Like I hadn’t wanted to let him go that night.
“Camillo?” Kevin asked.
“What’s up?”
“Junior and I are hungry.”
“Oh, you guys are, are you?” he asked, grinning. “Well, how about we go get a snack?”
“Can we, sis?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah, can we, Miss Rose?” Junior asked.
“I don’t see why not,” I said, shrugging. “But I’m paying this time.”
“No, you’re not,” Camillo said.
“Yes, I am,” I said.
He shot me a look, just as Cassie walked up behind me.
“I think you’d better listen to the man,” she said. “He seems very serious about treating us to a day out.”
“I just don’t want him feeling like he has to pay for everything,” I said.
“I don’t,” Camillo said. “There’s a place called Trattoria’s. They have wonderful Italian teas and tea cakes. It’ll be a nice way to warm up with the downturn of the weather.”
“Camillo, please let me pay,” I said.
That stern gaze I was growing so familiar with descended upon me, making my legs shake as he held our daughter.
I was entranced by the way only a glance could make me feel and, suddenly, I found myself wishing it was already dinner time.
We followed him over to Trattoria’s and indulged ourselves in wonderful little cakes. Ana was shoving them in her mouth while Camillo smiled at her, and I just couldn’t get enough of their tea. I had three cups by the time we were done at the restaurant and I could tell the boys were starting to wind down, despite the sugar they’d just pumped into their stomachs.
“Want to take one home for later?” Camillo asked Ana.
“More cake, more cake!” Ana chanted.
“All right, why don’t you pick one out?” he asked. “Do you want vanilla?”
“No,” Ana said.
“Do you want chocolate?”
“No!”
“How about… the red one?” he asked.
“Red and blue,” Ana said.
“There isn’t a blue one, princess. Want two red ones?”
“Red and blue!” Ana said.
“Ana,” I said, scolding her. “There isn’t any blue.”
“But… blue.” Ana’s eyes began to water and I could see how much it hurt Camillo for her to be upset. He turned his entire body toward her and focused on her, his massive thumb dwarfing her cheek as he wiped his daughter’s tears away. Ana sniffled and I swore I could see Camillo’s heart shattering right behind his eyes.
“Why don’t we head on back to the house and relax before it’s time to cook dinner?” I asked.
“Hold on,” Camillo said as he stood.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“To get my daughter a blue tea cake.”
I watched him walk off and signal for the baker. He was talking to her, motioning to his daughter while I watched with wild eyes. I saw the baker smile and nod her head, smiling at him while she batted her eyelashes. She was flirting with him, I could tell and my toes curled with jealousy in my shoes just as Cassie leaned into my ear.
“Be careful, your green-eyed monster is showing,” she said jokingly.
“Shut up,” I said.
“All right,” Camillo said. “A red one and a blue one.”
“Red and blue! Red and blue! Red and blue!”
Ana continued to chant while a broad smile grew upon his cheeks. I shook my head and giggled, astounded at the fact that he’d somehow swayed the baker to give him exactly what his daughter wanted. On the one hand, she needed to be taught that sometimes she couldn’t get what she wanted. On the other hand, I was enthralled with the fact that Camillo was so determined to give his daughter whatever he could.
“Maybe we could put on a movie, hunker down in the living room, and get away from all the snow,” Cassie said.
“You don’t like the snow?” Camillo asked.
“Oh, I love it,” Cassie said. “Just not being out in it. Snowing is a spectator sport, as far as I’m concerned.”
Camillo laughed, his face lighting up, and I realized just how much I liked to see him smile.
“Miss Rose?” Junior asked.
“Yes, honey?”
“Do you have any popcorn at the house?” Junior asked.
“Of course, I do,” I said. “Would you like some when we get there?”
“I just really like eating popcorn when I watch a movie.”
“Well, I don’t just have popcorn,” I said. “I’ve got flavors, too. There’s caramel, white cheddar, and kettle corn flavors. Would you like one?”
“You have flavors?” Junior asked, his excitement showing.
“I do,” I said, giggling. “How about this? I’ll pop you a bag and split it up. That way, you can have all three flavors.”
“Thanks, Miss Rose!”
Junior threw his arms around me before I could even react and I looked over at Camillo. His eyes were wide and bright with shock, watching our every move as my arms embraced the little boy. I could feel his body shaking with excitement, ecstatic at the fact that I was going to let him have all three flavors of popcorn.
My heat broke as I thought about what this boy must’ve been through to be so excited about flavored popcorn.