CHAPTER FIFTEEN – ROSE

I pushed past Kevin and Cassie as I made my way back into the kitchen. I knew this was going to come as a shock to everyone, having Camillo here, but the more he was around, the more I realized how much I’d missed him. I’d clung to that night for months after the encounter that changed my life. No man that approached me at the diner ever compared to the beauty and strength he showed me that night and the very memory of his body against mine got me through the worst of times. There were nights where I would lay in bed, clinging to that note he’d left me, hoping I could conjure his presence. And now, here he was, plucking our daughter from my arms while I shooed him into the other room, telling Camillo to go spend time with his daughter so I could try to salvage dinner.

Kevin stood in the doorway and gawked at the two of them playing, while Cassie stood next to me at the fridge.

“He’s here,” she said.

“All we can really do is a salad,” I said.

She ignored my comment. “I mean, he’s actually here. With Ana. In his arms.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

I bent down and started grabbing vegetables. I threw them on the counter so I could get to chopping, throwing everything into a massive bowl. I opened up the freezer and pulled out a microwavable package of grilled chicken, inwardly groaning at the fact that I’d be feeding this rich man microwavable chicken.

He had tasted the delicacies of the world and now he’d have to choke down my pathetic salad.

“Aren’t you scared he’ll take her away or something?” Cassie asked.

“Nope,” I said. “He just wanted to meet his daughter. I had to give him that.”

“Oh, you just had to. Right. Gotcha. You want me to throw this in the microwave?”

“No, I want you to set it in there, set the timer for five minutes, and let it cook.”

“Ha, ha, ha,” she said sarcastically.

“If you hadn’t burned soup, I wouldn’t feel the need to tell you how to microwave chicken,” I said, grinning.

I saw Cassie taking glimpses of Camillo, with Ana in his arms, while Kevin slowly made his way toward them. Kevin didn’t trust anyone. He didn’t make friends easily at school and he kept to himself. I tried to get him to open up and even invite kids from school over, but he never did.

So, the fact that he was approaching Camillo was a massive deal.

“Holy shit, Rose. Kevin just sat down beside him.”

“Are you serious?” I asked.

I tossed the rest of the lettuce into the bowl before I poked my head around the corner. Kevin was staring warily at Camillo, who was now bouncing Ana on his chest. He leaned back into the couch and Ana was jumping up and down on him like he was some sort of trampoline or couch cushion.

And all the while, Kevin was slowly scooting closer to him.

“How the hell did he find you?” Cassie asked.

“If I told you, I’m not sure you’d believe me,” I said. “Let’s just say he lives around here now.”

“So he moved here for you,” she said. “Why the hell else would someone want to live in the Poconos?”

“For the skiing?”

“Look at him. Does that beard and those muscles look like someone who skis regularly?”

Camillo was watching Kevin out of the corner of his eye but he made no move toward my brother. I had considered the fact that this man wanted Ana. I had considered the fact that he might take her and I’d never find her again. But the moment I saw his eyes light up with love for her, that same innate trust I’d felt for him years ago came rushing back. Despite the rumors of his ties to the mob and despite the warning his note had left for me, I knew he would never hurt me.

I knew he would never hurt his daughter.

I threw the rest of the cut-up vegetables into the bowl just as the microwave went off. I dumped the chicken on top of the salad and covered it in mandarin oranges while Cassie set our small table to hold five. I pulled out juices and sodas we could all drink and put them in the middle of the table, then I dished up salad for everyone’s plate while Cassie grabbed the salad dressings. We danced around one another, stealing peaks of Camillo in the living room while we did so.

“Whenever you guys are ready, dinner’s on!” I called out.

“Five more minutes?” Kevin called out.

“The chicken’s gonna be cold by then,” I said as I walked into the living room. “What’s taking you—”

I saw that Kevin had the television on, with Minecraft going on the screen. He was showing Camillo all the things he had created and was in the middle of trying to blow something up. Ana was curled into the crook of her father’s neck, her little eyes fluttering open and closed while she breathed against his chest. Kevin was talking Camillo through the game and he seemed to be listening intently, his eyes dancing across the screen while he watched Kevin pull out all the stops for his own entertainment.

The scene brought tears of shock to my eyes as I watched my brother interact fluidly with this stranger.

