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She wiped her cheek with a look of disgust on her face. “Don’t spit on me.”
Leo paused, his eyes wide. “That’s not spitting. I gave you raspberries.”
Evie shook her head. “Mrs. Walters said it’s spitting.”
“Who is Mrs. Walters? Your teacher?” Leo asked Evie and then looked to me for confirmation.
At my nod, he said, “Mrs. Walters doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Leo,” I admonished. Even if I didn’t agree with everything a teacher said, I taught Evie to respect it.
“I still say they’re kisses.” He held Evie on his hip and rubbed his nose over her cheek until she giggled. “I love that sound.”
Mrs. G.’s eyes sparkled. “I think you’re ready for a little one of your own.”
It wasn’t a new thing for her to say. She put a lot of pressure on her sons to settle down, get married, and give her some grandbabies. Even though she said Evie was one of hers, it wasn’t the same as a blood grandchild, and I was positive she wanted some of her own.
Usually, Leo would disagree, saying he wasn’t ready or that he hadn’t met the right girl yet. That usually placated his mom, but tonight, he didn’t say anything.
Mrs. G.’s eyes widened. “Have you met someone?”
“What? No.” He cleared his throat and let Evie down when she wiggled. “I would love to have a child.”
“You’ll meet someone.” She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was already done.
Did she have someone in mind for him? She introduced him to his last girlfriend, Bianca. I’d gone to Mass with their family over the years but never received any of the sacraments. It was another reason that I’d never be good enough for Mrs. G.’s son. I wasn’t Italian or Catholic. I hadn’t gone to college or done anything to make myself worthy of a man like Leo.
“What’s new with you, Harper?” Mrs. G. asked me, thankfully changing the subject.
I’d been thinking of ways I could gain more independence lately. “I was thinking about taking some college courses.” It wasn’t anything new. I’d perused the college catalogs for years, wishing I could go.
“I didn’t realize you wanted to go to school,” Leo said.
“I’ll probably go when Evie’s a little older.” I’d work hard to make sure she’d be able to go to college. But how would I ever have enough money without bettering myself in some way? I needed to stop leeching off the Giovannis. Maybe then Leo would see me as an independent woman.
“That’s ridiculous. Of course, you should go to school if you want to. You know I would watch Evie,” Mrs. G. said.
“You already do so much.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “We’ll work it out. Someone can watch Evie so you can go to school.”
I smiled my thanks, but inside, I knew it was a pipe dream. I never should have voiced it out loud. The Giovannis would do anything to help me, but it was time for me to figure things out on my own.
We gathered around the table and ate the pasta and garlic bread. Everyone brought dessert, so there was a lot to choose from. I spent the evening trying to stop Evie from getting more than one. She loved Italian cookies, and Mrs. G. always slipped her some when I wasn’t looking.
When it was getting late, I gathered Evie, said my good-byes, and headed to my car like I always did. I felt lonelier when I left. These family dinners reminded me of how empty my life was. I had Evie, but that was it. I had nothing else to offer her. I wasn’t any better than my mother.
A chill ran through my body.
“Are you cold?” Leo asked, startling me.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were leaving too.”
He shrugged. “I thought I’d follow you out.”
“That’s not necessary,” I said as I opened the rear door and helped Evie into her car seat.
I closed the door and turned to face him. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his pressed pants. The Giovannis took family dinners seriously.
