Lencia is so fucking vivid and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The way she overpowers my every thought. The way my breaths deepen every time she steps into Notti Designs. The way I always feel happily secure when I’m with her.
Today, Friday, the twins wake up to the delicious smell of blueberry pancakes. It’s a rarity during the week with school, but today there’s a reason to celebrate.
Oscar helps me make the last batch as Slonne steals my phone and puts on her playlist of favorite songs. We’re all dancing to the hot mix just after 7 A.M. I lift my son off the counter and we all get so into the Latin beat that the pancakes almost burn. Almost. We continue laughing and dancing, and I send an impromptu video of us to Lencia.
Giulio: Getting our Friday off to a good start…Wish you were here!
She replies with a selfie of her in Helena’s kitchen with her sister, Daisy, and Weston in the background. She’s a gorgeous natural beauty with a top bun and grins while pointing to a pan on the stove with batter. She’s making pancake too!
Valencia: Ooo, do I smell competition? Great minds think alike. Our Shakira tunes are better than yours!
Giulio: In your dreams! See you at the office—the kids say hi! x
Valencia: Kiss them for me! See you then! x
Seconds after the twins walk into school, I bump into Helena saying goodbye to Daisy in the parking lot.
“Hey, stranger!”
My sister-in-law whips around and begins laughing at the grin on my face. “Oh my god, it’s you! This is so crazy. It’s never happened before!”
“It’s definitely one for the books.” I crouch down and Daisy runs into my arms. Spinning her around in circles with me, her giggles provoke a small chuckle of my own. “Morning, Diasy! I heard you made some killer pancakes this morning. Slonne, Oscar, and I made some too.”
Daisy smiles. “Yes, Aunt Val showed us! But ours were SO much better!”
My next question is still directed at my goddaughter, but my gaze averts to Helena. “Really, angel? That’s impossible without the SUGAR!”
Helena dramatically sighs. “Look, I put in a little cinnamon. I’m allowing that at least!”
“This fad is going to decline in no time. When it does, I’m going to smother you with homemade cannoli and you’re going to love every second of it, you watch.” I wink, loving the amusement on her face whenever I tease her on the subject.
“Ahhh…don’t talk about cannoli! I’m feeling weak and in need of sugar today!”
“Well, well, well. Is that so?”
“Yay! Cannoli!” Daisy’s cheers, her mouth meeting my ear as she asks in a soft whisper. “Can you make me some this weekend and not tell my mom? Pleeeeeease, Zio Giulio!”
“Sounds like a plan!” I press a kiss on her cheek before setting her down on her feet as she grins in victory. “Have a good day at school, darling!”
“I will! Bye, Zio Giulio! Bye, Mommy!” And with one final hug from her mother, she skips off into the school.
I grin over at Helena whose eyes don’t sway from me. “I think I deserve a ‘hell yes’ for converting Daisy to my side of that sugar debate in less than sixty seconds.”
She laughs, crossing her arms over her chest. Her hair sways in the cool morning breezy wind and I can’t help but notice the brighter than usual nice, healthy glow on her. “Look at you, Giulio. You settled down on a date with my sister and now you’ve become the happiest man alive.”
“That’s how Lencia makes me feel.”
My sister-in-law nods. “I can happily report she was the same this morning! I’m so happy for both of you! The moment I saw her this morning, it was like she had a sex glow without the sex.”
“I’m happy too, Helena…Speaking of sex, am I wrong or do you have that glow too?”
Helena’s cheeks blush at my words and she concentrates on a spot beside us, that growing beam impossible to ignore. “What? Me? No, I don’t have a glow…”
My jaw drops when she can’t quite meet my gaze and falls silent. That only means one thing. “Oh my god, you do! Whose ass do I have to bust?”
“Ugh, why can’t I ever keep a secret from you? I swear you notice everything, dude! Not even Lencia picked it up yet. Why are you acting like we’re on the Real Housewives?”
“Not Real Housewives; we’ve gone full on terminator because I want to make sure whoever the guy is, has the best of intentions. Now tell Zio Giulio, who do I have to pull aside today and warn that they’ll be answering to me if they hurt you in even the slightest?”
“Nobody! Goodbyeeee, I have to go to work!” Helena laughs and pulls me in a goodbye hug. “And for the record…it’s nobody, really. So please don’t tell Lencia anything about it. It’s honestly nothing at all. Thanks anyway, Al Capone.”
“Anytime, Bonnie.”
On the way to my car, I notice Zoe walking towards the gates with Samuel. She takes one glance my way, frowns, and lowers her eyes to the pavement…. Well, that was strange.
“Giulio!”
Every bone in my body freezes to a halt…that voice…I know it. No, it couldn’t be…Glancing over my shoulder, nobody is there but then for a second time I hear that wicked, husky shout.
“Giulio! Over here!”
I glance back over the roof of my car, my eyes narrowing down in confusion. Mind games. This can’t be real. I can’t be hearing my father’s voice. He’s dead. I was right there when it happened…it’s all in my head.
“Giulio, there you are!”
The hell!
My heart picks up speed as I turn to my side, witnessing a man walking with a little boy. Oh. As they pass me, the father explains something to the son…whose name is Giulio…my head needs a minute to take that in. God Damn, he sounded so
