Page 109 of Release Me

“Your brother is not boring, Luca,” Dad shoots back, his voice a clap of thunder and strike of lightening all in one. “He’s responsible and level headed, which is exactly what the school needs right now.”

“President Adler,” Mom muses, and the pride shining in her eyes turns the conversation to more positive topics that we float through with ease as we eat and drink the bottle of Rioja Riserva from 2008 that Mom bought specifically for Nadia to try with the chili. She was so excited about the pairing, things got a bit awkward when Nadia refused, saying she was planning on sticking to water because she didn’t want the wine to interfere with a new medicine she was taking. Dad and Luca bought the excuse without so much as a second thought, but Mom didn’t. And I spent the rest of lunch trading panicked looks with Nadia and warning looks at my mom that, by some miracle, she chose to honor up until now.

Now being after lunch when Nadia is already in the car, and I’m standing on the porch on my own because Dad is in his office and Luca has already left.

Her eyes stretch wide with an unspoken question, and I shake my head.

“Just leave it alone, Mom.”

It’s not a confirmation or even a denial, but somehow she’s still bouncing on her toes with excitement. “You don’t have to say anything, Sebby. Just tell me what color I need to paint the nursery.”

“Bye, Mom.” I lean in and give her a kiss on the forehead, appreciating her excitement even though I’ve given her nothing. “I love you.”

“I love you too, son. Tell Nadia I love her too,” she calls as I jog to the car. I throw up a hand in acknowledgment before dropping down in my seat and slamming the door shut. Nadia’s eyes bore into the side of my face.

“Did you tell her?”

“No, precious. I didn’t say a word to her about anything.”

“But she knows, doesn’t she?”

“She suspects, but I didn’t confirm.”

Nadia leans back against the head rest and closes her eyes. “Good. Thank you for waiting. I know that must have been hard for you.”

“Not really, especially since the next time we see them for lunch, you’ll be far enough along for us to share if you feel comfortable.”

She cracks one eye open, squinting her confusion. “I won’t be through my twelfth week when we see them next Monday.”

“Right.” I glance at her as I switch lanes, wondering how she forgot about this trip to California to check on the progress Andre, Nic’s right hand man who did end up taking on the job, is making on the resort. It’s been on my calendar for weeks now, which means it’s been on hers too. “But we won’t see them next Monday because we’ll be in Los Angeles.”

“We?” Both of her eyes are open now. “Who’s we?”

“You and me.” I’m tempted to pull over and conduct some kind of neurological exam to ensure she didn’t bump her head at some point during the day when I wasn’t looking. “Do you seriously not remember me telling you about this trip?”

“I remember you telling me that you were going to Los Angeles, but we never talked about me going.”

“Of course you’re going, precious. I’m not leaving you in New Haven alone.”

“But I won’t be alone, I’ll be with the security team you hired to keep me safe.”

With one hand on the wheel, I use the other to pinch the bridge of my nose. “Nadia.”

“Sebastian,” she says, mimicking my serious tone to hide the way her voice is shaking. “I’m not going to Los Angeles. I have a job to do and a baby to prepare for.”

“You have plenty of vacation days, Nadia, and you can buy baby clothes anywhere.”

“Exactly.” She snaps her fingers in a manner that can only be described as sarcastic. “Which means I can buy them right here in New Haven where you, me, and this baby will live.”

“Nadia, I can’t leave you in New Haven.”

Just the thought unsettles me. I wouldn’t be able to get anything done because I’d be worried sick about her. I’ll be worried in Los Angeles too, especially because that’s an area Beau is familiar with, but at least I’ll be close if something happens.

“And I can’t go to Los Angeles, Sebastian.”

I catch it again, that note of fear lacing itself around the name of the city she used to reside in, and as I stop at a red light, I stare at the hard line of her jaw.

“Are you scared to go there?” I ask, softly.

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