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Besides the picture of Sofia, Haley, the guys, and me, there were many other pictures just like that one. Sofia and Gabe at the park playing with Haley. Me, Sofia, and Gabe. Mia, Haley, and the kids. Ben and I with Haley and the three children. Even Lisa with the kids.
Ben and Mia were shaking with fury yet remained quiet as we emptied the box. A heavy doom blanketed us, and once again I felt all that was going on was bigger than ourselves.
At the sight of Lisa in the pictures, even though the moment didn’t call for it, I recalled our near kiss. Once again, a pang of regret assaulted me. I had no business sniffing around a woman twelve years younger than me. Especially now that she was known, at least on a minimum level, by a cartel.
But as we watched the bull’s-eye on our backs, I couldn’t keep myself from craving her and praying for wildwhat-ifs.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I left Danny’s place and already missed the Delgado Duo. There were so many feelings swirling inside me, I didn’t know which one to acknowledge first. I needed someone to talk to, but I didn’t even know if there was something to talk about.
And even if I found something, whom would I speak to? I didn’t have that many friends my age, living in such a small town. I couldn’t quite tell my mom I was lusting after my boss, a thirty-six-year-old single father. And if I told my almost kiss to April, she’d screech and set a date for my wedding.
I got home, but I wasn’t even close to getting to a conclusion about my debacle—if I could call it that. I stepped inside and was soon greeted by my father. He was on his loveseat, watching TV, and doing his leg exercises. I loved that he was invested in getting better. After his stroke, we were all in a bad place for a while, not knowing how to navigate such dark waters.
But he surprised me by accepting everything the doctors instructed. He was eating better, doing his exercise even when his physical therapist wasn’t around, and he even started taking more risks—always responsibly—to regain his independence.
Even though I hated what happened to him, I couldn’t ignore he was a changed man after it. He used to be moody and sometimes short in his answers. After his stroke, he was working on getting more flexible with his wishes and demands, he wasn’t as abrupt anymore, and he went as far as to start a gratitude routine every morning, saying what he was thankful for.
I had to admit, I was learning a lot from his new version.
“Good morning, Dad.”
“Lisa! Were you still working?”
“Not really. Danny came home late, Fee and I were already asleep. When we woke up, they asked me to have breakfast with them, so I stayed a while longer.” I leaned down to kiss his cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m getting stronger, look.” He showed me his latest exercise, and he was doing more than he was able to a few weeks before.
“That’s amazing, I’m so proud of you!”
“Thank you, honey. Your mother made those French toast you like. I even managed to save you some before Drew got to them.”
“I appreciate it. Where are they?”
“Drew went to school already, and your mom is in the kitchen.”
I found her where my father instructed. I greeted her with a kiss and offered to help with whatever she was doing. After Dad’s scare, we were tight on money for a while, hence me coming back home and working as a nanny to help with the bills. There weren’t a lot of job options lying around in Holy Water.
Mom worked at one of the two pharmacies in town, and her salary wasn’t enough to deal with the bills, so my desire to start my own business was put to wait.
“I’m just going to fold this before I head to work. How were the Delgados?”
I always felt like she was fishing for something when she asked me about them. “They’re good. Sofia is such an amazing kid. And Danny is nothing if not devoted.”
“What an odd request that you spent the night.”
“His mother is out of town, and he needed to work at night. I don’t mind. By the way,” I fished the money he paid me and handed it to her, “he even increased my payment since I spent the night.”
I didn’t mean to make her embarrassed, but Enid Specter was a proud woman. Just like my father—Elliot—used to be. “I don’t want to keep getting your money. It’s for you.”
“Mom, I got back to be a part of what’s going on here. I live here again, it’s only fair I contribute with the bills.”
She nodded and reluctantly took just some of the cash. I was ready to argue when she said, “If we need anything more, I’ll talk to you. Thank you, honey.”
We worked in silence for a few minutes before she resumed talking. “Mr. Delgado, or Danny, as you called him, seems to be a nice person. He’s highly considered here.”
I shrugged. “It’s easy to like him.”
