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“Vaguely,” I say, my stomach twisting. “What I remember most is you making me eat mud. I’m going back to sleep.”
Her chuckle fills the space between us. “No, wait. I called because I couldn’t wait to tell you something.”
I lean against the glass rail and let the sun warm my face. “What’s up?”
“You’re going to be an uncle again.”
My heart squeezes tight. My God, the baby Bianchi sister is going to have a baby. How is that possible? “I’m so happy for you, Luce...” I can just picture the big smile on my sister’s face. She was the youngest girl, and I came after her. The two of us were closer than any of us and Jesus, I really miss her. My heart thumps a little harder.
“I wanted to tell you before the others, that’s why I called in the middle of the night. Sorry if I woke you.”
My throat tightens. “Don’t be sorry,” I say, and cradle my phone. “I’m glad I was your first call.”
“Roman.”
“Yeah?”
“Miss you, bro.” My heart squeezes tight. “Can you come home soon?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you soon, Luce...” I think about next weekend. Maybe I can sneak off to Italy for a quick visit with my family.
“Love you,” she says.
I spin when I hear movement behind me, and turn to find a pale Peyton watching me, her big green eyes wide and glassy. How much did she hear? Will she be upset that I’m planning a trip sooner rather than later, and leaving her behind, after admitting how much she’d love to visit Italy? She’s been left behind enough, and yesterday I got the sense she’d like to go, but under the circumstances what choice do I have?
“I have to go. I’ll see what I can do about visiting,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “Talk to you later, and love back.” I end the call and shove my phone into my pocket. I examine Peyton’s pale face. Honest to God, if that cupcake Richard gave her was tainted, he’s going to have some explaining to do—to my fist.
“Hey,” I say, and sink down in front of her. I press my hand to her forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“I spent time on a farm one summer,” she begins. “My foster family had an orchard.” I eye her. Jesus, is she delirious? I wait for her to continue, to see where she’s going with this. She swallows and practically peels her dry tongue from the roof of her mouth.
“Okay,” I say. “And...”
“They had this tractor.” She lifts her arms and widens them, sounding a bit loopy and tired. “It was hug
e. It tilled the ground or something.” She uses her fingers and opens and closes them like she’s plowing the soil. “Anyway, I feel like that tractor ran me over, then backed up to finish the job.”
I can’t help but laugh at her description and it brings a small smile to her face. “I’m so sorry, Peyton.”
“Not your fault.” She takes a breath of fresh morning air and groans. “I need to get ready for school.” She stands on wobbly legs. I jump up and catch her, scooping her into my arms.
“The only place you’re going is back to bed.”
She tries to wiggle from my arms. “No, I have to get to work.”
“I already called Andrew. I’m going to be in the computer lab with the kids today.”
Her mouth drops open. “Roman, I can’t ask that of you.”
“You’re not. I’m happy to shape young minds, and maybe I’ll have a hand in producing the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs.”
“Andrew agreed?”
I set her into the chair under the pergola and drop down in front of her. “He’s pretty excited about it, actually.”
She frowns. “Ohmigod, now I’m going to be in competition with you, too.”
“Hardly. If you want to know the truth—” I stop to feign a shiver “—I’m scared shitless.”
