Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
She glances at me again, and I nod, so she puts her tiny hand in his giant one. He gives it a gentle shake, then lets it go.
“You must be hungry.” He stands.
“We are,” I say.
“Well, I hope you like pancakes because there are about a hundred stacks in the kitchen.”
Emma’s eyes grow huge, and her mouth falls open. I smile. She’s so literal at her age.
“Come on, I’ll take you in and introduce you to Francesca and my mom. They’re the cooks, meaning they’re the most important people in this house, especially regarding things like cookies.” He winks at her, and although she doesn’t quite smile, she’s curious. He’s speaking almost exclusively to her, which is surprising to me. As surprising as his gentle tone, which he has used with me very rarely and mostly to get what he wants.
“Amadeo,” I say, touching his arm. “Hyacinth needs some clothes. I wonder if maybe Francesca would lend her something?”
He looks at her. “Of course. I’ll get it taken care of.”
We follow him into the kitchen, where Francesca and Amadeo’s mom turn to greet us from where they’re standing at the stove flipping pancakes. Although there aren’t a hundred stacks, there are quite a few.
Amadeo introduces Emma. His mom’s face beams with a smile and she hurries to the little girl, crouching to take her cheeks into her hands and caressing her hair before pulling her into a hug.
“Aren’t you the prettiest thing,” she says to her, and I’m surprised when Emma slips her hand from mine and pats the older woman’s back. “Oh, goodness,” Nora continues, drawing back a little and wiping a tear away. “I remember when Hannah was your age,” she says, smiling and straightening. “Would you like some pancakes, Emma?”
Emma nods, and Nora takes Emma’s hand to lead her to the table while I stand watching in amazement. Emma sets Rosie on the table and pulls an empty plate closer for her while Nora takes the seat to one side and starts to load Emma’s plate with pancakes.
“She can’t eat that much—”
Amadeo puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me from going forward to help. “It doesn’t matter.” He watches his mother with as much awe as I am watching Emma as she picks up her fork and puts a dripping bite of pancake into her mouth. Nora wipes her chin with a smile, and Emma pretend-feeds Rosie, then looks up at me and points at the chair beside hers.
I sit down as Amadeo arranges for Francesca to take Hyacinth and lend her some fresh clothes. He then makes coffee and joins us at the table, setting the mug in front of me.
“You’re a quiet little girl, aren’t you? Well, nothing wrong with that,” Nora carries on. “I hope you like the toys and books. And we have a swimming pool.”
“She can’t swim yet,” I say, getting Nora’s attention. She smiles at me, but her gaze is drawn right back to Emma. “Emma, you can’t go into the pool without me, okay? It’s a rule,” I say.
“Bastian loves to swim. He can teach her. His father taught him.” She says this last part more to herself.
“I have to take care of some business. I thought you’d just like to explore the house with Emma,” Amadeo says.
“Where’s your brother?” Bastian unsettles me. Seeing him carry Emma in so gently last night was at odds with the man I’m trying to create in my mind, so until I figure out how to handle him, my plan is simple. Avoid him.
“He hasn’t come downstairs yet. We’ll talk this afternoon once Emma’s settled.”
I nod as he stands. “Thank you.”
“Swim, maybe. It’s going to be hot, and she’ll like that, I think. Do you like to swim, Emma?”
She looks up at him, her face not as relaxed as with Nora, but not like it used to be around dad the few times he was around her after the accident. I wondered if it was too hard for him to see her, to see the scar on her face and be reminded of what happened, what he lost.
Emma surprises me again when she nods, communicating with him.
“Good.” He shifts his attention to me for a moment, then he’s gone. I’m baffled. I’m not sure what I expected to happen today, but this isn’t quite it. This is much better.
After breakfast, Emma spends time exploring the toys and books in her room. Nora joins us for a while, and late morning, we put on our swimsuits and head to the pool.
The pretty, oval-shaped pool at this house is bigger than the one in Naples. I have a feeling the inflatable toys bobbing in one corner were bought just for Emma, and I appreciate how much Amadeo has done but am also surprised by it. I don’t trust it.