Page 144 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca
“I said the same thing.”
“I’m not going to let him lose that hope. Not while we are together.”
“I believe you. Is it too much to ask if you can let me know how he is doing without me bugging him too much?”
“Of course. I’ve got your number now.”
“I told him I’d check in later and he said I could.”
“I’ll do the same. I’m glad you reached out.”
“Me too,” Martha said, then hung up.
Her fingers itched to call Luca now, but what she had to do was play it like she’d planned.
To keep their routine going.
To give him that space but at the same time, let him know she had him.
But even though they had talked briefly on her check-in call, hours later, when she left the hospital, rather than go home, she drove to his house without telling him.
The lights were on, so she parked and rang the bell.
The curtain moved, he looked out and went to the door.
“Hi,” she said, walking right past him into the living room.
“I didn’t know you were coming over,” he said, confusion showing through exhaustion.
“It was a last-minute decision.”
His laptop was out, his hair was standing up on end from running his fingers through it. The question was, was it in grief or frustration? Or some other emotion like all the ones slamming into her body today.
“Are you staying the night? You don’t have a bag.”
“I’d like to and can go home and change in the morning. I wanted to see how you’re doing.”
He sounded better when they talked earlier, but there was a part of her that wondered if he was just really good at hiding it.
“I’m better.”
“Am I interrupting anything?”
Her eyes were on the box on the floor.
“I’m cleaning things out.”
“What things?” she asked carefully.
“Pictures. Zoe’s parents gave me copies of what they had when we lost it all in the fire.”
“Can I look through them? I hope you aren’t getting rid of them because of me? I’m okay if you keep them.”
He hesitated a beat, yanked her into his arms and just held her. Held her tight.
As if she were his anchor when in actuality, he was hers.
His hand went to the back of her neck, massaging it, his lips pressing to her forehead.
