Chapter 8
8
Carlo
“S he’s definitely getting better. I can tell,” Eve announced at the breakfast table. It was a happening place. With Nick and Eve’s three kids. And Dani. And Marcello in my arms.
Eve rarely sat down, but Nick and I did. Until someone spilled something. Or someone threw something onto the floor. Which happened a lot.
“I do see a change. Most definitely. But she did call me a butthead yesterday when I offered to carry her into the bathroom for a shower,” Nick informed us.
Eve and I laughed. Then Dani joined in, saying, “Butthead! Theo, can you say butthead?”
And just like that, Theo repeated after Dani. That little boy loved her so much.
“She is pretty ripe,” Eve stated the truth. “I’ve brought in loads of cute soaps and shampoos. Even some really fancy hair products. But she never shows any interest.”
Bathing wasn’t exactly one of Giselle’s strong suits at this moment in time. And I didn’t give a fuck.
As long as she was alive and breathing in my bed—a shower could wait.
“Anyway, I’m going into the office today. What are the rest of you doing?” Nick asked as he bit into his bagel.
I nodded and picked up my coffee cup with my free hand. “I’m going to pick up a new p-l-a-y-h-o-u-s-e from the lumber store,” I spelled out the word playhouse so Dani wouldn’t get excited. I wasn’t sure if they still had them in stock, and I didn’t want to disappoint her. But Eve said she was at the perfect age for one. And I had all the time in the world right now to build it.
“Oh, that’s awesome.” Eve gave me a big smile. “I’ll be home with these turkeys. Mafalda will be here soon, though, to help. Thank goodness, or we might never get anything done.”
I nodded and finished off my coffee. “I can stay home until Mafalda arrives, if you want?” The housekeeper/child helper was coming in fairly regularly. But I left it up to Eve’s discretion as to when Mafalda was here. Eve was the one who was running things with the kids. And I trusted her expertise with all of this.
Eve shook her head and frowned. “No, no. You better go early before the traffic starts up.”
I stood up and strode over to her. I handed off Marcello, and then I leaned down—and almost kissed her.
I straightened up and touched her arm instead. “Thank you. He just ate an hour ago. But you never know with this guy. He might want another bottle soon.”
She giggled and nodded. “Oh, I know. If he’s going to be as big as his daddy, he’ll need to eat.”
I leaned down and kissed my sleeping son’s cheek. “As long as he’s got his mother’s brains, he’ll be fine.” I straightened up and watched Eve laugh.
“Can you check on her in an hour? And text me, please?”
She moved Marcello in her arms. “Yes, of course. Now, go already, will you? We’ll be fine.”
I nodded and turned to say my goodbyes to the still bustling breakfast table before I walked out into the hall.
“I’ll be back in a couple of hours. No one is expected except Mafalda. Mr. Rosetti is leaving soon for the office,” I informed the lead security guy. I had two more on this floor. And one upstairs at all times.
I fucking hated having people in my house. But this shit couldn’t be helped. Not with a madman on the loose.
“Very good, Mr. Sovrano. I’ll inform everyone else. Have a good morning.”
Yeah. A good morning.
With my woman upstairs. Still suffering.
Although she was a little bit better. She stopped biting our heads off.
Most of the time.
And she allowed the counselor in three times a week.
I really wished I could sit in on their little discussions. But it was enough that Giselle was at least trying to get better.
She was moving around more.
Not a lot.
But more.
She still hadn’t come out of our room.
Hopefully, that would happen soon.
I shoved all of that to the back of my mind. Right now, I was taking a much-needed break and heading off to the lumber store. To make my little girl’s dreams come true.