“Who, Gabe?”
“Yup. He’s the only one with a family.”
“So far,” Gabriella said. She refilled Antonio’s coffee cup and then raised the pot in Luca’s direction. “Want some?”
“No. I don’t have a lot of time. I just need to chow down and go. I’m meeting someone.”
Gabriella’s eyes lit up. “Meeting someone? Like a young lady, perhaps?”
Antonio glanced at his wife. “Of course it’s a woman. He wouldn’t be so anxious if he was just hanging out with a guy.”
“Well, that’s wonderful, honey! We were wondering when you were ever going to start dating.” She glanced at her husband. “Unless you are meeting a guy. In which case, we’re okay with that too.”
Luca almost choked on the banana. “Mom, stop.”
Gabriella shrugged. “It used to be a worry to the older generation who wanted grandchildren, but now that gay couples can adopt…”
“I’m not gay!” he groused.
“’Bout time somebody asked him,” Gabe said as he entered the room. “You might want to keep your voice down though. Misty was up with Tony half the night. She just got to sleep.”
“Sorry. Is Tony okay?”
“Yeah. He just has the sniffles. Who came up with the idea of toddlers needing playdates, by the way? The minute they share their toys, they share germs too.” He’d aimed the question at their mother.
“It’s about socialization. None of you needed to worry about socializing. You had each other,” she said.
“And how.” Gabe chuckled. “I had three older brothers and three younger bothers.”
“You mean brothers,” Gabriella corrected.
“Nope. I mean bothers.” Gabe messed up Luca’s hair as he walked by.
Luca rolled his eyes. “Why are you back here anyway?” he asked as he bit off a piece of pastry and then chewed the large chunk in his mouth.
“My studio apartment isn’t big enough for a family of three—or four.”
“Four?” both parents said at once.
Gabe smiled. “Yeah. Misty’s pregnant again.”
“Oh my goodness!” Gabriella hopped up from her seat and hugged her six-foot son around his neck despite her being only five foot three.
Luca knew his mother wanted nothing more than grandchildren. “You must be in seventh heaven, Ma.”
She chuckled. “Yes. Who knew having seven sons would only produce a couple of grandchildren?”
“There’s plenty of time for more,” Antonio said and rose to shake Gabe’s hand.
“True, but it looks like the three oldest aren’t having kids,” Gabe said. “That leaves Dante, Noah, and gay Luca here to help out.”
“I am not gay!” Luca shouted.
“He has a date this morning,” Gabriella said happily.
“It’s not a date. I—I’m consulting with a woman on a case. That’s all.”
“What kind of case?” Gabe asked.
