Page 10 of Enzo

Or perhaps he wasn't trying to at all. And maybe Brooke called him by accident.

“What are you all doing?”

I swallow. “We're about to have lunch. Mama invited us over.”

Father is silent.

Behind me, someone hisses “Why d'you go and tell him?” and then Mama softly

says, “It's okay. We're not doing anything illegal.”

“You're all at Isabella's apartment?”

He's always called her Isabella.

“Yes.” My mouth has gone dry and any moment now I'm going to need a glass of water. Or try to end the conversation fast.

“Your mother is still here?”

My brothers chuckle like Father's shock is so satisfying for them to hear.

“Yes.” I’m going to need that glass of water.

Father nods. “Interesting. Where does she live?”

“It doesn't matter where she lives.” There is no way I'm giving him Mama’s address. He lost the right to know anything about her on that fateful day.

Mama holds out her hand for the phone, so I pass it to her.

“Paul.” Her voice is calm as she stares at him.

“Isab—”

“You do not need to ask my boys where I am or where I live.” Her voice is low and steady, and stronger than mine was. “What I do here is my choice, not yours. My life, not yours. My business, not yours.” She pauses. “You should look after yourself.”

“You look well,” Father says.

“Keep well.” Mama ends the conversation abruptly and hands the phone back to me.

I clear my throat. “We’re about to have lunch.”

“Yes,” Father says after a pause. “I'll leave you to it.”

I end the call.

The silence lingers for a moment before Jett swipes his phone from me.

“Why did Brooke even have your phone?” Dex demands.

Jett slides it into the pocket of his jeans. “I let her play with it.”

“Why don't you buy her her own iPad?” Dex asks.

“No technical gadgets for my girl for as long as I can help it.”

Rio snorts. “Then what's she doing on your phone?”

Jett inhales a long breath, appearing to think about it. “She ate all her vegetables.”