Chapter 23
Maybe she could go to that property in Greece, Alasdair murmured.
Leo watched Rose on her playmat, babbling away to her plethora of stuffed toys.
After he’d all but carried Molly inside, Rose had been slightly concerned, her wee mind unable to comprehend what was going on especially when Molly held her tight and told her over and over again all would be alright.
When Molly had gone to bed, Leo’s method of distracting Rose—unencumbered time with several toys—had worked.
Doesn’t she need dinner? Neil eyed the stairs, then got down on the floor to ruffle Rose’s hair. And the wee one will be asking for her too.
They were using the term she instead of Rose’s mum or Molly. Leo figured the less they did anything to remind Rose of Molly, the better.
Leo stood. I should go check on her.
Although he wasn’t sure what good that would do. Molly was sleeping, after he’d had a doctor visit them who’d prescribed her sleeping pills. Without protesting, she’d taken them and knocked herself out.
After what had happened in the office, Leo had expected her to be extra cautious, perhaps even territorial over Rose.
On their drive back, he’d even prepared counter arguments as to why he should be the one to take care of them now that Johnny knew.
Running away from here would do them no good. There had been no need for that.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. I’ll make some dinner for us. Watch Rose in the meantime.
Growing up with an Italian mother, food had been a medium not just to sustain themselves, but for joy and love.
His mother had, initially, forced him to help out in the kitchen, and then as a teen, he’d volunteered, often cooking them dinner before his mum returned from work.
She’d been working several jobs even then, and cooking was the one activity he could take off her to-do list.
Leo huffed a breath as he stirred the arrabbiata sauce he’d made. His mother’s recipe, the one they’d enjoy after a stressful day. Tonight, they’d have a classic penne pasta with arrabbiata. Something that would slightly singe with spice and kick out the cobwebs from the day.
He stirred the sauce, wondering how the day had gone so out of hand. Apart from Knox’s secrets, had they uncovered anything concrete?
He flicked the hob down to a simmer and walked into the living room.
Molly had dropped her purse on the bureau in the living room. He unzipped it and found the CD she’d pulled from Knox’s desk. Holding it up to Neil, he asked, Can we see what’s on this?
He explained to his brothers where they’d found the CD and the fact that Knox had files on all of them.
Bas— Alasdair cut himself short. Bass turd is what he is.
Still sounds the same as the curse. Leo handed the CD to Neil. There was nothing about Newtar in his office.
Except for the other turd showing up. Alasdair had his arms crossed, but his gaze was now on Rose. How can someone like him create someone like this?
Leo took that question to be rhetorical, so he waited for Neil to say something.
Finally, Neil sighed. I have a CD drive at my place.
We’ll need to scan this CD for viruses first. A CD can’t house all the files on Newtar, I don’t think.
There could just be some secret on here he doesn’t want us knowing.
But that CD could contain a clue. Leo didn’t want to think of the possibility that they’d broken into Knox’s office and had nothing to show for it except Johnny now knowing Molly and Rose were with Leo.
He sighed. Thank you. For being here.
Neil nodded. Alasdair was still staring at Rose as if she were going to give him a solution to this mess.
Leo strode over to the wee girl and scooped her up. Hungry?
She shook her head, making those soft red curls dance. Wanna play.
You’ve been playing all day. You need to eat and sleep. Leo made snoring noises, hoping to erase the little creases on Rose’s forehead. No bath time today.
But she wasn’t buying it. The perceptive girl turned her head, trying to look over her shoulder. Mama?
She’s resting, sweetheart. Leo took a step towards the kitchen, pointing at the dishes on the hob. Why don’t we have some nice yum food?
He had made a separate, milder sauce for Rose and overcooked the pasta a wee bit so it would be easier for her to eat. He’d also boiled some vegetables to ensure she had a proper balanced meal.
After he settled Rose down, he’d planned to take a dish upstairs for Molly, but Rose wouldn’t let him go. No, ’Eo!
Right. So he sat beside her and fed her, telling her about Italy.
