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“Wine, Carmen?” Dad asked and we were obviously skipping over any more talk of Roman.
“Thanks, yes.”
“We have one of those whites?” Mum offered and Carmen smiled.
“Perfect.”
Dad headed over into the kitchen while Mum and Carmen talked about things I had no idea about and they were obviously used to talking about together. I wondered if that was what Hadley and I looked like when we sat on that very couch and giggled.
Once Dad came back with a bottle and glasses – and a Coke for me – we both sat and watched them talking. I lay my head on Dad’s shoulder and answered every now and then if conversation was directed to me.
Just as Dad got up to check the dinner, the doorbell rang again.
“I’ve got it,” I said as I hopped up.
“You’ve got her well-trained,” Carmen teased.
“Only in front of company,” I replied with a laugh as I pulled the door open.
My laugh died as I took in the scene in front of me.
Roman Lombardi was standing on our doorstep, his arms behind his back, with two police officers flanking him. There was a cut on his lip that hadn’t been there earlier and a bruise forming on his left cheekbone. His face was set, that muscle in his jaw twitching. He stared me down, full of anger.
“We’re looking for Mrs Lombardi?” one of the police officers said and I pulled my eyes off Roman to look at her.
“Uh, sure. I’ll just… Carmen?” I called, my eyes drifting to Roman again.
The laughter from the living room stopped and Mum followed Carmen to the hallway. Carmen’s easy smile dropped as she took in the sight, then she sighed like she thought she was an idiot for expecting any better.
“I’m so sorry, Officer Daniels,” she said as she stepped forward. “What was it this time?”
“Fighting. Mr Lombardi dealt with it.”
“Couldn’t possibly embarrass the old man again,” Roman snarled.
Carmen shot Roman a look that quite clearly told him to shut up.
“What? He’ll pay my bail but not for the house? It’s not fucking–”
“Thank you for bringing him home,” Carmen said loudly, cutting him off.
Officer Daniels nodded and took some keys off her belt. As she reached behind Roman, I realised she was undoing handcuffs.
As he stretched his arms out and rubbed his wrists, he flicked his hair out of his eyes. “Just in time for dinner.”
Carmen huffed, said thank you to the police officers again before they left and turned to Mum with an apologetic smile. “I should get him home.”
“Oh, are you sure? There’s plenty.”
Carmen shook her head. “Thanks, Bree. But, I think it’s best if we…”
Mum nodded, her eyes full of sympathy. “Of course. No problems.”
“Thank you for the wine. We should finish this sometime.”
“When you’re all settled.” Mum smiled.
Carmen nodded.
“It was good to see you Roman,” Mum said, but he only glared at her and gave her a slight nod.
“Night,” Carmen said as she took hold of Roman’s arm, barely coming up to his shoulder.
When I looked up to his face, I found him staring at me. Those deep black holes of eyes raked down my body and back up. His face remained stony as he sucked his teeth and let his mum pull him home.
