Page 7 (1/2)
She nodded "Yes, sir"
"If you want to stay safe, stay out of the liht," he said "Mind your own business, lay low, and never associate with the police If a cop ever tries to question you, ask for your lawyer and call me I don’t care what it’s about And never invite one inside your home Never"
The color drained froh her as she iht of Officer Baranski "I, uhI didn’t know"
"Didn’t knohat?"
"An officer came by to ask about Nicholas I didn’t knoasn’t supposed to talk to hio away"
Corrado stared at her "Vincent told you to talk to the police?"
She nodded hesitantly "He invited him inside"
Corrado’s htened it back out "When was this?"
"Two days ago," she said "You were upstairs It was right after you arrived"
Silence per, terrified of what his reaction would be He just stared straight ahead, un she ht have wondered if he were even still alive
"You didn’t know any better," he said finally "No one explained it to you, but now you know"
"Yes, sir"
Corrado stood and without a word started to walk away He made it as far as the doorway before his footsteps faltered He lingered there for aproudly She had clearly been eavesdropping
"Stay out of it," he warned her again "I don’t want youany passed in a blur Car everyone as if he aiting for so there at hory glares and hear heated whispered conversations when she was out of earshot Confused, she asked a few ti on, but he merely smiled and told her not to worry
Don’t worry She had heard it soto worry her
They watched holiday ot some books and art supplies, clothes, and a new pair of pink-and-white Nike’s The festivities were quiet, alered in the roo the air they all had to share She wouldn’t call it uilt hts
They sat down at the dining roo out the chair beside him for Haven as Celia and Corrado took seats across from therabbed Haven’s right hand as Corrado reached across the table, holding his out to her She blanched as she stared at it, studying his extended hand Other than a long jagged scar diagonally on his paled by the natural creases and lines, it appeared unscathed His nails were freshly le cut or callus She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it surprised her--his hands appeared awfully clean for ait carefully, so not to cause a scene, Haven bowed her head
"Lord, thank you for the blessings on the table today, and for all the people gathered around it," Dr DeMarco said "We ask that you help us to remain mindful of the needs of others and continue to bless us with love and forgiveness, happiness and peace, andus find the freedom they deserve In Jesus’s nao and raising their heads Haven glanced at Dr DeMarco curiously, surprised by his words, and he smiled softly when they li auardi iddio," Corrado muttered under his breath as he picked up his fork
Carhed dryly "A but Haven merely pushed the food around on her plate as a tense silence once again overcalances at one another while avoiding her gaze It was as if they all shared a coeted nervously as she listened to the forks clanking against plates, her appetite dissipating as her stomach churned from anxiety
Haven was so unco the room Before she could act, Do off the barren walls "It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years"
Car Do to theirfor the ie
Dr DeMarco’s head dropped, his eyes drifting closed as he set his fork down "Seems like just yesterday we lost her"
"We didn’t lose her," Car his words "That ent It’s not our fault that shit happened She was taken froht," Dr DeMarco conceded "She was unfairly taken frohter after he said those words, as if that one siht fro as they shared stories of the past They spoke about Maura, and instead of cla up, Dr DeMarco chose to chi "She’d get the boys dozens of presents, so "
"I remember that," Dominic said "She spoiled the shit out of Carreen bean with his fork and flung it down the table at his brother "You were just as fucking spoiled"
"You were," Dr DeMarco confirot, and not just on Christot that bike I wanted," Dooose with that wicked horn on it and the wooden basket I begged and begged for it"
Dr DeMarco sighed "You got it"
"No, I didn’t"