Page 2 of This Thing of Ours

Her sister-in-law, Olivia, sat on the floor of the nursery. A six-month-old Angelica sat between her sprawled legs, munching aggressively on a wooden block. Candy and Cain, their one-year-old German shepherds, poked their heads up from their slumber on either side of the crib upon her arrival.

“I wanted to surprise you.” Gabby held her arms out wide. “Surprise!”

Angelica squealed in delight, throwing out her chubby arms, mimicking her. The block she held flew from her hand, sailing past Cain’s head to land on the floor by his rump where he stared at it, seemingly unfazed.

Gabby stepped forward, laughing. “Come here, you little monster.” Scooping up a giggling Angelica, Gabby did a full spin before throwing her on her hip. “And how is my favorite niece today?”

“She’s your only niece.” Olivia ran her fingers through her long, brown hair, brushing it back from her face.

“Well, it’s a good thing she’s my favorite then because otherwise, that would just be sad.”

Olivia stood from the floor with a groan then rubbed her back. “Now I know why chairs were invented.”

Angelica grabbed a lock of Gabby’s hair and pulled. “Ow! Like father like daughter, huh? When I was little, your daddy use to pull my hair, too.”

“Speaking of Nico,” Olivia said. “Does he know you’re here?”

Gabby grimaced. “I just came from a ten-minute lecture.”

Oliva gave her a knowingly sympathetic look. “He worries about you.”

Gabby sighed. “I know.”

Olivia hooked her arm through Gabby’s free one. “Come on, let’s go raid the freezer. There’s a carton of chocolate chip with both our names on it.”

Gabby gave her sister-in-law’s arm a squeeze. “Ice cream therapy?”

Olivia laughed. “The cheapest kind.”

Gabby dropped herspoon in the nearly empty bowl with a clatter and pushed it away from her. “I can’t eat another bite.”

“Then you’re ready to leave.” Marco’s voice boomed behind her, and she flinched, startled.

Olivia raised a brow in silent question, and Gabby returned a small shrug in answer before twisting in her chair. Marco stood by the door, arms folded across his chest, a scowl on his face.

“Don’t let me put you out.”

His scowl deepened at her sarcastic tone. “You’re not putting me out.”

Yeah, right, she thought, barely keeping an eye roll in check. Even if the thought of being alone in a car with Marco did make her heart flutter, she didn’t want to be somebody’s chore. And that’s exactly how Marco would see her—an errand Nico had foisted on him.

“Look, I’m quite capable of driving myself home in my own car that happens to currently be parked in the driveway. Nico wouldn’t even have to know.” She glanced at Olivia with an apologetic twist of her lips. Gabby knew she hated keeping secrets from her husband.

Olivia held up a hand. “I’m pretending to not hear this conversation.”

It didn’t matter because Marco wasn’t listening to her anyway. “I’ll have one of the men deliver it to your house. Let’s go.”

She stood, knowing there was no use arguing. “Give me kisses.” She leaned over smacking Angelica on the lips. Gabby laughed, running a hand across her mouth. “Yummy, drool.”

Olivia joined in the laughter. “Believe me, it could be worse. Try kissing her after she’s eaten squash or sweet potatoes.”

She gave the mother and daughter pair one last wave then made her way out of the kitchen, resigned to spending some alone time in the car with Marco.

Yes, resigned. The only other time Marco had driven her anywhere had been about three years ago, and his complete silence had made the experience awkwardly uncomfortable. Want information from an enemy? Put him in a car with Marco and have them drive around aimlessly. He’d be talking in no time.

The drive from Nico’s house to her own usually took about fifteen minutes if she hit every red light along the way.

About five minutes into their trip, Marco asked, “How’s school going this year?”

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