Chapter Sixteen
Franco grew a little misty eyed watching the exchange. He’d known Mama would make everything better, but she’d far exceeded even his expectations.
“Let me text Paul and have him come get me.”
“Why don’t I drive you to the hotel, Mama?” Franco offered.
“Are you sure?”
“I need to go home, so it’s practically on the way.”
“If you insist, I’ll take you up on it. Let me tell Paul we’re on the way.” She sent off a quick text.
Mama turned to Rico again. “You know my number. Use it, day or night, if you need me.”
Rico grinned. “I’ll try not to become a pest.”
“You’re family. I’ll be hurt if you don’t call me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Rico’s smile grew bigger, warming Franco’s heart. “We wouldn’t want that, would we, Franco?”
“Absolutely not!”
Franco went to the kitchen to pick up a bag. “Mama, I washed all your dishes and put them in here.”
“Thank you, Franco. I can’t think of anything else I need to take.” She walked over to Rico and placed a kiss on both cheeks. “Take care of yourself too, Rico.”
“Your son keeps reminding me of that.”
She smiled at Franco. “That’s my bambino.”
Franco tried not to roll his eyes. All three of her younger sons got the bambino treatment, usually when they weren’t around the others. Only Rafe was exempt.
“Do you know what you have planned for tomorrow, Rico?” Franco asked.
“I think Gina and I need to go through some things—both to figure out what’s important for her to keep and just to reminisce a little more.”
“Don’t be hasty about throwing things away too quickly,” Mama cautioned. “I’ll run down to the Tattered Cover Book Store and see if I can get you that book tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. I appreciate it. And I’ll get Gina’s input on anything with sentimental value. It’ll be up to her to determine whether something evokes a memory or not, so it might take us a while.”
“Touching and going through her things will give you an opportunity to help Gina remember and connect with her emotions. I’m sure there’s no hurry, since you don’t plan on moving from here right away.”
“Yeah, I think familiarity at home and at school will help her transition into life without Michelle. But it’s hard to know what’s the right thing to do.”
“Trust your instincts, Rico. You’re making excellent, thoughtful decisions.”
“I hope so.”
“Trust your heart.”
Mama had said the same to Franco yesterday.
They said goodbye and Mama and Franco left.
On the drive to the hotel, Mama said, “I’m so glad Rico has you. I think he’s more likely to call you than me, but you let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Of course I will. You were perfect today. I know having you there meant a lot to Rico and Gina. Me too, for that matter, and I’m just on the periphery of what they’re going through.”
“Is that so?”
Franco didn’t want to take his eyes off the road so he couldn’t gauge what Mama meant by reading her facial expression.
“I care a lot about Rico and have grown fond of Gina in the past two days, but I’m not going to be affected by Michelle’s loss the way they will.”
“No, but because you care about them both, it will be your pain too when they hit rough patches.”
He had ached for them both last night and this morning. “I probably will be spending more time with them, at least in the near future. Gina likes me to help her with homework, particularly math.”
“You always were good at math. I never cared much for the subject, but Rafe and Papa were quite good at it too.”
“Gina’s pretty smart. She picks things up quickly when principles are explained to her. And it’s the least I can do to help. That and preparing meals for them when work permits.”
“How are things going at work? Do you still like it here?”
“Yeah. It’s been the perfect career move for me. I love investigating fires, even the tragic ones involving loss of life. Perhaps those more so than just the ones with a loss of property, especially when arson is involved. I want to catch the perps and help the DA put them away for as long as possible.”
Mama shivered. He never told her the details of his cases, even after they had been solved. Her empathy made her feel for everyone involved who’d been hurt.
“I can’t imagine how anyone could be evil enough to intentionally set a fire that would injure or kill someone.”
He wouldn’t talk with her about his latest case, either. That information was better kept away from the public.
“Are you involved in the investigation of the fire that killed that family earlier this week?”
Franco shook his head. Leave it to Mama to keep up with what was going on even in Denver. “Yeah. My team has been assigned to that one. It’s pretty ugly, and so far we’re stumped as to a motive or perpetrator.”
“I know you’ll find them, and I hope they’re thrown in jail for the rest of their natural lives.”
“Me too, Mama.” He intended to do his best to provide law enforcement with enough evidence to make that happen.
Franco used to take work home with him, but he hadn’t been able to concentrate on this one since he’d been at Rico’s. There hadn’t been any other suspicious fires with the same MO that would add to their serial arsonist’s fire progression. His nightmares about the Richards family had subsided lately too, although he hated the reason for the reprieve. He’d gladly take on the pain for Rico and Gina.
Paul met them at the drop-off area of the hotel, and they spoke briefly before Franco headed home. He almost wished he’d be staying overnight, but even after Rico established a bedroom there, the two of them couldn’t be open about their feelings for one another in front of Gina.
Franco regretted wasting so much time before becoming involved with Rico. His timing certainly had been unfortunate. Then again, he and Rico might not be having a sexual or romantic relationship now, but that didn’t mean their emotional bond wouldn’t grow immensely. Having the common goal of taking care of Gina’s needs, as well as Franco’s being there for Rico when things became tough, might help them grow even closer.
That’s something I’d like to have happen.
Rico held Gina’s hand as they stood in front of the door to Paul and Mama J’s condo a week later. Angie greeted them, giving Gina a hug and kiss without even acknowledging him.
