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Wendy chirped. “Oh, that’s just great, then! My chest was feeling a little heavy, so you can take that back to the fridge so I can use it later.”
Alessandra still had a confused expression as she watched Wendy walk forward to pick up her son, but she complied, getting up and heading for the kitchen. When she disappeared around the wall, I turned to my cousin.
“What are you planning?” I demanded in a low voice. “The way you called me here, I was anxious, so why isn’t there a fire burning or something?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “I don’t know what happened between you two, but you and Alessandra better make up, quickly.”
I frowned. “How do you…”
“I don’t need either of you to tell me, all I had to do was mention your name and watch her face. I suggest, dear cousin, if you don’t want to lose the love of your life a second time, you better come out and do something about it. I’m giving you a chance here, so you better be grateful.”
I wanted to argue, but I could only bite my tongue. It was true that something had come between us in the past week. Before that, we were messaging regularly and meeting three or more times a week. So, of course, I noticed that Alessandra was acting a bit withdrawn, but when I messaged her, she still replied, she was just busy. It was hard to tell whether she was actually working or just trying to avoid me.
Alessandra took so long to come back; I wondered what was going on. So I was shocked when she walked back into the room carrying another baby, rolling a baby walker behind her.
“Why was Trent in the kitchen?” Wendy asked, head tilted. “You might as well keep them together so they can get to know each other.”
Alessandra looked up quickly, and I didn’t miss how her eyes jumped to me before she looked away quickly. She fidgeted, looking a little guilty.
She’s still not good at keeping what she’s thinking or feeling from her face, I noted. Or rather, she wasn’t even trying. I wondered what she and Wendy talked about.
“I didn’t have them in different rooms, he was curious about the house and rolled into the kitchen while I was busy. Don’t worry; he didn’t touch anything.”
Wendy just laughed. “I wouldn’t mind if anything got dirty, as long as he wasn’t hurt, so don’t worry about it.”
My eyes dropped to Danny in her arms. He had his face laying on her shoulder so that I couldn’t see all of him. He was about the same size as my little cousin and had almost the same shade light blonde hair. I was willing to bet he had matching blue eyes, though I could also imagine him with eyes like Alessandra’s.
Wendy hummed. “I just bought the perfect thing, and I was so excited over it, I had to come back early. I have a spare baby car seat, and I found a double stroller and bought it. It’s waiting for me in the car. Why don’t I take the babies out for a walk? I always wanted to try a double stroller. Everyone will think I have twins or something.”
She grinned to herself, looking genuinely excited at the prospect. I already knew about her fascination with twins, so it like
ly wasn’t a lie.
“Come on, Alessandra,” she said with a wave. “I’ll get the other seat, let’s get both of them in the car.”
The said baby seat was in a different corner of the living room, and Wendy went to pick it up. Alessandra followed, and I brought up the rear as we went to the car.
Wendy threw me a look, and I went forward without her saying a thing. I helped set up the second chair, and she set Danny inside. Then she went back to Alessandra and held her hands out for Trent.
My whole body froze. I wanted to stop her, because how dare she gets to hold my son before even I did? But I didn’t want to give myself away. Alessandra was also hesitant, her eyes moving to me before they met Wendy’s gaze.
“You don’t have to,” she said. “I don’t want to bother you, or anything…”
Wendy waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense, how is it bothering me? I won't be going anywhere dangerous; I’ll be at the park. And if you’re so worried, you don’t have to be. My husband will be meeting me there so that the children will be more than safe. It’ll only be an hour, and you can watch the house for me at that time, right?”
Alessandra bit her lip in indecision.
I was still frowning at Wendy, wondering what she thought this would accomplish. I knew Alessandra, and I needed to have a real talk. I had known it from the moment I found out she gave birth to my son. I didn’t have any hard proof of it, but I felt it. But doing it this way was endangering everything.
Already, I could tell Alessandra looked cornered. She didn’t seem uncomfortable with the thought of being left alone with me. Wendy involving herself might make Alessandra less inclined to trust her later, so she was risking their friendship as well.
Then, Alessandra’s expression grew firm.
“I’m going, too,” she declared.
I narrowed my eyes. Wendy threw me a look, but I didn’t see it because my eyes were on Alessandra. I could feel her gaze practically boring into me, though.
“You’re not going anywhere, Alessandra.”
