Page 111 of Married with Mayhem

I stare at the blank space in front of the house where Monte’s car is supposed to be parked and isn’t.

“You promised,” I whisper and press my cheek to varnished wood as the first tear falls.

23

SABRINA

“Ican take her,” Anni says. She sinks down on the sofa beside me and curls her long legs under her body. “She’s been napping for almost an hour. I’m sure your arms are sore.”

“I don’t mind holding her.” I plant a soft kiss on Jane’s sweet little sleeping head. She smells like baby lotion and heaven. “Spending the day with Jane takes my mind off a certain Castelli brother.”

Anni leans on her arm and watches me hold her daughter. Her attention shifts when she sees her husband darkening the doorway. Luca looks more tired than usual. And the expression on his face is too close to guilt.

“You can finish your sentence now,” I say to him.

He leans against the wall with his arms crossed and a troubled frown on his face. “Remind me how it started.”

Jane fidgets in my arms and lets out a tiny cry. Anni reaches for her automatically.

“Here, she might be hungry. And she probably needs to be changed.”

I hand the baby over and Anni carries her out of the room. She pauses in front of Luca and gives him a meaningful look that I don’t know how to decipher. He’s still frowning, not his usual expression at all.

“You were telling me how your best friend felt before he ran out on me like a thief in the night,” I remind him.

Luca shakes his head. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“So how did he feel? Was he crying? Because I’ve been crying a lot today.” I stand up and confront Luca at close range. “Monte made me a promise. He promised that he wants me with him, that heneedsme with him. Now I don’t know what to think.”

Luca’s eyes snap to my face. “Brina, it killed him to leave you. I’ve watched you together and I’m convinced that you mean everything to him. Monte doesn’t just do this, you know. Fall into relationships.”

My wedding ring is still on my left hand. I’ve grown used to wearing it and already have a habit of twisting it around my finger when I’m feeling particularly angsty. I’m toying with it right now. “I’m not exactly a relationship expert either, Luca. Or haven’t you figured that out?”

His shoulders slump and his gaze falls. I shouldn’t be taking my anger out on him.

“Sorry, I’m not the greatest houseguest, am I?” I say in a gentler tone.

Laughter huffs out of his mouth. “Don’t beat yourself up. You could be worse.”

“A ringing testimonial.” I pause and assess my brother-in-law more carefully. “Monte told you exactly where he went, didn’t he?”

Luca is often good at maintaining a poker face but right now he fails and doesn’t try to bluff. “He did.”

“Then tell me.”

“There are good reasons why he kept this information from you.”

“What reasons, Luca?”

“You can ask him yourself. I’m sure he won’t be gone more than a couple of days.”

I hiss out a furious breath and walk to the window so I don’t start yelling. That makes me feel no better so I walk back.

Anni has now reappeared. “I changed her and she dropped right back off to sleep in her crib,” she says and then notes the tension. Her eyes swing back and forth between us. “What did I miss?”

“A conspiracy,” I say. “I’m too dim-witted to understand where Monte went so I’m just supposed to wait here and stare at the wall for my own good.”

Anni crosses her arms and straightens her spine. Her eyes harden with stubbornness. I’ve seen my sister’s angry face before. Someone is about to receive a piece of her mind.

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