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He laughed. “You’re offering to do my laundry?”
“Yes.”
Dominic hesitated but let go of the hamper so Haven could pull it to the laundry room. He followed, pausing in the doorway. “Look, Twinkle Toes, I don’t know who you are . . .”
She chimed in. “I’m Haven.”
“Haven. The point is I make it a habit to stay out of my father’s dealings. It gives me plausible deniability, which means I have no idea what’s going on with this”—he waved his hands all around them—“situation. The way I see it, since you’re staying here, it’s only right for me to be hospitable. So if I get you a sandwich, don’t feel like you have to make it up to me. It’s just a sandwich.”
She said nothing, but he was wrong. It wasn’t just a sandwich. It was more than that to her.
“And I appreciate the offer to help with my laundry. Thanks, Haven.”
He walked away as she whispered, “No, thank you.”
* * *
Dinner was ready again at a quarter to seven, and Haven kept it warm as she folded Dominic’s clothes. The front door opened while she was in the laundry room, and she stepped out to greet Dr. DeMarco.
Was she supposed to? She wasn’t sure.
“Smells terrific in here,” he said.
“Thank you, sir. The food’s ready.”
“Great. Carmine should be home from football practice in a few minutes.”
Her pulse quickened at the mention of Carmine. She hadn’t seen him since their awkward encounter in the library, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to see him so soon again.
She set the table, placing the food in the center for them to serve themselves, before grabbing Dominic’s hamper and heading upstairs. She made it to the second floor when the front door swung open, Carmine’s voice hitting her instantly. “Cazzo, what smells so good?”
She smiled to herself and resumed walking, placing Dominic’s clothes outside his bedroom door before shutting herself away to hide.
* * *
The next evening, Dr. DeMarco arrived home as Haven was looking for something to make for dinner. “I forgot to tell you. You have the night off.”
She closed the pantry door. “Okay.”
“It’s Friday, so the boys will be at the football game, and I’ll be gone this weekend on business.”
Confusion set in. He was leaving? “Are you sure you don’t want me to make you something before you go?”
“Positive.” He reached out, and she flinched, but it didn’t discourage him from grasping her shoulder. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
She followed him into the family room, where he picked up a cordless telephone. “I had a phone installed in case you need anything when I’m away. Speed dial number one goes directly to my cell phone. If I don’t answer and it’s an emergency, speed dial number two is Dominic.”
“Is Carmine number three?” The words flew from her mouth before she had enough sense to restrain them.
“Yes, but any trouble you encounter won’t be as bad as the trouble that follows my youngest. So if you need anything, call the first two.”
“Okay.” She stared at the phone. “How do I do that?”
Sighing, Dr. DeMarco gave some quick instructions on how to place a call. A flurry of thoughts hit her as she listened, but Dr. DeMarco cut them off. “I’ll know any time it’s used, so don’t get any bright ideas like calling 911.”
Her brow furrowed. “Who’s 911?”
He stared at her as if he thought she might be joking. “Let’s just say calling 911 is the last thing you want to do, child.”
