“I work at a bodega down the street. I run the cash register. It’s not glamorous, I know,” she hedged.
Dante’s cheeks turned red. “I didn’t mean—” He cursed softly and then tried again. “Does Angelo know you—” He halted again.
Kara had to think fast and come up with something halfway convincing. “There was a fire at my old place, a lot of smoke damage. I had to basically start over. My insurance was supposed to cover some of it, but they still haven’t paid out.” As far as lies went it wasn’t bad. “Angelo is unhappy about it but he?—”
“I can imagine he is,” Dante said. “Because I’m pissed, and I’m not engaged to you.” He added. “I probably sound like some privileged asshole, but you deserve more, Kara. You shouldn’t be living like this.”
“I don’t want to,” she replied, her tone curt. “Trust me, I don’t.” She didn’t want someone with money and a stable life lecturing her. He didn’t know half of the things she’d gone through just to stay alive.
He let out a frustrated little sigh. “And here I am, being the asshole. Honey, you’re moving into Angelo’s place tonight. Pack everything up that you want to take with you. If you want any of this furniture, we can come back for it later.”
“But Dante, I?—”
“Packeverything,” Dante said even more clearly. “Why Angelo would allow this I don’t know, but I won’t.”
Kara swallowed the lump in her throat and did as he said. She tried to ignore the guilt that prickled at the back of her mindbecause she was actively lying to Dante. He was a kind man. She had never known men like this could exist until Angelo had stepped between her and a knife.
Perhaps it was the fatigue she felt that made her comply so quickly. She felt like if she could trust anyone in the world right now, it would be Angelo or someone in his family.
After she’d packed everything, she met Dante at the door. He took her suitcase from her and stepped into the hallway.
Neither of them spoke on the drive back, and Kara’s stomach knotted anxiously as she wondered what he was going to tell Angelo and how Angelo would react. Angelo had no idea she lived like this, and he’d have to be on his game to keep his reaction of surprise hidden from his brother. She wished not for the thousandth time she had a cellphone so she could text Angelo. Even though there was a landline phone at the hospital in his room, Dante would overhear if she tried to call him. Instead, she discretely picked up her cellphone and texted Jared.
Kara: It’s Kara, I’m on Angelo’s phone. Dante saw my crappy apartment and made me pack up and move my stuff into Angelo’s house. Can you call him at the hospital and warn him about this? There’s a phone in his room, but I’m with Dante so I can’t call him right now.
Jared: I can do that. What does he need to know?
Kara: That I live in Englewood and my apartment is basically bare.
She watched the dots appear in the text thread for a few moments.
Jared: Okay. I’ll take care of it. Glad you’re not staying in Englewood anymore.
Kara: Thanks.
She tucked Angelo’s phone back in her coat pocket.
Dante parked his Bronco in front of a beautiful two-story brownstone. Kara’s heart began to pound. Of all the houseson the street, this one stood out, not because of any bright decorations on the outside, but the light coming from within.
This was Angelo’s home? She glimpsed a tall balsam fir tree glittering in the trio of bay windows that faced out onto the street. Holly boughs were draped along the fireplace, with big, shiny ornaments hanging from it. Everything she could see had a glowing warmth that called to her tired, cold heart. She quickly masked her awe because she was supposed to know what Angelo’s home looked like.
She followed Dante up to the front door, her feet crunching a fresh layer of snow. Dante carried her bags for her. Matteo met them at the door, taking the suitcases from Dante.
Dante groaned. “You don’t need to be lifting anything, dad.”
“Nonsense,” Matteo said, then winked at Kara over Dante’s shoulder. “Come in, it’s too cold out there.”
Once inside, the warmth of the holidays hit her all at once. The Christmas decorations were like something out of a Hallmark movie, from the handsome tree and garlands on the mantle, to the nutcrackers on the dining room table. Holiday songs piped through the expansive sound system, with Angelo’s mother and Alessia singing along while they worked in the kitchen. A good one… the kind that made her eyes burn with tears.
A boy sat by the Christmas tree, putting together an elaborate Lego set, while a younger girl bounced dramatically on slippered feet across the wood floor in a ballerina costume.
“Kara is here!” Matteo announced to the room. Kara’s face heated as everyone turned to her.
“Kara! Come here!” Alessia said. “Let me introduce you to the kids.” She left the kitchen to come over to Kara. The children dutifully presented themselves at their mother’s summoning.
“This is Nicholas.” Alessia gave the boy’s shoulder a motherly squeeze, then she motioned for the little girl to come over. “And this is Matilda, but everyone calls her Millie.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Kara said. She felt just as shy as the children did as they lifted their gazes to her, both were smiling.
