Daniele watched me, open-mouthed. I stroked Loulou’s fur and his face filled with longing. Remembering Cassio’s words about her snapping, I decided not to let him touch her for now. Both needed to heal before they could really become friends.
Daniele fell into step beside me as I crossed the living room to the French doors. The cold November air wafted into my face. Staying inside, I set Loulou down on the terrace. For a moment, she didn’t move, only raised her nose and let the wind tug at her fur. Then she stormed off. My heart skipped a beat thinking she was trying to run away. Instead, she just ran, twisting and turning like a hare. She ran and ran and ran, as if she was delirious with her newfound freedom.
Daniele stood close to me, following everything with childish wonder.
I squatted beside him, even as the uncomfortable fabric of my pants made it difficult. “She’s happy, see?”
He nodded but didn’t take his eyes off Loulou. Daniele and I stayed like that for almost ten minutes, and Loulou only stopped once to pee before dashing off again. But I was getting cold. Straightening, I pushed two fingers between my lips and let out a whistle. Daniele’s head snapped up to me, his little mouth falling open.
I whistled again, even though Loulou was already trotting my way. “Do you want to learn how to whistle like that?”
Daniele nodded slowly.
“Then I’ll teach you.”
Loulou wagged her tale hesitantly, but she kept a few steps between Daniele and her. I didn’t know if something had happened or if she’d just never learned to deal with children, but I hoped I could fix both of them.
Daniele and I entered the kitchen. The room smelled of bacon and freshly brewed coffee, and my stomach tightened at once. I hadn’t eaten much last night, too nervous before coming to my new home. Now I was starving. Loulou was a couple of steps behind us, her tail tucked between her legs, obviously overwhelmed. I knew how that felt…
Sybil shook her head. “That’s not good. The master won’t like it.”
I only smiled. “Thank you for making us breakfast.” Simona already sat in a highchair, but there was a second one beside it.
Sybil set the breakfast casserole down on the table then grabbed Daniele, who started screaming. Despite his struggling, she took the tablet from him and tried to push him into his highchair. Domenico got up as if to help her restrain him.
“No,” I said firmly. Both of them gave me looks. Elia remained, watching me.
“He won’t eat if he’s not confined to his chair,” Sybil said.
I took Daniele from her, which wasn’t easy due to his struggling, then I set him down on a chair. “Do you want a big boy chair?”
He quieted. Then his eyes darted to the tablet.
“No,” I said softly. “You can have your tablet after breakfast, but none of us are playing games while we eat. You’re a big boy, Daniele. That’s why you can’t play during meals and why you’re allowed to sit on a grown-up chair.”
His eyes met mine and for a moment. The sadness in them seemed too big for someone that small to carry. I swallowed. Without thinking, I stroked his head. He stilled. Clearing my throat, I straightened and pushed his chair a bit closer to the table. “Can you get a pillow?” I asked Domenico. He disappeared and returned a couple of minutes later with a throw pillow.
“I have to lift you so Domenico can put the pillow on the chair so you’re taller, okay?”
Daniele gave a small nod. I grabbed him under the arms and raised him then quickly lowered him on the pillow. Now his head was level with the table.
I took the seat beside him. Sybil gave me a small thankful nod before she turned back to Simona, who refused to be spoon-fed.
“Eat,” I told my bodyguards before I scooped a bit of the casserole on my plate. “Do you want to share a plate with me?” I asked Daniele, holding out a fork to him. After a moment of consideration, he took it. I pierced a slice of sausage and stuffed it in my mouth. “It’s good. Try it.”
Daniele only poked the food with the fork. Soon Loulou hovered under the table, obviously hoping for scraps. Before I could stop him, Daniele threw a slice of sausage on the floor, which Loulou scarfed down at once.
“Daniele!” Sybil exclaimed, but I raised my palm.
Daniele jutted his chin out and one look at his eyes told me he was about to retreat into himself if I didn’t do something.
“If you want to feed Loulou, you have to eat too. How about this? For every bite you give her, you need to eat one in turn?”
Daniele considered that for a moment before he gave a quick nod then speared the smallest slice of sausage on the plate and pushed it into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, then tossed another scrap down for Loulou.
Sybil sighed. “The master won’t like that. The dog isn’t supposed to be in the kitchen, much less get food from the table.”
It wasn’t ideal, but if this bargain got Daniele to eat, I’d take it until I could figure out why he acted the way he did and could fix it. I almost laughed. How was I supposed to fix traumatized children? A neglected dog?
By trying. That was all I could do, and I would try, because Simona, Daniele, and Loulou, and maybe even Cassio needed me.
After breakfast, Loulou, sated by more sausage and eggs than a small dog should have, curled up under the table to sleep. Domenico and Elia went ahead to prepare the cars for our shopping trip while Sybil was busy cleaning Loulou’s room, which
