him at the wrong time.
Fox snapped out of his thoughts when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw the notification from the baby monitor app.
“Genesis is awake. Let me take care of her, and I’ll meet you guys at the dining room table.”
“Okay,” Aria smiled. “Bring her back with you. I’m sure Rosemary and Captain Vale would love to meet our little princess.”
