Page 102 of Save Me

I recognize it immediately.

“How did I know you would eventually end up here?” my mother asks with a soft smile on her face as she looks up at my father.

He bends down and presses a kiss to my mom’s lips. His gaze lingers on her for a few seconds, and even from his profile, I can see how his face softens. As a kid, I couldn’t figure out why I loved watching my parents interact with one another so much.

As a teen, I was embarrassed by how openly affectionate they were with one another. Especially when it’s evident that my father doesn’t like many other people. But in our presence, he becomes someone else.

“Sweetness,” he finally says, using the pet name he always calls her. And I immediately recognize the tone. Not from years of hearing him say it to her.

It reminds me of the way someone else uses a unique nickname.

Little warrior.

I dip my head when I recall Dae using that name with me. The way his voice sounds is just like …

“Are you ignoring me?”

I glance up to see my father staring down at me.

“Sorry, Daddy.” I rise and welcome his open arms. “I could never ignore you.”

“Damn straight,” he agrees, hugging me tighter.

“I wasn’t expecting you.” I pull back. “I probably should have, though,” I amend as he greets Riley before sitting beside my mom. He moves close enough to place a possessive arm around her shoulder. When she leans into his embrace, my father kisses the top of her head.

“It’s been a couple of months since you’ve crashed our ladies’ lunch,” I tell him.

He doesn’t even bother looking guilty as he responds, “It was Kyle’s turn last week.”

Riley snorts. “The only reason he’s not here today is because he has that meeting with the R&D team.”

My father nods as if knowing she’s right.

The waitress delivers our drinks, and I take a sip of the delicious Aperol. After our around-the-world trip, it became one of my mom’s favorite drinks. Once we returned to the States, she added it to the Buona Sera menu.

Our waitress takes our orders.

“I thought you loved the salmon, Riley?” my mom asks, noting that Riley ordered one of the baked chicken dishes.

“Right,” Riley says, looking between the three of us.

I don’t miss the way her hand goes to her belly. A smile crests on my face.

“It’s, uh, not sitting well with me lately.”

My mom leans forward, her attention on Riley. My father doesn’t release her from his hold even though he clearly keeps his attention on his daughter-in-law.

Riley bites her bottom lip.

“Any reason in particular why not?” Mom asks.

Riley looks between the three of us. The nervousness etched on her face is evident. My sister-in-law doesn’t get nervous.

“Well,” she begins, “it’s because for a while it was making me nauseous. And now, a certain person, is frightened of the mercury levels. Despite clearance from my doctors.”

“Wait, doctors? Mercury levels? Are you finally telling us …” my mom asks.

Riley nods. “I’m pregnant.”

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