Page 60 of Harbor

But Micheal was right.

They had a whole view from the back of the roof overlooking San Francisco’s bay. With the morning light just beginning to melt into the afternoon, it was quite a sight. The sky, a bright blue with very little clouds overhead, warmed her skin as she pressed her hands against the railings and breathed in salt and air.

All the while, Diego pointed out everything he could see. She was more than happy to listen to him chatter on because for the moment, everything felt okay. Like they didn’t have to pack up and go all of the sudden. They were just fine.

Lucia wasn’t sure how long she stayed up there on the roof with Diego. Long enough to indulge the boy’s every question and his constant curiosity, anyway. Before she realized it, Renzo was slipping through the doors, and taking a seat beside her at the table. For a long while, he said nothing as he stared out over the bay like she had done when she first come out, too.

“Who is Micheal?” she asked, breaking the silence first.

Renzo sucked in a deep breath, and glanced her way. “My mother’s brother. My uncle.”

Oh.

That explained a lot.

Lucia didn’t know what she wanted to say, so instead, she simply stayed quiet. Renzo didn’t mind, as he seemed like he was the one who wanted to talk, anyway. That was just fine with Lucia. Better for him to get out whatever was on his mind. She figured since she had slept through most of the drive here, he probably had quite a bit going on in his head that he needed to get out.

“I haven’t seen him in a few years—he moved here when I was young. Came back to New York to visit once, before Diego was ever born … Carmen was bad off, then. He never could stand her, and I think he felt bad for me and Rose, but he didn’t know what to do. He stayed far away from Carmen’s mess. She only causes problems.”

Yeah, they’d learned that, hadn’t they?

“He’s not married, is he?”

“Nope. Never had any kids. He’s a musician. Works here in the music district at a bar playing shows five nights week.” Renzo shifted on the chair, and reached out to cup Lucia’s cheek. She gave him a smile when his thumb stroked her cheekbone in that way she loved. Like he just wanted to feel her—he needed it. “And after his show is done, he tends the bar, cleans up, and whatever else. He’s kind of made himself comfortable here, and he’s never looked back.”

“I guess us showing up probably put him off balance, then.”

Renzo shrugged. “I didn’t know where else to go, Lucia. He’s the only family I have.”

Something painful cut into her heart. Like a fist coming to clench tight, and squeeze the organ right in half.

He had no family, really. No one to fall back on. No one who would catch him when he stumbled, and needed help to get back up again. And she … well, she had a whole family who had always done exactly that for her. How had she repaid them for that love and support all these years?

By leaving.

Yet, as quickly as those thoughts came, they were replaced by a glaring truth. She was Renzo’s family, too. She was all he had … her, Diego, and Rose.

She couldn’t leave him, either.

She didn’t want to.

They’d have to pull her away screaming and fighting the whole way.

It was as simple as that.

His thumb stroked her cheek again, and while his brother tried to climb up on his lap, Renzo leaned in closer to Lucia. He pulled Diego onto his knee with one hand, and kissed Lucia all the while.

“We’ll figure it out,” Renzo murmured against her lips.

He couldn’t read her mind.

Sometimes, it felt like he could.

• • •

The bungalow wasn’t very big. Three bedrooms, one of which was an office-slash-music space, a single bathroom, kitchen, living room, and not much else. The backyard wasn’t very big, but the tall fence gave the place a sense of privacy. And yet, the home was comfortable, and it felt welcoming.

That was what Lucia liked about it the most.