Dawn couldn’t help smiling back. How could she not? Surrounded by three kind men. Apparently, all first responders.
A delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen, and a few moments later, Gabriella walked in with a tray. Setting it on the table, she lifted a steaming soup bowl and placed it in front of Dawn, along with a side plate with a thick slice of Italian bread drizzled with olive oil. Dawn inhaled appreciatively, closing her eyes.
“This looks and smells like heaven,” she breathed.
“Thank you. Pardon my asking, but have you eaten recently?”
“Ma!” Luca warned.
Gabriella shrugged. “She’s just so skinny.”
“I have a very fast metabolism. Some people can’t lose weight. I can’t gain it.”
“I wish I had that problem,” Gabriella said.
Personally, Dawn thought she had a lovely figure. Maybe she just struggled to keep it that way.
Antonio chuckled. “She’s always complaining about a few extra pounds.”
Gabriella whapped Antonio’s arm with the back of her hand, and he laughed. “Now, dig in, Dawn,” she said. “The soup will make you feel much better.”
Dawn blushed, glancing around. “I’m the only one eating?”
“Don’t worry about us,” Antonio piped up. “We’ll eat later, but you need to get your strength back.”
“It’s okay, Dawn.” Luca placed his hand over hers, which only made her blush even more. “Mom’s soup cures everything.”
Dawn lifted the heavy, silver spoon and scooped up a spoonful of broth and meatballs mixed with spinach and some kind of small pasta. She tasted it and sighed in pleasure. She dipped her spoon again and made an appreciative mmm sound. “This is so good, Mrs. Fierro.”
“I’m glad you like it, Dawn, and please call me Gabriella.”
“Thank you, Gabriella.”
The older woman beamed and sat on the arm of her husband’s chair. His arm automatically snuck around her waist, holding her close. Dawn swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. It sure would be nice to have that kind of easy loving relationship. Her glance strayed to Luca, who was smiling encouragingly at her.
“Eat up,” he said, gesturing to the bowl.
Dawn tasted another spoonful of the delicious soup. She was feeling almost herself again, thanks to these good people. She wondered if maybe her involvement with Karma Cleaners was already starting to pay off. She’d never had anyone do anything nice for her except her grandmother, and Annette was family.
“Is this the first time you’ve had a fainting spell, dear?” Gabriella asked.
“No, I’ve had them before.” Dawn felt her face flush again. She didn’t want to seem like a weakling. That was far from the truth. She hadn’t had a fainting spell in a while, but since she’d met Luca, she’d had two—correction, three. She’d had a quick addendum to the vision with Luca. He lay on the ground in front of thick black bars…like a prison. She’d have to figure this out. She couldn’t keep fainting every time she had a vision.
“So what do you do for a living, Dawn?” Gabe asked just as Dawn filled her mouth with a big bite of bread.
“She works for ScholarTech, at the Pru,” Luca jumped in. “She’s really smart.”
He really thinks I’m smart? She suddenly felt like she was floating on a cloud. “I just run the help desk,” Dawn replied.
“I’ve heard of them,” Gabe said. “They do software for students, right?”
“Yes, to help with their studying and term papers. SAT prep. All kinds of career testing. It’s really cool and very useful.”
“Well, that is a wonderful thing you do…helping students,” Gabriella said with a nod.
“So is Dawn the one helping you with a case?” asked Antonio.
“I was just asking her a few questions, Dad.”
