by Holly Rayner
“What is that?” David asked through his giggles.
Matteo grinned. “It means grapefruit, in French.”
“Oh, you speak French in Golina?” Ashley asked.
“It’s not the national language, no. Ours is closer to Italian,” Matteo said.
“I can speak Spanish. Do you want to hear it?” David asked.
Matteo nodded. “Of course I do,” he said, glad that the boy was already developing some language skills.
“Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis…” David recited, continuing up to ten. When he stopped, Ashley jumped in.
“Great work, pal!” she praised.
David beamed up at her and nestled against her side. It was clear that the mother-and-son bond was strong, and Matteo was glad to see his son so happy and well cared for. Even knowing Ashley for such a short time, he would have picked her above anyone else to be in charge of his child’s welfare. She was a good mother, loving and kind.
“This is us,” she said, walking up the driveway of a stout little house. It was painted light brown, the door the color of cream. She opened the door and stepped inside, slipping out of her shoes as David kicked his off and ran out of sight.
Matteo glanced around at the humble little cottage. The floors were wooden, the furniture clean. Everything was cream-colored or earth-toned, which lent a very cozy feeling to the space, which was also littered with various toys, piled up in baskets and bins.
“Sorry for the mess,” Ashley said, though it didn’t appear to be particularly messy. “We like to play superheroes a lot.”
“Your home is lovely,” Matteo said.
She gazed up at him then, and there was that heat between them, appearing out of the blue. Matteo couldn’t explain it, but he was able to simply stare into her eyes and be content to do nothing else. David rushed back into the room and reached for Matteo’s hand.
“Will you come play with me?” he asked. “Mom can’t because she has to cook dinner, so I always have to play by myself.”
“I would be happy to,” Matteo said. Ashley cast him a grateful glance, and he nodded at her with a smile.
“Dinner should take about thirty minutes, but David, if Matteo would like to escape from your room, you make sure you’re a fair and just guard, okay?”
“Okay, okay! Come on, Matteo!” David said.
David tugged on Matteo’s hand, and he allowed himself to be led down a short hallway to what appeared to be one of two bedrooms in the home. The boy’s room was filled with toys and books of all kinds, and David pulled out a bucket of blocks and set them in the middle of the room.
“Let’s build a castle,” he said.
“Let’s,” Matteo agreed. He joined his son in the piling of blocks, watching the boy intently as the child got lost in his own little game.
Two whole years of searching, knowing that there was a child out there that was his. Matteo’s mind had been occupied with matters of state during that time, of course, but this was what burned through his thoughts every night. He wondered and imagined and considered and daydreamed for years, never knowing whether Gabriele would truly be able to find the boy.
Now, here he was, sitting in the same room with the oblivious child. Every time David looked up at him with those eyes, he froze. It was like looking into his own soul, a little version of himself he had created. He cursed himself for getting into such a position. If he had been a better man, he would know the child’s mother. He would have known her predicament and been there to help.
David wouldn’t look at him as a stranger.
“Are you okay?” David asked.
Matteo realized then that his eyes were burning with unshed tears. He wiped his face and chuckled.
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry, David. I got distracted.”
“I get distracted a lot too,” David said, placing his hand on Matteo’s. The boy was as kind and compassionate as his adoptive mother, and Matteo’s heart nearly broke for so many reasons.
“Maybe you’re just tired. Is Golina really far away from here? My mom told me once that people sleep during our day in other countries because time is different there.”
“Yes, she’s right. There is a time difference. Perhaps I simply am tired,” Matteo said.
David nodded, accepting that answer without further question. “You can take a nap in my castle,” he suggested.
“Dinner’s ready!” Ashley called from down the hall.
“Oh,” David said. “Never mind. Let’s eat.”
“Sounds good,” Matteo said, pulling himself together as he watched his son run out of the room.
Chapter 7
Ashley
Ashley set the table for three. She placed a spoon next to a bowl as the sound of David’s running feet grew closer.
She grinned. David didn’t seem to have a slower speed when he traveled between places. It was run or nothing. Behind him Matteo’s progress was slower, but his presence was undeniable. She could feel his gaze on her before she looked up and caught his warm glance.
“Did you boys have a nice time?” she asked.
David leapt into his seat, all energy.
“Yeah! I showed Matteo my blocks and my room, and we built a castle for him to sleep in!”
Ashely stepped into the kitchen and brought back a beef stew, setting it in the center of the table next to a bowl of backup macaroni and cheese. David reached out to fill his bowl, but Ashley held out a hand to stop him.
“Ah, ah ah. Did you wash your hands?”
Shamefaced, David shook his head.
“You know the rules. You don’t want to get sick, do you?”
“No,” he mumbled. “But Matteo didn’t wash his hands either!”
Matteo was good-natured enough to appear guilty as he nodded.
“It’s true,” he said, in that delicious accent of his. “I should also clean up before we eat.”
“I can show you the way. Come on!” David said.
And in a blink, he was gone. Matteo glanced back at Ashley, and her whole body tingled.
