He poked her in the ribs, and Gloria laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’m a catch,” he whispered back.

“A very nice gift,” Sara decided. “We will see if you are also a very nice man.” But the twinkle told Aldo which way she was leaning in that judgment.

“You got a lotta color in here,” Ina announced at full volume, carrying her glass of sangria into the living room. Of course, anything a shade deeper than beige was a lot of color for his mother’s tastes.

They dined on pork chops, colorful vegetables, and wine around Sara’s round table. Music, something bright and Latin, played in the background.

Aldo felt a foot on his shin, and Gloria sent him a slow wink. She was relaxed and enjoying herself. He loved seeing her this way. Carefree and happy. He wanted more nights like this, more dinners like this. More of everything with her.

“So, Sara, what are a couple of hot single moms like us doing dateless on a Saturday night?” Mrs. Moretta wondered at stadium volume.

“Sometimes the world makes no sense,” Sara pointed out, topping off Ina’s glass of wine.

“Maybe we should sign ourselves up for that speed dating thing down at the lodge next week?”

* * *

Aldo insisted on helping clean up while Gloria showed his mother the flower garden in the backyard. He could sense his mother’s garden envy and prayed she’d hire a professional with a rototiller this time instead of enlisting him to expand her own flower beds.

Sara took the plates he rinsed and stacked them neatly in the dishwasher. “Thank you for helping with the cleanup. I can’t decide if you’re polite or just kissing up.”

He really liked her. “Let’s call it a combination of both.”

She picked up her wine and sampled it. “I like your honesty.”

“I love your daughter.”

Her smile was slow and knowing. “Good. You will marry her and make sure she is safe and happy for the rest of her life then.”

“That’s where my head is at,” Aldo acknowledged. Saying the words, admitting what he really wanted, felt…good. He’d been dancing around it long enough.

Sara gave him another hard-won smile of approval over the rim of her glass. “I hope she doesn’t make you work too hard for it.”

“I can be patient,” he said. And he would.

“Thank you for showing my daughter what a real man is,” Sara said, pressing a quick kiss to both his cheeks.

He felt himself flush at the praise.

“Now, pour yourself a little more wine and go kiss my daughter in the dark. Give her a little romance.”

69