“How are you, honey?” Angie asked the little girl. “It’s so good to see you again. Did you have fun shopping with Mama yesterday?”
The two started toward the kitchen, Gina chattering about making cookies with Angie sometime. As an afterthought, Angie seemed to suddenly remember Rico and turned briefly. “Hi, Rico! Welcome to the craziness! So glad you two could join us.”
She turned back to Gina again before he could respond, but then Franco came around the corner. “Hey. How’s it going?”
Rico hadn’t seen him since the Mass three days ago that had been offered up by Gina’s classmates and teacher. Franco had taken a few hours off work to be there; Paul and Mama J had attended too. Afterward, they had gone out to dinner. Thank God they hadn’t had a funeral. This memorial-type Mass had been hard enough.
“It’s good to be back at the pub, but I didn’t feel particularly useful. Everything is running more smoothly than ever. I’m not sure I’ll get back here until after this school year’s over. I have missed Aspen Corners, though.”
“You have? Isn’t it a little quiet?”
“There’s a lot to be said for peace and quiet.”
“If you say so. I’m pretty happy in Denver.”
They weren’t incompatible in many ways, but his need for small-town life could be a deal breaker. Eventually, Rico would want to move back home, but when would the best time be for Gina? Beginning or end of fifth grade? He supposed he’d have to consider staying in Denver, if that was what Gina needed. He’d have to talk with the school counselor and others to make sure he wasn’t going to scar her for life by uprooting her.
“Mama’s been grinning all morning,” Franco said, “telling us about her time with Gina yesterday. She just might want Gina to adopt her as a surrogate Nonna. I guess having four boys and only one daughter didn’t give her enough opportunities to do girly things.”
“Gina loves her new hairstyle. And I hope her closets and drawers will hold all the stuff Mama J bought her.” Rico wasn’t certain they would. “She really didn’t have to do that, but seeing Gina’s smile as she told me about everything they did makes possibly having to buy a new dresser worthwhile.”
“They’re so good together,” Franco agreed. “Mama said they had time for some girl talk over lunch at Angelina’s restaurant. Gina didn’t send up any red flags. She must be adjusting as well as possible.”
Rico shrugged. “It’s hard to say. She says all the right things when I ask her how she’s doing, but I’ve noticed a change in her personality. Not that it would be unexpected. Up until yesterday, though, she’s been a little subdued. Do you think being in the apartment where Michelle died is a good idea?”
“I’m not sure moving her to a new place would be any less traumatic,” Franco counseled. “She just needs time.”
“We’ll see how things are at the end of the semester and again at the end of the school year. But I don’t think I want to move her yet.”
Rico hadn’t started thinking of Michelle and Gina’s apartment as his home, though. He missed his own house. Gina seemed to like it when she was there this weekend.
“Have I told you lately that you’re a phenomenal guardian to Gina?”
Rico grinned. “A few times in the past week.”
“Well, I mean it and figured you could use the positive reinforcement. She’s very lucky to have someone who loves and cares so much about her wants and needs.”
“You, Mama J, and now Angie have all been a great help too. I’m totally chill with sharing her with all of you.”
Franco grinned. “Good, because just try to deprive us of seeing her and you might have a fight on your hands.”
“That little girl needs all the love she can get right now.”
Franco drew closer. “How are you holding up, Rico?”
Rico wasn’t about to break down and bawl, even if he felt like it. “Fine. I’m…adjusting.”
Franco stared at him long and hard, making Rico squirm a little. “Now, the truth, Rico.”
Damn it, don’t go into Dom mode on me, Sir.
Rico wanted to melt into Franco’s arms and be comforted.
“Yesterday was such a relief. I’m tired of putting up a strong front, even though I have to keep doing that for Gina. But being at the pub, working the bar, not having to worry about Gina because I knew she was under your mama’s care… I don’t want to sound selfish, but I’ve missed having that freedom these past few months.”
Franco closed the gap between them and gave him a much-needed hug. “Mama and I can take turns spending a day every weekend with Gina to give you a chance to breathe again.”
Rico felt a weight lifting off his shoulders. “I’d appreciate that.” He pulled away from the warmth of his hug to meet Franco’s gaze. “How did Michelle do it? She had Gina twenty-four seven and didn’t seem to be any worse for wear.”
“Michelle had Gina’s entire lifetime to adjust. You’ve been at it—what? A week? A few months, counting the time Michelle was sick?”
Selfishly, Rico wished he could have some time alone with Franco, but that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.
“Mama says if you don’t get in here, she’s going to serve dinner without you.”
Franco released Rico like he was a hot potato and both turned to find Matt in the doorway to what must be the kitchen. He came toward them and wrapped his arms around Rico too.
“Sorry to hear about your cousin, Rico.”
“Thanks, Matt.”
Their hug was much shorter than Franco’s, but when they pulled apart he saw Dakota standing behind Matt. She gave him a wink, and he grinned back at her. She must be enjoying Franco’s discomfort. Honestly, so was Rico. Maybe he’d wake up soon and stop hiding in plain sight.
Dakota came around to give him a hug too. “That little girl of yours is adorable. I can’t imagine starting out with a half-grown kid, but you hit the jackpot.”
“I sure did.”
Maybe he just needed to stop worrying about what had changed and embrace what could be with her.