What was her deal?
“He really likes to run places, doesn’t he?” Matteo asked, amusement lighting his eyes.
Ashley’s heart warmed. She rarely introduced people to David. She had no idea what possessed her to invite Matteo over in the first place, but she was glad for it. She’d never seen anyone take to her son so quickly, and she knew he could be a lot. That amount of energy made most people want to take a nap.
“He certainly does, but at least we’re never late,” Ashley said.
Matteo chuckled. It was a deep, comforting sound that washed over her as she watched him depart the table for the hallway bathroom. She could hear their conversation from the table.
“This is the soap. Its cherry-flavored, but that doesn’t mean you can eat it,” David said, his tone serious.
“Ah, yes. I could see how that would be confusing,” Matteo replied.
The sound of the running water stopped, and in another flash, David was back at the table, Matteo close behind. They all sat, and Ashley gestured to the food.
“This is a simple beef stew. It’s kind of like beef bourguignon, but not quite as fancy. Goes great with mac ’n’ cheese,” she said, winking at David.
“We have mac ’n’ cheese available just in case, because sometimes I’m picky,” David informed him.
“It all smells delicious,” Matteo said.
David reached for the serving spoon again, and Ashley stopped him.
“David, remember your manners. Guests are served first,” Ashley said.
David glanced at Matteo, who reached for the spoon and scooped a healthy helping of the stew, which he then placed in David’s bowl.
“Here you are, my friend. Would you like some noodles on the side?” Matteo asked.
David nodded.
“A lot of them. Noodles are my favorite.”
Matteo nodded.
“In my country they are very popular as well. M
any children are taught to make pasta from a young age.”
“Do you know how to make pasta?” David asked.
Matteo’s expression was difficult to read. He appeared amused, as though it was funny that he would know such a skill. But hadn’t he just said most kids in his country learned the skill?
“You know, I don’t. Perhaps it is something I should learn.”
“It wasn’t something just girls did, I hope?” Ashley asked.
Matteo shook his head.
“Oh, no. Cooking is enjoyed by everyone where I live. The art of dining is deeply celebrated and important to us.”
They ate in silence for a moment, and Ashley was surprised at how natural it felt. She’d always had a hard time with silence in the past—it felt uncomfortable, loaded with unspoken words. With Matteo, it felt peaceful, like a regular family dinner.
“I make art with macaroni. Is that the same thing?” David asked.
Ashley and Matteo laughed, and, unsure why that was funny, David joined in the laughter. That made the three of them laugh even harder, and Ashley wiped a tear of mirth from her eye as she took the last bite of her food.
“I love you,” Ashley said, placing a hand on David’s and gazing at him with all the love in her heart.
When she glanced over at Matteo, his green eyes were warm and filled with emotion. There was something going on behind the scenes that he hadn’t shared with her, clearly, but Ashley knew he was there because of something having to do with his own father. Perhaps seeing a parent and child interact was bringing up fond memories for him. Ashley hoped so, anyway. She hadn’t known Matteo long, but any man that could get into her son’s good graces that fast deserved all the happiness in the world.
David tilted his empty bowl toward her with wide eyes.
“Did I eat enough to get dessert?” he asked.
Ashley sat back in her chair and considered.
“Hmm, it appears so. But,” she said as he whooped with glee, “We need to take a look at your responsibility chart first.”
“Okay,” David said. He glanced up at Matteo with a face that said, can you believe this lady? Matteo shrugged and sat back as Ashley and David walked up to her magnetized chart.
“Now, did you share today?” she asked.
David nodded.
“I did. Maddy wanted to play basketball with us on the playground, and I made sure she got a turn.”
“Good,” Ashley said, her heart swelling. Parenting took so much effort, but when the results showed, it was the greatest reward she could imagine.
“And how about these? Did you put your laundry in the hamper, and not just on the floor? Did you say your pleases and thank-yous? Did you listen to your teacher?”
David nodded and gave examples of all the good things he had done that day. Together, they placed a star on each category, and Ashley stood back and nodded.
“Well, it looks like you did everything you needed to in order to earn dessert. And your tummy is full?”
“Yes!” David said, bouncing on his toes with excitement.
Ashley laughed as she opened the freezer and pulled out a tub of ice cream. She poked her head out from the open kitchen doorway to address Matteo.
“Matteo, would you like some ice cream?”
He nodded.
“Why not? I’ll have David’s favorite,” he said.
“Yay! Matteo, you won’t regret it. I know how to make the perfect sundae,” David said.
“And by that, he means I know how to make the perfect ice cream sundae. David’s just good at giving directions,” Ashley said.
Matteo laughed.
Ashley put together three bowls with vanilla ice cream, warm chocolate fudge, whipped cream and three maraschino cherries on top. She handed two bowls to David, who brought one over to Matteo.
“You’re going to love this, Matteo, I promise,” David said, before promptly gobbling down his own dessert.
