Page 35 of Between Us

“Hello,” she said with a smile, walking past him and toward the house. She knew him by face, though she couldn’t remember his name.

High-heeled sandals clicking on the pavement, Alessandra entered through the open gate, and her eyes immediately fell on Ronnie, crouched down beside her mother’s SUV, checking one of the back tires. The sound of her heels caught his attention, and he looked up, his face breaking into a grin when he realized who the newcomer was.

“I'll be damned.” He stood, his tall form unfolding to its full six foot five inches of solid muscle. Despite being in his late forties, he still looked as if he could crush a man with his bare hands. His gaze flitted over her face and his grin slowly melted into a flat line. “You good,shortcake?”

Alessandra was by no means short, but the nickname had stuck ever since she was a child. “I'm great. How have you been, Ronnie?”

He shrugged, gesturing to the car beside him. “Same old, same old.”

“How’s Linda?”

His smile reappeared at the mention of his wife. “She’s good. I’ll tell her I ran into you.”

“Tell her ‘hello’ from me.”

“Will do. How’s the husband?”

Alessandra understood the double meaning of that question. She smiled because she knew it came froma good place since Ronnie was practically family. “He’s alright. I have to head inside, but it’s good to see you.”

“You too, shortcake. Take care of yourself, you hear?”

With a wave goodbye, she walked up to the front door and stepped inside without bothering to knock. She didn't know what had alerted Gabriella of her presence, but a moment later, her mother came barreling down the hall, spilling into the foyer with her arms extended.

“Bambina!” she gushed, pulling her daughter into a tight hug. “Oh, I have missed you so much. How is that man treating you?”

Alessandra drew back from her mother's embrace to look at her face. “I missed you, too, Mamma. How are you?”

“Worried sick about you,figlia mia.” Gabriella stroked her long hair, giving her a gentle smile. “You look well.”

“I'm fine, really. Roman is good to me.”

“Is he truly? You're not lying to your mother, are you?”

Alessandra fought an eye-roll. “I promise everything is okay. He's a decent man.”

It didn’t matter she’d already told her mother that about three hundred times over the phone; Gabriella still had her doubts when it came to her new son-in-law. Which Alessandra supposed was normal, given the family he came from.

“Good, good.” Gabriella nodded, looking relieved. “Come, let's sit down. If I knew you were coming, I would have made thatpanettoneyou like so much.”

“Stop fretting, Mamma.” She followed her mother into the living room. “Is Papà home?”

“No, he’s out. I don't know when he will be back.”

Happy that she wouldn’t have to deal with her father, Alessandra sat on the couch with a lighter heart. “I texted Matty earlier. He said he'll stop by to see me while I'm here.”

“Don't get your hopes up,bambina. You know how busy he is.”

Alessandra nodded but didn’t take her mother’s reserved observation too seriously. Despite the six-year age difference, she and Matteo had always been close, even as children. She knew he was going to do everything he could to see her. “Can I get a glass of lemonade?”

“Sure,amore. I’ll be back in a minute.”

As her mother left the room, Alessandra grabbed her phone and glanced at the time. It was half past two in the afternoon. Opening thelatestconversation with her brother, she texted him again.

I'm here. Are you coming?

His reply came a few seconds later.

On my way.

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