AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ah.” Another noise of comprehension and sympathy moved through her for this little boy and the obvious adjustment he’d made to his lifestyle.
“They’re stupid and noisy and they don’t play with me and mum wants me to nap when they nap but I’m not a baby, I’m a big boy and I don’t need a sleep in the middle of the day.”
His outburst was so sweet that she wanted to laugh. She didn’t, of course. She could see that to this little boy, his worries were very serious, and she didn’t want him to think she was making light of them.
“Well, little Master Montebello,” another look towards the house. “I hurt my ankle when I fell and I can’t move. Unless a pirate comes along, I’m going to need another grown up to help me.” Dante, beside her, moved closer to the basket, sniffing at the handle. She pulled a scone out and placed it on the grass beside her. He looked at her questioningly for a moment.
“Good boy. There you go.”
He guzzled it down gratefully.
“Do I have to go in now?”
The sun was delightfully warm on her shoulders. She looked out to sea and shook her head. “No. Not yet. We can have another scone first.”
They ate mostly in silence, except for a few little remarks from the boy from time to time. “I feel like I’m on top of the world.” Or, “I found this shell on the beach.”
Dante ate another scone and then began to bark, a deep rumbling sound before running quickly away from them then scampering back.
“Dante?” Nico’s voice was instantly familiar. She gazed down at her companion, who looked somewhat shame-faced. She tilted her gaze over her shoulder so saw the moment Nico registered that she was there, his brow arched in a silent question, the look on his face impossible to read. And then he smiled, a grin that spread slowly and warmed fast, so her heart was racing and her blood was gushing through her body.
“What are you up to?”
She didn’t – couldn’t – move. “We’re having a picnic,” she gestured towards the basket. “And waiting for pirates.”
His grin was just for her and it sent her central nervous system into a spin, making her tummy feel gooey and her skin lift with goose bumps, then he encompassed his nephew in his gaze, coming to crouch beside them.
“Did you see any?”
“Not yet, though my friend here was running from one when we bumped into each other.”
“Were you? And here I thought you were trying to escape your rest time?”
The little boy’s lip jutted out. “I don’t need a rest.”
“Your mother thinks you do.”
“She thinks I’m a baby.”
Nico’s eyes met Maddie’s over the child’s head, and they shared a small smile.
“My cousin’s here,” he addressed Maddie now. “And his wife, Elodie. Why don’t you come in? They’d love to meet you.”
Consternation flooded her system. Others were not a part of what they were, and she relished in that. She didn’t want more people to be drawn into this relationship. She particularly didn’t want to meet anyone else who might know Michael, who could potentially mention this to him. Part of the appeal was their privacy, their secrecy. She bit down on her lower lip, shaking her head. “That’s fine, I don’t want to intrude.”
“It’s no intrusion.”
“She hurt her ankle.”
Nico’s face swivelled to the little boy. “She is Maddie,” he corrected very gently, before turning his attention towards Maddie’s legs. “What happened?”
The little boy spoke again. “I bumped into her. She fell down.”
“Did she?” Concern shifted through Nico’s eyes as he moved towards Maddie. “Let’s have a look here.”
His fingertips guided the fabric of her maxi skirt up her leg, so he could inspect the damage. Maddie winced. Even from this vantage point, her ankle was badly swollen.
“I twisted it as I fell,” she said apologetically. “It’s just a sprain.”
