Page 109 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

It wasn’t as if she and Luca hadn’t already tiptoed around this.

“That you look settled,” her mother said, smiling. “Happy. You haven’t looked like this in a long time. I’m not sure ever.”

Her throat tightened like she was choking on her food, though she hadn’t taken another bite. “I didn’t realize I was being evaluated.”

“You always are,” Garrett said cheerfully. “It’s the price of being the favorite.”

She rolled her eyes and picked up her napkin to toss at him. It didn’t go far. “I am not the favorite.”

Garrett laughed. “You’ve always been the favorite and you know it.”

She really didn’t.

It wasn’t like she always tried to put herself as center of attention.

She didn’t even start until Garrett got sick.

A kid with cancer... when their father was an oncologist.

Thyroid cancer caught early, aggressive surgery and medication for life, but he’d had no problems since.

During that time though, to take the attention off of her brother, she tried to make him laugh.

Tried to get everyone to see how funny she was, and not pity Garrett, who didn’t want it.

Her brother knew what she was doing without words.

Maybe they got even closer during that time, and it only strengthened their bond.

She shook her head, smiling despite herself. “I’m not making any grand declarations to him or you all. I’m just showing up and being me. So is he. That feels like enough for now.”

Her mother reached over and squeezed her hand. “That’s how the good ones start.”

“I think so. I hope he does too.”

“You’re not joking now,” Garrett said seriously.

“Not everything has to be funny. You know his history.”

“So you’re nervous,” her father said. “That maybe it’s too much for him too soon?”

She had been, but maybe wasn’t so much now.

“It’s crossed my mind a few times. It’s not like I think he’s going to have a change of heart about me or being in a relationship. Nothing like that. He’s said it before, that he’s not meant to be someone to take relationships lightly.”

“That’s good,” her mother said. “That has to make you feel better.”

“It did. It does. But he’s older than me. Thirty-eight.”

“It’s not that much older,” her mother said.

“He thought he’d be somewhere else in his life,” she said. “That’s all I’m saying.”

“And you don’t want to worry he’s rushing for what he thought he’d have with someone else?” Justine asked. “Is that bothering you?”

She hadn’t realized it until those words were said.

Until she was reminded that her sister-in-law was pregnant and she’d tell Luca tonight.