“Yes, I do. I’m sorry this happened to your precious Milo.”
“Thank you, but please, let’s stick together through this rather than going our separate ways. That’s not going to fix anything. It’ll just give them what they want. I need you with me to get through it.”
“I’m here.”
“And you’ll stay?”
She glances at the house and then back at me. “Yes, I’ll stay.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me for letting you keep me safe.”
“I’m deeply appreciative that I won’t have to be out of my mind with worry for you and Mateo while I’m dealing with everything else.”
Her small smile is like the sun emerging from behind the darkest of clouds. It gives me the tiny bit of hope I need to press forward. “Wait for me.”
I get out of the truck and go around to help her down, keeping my arms around her longer than necessary out of a desperate need for comfort only she can provide.
She hugs me tightly. “I’m here for you, Nico. For anything you need. All you have to do is ask.”
“I don’t know what I need, but this feels pretty damned good.”
I’m not sure how long we stand there, taking and giving comfort, before my neighbor Josh interrupts us.
“Nico. I heard about Milo. Is he… Is he okay?”
I release Sofia and turn to Josh while keeping an arm around her. “He made it through surgery. We’re not sure about anything else yet.”
“God. It’s so awful. Did the cops get the guy who shot him?”
“I haven’t heard yet, but they know who they’re looking for.”
When he glances at Sofia, I say, “This is my girlfriend, Sofia. Sofia, this is Josh. He lives next door.”
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
“You, too. Let me know if I can do anything. I’ll cut your grass and clean the pool. Whatever you need.”
I release her to give him a bro hug. “Thanks, man.”
“Milo is the best,” Josh says, his voice breaking. “We all love him around here.”
“Everyone loves him.”
“Yeah, for sure. Text me if I can do anything, okay?”
“I will. Thanks again.” I guide Sofia inside through the garage and into the kitchen, where Gladys and Mateo are having breakfast.
Mateo gets up and comes to his mother, his gait crooked and unsteady, but his determination to get to her fierce.
She hugs him tightly. “How’s my best guy today?”
“Good, Mama. Gladys says I can swim after breakfast if I eat all my pancakes.”
“You’d better get back to it, then.”
“I made enough for you guys, too,” Gladys says, gesturing to the stove.