Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“How easy it is for kids,” she murmured. “All they do is smile, share a love of swinging on monkey bars, and bam, you’re friends. No worries.”
I slid my arm over her shoulders. “If you want to swing on my monkey bar, we can be friends, Tesoro.”
She turned her head, looking at me. I winked lewdly, waggled my eyebrows, and it happened. She smiled, then giggled. The giggle turned into a chuckle, and then she was laughing. Out loud, clear and sweet. The sound made me laugh with her. She looked carefree and happy, the anxiety drained from her eyes, leaving them bright and joyful. I couldn’t resist. I didn’t want to.
I cupped the back of her neck and kissed her. It was long, slow, and intense. When I drew back, she smiled, touching her lips with her fingers.
I relaxed back against the bench, my arm slung over her shoulder. With a sigh, she laid her head against me. We both crossed our ankles and watched Theo. There was no need for words.
“This is the best fried chicken I ever ate.” Theo’s eyes were wide in his face. “Ever.”
I had to agree. Mary made stellar fried chicken. It wasn’t something I’d grown up with, so when I’d lived with her, it had always been one of my favorite meals. Her pasta was fairly abysmal, and my mama soon corrected that, but her fried chicken remained one of my most requested menu items. I was glad she had included it today.
Theo and Gabby had tucked into the picnic lunch with gusto. Egg salad sandwiches, chicken, and cut-up vegetables were devoured. The cookies Gabby made disappeared fast. The lemonade I had bought was cold and tart, and Theo declared it another favorite.
I wiped my mouth, replete. The afternoon was going well. Without a time constriction for Gabby to leave, we were relaxed and enjoying the warm weather and the park. Gabby was more tranquil than I could recall, and her laughter rang out more than once. Every time I heard it, I smiled, and I found myself saying and doing things I knew would make her laugh. Or smile. I loved her smile.
Theo gnawed on a chicken leg, his eyes on the playground. He’d been going nonstop since we arrived, but as the afternoon wore on, his choice of playmates was beginning to dwindle.
“Will you play with me, Stefo?”
“Absolutely. But I need a little pisolino first.”
“What’s that?”
I winked at Gabby. “A nap. Let the food settle.”
“Settle?”
I patted my stomach. “Yeah, when you nap, the food all slips into place so you can eat more later.”
His eyes became saucers. “Really?”
I nodded sagely. “Especially for picnics. Once you have a pisolino, you can play more and then get ice cream.”
Gabby coughed into her hand, but I had Theo’s attention.
“I love ice cream. So does Mom.”
“Then I guess a pisolino is in order for all of us.”
We cleaned up the lunch remnants. I walked over and deposited the trash, then headed back to my little man and his pretty mom. She had laid out the blanket I had brought and was sitting down, talking to Theo, who stood in front of her. She held his hand, and he looked down at her with such adoration, I felt my eyes sting. Their love for each other was blatant.
I settled with my back against the tree, smiling with delight when Theo curled himself against my knee, his tousled head the same colors as Gabby’s in the sun. I lifted my arm in invitation, and Gabby settled into my side. Without thinking, I ran my fingers through Theo’s hair, listening to his endless questions and answering them in ways that made Gabby’s shoulders shake with mirth.
“What makes clouds?”
“They’re marshmallows for the angels.”
“How come they get dark and rain?”
“Someone forgot to lower the fire. When they turn on the hoses, the water has to go somewhere.”
“What is thunder?”
“The male angels bellowing about the fire. The lightning is the female angels answering back.”
He peered up at me. “Stefo, is that true?”
I ruffled his hair. “Maybe.”
He chuckled. “Mom says it’s because heaven is watering the earth.”
“Well, there’s that too.”
His eyes fluttered, growing heavy. “I like your stories, too.”
Then he was asleep.
Gabby peered up at me. “You’re really good with him.”
“He’s easy to be good to. He’s a great kid.”
She ran a hand through his hair. “He is. He has always been so grown-up for his age. Sometimes, I worry about that.”
“No, he’s good. There’s lots of little-boy mischief in there.” I pressed a kiss to her head. “You’re doing an amazing job, Gabby. Don’t doubt yourself.”
She reached up and clasped my hand lying on her shoulder, squeezing my fingers. For a moment, there was silence, and I felt her relax further into my side as she fell asleep. I glanced down at the two people I had known only a short time yet had made such a huge difference to my life. I leaned my head back, shutting my eyes and enjoying the warmth of the sun, the feel of Gabby snuggled into me, and the soft strands of Theo’s hair under my hand. They were both relaxed enough to sleep, knowing I was there to watch over them.