“Do you think Bethany is going to be mad that we are two hours late?” Lillian asks as we pull into the drive.

“No. I called her when you were in the shower.”

As I walk around the front of the car, I stop and look through the windshield and watch as Lillian pulls down the visor. I see her fluff her hair with her hands, smack her lips together, and then push the visor back up. When she sees me standing there watching her, she smiles, then shrugs her shoulders. I quickly move to the door, pulling the handle and opening it for her to exit. Her long, lean legs swing out, causing her dress to slide up her thighs. My dick twitches in my pants remembering what it felt like being between those legs not too long ago.

“Lincoln Oliver Vincent Eastwick, get your mind out of the gutter,” Lillian demands. “I know exactly what you are thinking by the look in your eyes. Now is not the time to travel down memory lane.”

She knows me all too well. I reach for her hand, clasping it in mine as we walk toward the front door. I use my key, unlock the door, and hold it open for Lillian. We both come to a complete stop, our eyes meeting one another with the same questioning look when we see Angelo, Bethany, and Peanut on the sofa. Bethany is reclining with her back against the armrest, her legs in Angelo’s lap. Peanut is tucked into his side, his arm tightly wrapped around my nephew as they watch Peanut’s favorite movie, Finding Nemo.

“Angewhoa, fish friend no food,” Peanut yells and then begins to laugh. “They funny sharks.”

Angelo ruffles the top of Peanut’s head. “Yes, ragazzino, they are very funny sharks.” Angelo’s other hand squeezes Bethany’s feet.

I clear my throat to announce Lillian and my arrival. Angelo quickly stands, looks first at Lillian and then at me before raising his head up briefly to acknowledge us and then brush past us. “Bethany, what’s going on here?” I question.

Bethany quickly schools her guilty look. “Nothing, Love, just waiting on your butts to get here.”

“Uncle Wuv.” Peanut jumps off the sofa and runs into my arms. I lift him up, placing a kiss to his forehead.

“You feeling better, little man? Lillian told me you were in to see her today.”

Peanut nods his little head. “Yep, my tomach was yucky, but I all bedder now.” His little hands clasp both sides of my face. “You sick, Uncle Wuv?”

“I’m not sick, Peanut. Why do you think I’m sick? Do I look sick, little man?”

“Nope.” Peanut shakes his head. “Mommy tell Angewhoa you stuck in bed. I onwy stuck in bed when I sick.”

I glance over at Bethany, who is trying to hide her laughter behind her hand. “Is that so?” I say to Peanut.

“Yep, I go watch Nemo, pwease.” Peanut squirms in my arms, indicating that he wants to be let down. When I place him on the ground, he runs for the sofa and climbs back on to watch his movie. I take the opportunity to interrogate my sister while he is preoccupied. Her early declaration that nothing is going on was obviously a lie.

“So, you haven’t answered my question, Bethany. What’s going on with you and Angelo? You looked pretty cozy on the sofa.”

Bethany’s eyes drop to the floor but quickly rise. “I told you, nothing is going on. Peanut and I were waiting for you to get here, and I asked Angelo if he’d like to watch Nemo while we waited for you.”

Lillian spoke up. “Does he spend a lot of time watching TV with you two?” It’s exactly the question I was going to ask.

Bethany responds quickly. “What’s the big deal? He watches movies with us from time to time.”

Before Lillian can speak up again, I seize the moment. “It is a big deal, Bethany. He’s here to protect you and Peanut. Watching movies is not protecting you.”

“Look, Love, I don’t get involved in your personal life, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t get involved in mine.” Bethany turns to walk toward the kitchen, but I immediately reach out, grabbing her arm and spinning her around to face me.

“You’re right, Bethany. You don’t get involved in my personal life, but your personal life is mine to worry about, and right now, I need you to understand how serious things are. That means Angelo needs to be focused on protecting the two of you, not get distracted by the two of you.”

Lillian’s response surprises me. “Linc, Angelo is doing his job, I can assure you of that. He’s very capable of watching television and making sure they are both safe. Trust me.”

My jealousy takes over quickly. “So, now you’re perfectly fine with all this? Earlier you had your own questions and concerns. Now you’re defending his actions?”

Lillian looks at Bethany and then at me. “I’m not defending anything. All I’m trying to say is that Angelo is very capable and loyal. If his job is to protect them, he’ll do it. Even if it means giving up his own, or have you forgotten how well he’s protected me all those years?”

“Just stop it!” Bethany yells. “You both need to get over yourselves. Either let it go so we can sit down and finally eat or show yourselves to the door. Either way makes no difference to me.”