"We can do better," Enrico decided. "Let's find some nice pictures and switch these out."
Mitch was going to say that wasn't necessary, but he saw it made Sammy happy. And Mrs. Del Rio did say to shift things around if they wanted. As Sammy and Enrico went in search of pictures, Mitch went along so he could have another look at what needed to be done, take some more detailed notes and make a list of supplies.
As they were looking over the pictures on the walls, Mitch remembered what he had seen at the café. "I've been meaning to ask, why are there all those pictures of showgirls all over the café?"
"Grandma was a Vegas showgirl back in the day. Way back in the day. Way, way back in the day," Enrico said then he stopped in the doorway of the next room. "These are good ones."
They entered the small sitting room that looked out on a wall of green where the garden was overgrown. The decor was very feminine with rose wallpaper and rose botanical prints on the walls. Sammy liked it a lot, but she didn't want to take the pictures.
"They're nice here," she said.
Still empty-handed, they moved on to other parts of the house. Along the way, they found pictures Sammy liked. A print of a girl with a yellow hat sitting under an apple tree, a painting of a basket of wildflowers and one of a cat in a garden next to a watering can found a new home in Sammy's room. She was thrilled to see them go up on her wall.
"This is a nice room now," Mitch said. "Thanks, Enrico."
"Thank you, Enrico," Sammy echoed.
"You can call me Rico since we're buddies," Enrico told her. He didn't say it to Mitch though, but he tried not to take it personally. But then Enrico did turn to him and said. "As for you, you can call me whatever you want."
Enrico grinned at him and there was a wicked gleam in his eyes. Mitch would swear he was flirting with him. Once again Mitch felt that odd stirring inside. Did that mean that Enrico was gay? It didn't matter to Mitch if he was, but he did wonder why he had this strange feeling around him.
They did more cleaning in the bathrooms and then the kitchen. Then Mitch brought up Sammy's things from the car, and now she was arranging her toys in her own room. Standing in the doorway, Mitch watched her line up her teddy bears according to height while that quilted doll with hair made of yellow yarn sat in a place of honor on top of her pillow.
When Sammy noticed him there, Mitch smiled at her. "Good job, honey," he told her and went off to get his own room in order.
Though he was planning to just take care of it himself later, Enrico insisted on helping out with that too. Alone with him, Mitch felt strange having him in what was supposed to be his bedroom. He couldn't seem to shake it off.
Glancing at Enrico out of the corner of his eye, Mitch tried to figure it out, but it just didn't make sense. So what if he was alone with him in his bedroom? Why should it matter to him?
As Mitch was trying not to stare at him, Enrico got a text. "We have new marching orders. Grandma wants us over at her house for dinner," he said.
"Some people call that an invitation," Mitch pointed out while he made his bed with freshly washed sheets.
"Not when it comes from Grandma," Enrico said. "It's not like there's anything to eat here. Let Grandma feed you. Consider it a business dinner. Grandma will probably want to talk your ear off about what you'll be doing to this place."
"In that case, we accept. We have to give you a ride into town anyway, right?" Mitch said.
"No need. I'm staying at Grandma's for now," Enrico said. "I'm texting to let her know we're on the way."
"Do you work at your grandmother's café full time, or is it a summer job?" Mitch asked.
"Kind of a summer job," Enrico said. "Getting away from some family pressure while I figure out what I want to do with my life. I took an extended break from school this spring. I was on the wrong path, but I don't know what the right path is. For now I'm trying not to be a freeloader while I hang out at Grandma's place."
That didn't surprise Mitch. Though he worked hard when he had a task in front of him, Enrico seemed unfocused. But any time his gaze landed on Mitch, he seemed very intent, like a man who shouldn't be taken lightly. Mitch had no idea what that was about or why he kept noticing things about him.
Sammy was happy that they were visiting Mrs. Del Rio, and when they arrived at her house, she loved all the flowers in her garden.
"This is a nice place," Mitch said as they went up the path to the front porch.
"It was in grandma's family for a few generations. She probably needs some work done in here too."
Enrico let them in and called out, "We're here!"
The house was furnished with a lot of character and color, and Sammy found even more to love about it.
"Smells good in here," Mitch said.
"I bet she's in the kitchen," Enrico said and led the way through the house.
