She grinned. “I think that will work. We just need to ask yes or no questions that he can answer without a bunch of explanations.”
Antonio laughed. “That’s Gabe’s preferred way of communicating anyway.”
The door upstairs opened, and his mother called out, “Stay downstairs, Gabe. Antonio, can you give me a hand, please?”
“Luca, can you give your mother a hand please?”
Luca rolled his eyes but walked up the stairs to take a tray from Gabriella. When he returned, Gabe was delighted to see a whole pile of shredded meat in one corner. As soon as Luca set it down, he perched on the raised edge of the tray and pecked at his treat.
“He must be starving,” Misty said.
Antonio laughed. “Gabe is always starving. Didn’t you notice his hollow leg?”
Misty’s gaze dropped to her lap. He imagined she was remembering the times he couldn’t eat at all, because of their tumultuous relationship. Damn. He had put her through an emotional roller coaster. If only he could communicate how much he loved her now.
Wait. He could. He picked up a strip of beef in his beak and flew to her leg. Then he placed the food in her lap.
“Awww,” she said.
Antonio smiled. “There’s no mistaking that meaning.”
“Give me a break,” Luca muttered as he returned to his bedroom. “I have to memorize the ten codes.”
Misty gazed after him for a few seconds. “Is he still studying to be a cop?”
Antonio snorted. “Unfortunately. I can’t imagine how I raised a cop after six firefighters. Oh well. There’s a black sheep in every family.”
Gabriella was on her way down the stairs and had apparently overheard his comment. “Antonio Fierro. Don’t you dare call any of our sons a black sheep.”
“Okay. If he’s going to be a cop, I’ll call him the blue sheep. Is that better?”
Gabriella let out a deep breath of resignation.
Gabe faced his father and turned his right eye toward him.
Antonio laughed. “See? Gabe agrees with me.”
* * *
Over the next few weeks, Misty and Gabe perfected their communication to the point where it was almost not awkward at all.Almost.When he disagreed with something she said or wanted to do, he’d flap his wings and squawk. Repeatedly, if he really felt strongly about it.
One day, the doorbell rang, and Misty was home alone with Gabe. When no one else was around, they shut him in his cage with the explanation that only another phoenix could go after him, if he “escaped.” Misty thought it was ridiculous but went along with it.
She finally realized the wisdom of that policy when she opened the door and Adam was on the other side.
“Adam! What are you doing here?”
“Uh, are you able to talk? Outside?”
Gabe squawked his head off and was beating the cage with his feathers so hard, she was afraid he’d hurt himself.
“Uh, no. You can say whatever you have to say right here.”
He peered around her at the bird in the large cage. It was situated between the living room and dining room so Gabe could see and participate—sort of—in most family discussions.
“I wanted to apologize for firing you. I realize I may have overreacted…and…and I want you back.”
Gabe was making so much noise, she wasn’t sure she heard Adam right. “Huh?”
