“I’m spending the day in the pool,” Zariah announced as she placed her napkin in her lap. “Ciana, do you want to paint each other’s nails later? I want to paint little sunshines on our toes so they match.”

“Sure! But only after I play with our cousins.”

“Oh yeah,” Zariah said, her brow pinched as she looked over at her brother. “Do not be mean to them. I want them to like us.”

“Me?” Zayne grunted, offended. “Look in the mirror when you say that, Zar. You’re the mean one.”

“Am not,” she muttered. “You’re the one who makes Sofia cry when she comes over.”

“I made her cry once,” he defended himself. “And only because she was being a little brat.”

Mom sat back, watching them as she sipped her coffee, a smile teasing at her lips. Seeing her like that always made my heart happy, and I pushed away the lingering fear from my dreams. I finished breakfast then took my book to my room to read until I had to play with Ciana and her cousins from California.

2

Ryan

By midafternoon, there was a quick, hard tap on my door, and I lifted my head from my book to see Papa walk into the room. He was wearing a suit and his hair was all disheveled, making it hard for me to know if he was in a bad mood and had been running his fingers through it or if Mom had been kissing him. When I noticed the smear of lipstick on his jaw, I knew it was because of Mom and tried not to make a face.

“Take a break. figlio. Let’s have a late lunch.” I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn’t hungry, but his eyes narrowed, telling me without words not to argue.

“Okay, Papa. I’ll wash my hands and meet you downstairs,” I assured him. He waited until I closed my book and started for my bathroom before retreating.

After closing my bedroom door behind me, I slowly made my way downstairs. As I did, I heard voices I didn’t recognize coming from the family room and tried not to let my muscles stiffen. I hated when they did that. It made my whole body sore for hours when they got all tense.

“How was your flight?” Zia Scarlett asked as I forced my feet to carry me closer.

“It was so much better than when we flew commercial the last time we came to New York,” one of the voices I didn’t recognize answered. I had to admit that her voice sounded nice. It was soft, kind of like Mom’s when she read to me at night. “With Nova’s immune system still compromised, it was a godsend not having to put her through all the germs of the airport and layovers. Thank you for sending the jet.”

“Absolutely.” Mom was quick to speak. “Anytime you decide you want to visit, even if it’s only for a day or two, don’t hesitate to tell us. We have two, so one of them will always be available.”