Page 19 of Give & Take

I blink, clearing the image.

“I know this is the most important job in the world,” he says. “I knowthey’reyour whole world. If those two were my kids, they’d be my whole world, too.”

I pause at the way he’s phrased that. I can’t help but think of Mike, who swoops in every other month claiming to miss his girls so much but then somehow magically manages to forget every promise he fills their hearts with the moment he vanishes again.

“Lana,” Raphael says, and this time my name is like a little gift. A promise. Like he’s handling a fragile, invaluable cup filled to the brim with something precious. “I understand those girls are your heart, walking around outside your body. If you give me a chance—just a chance to interview, that’s all—I promise I’ll show you how much I’d respect that. And you.”

I’m so stunned at his choice of words, that for a moment, I honestly have nothing to say.

That’s exactly what Nova and Aurora are to me. My heart, on the outside.

“Just one chance,” he says. “Please.”

The tiniest fissure cracks through the forged iron wall around my heart. It’s the tiniest fracture—hairline.Nearly invisible. But it’s there. Somehow, I don’t think Raphael’s saying words he doesn’t mean.

Plus he looks so…earnest, and Nova wants him so badly.

And I’m so,sotired.

The door creaks open behind me, Nova peering out, looking almost scared.

The crack widens then, my resolve filling the gap like a tiny flood. I didn’t mean for her to see me so angry.

I take her hand, squeezing it briefly. I need her to know she’s loved, but not off the hook.

Then I turn back to Raphael. “Fine,” I say quietly. “An interview. That’s all.”

Raphael looks like the sun has filled his inner core, and for a moment, that crack splits wide open.

I jam the open pieces back together as best I can.

“It doesn’t mean anything more than an interview, Nova,” I say as I walk back in the house.

But as I pass through the foyer, I hear the soft clap of a high five behind me, and I almost—almost—smile.

Chapter 6

Lana

Fifteen minutes later, I’m pacing the living room while Raphael sits on one of the two armchairs across from me.

As much as I’ve tried to make this the toughest interview I’ve ever given, Raphael has done his worst.

And his worst is…incredible. He nailed every question I threw at him.

“What happens if I’m late getting home from work?” I’d asked.

“We make a game out of getting dinner prepped. But we get to go rogue. Off-menu.”

“How do you handle a bad attitude from a certain eight-year-old when she doesn’t get her way?” I gave a pointed glance to Nova, who I’d stopped bothering to make go upstairs after the first interview, just so I could have a witness to the insanity. Her eyes were on her clipboard, but I didn’t miss the little smirk as it flashed across her face. That girl.

“Thesame way I’d treat anyone having a bad day,” Raphael said. “I set limits, so everyone is respected, but I’m there for the feelings when those limits are hit.” He hesitated. “Of course if it was one of my little brothers, sometimes a little wrestling was called for. You know, to take his mind off his shit day.”

He glanced at Nova, who was taking notes like a perfect little assistant. “I mean crap day.”

“I already wrote that down,” Nova said. “Also, you get minus one for swearing.”

He has his CPR certification. His Bronze Medallion in lifeguarding. He’s licensed to drive a car, but also trucks with airbrakes, motorcycles, and has some certification called “Small Vessel Operator Proficiency.”

---