He didn’t know why he broached that topic with a toddler.
Ever since he’d heard the words Johnny had hurtled at Molly, he’d been thinking about his own mother and how the Ricci family had come after him with such vitriol after Valentina had died, when he’d been mired in his own grief.
Now with Rose watching him with her wide eyes, her ability to comprehend such matters being limited, words flowed from Leo’s mouth. My mother was born in a wee town in Tuscany. It’s beautiful there. At least that’s what I remember.
Rose ate the broccoli he fed her. Mum?
Aye, my mama. She was a beautiful woman.
Raised me on her own just like yours is.
He ran a hand over Rose’s head. She taught me everything I know about cooking, hard work, love, and family.
She moved to the UK with big dreams. Then she swapped those dreams to raise me.
I was the oops baby. Of course, my father was not in the picture.
That… turd— well, that’s a whole other thing.
Rose chewed on the pasta and licked the extra sauce off her lips. More.
Leo smiled. This was my mother’s recipe, perfected over time so it tasted good and took little time for even a thirteen-year-old to prepare.
My mum taught me to cook too. I knew she worked hard to keep a roof over our heads, but I never realised the stress she must have been under.
But we were happy, even though we were poor.
He could have lived that life forever, even if sometimes their house was a bit too cold in winters or they didn’t have enough for a chippy dinner on Fridays. Life with his resilient, beautiful mother had been the best time of his life.
Until he’d met Rose and Molly.
Tears pricked his eyes unexpectedly. Leo swallowed the emotion.
My mum is so much like yours. I can’t begin to fathom the strength they possess.
She’d have loved both of you, doted on you, especially.
She loved children. Told me if I ever had any, I wasn’t allowed to live more than five minutes away from her, so she could spoil her grandweans rotten.
But she’d never had the chance, not even to see him pass his Highers. One day she’d had a stomach ache; ten days later, she’d been gone.
Leo shut his eyes. He wasn’t going to tell Rose that.
He rubbed his thumb over her cheek instead, swiping the sauce that had somehow gotten there.
But just the pasta without the sauce, no matter how well it’s cooked, can’t be eaten, just like the sauce without the pasta is only half a dish.
So, Rosie Bear, this time I am old enough and wise enough to ensure I can protect your mum. Like I couldn’t mine.
His random anecdote about his mother had certainly entertained Rose enough to eat. However, it had taken so long, the pasta he’d made for everyone had gone cold. The house was very quiet too. Where were his brothers?
He cleaned Rose up then guided her towards the living room. He found Alasdair on his phone, sitting alone on the couch. I’m sorry, Rose needed me to feed her.
Still, knowing he’d been telling Rose about his mother while his half-brother sat in the other room was embarrassing. Had Alasdair heard all that?
They had never been that close. Heck, his half-brothers had been to his house more times this week than in the last two years he’d lived here. And they didn’t particularly talk about personal stuff.
Yet his brothers were here, helping him with Molly.
Rose went back to her toys, having moved on from his story about his mother.
Alasdair put his phone down and grinned. You know, amongst all of us, I’d have thought Knox would be the one with a secret baby. Just something about that neat facade made me think, he’ll be the one with the basement full of secrets. But you? You’re the surprise.
Leo swallowed. Technically Molly and Rose weren’t his family.
He glanced at Rose wrangling her piggies and plethora of animals to represent a school.
Blood was thicker than water, especially in his mother’s large family.
But perhaps his blood was diluted from theirs, polluted by a man who couldn’t have cared less about his sons.
Sharing DNA with someone didn’t make them love you, be there for you, or be your family.
It was the love and the softer feelings that did.
Where’s Neil? Leo asked. The last thing he needed was to become more sentimental.
He’s gone to fetch his CD drive. Reckoned we’d use the time to do something useful. Alasdair eyed him, then the stairs. I also think I heard someone pottering about upstairs.
Leo nodded. Thank you for doing this. For helping me out.
Alasdair grinned. When I need you, have my back too and we’re even. Then his brother went back to his phone. Neil says he’ll be back in ten.