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If only she’d relax fully around hi to Napoli for lunch with my family, and I’d like to introduce you and Aimee to them Will you come with me?’
Her eyes widened ‘Yes, of course’
‘They don’t know anything about this situation yet’
‘Oh, ot to deal with that sooner rather than later’
‘You’re right I just haven’t been able to find the right moment so far’ He wanted to snatch Elene to hiive in to the teain, until she looked pleased to behis family, till she stepped up beside him so they were united in whatever happened tomorrow But he couldn’t show uncertainty to this wo It was all he had While he believed his parents would accept Ai in the back of his mind was a leftover froht disrepute on his faain would not be happening on his watch ‘I’ll phone them now’
‘I’ll wash my dress’
As in the dress she’d worn to dinner last night? Was that the only dress she’d brought? A woman who enjoyed fashion had one outfit to wear somewhere special? Come to think of it, she’d worn the same two sets of shorts and blouses every day, one set on the washing line, one covering herbody
He’d re such an oaf, of saying thanks for all she was doing for his daughter, and for hi Aimee to him There was no doubt how much she loved Aimee so she had to be worried sick about the outco around the ears He’d only been thinking about as happening to hiet her to fit in with his life
‘Say goodnight to Papà’ Elene held Aimee out to him
Taking his girl into his arms, he stared down at her and wondered how he’d believed his life was perfect before He’d been so far off the aze shifted to Elene She was a part of this new picture Now that they were in Italy, not Wellington, and he wasn’t having a fling with anyone, it was al Elene wouldspecial Instead he kissed Ai her back to her ht, little one’ Then to Elene, he said, ‘After I’ve talked to my father I’ll cook dinner’
‘I’ry,’ she called over her shoulder as she disappeared into her bedroom
‘We’ll see about that’ Carbonara was a favourite of hers, and he was a dab hand at putting it together He picked up the phone slowly, staring around the casual lounge room Baby shoes lay in the let in a crumpled mess on the couch The scent of suiovese He’d never taste that particular wine again without being reles and adult chuckles, and inside he melted a little bit more
His house had never felt so—so enjoyable A fae house that echoed when he made a sound He’d spent randparents and parents and brothers, as a child and an adult, enjoying laughter and in-depth conversations about anything and everything Since returning from his year in New Zealand he’d lived here on his own, and not once had he felt alone, yet noith Elene and Aimee here, he understood he’d been lonely There were a lot of wonderful memories in each of the rooe friends Even an occasional girlfriend came into that collection, but over the last few days a sense ofup,him look beyond the co hi
Down the hall Ai him out of his stupor He had a phone call to hter He’d still have toon, but—Dropping the phone back on the table, he headed for the bedroom which nowadays looked like a nursery and not a sterile area waiting to beall the surfaces ‘Hey, little one Got another goodnight kiss for Papà?’
‘Your phone call was over quick’ Elene lifted Ai up the all-in-one pyjamas covered in teddy bears
‘I haven’t nored the surprise on Elene’s face The se shed ‘It’s bedtiirl’
‘I think you’re waking her up, not quietening her for sleep’ Elene didn’t sound hassled, just accepting
More accepting of hiood for whatever came next ‘I’ll tuck her in shortly’ When he’d had his fill ‘She’s cute, isn’t she?’ He heard the pride in his own voice He was in big trouble Or on notice that he had to resolve all the difficulties between him and Elene so he didn’t rin faded Elene He wanted lots of ti out that coe-tipped toes
Thuht him a blow on the chin
‘Hey, minx, careful’ Mattia blew bubbles on Aihed and then he placed her in the sleeping sack and kissed her forehead ‘See you in the ’
Elene appeared on the other side of the cot and leaned over to do the saeous Love you’