AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Alessio and Camillo came into the kitchen to check when dinner was going to be ready. The smell of food always attracted the guys. Camillo joined in our conversation. “Marco and Alessio were like the mom and pop of the family. Although I still remember how bad their first attempts at cooking were.”
Alessio frowned at that comment. “Hey, smart-ass, we got there in the end. Anyway, we keep telling you that you have to learn how to cook now, so then you can take over your fair share of the cooking duties,” Alessio reminded Camillo.
Camillo just grinned. “You know, Alessio, that Debi likes your cooking best and that I could never compete with you in that regard.” Alessio looked pleased at that comment. Camillo was smart, sucking up to Alessio’s soft spot: Debi. Debi was a soft spot for all her brothers.
Debi came by then and looked at her brothers earnestly. “I don’t mind learning to cook so that I can help out more?”
Alessio looked down affectionately at her. “No. You need to concentrate on school and homework right now. There’s plenty of time for learning to cook later.” And with that, he gave her a kiss on the top of her head and then moved to set the table for dinner.
***
On the morning of Juliana’s birthday, I woke her up by licking her clit and making her come as I feasted on her pussy, before thrusting into her quivering channel and making her orgasm again as I reached my own climax.
“Happy birthday, beautiful,” I said afterward as she lay sated in my arms, running her fingers over the tattoos on my arm. After cuddling for a while, I decided to get up. “Come on, let’s get showered and then I’ll make you a special breakfast before the kids head off to school.”
After getting dressed, we headed down the stairs. “What’s for breakfast?” asked Juliana.
“Your favorite.”
“Pancakes with strawberries, blueberries, and cream?”
“Absolutely. Today I’m going to spoil you.”
“Happy Birthday!” As we entered the kitchen, Debi rushed over to give Juliana a hug.
Danio gave Juliana a big smile. “Happy 20thBirthday, Juliana.”
“Oh wow, you did this for me?” Juliana looked genuinely surprised. Debi and Danio had decorated the kitchen with balloons and there were cards and gifts waiting for her.
“Yeah, we got up a little earlier than normal,” replied Danio.
“And that would have been really hard for Danio. You don’t even want to know how hard it is to get his ass out of bed in the mornings,” I chuckled.
Camillo and Alessio had already left as they had work to do, so the four of us settled down to breakfast. While we ate, Juliana opened birthday cards and gifts from my siblings. Even Camillo and Alessio had left a card for her.
Debi and Danio had gotten Juliana a pretty bracelet. “Oh, this is gorgeous. I love it, thank you.”
At the end there was one card left to be opened. When Juliana opened it, she giggled. “A card from Mr. Fluffy.” The card depicted a dog who looked remarkably similar to her dog. Juliana read the message and, knowing it was from Debi and Danio, she got up and gave them both a hug. “Thanks for all this, guys. It really means a lot to me.”
I checked my watch. “Okay, come on kids, you better get a move on, or you’ll be late for school.”
Once they had left, Juliana and I headed out into the estate’s woods with Mr. F for his morning run around. I should have been working, but I had taken to accompanying Juliana on her dog walks when I had time. This always seemed one of the times when she was at her most peaceful.
We sat down together at the fallen log next to Danio and Debi’s old treehouse. The treehouse still had its weather-beaten flag with the logo saying ‘Debi & Danio’ around a teddy bear face. I’d thought that helping Alessio to build the kids the playhouse would help my guilt about them losing their parents at such a young age—but I’d found that nothing could stop that guilt from crushing me, not then and not in the years that came after.
The dog was happily running around in circles, chasing his own tail. He never seemed to tire of doing that. We sat in silence for a while, watching the dog run around. Eventually he ran up to Juliana, waking her out of her deep thoughts. She bent down toward him and ruffled his fur, just as he liked. He was out of breath and panting and sat down at Juliana’s feet for a break.
As he leaned against her legs, she absently rubbed his ears. I don’t know whether it was to comfort the dog or to comfort herself. She seemed far away, and I saw a brief glimpse of emotion—of pain—cross her features.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She answered quickly. A little too quickly.
Damn. I knew that she was thinking about her family, but she didn’t want to say anything to me about them.
After a pause, I held out my cell phone to her.
She just looked at my outstretched hand, and she completely froze. It was as though she thought that it might be a trick and that if she moved to take the phone, I would pull it away.
