Page 48 of A Game of Secrets

Just then Teddy notices me and frowns. "Who are you?" he asks, furrowing his brow.

I smile and look at Lucille, she looks nervous. "I'm a friend of your mommy's. My name's Cole. I hope it's OK that I came to collect you with her today."

Teddy looks from me to his mom, and she smiles at him. "That's okay, right baby boy?"

"Mommy, I'm not a baby boy anymore. Of course it's OK for you to have a friend, as long as he can be my friend too!" he tells her.

"I'd be honored to be your friend Teddy. But I do have a question for you and it's a big one. Which is your favorite dinosaur?"

He looks at me thinking hard about it but replies with a smile, "I think a Tyrannosaurus Rex because he's the biggest and meanest of them all! Roarrr!"

"That's just the answer I was hoping for, he's my favorite too." I pull out a small three inch dinosaur figure from my pocket, which happens to a Tyrannosaurus Rex. "So this here was mine when I was a little boy, I used to take him everywhere. Could you look after him for me?" I ask him.

Teddy's eyes light up. "Yes! I'll take good care of him! Is that OK Mommy?" he turns to Lucille.

She smiles at us both, her eyes glazing over. "Of course, Teddy. If that's what Cole wants."

I nod and Teddy squeals, "Thank you Cole! Can we go get ice cream?"

I look to Topolino because that sounds like a great idea to me.

“Well let's go for dinner and if you eat it you can have some ice cream after, ok?" Lucille tells him as we walk back to her car.

"Yes, I love ice-cream! Cole, are you coming too?" Teddy asks.

"Sure, if that's OK with your mommy?" I say looking hopefully at Lucille.

"Sure it is, do you have anywhere you'd recommend as you own a restaurant, you must know the best places to eat in this city," she asks.

"Well we could go to my restaurant. I'll message ahead and tell them to expect us and to get our food ordered. Any preferences?"

"PIZZA! Extra cheese and pepperoni please!" Teddy shouts as he is being buckled into his car seat.

"OK what about you, Topolino?" I ask, laughing at his boldness.

Lucille blushes, I'm not sure why but then says, "That's fine with me too."

I walk around and open the passenger door for her, she looks at me strangely. "I'll drive us there, that way you can chat with Teddy about his day." She pauses for a moment before she nods and gets in. I message Enzo and Benji to let them know to get a table ready and to prepare our food, also telling them to prepare a little surprise for Teddy before pulling off driving us to Salvatore Cucina.

As we arrive, Teddy is bouncing with excitement. "Wow this is yours? And you sure they have pizzas and ice cream here?" He exclaims, holding Lucille's hand tightly in one hand and his little dinosaur in the other.

I laugh, "Yes buddy, it's the best in town. We even have chocolate ice-cream and chocolate sauce but we don't call it ice-cream, we call it gelato."

Teddy looks at me like he’s trying the word out. "If it's chocolate I'll try it, it better be as good as ice cream, why do you call it gelato? That's a funny word."

"Well I'm Italian, so that's what ice cream is for me," I tell him.

He nods, "My friend Lesso is Italian too, we met him at the park."

I smirk, "Well I've got a little surprise for you when we get inside." I wink at Lucille and take her other hand, leading us through the doors.

Enzo greets us as we enter. "Boss, table’s this way."

He leads us to a corner booth. As we round the corner I notice Teddy's surprise is already sitting in the booth waiting for us. Teddy squeals, "Lesso! How are you here? This is the best day ever!"

Alesso looks at me and gets up to give me a hug. I may not be his father but we have a close bond, he helps me out in the kitchen sometimes after school when Linc has business to deal with that isn't child friendly.

"Hey Teddy, this is my Uncle, Cole. I was so excited when he told me we were going to have pizza with you and your mom!"

---