Page 31 of Bobby

“What about fairies?” Ivy asks just as Lily says, “I believe in fairies.”

“Then you should come with me and your mother to see the fairy garden.”

Both girls drop the markers they were using to color with Marco and run toward us, but Lily pauses halfway and turns back.

“Aren’t you coming, my giant?”

Marco looks up from his coloring book. “Seen it, kid. Besides, fairies fear giants. Don’t want them to go into hiding when you go and say hello for the first time.”

Lily turns back to us, and I guess it’s enough to appease her.

I raise an eyebrow at Marco, who gives me a one-shoulder shrug. This side of him is something new, and I’m not going to poke holes in his theories. But it also doesn’t mean I won’t tease him mercilessly about it later.

“This way.” I lead the charge as we go to the door and across the hall to the elevator. I select the top floor, and within seconds, the doors part and the girls all take a collective breath.

“Fairies,” Lily whispers as she makes her way out first, followed by her sister.

I guide Willow out as well with a steady hand on her lower back. I have half a mind to grab her hand, but I don’t know if that would upset the girls. And with everything else going on today, I don’t want to add any stress for them.

“This is otherworldly.” Willow looks around in awe, and I can’t help but agree.

There are more plants than in most garden centers on the top deck of the roof, with so many solar twinkle lights and paper lanterns lining paths that all lead to the center, where a comfortable seating area sits among the flowers.

“Mommy, come here, come here,” Lily shouts, and Willow rushes over as she sees what her daughter is pointing at: tiny houses set at the base of one tree. “Fairy houses, Mommy.”

“I see that, baby.”

“I’ve called them villages myself,” I tell them. “And this is just one of five.”

“Five.” Ivy’s eyes light up as she smiles so big at me and then grabs her sister. “Come on.” They run down the path, and with them out of sight, I take a chance.

I slide my hand over Willow’s and lead her to one of the outdoor couches. I hold her hand for a second more as we both sit, until she pulls it away. Not in a rush, more like a glide along my skin as she sets it in her lap with her other hand.

“Thank you for today.”

After we left, I insisted we get food. My mama always says that food fixes most things. So Da Nonna Leone was our first stop, and then we came here.

“It was nothing.” I shrug it off as I look out past the flowers to the city lights. The weather is a bit cold, but the garden blocks most of the wind with the way the planters are set up.

Her hand lands on my thigh, and my attention shifts from the city to her.

“It was everything.”

My phone chirps, and I move to pull it out. I don’t hide my screen, and I know she can see that it’s a text from Marco.

“The clothes have arrived.”

“Clothes?”

I slide my phone back into my pocket and then move my hand around the back of the couch to pull her close, just enough to lean into me. “Just something to sleep in tonight and wear tomorrow.”

I used the girls and her being tired as an excuse to buy things for her. In the morning, I’m sure she won’t be completely on board with how things are about to go. But as the fairy lights twinkle around us and the girls’ laughter floats on the wind, I settle in.

For the first time, I have Willow in my arms, and if she lets me get away with it, it won’t be the last time either.

I hear the front door shut, followed by Marco’s Italian leather shoes on the tiles.

“How did it go?”