Matteo and Ashley ate theirs a little more slowly, with David running around to her side of the table to try and negotiate bites of her ice cream.
“What’s four plus two?” she asked David, her spoon held above his head where he couldn’t reach.
He pondered that for a moment.
“Six!” he said.
“Very good,” she said, lowering the spoon for him to take a bite. By the time her bowl was finished, David tried and failed to hide a big yawn.
“I saw that,” Ashley said. “Why don’t you say good night to our guest and go start brushing your teeth, please.”
David nodded, for once not protesting bedtime. He walked over to Matteo and held his hand out, which Matteo shook without hesitation.
“Thank you for joining us, Matteo. Good night.”
“Good night, David. You’re an exceptional host.”
“What’s ex-cep-tion-al mean?” David asked.
“It means good,” Matteo clarified.
“Oh. Thanks!” he said. And in true David fashion, he was off in a flash down the hall.
Ashley started to pick up a few dishes when she felt a hand on hers. When she looked up, Matteo was right beside her, and her entire body reacted to him. It took everything in her not to scoot a little closer.
“I can clean this up,” he said.
“No, really. I…”
Matteo squeezed her hand, gently.
“Please. It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me today.”
She gazed up at him for a moment. A man willing to clean up after a meal? Did she just win the lottery or something?
“All right, but I’ll be right back to come help,” she said.
He released her hand then and took the dishes from her before heading into the kitchen. Ashley realized that she was watching him and scurried down the hall after her son.
By the time she reached his room, David had already brushed his teeth and changed into his pajamas.
“Wow, that must be some kind of world record,” she said.
David jumped into his bed, and Ashley pulled up his comforter until he was perfectly snuggled in.
“Hey, thanks for being such a great host tonight,” Ashley said. David stared up at her with his perfect green eyes, and she brushed a strand of hair from his forehead.
“I like Matteo. We should go visit his country someday,” David said.
“Someday, that would be nice,” Ashley replied. “Now get some good sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning. Good night, little love.”
“Good night, Mom,” he said.
It never failed to give her butterflies, being called “Mom.” She kissed his little head and turned off the lights before closing the door behind her. When she reached the kitchen, she found Matteo drying the very last dish. Everything else was clean.
“Holy smokes. Do you offer cleaning services, because if so you’re hired,” Ashley said.
Matteo turned to face her, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a towel draped across one broad shoulder. He grinned at her, and her heart rate took a giant leap upward.
“That depends on the price,” he said.
Was she making it up, or was his tone clearly suggestive? She decided to take a risk and see.
“How about an after-dinner drink?” she asked.
He nodded.
“A drink sounds perfect,” he said.
Ashley reached up to grab a bottle of wine from the rack. When it was clear that even on her toes it was a harrowing task, Matteo plucked the bottle her fingertips were grazing and handed it to her.
“Thanks,” she said.
She pulled the cork from the bottle and poured crimson liquid into two wine glasses before handing one to Matteo. Their fingertips brushed, as they had several times already, and Ashley fought back the urge to simply reach for his hand and see where the feelings took them.
Too soon, the voice of reason chided from the back of her head.
“Shall we sit?” he asked.
Ashley nodded, and together th
ey entered her small living room, taking a seat on the sofa. After walking dogs and cooking dinner and getting David to bed, Ashley’s whole body relaxed as she sank into the sofa and took a sip.
“This is my favorite time of day,” she said with a sigh.
“I bet. You do quite a lot,” Matteo said.
She shrugged.
“No more than anyone else,” she said.
“Oh, I disagree. It takes quite a bit of work to be a parent, and you are clearly a very good mother. David is absolutely a joy to be around.”
“He is,” she said, brushing off the compliment.
“And you are,” Matteo said, insisting that she accept it.
Ashley laughed, and they sat once more in comfortable silence. Matteo cleared his throat.
“If you don’t mind my asking, where is the boy’s father?”
It was a common question, and one that usually had prepared answers. Ashley didn’t feel like feeding Matteo her usual lines. For some reason, she wanted him to know the truth.
“He’s adopted,” she said, gauging his reaction. His expression was carefully blank, but open. She continued.
“It’s kind of a story, really. When I was twelve my parents got divorced, and it was nasty. I’ve never seen two people hate each other so much. The rest of my childhood, I was used as a tool for them to hurt each other. It was awful,” she said.
She took another sip of wine and continued.
“I knew then that I wanted a family of my own, where I could experience the love and care I really hadn’t received. Having a child was something I wanted more than anything, but…” she said, hesitating. She stared down into the murky depths in her glass.
“But none of the men I found in my life really felt the same. I got into some pretty bad relationships—they seemed normal to me, given my parental examples—and finally I realized that if I wanted a family, I would have to make one on my own. I applied for adoption at twenty-three and was lucky enough that David came to me a year later. We’ve been a dynamic duo ever since.” She braved a look up at Matteo and found him gazing down at her with deep sympathy in his eyes.
“I’m so sorry you had to endure that,” he said. “No child should be used as a weapon for revenge.”