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Victor and his family are the last to arrive. Dwayde hangs back. But Mick coaxes him out with some good-natured ribbing. Lexie and Jordyn fit right in, assisting with the fruit torte. Mama T issues orders, takingover. I smile and hug her, happy that she seems just as at-home here as she had at Maria’s.
While the casserole cooks, Dani and Justin watch a show on my iPad and I attempt to nurture the budding connection with Dwayde. I don’t talk about the case. This isn’t the time or place. Instead, I try to engage his interest in art. In anything, really. He’s still standoffish, but I accept, despite the time constraints, that gaining his trust is more a marathon than a sprint.
The women are clustered together in the living room, Jordyn regaling them with a story that has them all laughing. The men discuss the upcoming college basketball season. When Dwayde joins them, I go check on the casserole. Since it needs more time to brown, I crank up the heat.
Gabi comes into the kitchen to show me selfies of three dresses that she’s considering for a party. Truly, she looks gorgeous in all of them, but I pick the gold strapless mini. The style suits her slight curves and the color works well with her tan skin and new caramel highlights.
“Isabelle picked that one too.”
Mick pokes his head inside. “Everything good in here?”
“Yep. Just giving the casserole a few more minutes while I help Gabi pick out a dress.”
“A dress for what?”
“A party next weekend,” she answers with a dismissive shrug. “It’s no big deal.”
Suggesting otherwise, he steps to her, his inquisition face firmly in place. “Where will this party be held?”
“A girl from school is having it at her house.”
“Will there be alcohol?”
“Probably. It’s a party. That doesn’t mean I’m going to drink.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. But if you do, stick to a cooler that you open yourself and never, I mean never, leave your drink unattended. You can call me any time, understand? I’ll come get you, no questions asked. Just be safe.”
“Okay, okay.” Her exasperated breath flutters her parted bangs. “I already got this lecture from Cop Boy,” she says of Victor. “You can take it down a few notches. I’m not stupid.”
“I know that, Gab, but it bears repeating. Let me see the dress.”
“You’re not gonna like it.”
“Unless it covers you from head to toe, that goes without saying. Show me anyway.”
She hands him her phone and Mick’s jaw clenches so hard I think he’s going to break a molar. “Where’s the rest?”
“It covers my bits.”
“Jesus, Gabi.” He drags a hand over his hair. “Don’t even say bits.”
“I’m almost eighteen.”
“You’re still eight to me.”
Gabi is handling herself so I don’t intervene, enjoying Mick in his role of big brother. It gives me a glimpse into what he would be like as a father. What he would have been like if we hadn’t lost our baby. She’d be fourteen now. A teenage girl. I touch my stomach feeling a wave of sadness for what could have been. But the wave doesn’t swallow me under as it has before. Because of the beautiful man in front of me that got me to open up, to finally talk. For the first time, I feel like I’m driving forward, with my past getting farther behind me in the rearview mirror.
“Protective much?” I hear Gabi say and tune back into their exchange.
“Yes. And so is Victor. He’s not going to let you out in that dress.”
“Sure he will. I have my secret weapon.”
“What’s that? You gonna blindfold him?”
“Haha.” She punches his arm. “I have Bells. She’ll convince him. She’s got Victor wrapped around her finger. Seems to run in the family, right Dee?”
She winks at me and saunters away.
