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Jess gave Rhys a sideways glance and tucked her feet beneath her. “You weren’t kidding about the epic tale. I still don’t have the answer to my original question about Aunt Berta and why she lives here.”
“Oh, Jess. We’ve got miles of ground left to cover.” Rhys laughed as he reached for a throw blanket hanging over the back of the couch. He unfolded it and tossed it over her lap. It was a simple, kind gesture that touched her more than she could say. All evening, the two of them had gone out of their way to make sure she was comfortable, something that felt completely foreign, but also totally wonderful.
Returning to reality tomorrow was really going to suck.
“Hilarious, Rhys,” Tony deadpanned. “I would have gotten around to answering her already, but Miss Inquisitive has interrupted me with four thousand questions.”
Jess closed her lips tightly, mimed locking them shut and tossing away the key.
“Around the time Rhys and I bought this building, Uncle Renzo had a heart attack and died.”
“Oh no,” Jess said. “Poor Berta.”
“Yeah,” Tony said. “She and Uncle Renzo had never been able to have kids of their own, so with him gone, it was just her in their big house, living alone, something she and the rest of the family hated. Nonna and Nonno were worried about her and invited her to live with them, but Uncle Renzo managed to marry a womanexactlylike his mother. I suspect blood would have been shed within hours if Aunt Berta and Nonna had to share a kitchen. So Rhys and I came up with the idea to build her an apartment on the second floor. After all, half of Moretti Brothers Restorations—including the office space—was hers with Uncle Renzo gone. Not that she has a bit of interest in the business. Our original plan was that she’d be close by if she needed something, and if she wanted company during the day, all she’d have to do is step out of her apartment to visit me, Dad, and my brothers when we’re at work.”
“You say ‘original plan’ like that didn’t happen,” Jess pointed out.
“You were here all day, Jess, so you had to notice she was too,” Tony said. “Aunt Berta is only happy when she has someone to take care of. So all that affection and attention she lavished on Uncle Renzo was transferred to me and, by extension, Rhys.”
The smile on his face proved he didn’t have a problem with that. Then she considered the fact that it wasn’t just Tony filling a void in Berta’s life. Because Tony had gained a mother figure as well, something that must feel pretty great, considering he’d lost his mom at such a young age.
“We couldn’t live without Aunt Berta,” Rhys added. “She’s amazing.”
“Yeah, she is,” Tony agreed.
“Sounds like the perfect living arrangement.” Unfortunately, saying those words reminded Jess just how dire and shitty her own situation was.
“I’m curious, Jess. How come you didn’t just get another roommate after Danielle left? Wouldn’t that have helped with the rent?” Rhys asked, changing the subject back to her.
“It was actually a one-bedroom apartment. Danielle and I had twin beds, and when Jasper outgrew the little bassinet we found at Goodwill, we exchanged it for a mattress that we put between us on the floor. When she moved out, Jasper graduated to the other twin bed.”
“I see. So what changed for you financially? The two jobs weren’t enough to cover the rent?”
“Oh no, we were doing fine for a while, but then Jasper fell and broke his arm on the playground at school. I don’t have health insurance, and the hospital bills started stacking up. I got way behind on everything, so the landlord evicted us. I guess I just kept thinking… I don’t knowwhatI thought actually. Last night, I hit rock bottom. And you guys…you picked me up.”
“I have a feeling you would have picked yourself up if we hadn’t come along,” Tony said, looking at her with something that felt a lot like admiration.
Jess shook her head. “I’d like to think so, but I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep the past month. The fuzzier I got, the more mistakes I made.”
She felt both Tony and Rhys’s gazes, knew they were studying her face, looking for lingering traces of exhaustion.
“I feel better now.” For some reason, it seemed as if they needed that reassurance. She was flattered by their interest in her life and touched by their concern. If the girls at the diner could see her now, they’d be green with envy.
“I’m glad,” Rhys said, lifting his wine glass and tapping it against hers. “Here’s to clear heads.”
“And warm beds,” Tony added.
“I’ll drink to that.” She took a sip of wine, then tried to stifle a yawn.
“You need more rest,” Rhys mused.
“After that nine-hour nap, you’d think I would be wide awake.”
Rhys considered that. “I suspect it’ll take more than that to catch up for all the sleep you’ve lost lately.”
“Yeah. You’re probably right. I’ve basically been sleeping with one eye open to look after Jasper the past few nights. It all caught up with me today.”
She didn’t say aloud how grateful she was that her exhaustion had taken her downhere, where Jasper had been safe and sound and protected by Tony and Rhys and Aunt Berta.
