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He showed her the pizza oven and how they arranged the pizzas when there was more than one, the oven temperature, and how long it took to cook. Evie was interested in everything he had to say.
“My dad used to bring me in on the weekends and show me the exact same things before he let me make my own pizza.”
Evie looked up at him. “Really?”
“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite memories of my father.”
“I don’t see my dad very much,” Evie admitted, and my heart broke for her. Then I wondered for the hundredth time if I was keeping her from her father, and whether that was fair.
“Sometimes, it’s not our biological dads, but someone else who holds that special place in our hearts. You have your mother and Mr. and Mrs. G.”
“And you,” Evie said solemnly.
“That’s right. You have me. Never forget that.” Leo’s voice was firm in his delivery, and my heart fluttered overtime at their sweet exchange.
He showed her a few other steps he took to open the restaurant before the rest of the employees would come in and finish opening the dining room. He even allowed Evie to stock some of the condiments.
When her pizza was done, he sliced it and served it on plates in the break room. We each ate a slice before he packed it up for Evie to take home. When the employees started to trickle in, he said, “I’ll take you home.”
“Leo has to work today,” I reminded Evie when her expression fell.
“But what are we going to do?” Evie whined.
“What we do every Sunday. Get caught up on laundry for the week and clean.”
“That’s boring,” Evie said, and I couldn’t help but feel a little inadequate. Did other families spend the entire day together? Did they plan elaborate day trips?
“When you’re done, maybe you can watch a movie, and I’ll stop by later,” Leo offered.
“You will?” Evie asked.
“You don’t have to—” I started to say as Leo said, “I want to.”
I needed to warn him that Evie was coming to rely on him. She was getting used to seeing him more, and it was going to hurt if this didn’t work out. I had more than my own heart to worry about. Evie would be crushed if Leo disappeared.
At our door, he kissed my cheek and said to Evie, “Be good, and help your mother today, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Evie grumbled.
“Hey, it’s a big responsibility. You’re a big girl now, and helping your mother is a good thing.”
Evie nodded solemnly. “I am a big girl.”
“That’s what I was saying,” Leo said as I opened the door, and Evie shot inside ahead of us.
“Thank you for today. It was—” How could I describe the best day I’d had in forever? “Perfect.”
Leo grinned. “It was fun for me too.”
“If you’re not serious about this—”
“I’m very serious about you and Evie,” Leo interrupted me.
“Please don’t hurt her,” I said, vulnerability making my voice shake.
“I won’t.” Then he kissed me softly. “Go inside so I can get to work. I don’t want to leave you, but I have to.”
I didn’t state the obvious, that if he opened a new restaurant, he’d have to work even more. And it wouldn’t be downstairs. It would be across town. I remember Gia complaining she only saw her family at the restaurant in those early years.
