Page 34 of Keepsake

“I started with this, knowing my losses. That was Caridad. I accepted I might lose you, too. But the kids… no. I had to have the kids. And now…”

“What are you talking about?”

She turned to me and blinked her eyes like she had forgotten I was there for a minute. Shaking her head, she headed for the door. “Come down for dinner.”

She was gone before I could ask anything else.

“Whatdoyouthinkabout the Lone Pine Academy?”

I wasn’t really good at easing in on a subject. I hated tiptoeing around anything. We all had our plates loaded with lasagna, thanks to a quick delivery from Alvaro’s favorite Italian restaurant. Lasagna was the best way to make kids and adults happy.

As I dished it out for everyone but Alvaro, I set Lachlan’s plate by my side, using a pillow to prop him up in his chair and ignoring Dash’s narrowing gaze.

“I love it. They have dance classes and art classes. I can be a ballerina.” Vienna let us know her plans.

“Great,” I said as I smiled. “What do you think, Dash?”

He shrugged. “It’s your money.”

“It is your education.”

He mumbled something, leaving it clear he didn’t care at all about his own education. His plan was ridiculous. One that would force him to sacrifice his entire future, just the way his own mother had done. My heart hurt to think about it.

That was what Alvaro wasn’t getting. I wasn’t scared if Dash took his siblings from me. I was fearful forhim.

I served myself and sat down, taking a breath before turning to Lachlan with a smile. I reached for his plate and started cutting this lasagna into little mushy pieces.

The three-year-old looked at me like I was poisoning his food, but before he could cry or look at Dash, I sent him a smile.

“Do you like lasagna, Lachlan?”

He didn’t reply. I needed to book an appointment with a pediatrician, but that could be done another day. I waited to see if he was going to start with his dinner, my face burned with the looks Dash sent my way. With a sigh, I took a spoonful of food and blew on it before offering it to him.

And he took it.

God bless lasagna!

Happy with my success, I kept feeding Lachlan and talking to the others. “Lone Pine is an excellent school. You’re welcome to pick up any extra-curricular activities as long as they make sense with your schedule and I can drive you there.”

“I can get the bus,” Dash said.

“True. Once you get used to the city. For the first few weeks, I prefer to drive you.”

Lachlan kept eating what I served him, getting a little more relaxed with each mouthful.

“I’m back to work Monday,” Alvaro said.

“That’s fine.”

“Aren’t you working?” Dash asked.

I shook my head. “Not until we’re settled.”

“What are you going to do while we are at school?” he snorted.

There were about a million things I needed to get done while they were at school, but that wasn’t what I said.

“I’m keeping Lachlan here.”

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