Page 19 of Wishing for Love

“And now she’s not here to tell you,” Elsie said softly.

Crystal didn’t want the little girl to get upset. “You can tell me,” she said. “If you don’t want to tell your uncle, I’ll make sure he knows.”

Phoenix looked up and mouthed ‘Thank you’. She smiled and nodded quickly.

“I will,” Elsie said.

“What does everyone want for dinner? I thought maybe we could talk about all of Phoenix’s siblings while I cook. Unless you want to help me cook, Elsie?”

“Can I watch?” Elsie asked. “I want to talk more and I can’t if I’m concentrating.”

“You can do anything you want,” she said. “But why don’t you tell me what you like to eat so I’ll know in the future.”

“I like tacos,” Elsie said. “Do you know how to make them?”

“I do if you have what we need for them.”

“We do,” Phoenix said. “My mother would have made sure since we’ve had tacos a few times.”

She caught the humor in his voice. He moved to the cabinet and pulled out the taco kit.

She opened the fridge and found beef, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese.

“Looks like we are set.”

“We need olives,” Elsie said.

Phoenix moved into the pantry and came out with a little can of them. “I learned if I open a big can, someone sits here and eats them all.”

“Do you put them on your fingers?” Crystal asked, giggling.

“All ten of them,” Elsie said, smiling and holding her hands up, her fingers wide.

“I used to do that too.” She opened up a few cabinets. “Sorry, where are the pans?”

“To your right,” he said.

She opened the bottom drawer that he’d pointed to and grabbed the pan while Phoenix opened the taco kit and removed the seasoning packet.

“Tell me about your siblings. Start with their names and ages.”

“Are you going to share yours too since you’re the youngest of six?”

“I can,” she said. “You start.”

He sat on one of the chairs at the island and helped Elsie get up next to him. The little girl put her chin in her hands and stared at Phoenix as he talked as if he was the most important person in the world. In the little girl’s eyes, that might be the case.

“I’m the oldest at thirty-one,” he said. “Then I’ve got twin sisters, London and Paris. They are twenty-nine. Next are the triplets, Dallas, Bronx and Siena. They are twenty-seven.”

“I can’t believe your mother didn’t stop after that. I’m assuming she doesn’t work? The thought of that daycare bill is crazy.”

He laughed. “No. My father is an attorney and owns a law firm in Orlando. Rome is twenty-four, Memphis is twenty-two and the baby is Raleigh at twenty.”

“That is fascinating that you’re all named after cities. A theme of sorts.”

“My mother’s idea,” he said. “Your turn. Names and ages.”

“You said all of your siblings are single. Mine are all married or engaged. I won’t bore you with all the names of the spousesand kids. Kyle is the oldest at thirty-nine. He’s a detective, married and has two kids. It’s funny we are both from Florida though. I’m from Jacksonville. That is where Kyle lives. Anne is thirty-six and a teacher, married with one kid in the same area. I told you about Taylor. She’s thirty-three, married and has three kids. She does accounting at her husband’s construction company. Kurt is next and he works with computers. He’s twenty-nine and engaged, no wedding date yet. He’s actually in Daytona. I’m the baby and I’m twenty-eight. I’m a nanny.”

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