“I’m not in the habit of stealing my brothers’ girlfriends,” he said gruffly.
“You’re also not in the habit of falling in love with them either, but...” she let her hands hit the arms of her chair, “here we are.”
“What makes you think I’m in love with her?”
“Besides the fact that most every man who meets her falls in love with her, you mean?” Rena snorted an amused sound. “If you weren’t struck the minute you saw her, all the chatting you did with her for the rest of the afternoon surely did it.”
“Which is what I want to know about- the things she said, the way she reacted to what we’re doing here,” Aaron waved toward the work covering the square conference table. “It’s like she really cares about it.”
“Well of course she cares about it,” Rena left the table to top off her coffee. “What kind of person wouldn’t care about helping the poor?”
“Rena, you know I didn’t mean-”
“Let me tell you something, Aaron Tesano,” Rena set down her mug so firmly it clattered on the table and she rounded on her research partner. “Most people are nowhere near what they try to portray themselves as on the outside. Giselle is. All that beauty you see? Trust me, there’s ten times as much on the inside.”
Aaron nodded slowly, looking regretful. “I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was angry that she cares.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Rena took her mug to the credenza. “Of course I don’t think that, especially not of you.”
“And my brother? What about him?” Aaron’s tone was almost whisper soft. “Do you think she’s safe with him? Forgive my phrasing here, but he’s kind of the family slut, you know?”
Rena laughed. “Everybody knows Gabriel’s reputation, Aaron.” A thoughtful light crept into her dark eyes then. “I haven’t seen them together, but I know people who have. From what they say, it sounds like your brother is as in love with her as you are. So yes, I think she’s safe with him.”
“You think that’ll be the case if he ever finds out whatever it is you won’t tell me about her?”
Rena remained mute that time. Aaron nodded, stood and suggested they call it a night.
~41~
“You’re already back home? I thought we were going to the Stonewall?”
Stone sighed. “Sorry for the misunderstanding, Z.”
Long silence met the apology before Zachary Billups replied. “How long will you keep this lie going for your family? For yourself?”
“I gotta go, Z. I’m not in a part of the house where we can talk.”
“Convenient,” Zachary spat.
“‘Night, Z.” Stone put the receiver down and stared at the phone for a while. Then, making fists and bringing them to his forehead, he settled to one of the chairs at the kitchen table.
He was still there when the sound of humming interrupted the silence and he immediately shifted into a more casual pose.
He needn’t have bothered. The change in posture wasn’t nearly enough to fool his mother.
“Buona sera amore,” Athena’s voice carried the unmistakable chord of motherly adoration and concern. She went to Stone where he sat along the side of the oval table and raked her fingers through his hair.
“What’s wrong, my love?”
“Nothing Ma,” Stone took his mother’s hand and kissed her wrist. “I’m just sitting here is all.”
Athena smiled as though she’d expected the reply. She put a kiss to his forehead and resumed her humming as she returned to the stove. “Hungry?”
“No Mama, I’m just sitting, like I said.”
“Of course you’re hungry,” Athena said as if Stone had said nothing at all. “You didn’t eat here tonight, did you, bello?”
Stone couldn’t resist the smile taunting his mouth. “No, Mama.”
“Well then, you are most assuredly hungry.”
Stone gave into quiet laughter then. “You know, there are places where a person can find a decent meal besides home?”
“Ah! Decent yes. Comparable...I doubt,” Athena joined Stone when he laughed. “Don’t worry, I only came down for more of the soup I made tonight. It won’t take long to heat.”
“Soup in summer, huh?”
Athena shrugged off the probe. “I had the taste for it. There is also fresh bread with whipped butter.”
“Ma, you don’t have to go to the trouble-”
“Shh!” She ordered. “No trouble,” she slanted him a wink across her shoulder. “And don’t worry, bello. I won’t fatten you too much-you will still be a dreamboat for the girls.”
Stone sighed.
Athena worked at the stove a while longer. When the soup was reheating and the large oven was low set to warm the bread, she joined her son again.
“Do you remember the day you broke the lamp in your father’s office?”