“Five more minutes,” I said. “Then, it’s dinner time.”

“Okay,” Kevin said.

“I’ll start the countdown,” Camillo said.

My eyes connected with his as a tear dripped down my face. His eyes grew stern, studying me as I turned back and headed for the kitchen. I was overwhelmed by the sensations I was experiencing. Overwhelmed by all the emotions that were flooding my chest.

My hands were trembling as I counted the minutes down on the microwave clock. I heard Kevin laughing while Camillo kept asking questions and, soon, Ana’s small little snores could be heard all the way into the kitchen. Just before I was about to call out the fact that five minutes was up, I heard Camillo talking quietly with Kevin.

Then, the three of them came into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

Ana was passed out on his shoulder as he sat down in a seat. I fought between waking her up to eat and letting her sleep peacefully and I realized Camillo wouldn’t be able to eat like that. I walked over to him and tried to take Ana from him, but he simply shook his head.

“I can eat with one arm. It’s okay.”

I was enamored with the attention he was paying Kevin. I was overwhelmed by the way he cradled our daughter while he dressed his salad. I was impressed with the way he didn’t flinch at the fact that he was eating microwaved grilled chicken and, all the while, my hands were shaking in my lap.

I was enjoying this too much and it scared me.

“Why were you gone so long?” Kevin asked.

“Kevin,” I said, scolding him.

“No, it’s all right,” Camillo said. “My work took me away for quite some time. Things got very busy, and I didn’t want to bring that stress into your sister’s life.”

“But you’re here now,” Kevin said. “Are you staying?”

“That’s enough,” Cassie said.

“I promise, his questions are fine,” Camillo said.

“So, are you?” Kevin asked.

I sighed and allowed my gaze to fall to my lap. I knew the dinner was going to be awkward, but I didn’t realize Kevin was going to take so well to Camillo.

I still wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“Well, I do live in the area and I’d like to be a part of Ana’s life now. But that mean’s I’ll also be a part of yours somewhat. Are you okay with that?”

“Maybe you should pose that question to Rose first,” Cassie said.

I snapped my gaze up at her before my eyes drifted toward Camillo. I shot him a silent apology as Cassie rolled her shoulders back. She braced for a fight every single time a guy came into our lives. Though I loved that she was protective of me, it sometimes annoyed me to no end.

“How about we talk about that later?” Camillo asked.

“Okay,” Kevin said, defeated. “What questions are okay to ask?”

“You could ask me about where I grew up,” Camillo said. “Or what I like to do for fun.”

“What do you like to do for fun?” Kevin asked.

“Sleep,” Camillo said, grinning.

I couldn’t help but giggle at his answer while Kevin’s eyes lit up.

“Hey, me too!” Kevin said. “What else?”

“I do a lot of manual labor. It helps to calm my mind. You know, chopping wood, gardening, hunting, building furniture. That sort of thing.”

“What sorts of furniture? Like could you make us a bigger table?” Kevin asked and I flashed him a look.

“I haven’t tried making a table yet, but I’ve made bookcases and chairs,” Camillo said.

“You work with wood?” I asked.

The grin he threw me across the table shivered me to my toes.

“I work with wood a great deal, when I can,” he said.

I felt the heat creep up my neck and color stain my cheeks. I knew his innuendo was intended for me and it left me a little flustered.

“You okay?” Cassie asked.

“Just fine,” I said breathlessly.

I felt Camillo’s eyes on me as I got up from the table. I needed to start doing something constructive or I was going to jump him at my table in front of my family. I started clearing dishes and took them over to the sink while Kevin put the dressings back into the refrigerator.

I heard everyone get up from the table while I began rinsing the dishes. Cassie took Ana so she could put her down and Kevin was quickly on her heels. My hands were trembling even as the hot water rushed over them, but I was ripped from my trance when the dishwasher beside me opened.

I looked over and saw Camillo staring down at me before he reached for the plates and started stacking them in.

Silently, the two of us cleaned the kitchen. We got everything put away and the table wiped down. He helped me pick up the shreds of the dictionary Ana had left behind on the floor. He even took out the overflowing trash I kept forgetting to deal with before I went to bed.

And by the time he came back in, I was ready to ask the looming question.

“So,” I said breathlessly. “What happens now?”