Page 64 of And Everything In Between

Her mother shook his hand, eyes sharp but warm. “She doesn’t need my approval, and neither do you. Take care of my daughter, and we’ll be alright.”

“Yes, ma’am. That’s the plan.”

Myra gave him one more appraising look before turning to Paige. “Let me show you what I brought for your father’s meals this week. Everything’s prepped, just needs heating.”

As Paige followed her mother to the kitchen, Giovanni found himself alone with Perry. The older man adjusted himself in his recliner, eyeing Giovanni with that same sharp gaze his daughter had inherited.

“So,” Perry said, keeping his voice low enough that the women wouldn’t hear from the kitchen. “You got her outta my hair this time.”

“She loves you and you know that’s why she’s doing this and whatever else she can.”

“I know and I love that child too death but she gotta live a little. Promise you’ll do that.”

Giovanni settled into the chair across from him, leaning forward slightly. “Yes, sir I got her. I wanted to holla at you because your daughter is stubborn. How can I help my baby out by helping you out?”

“You serious?”

“Very,” Giovanni replied without hesitation. “Paige is... special. Anything she needs, I want to make sure she has it.”

Perry studied him for a moment longer, then nodded slowly. “She is. Too good for most. Including me. Probably, you too.”

Giovanni laughed but got serious, “Sir, how can I help you?”

“Well, you know I need a donor and I ain’t asking for you to do that, but maybe you can put my transplant information on one of your cars or something. I’ve lived a long life, I don’t need fancy home dialysis. I like my friends there. It’s my time to be with people that understand.”

“‘Preciate that. I got you.”

He gestured toward the TV remote. “You watch the game yesterday?”

The conversation shifted, but Giovanni recognized this for what it was. Perry’s way of taking his measure while giving them space to connect man-to-man. From the kitchen, he could hear Paige and her mother’s voices, sometimes rising with laughter, sometimes dropping to serious tones.

Family dynamics were complicated, but Giovanni found himself surprisingly comfortable in the middle of the Bishop family drama. It felt like a place he could belong.

The two held hands as they left her father's house. The visit had been good, surprisingly good. They'd sat and laughed, but now, Paige was ready for fresh air and a change of scenery.

Giovanni helped her into the truck but didn't rush to the driver's seat. Instead, he rested against the doorframe, eyes scanning her face like he was trying to read between the lines.

“You okay? Like for real, don't feed me bullshit.”

Paige didn't answer right away. She stared through the windshield, swallowing hard. For a moment, she was ten again, running cold water in the sink, pretending not to hear her parents fighting down the hall about what her father had doneand what it would do to their family. Now her mother was offering help and forgiveness.

“I think so. That was...a lot. In a good way. But still a lot.”

Giovanni reached in, brushing his fingers over her cheekbone.

“You held that moment with grace, P. I saw it hit you. I’m proud of you for lettin’ it.”

That made her eyes sting all over again.

“You gotta quit talking like that before I get used to it.”

“You should do that. I want you to. What you see in everyone else, I see in you.”

“Vanni, I’m still getting used to that, letting things settle in. Not having to act like it didn’t matter. Thank you for being patient.”

“Let it matter.”

“Okay.”

---