I walk past the kitchen, then stop, intrigued to see if she actually made the dessert that we joked about today. My pace quickens as I make my way over to the refrigerator and open the door. The bright light shines on my silhouette as I lean in to see the large glass bowl full of fresh tiramisu, and I smile. Pulling it out, I grab a spoon and take it upstairs with me.

Thank God for small delights.

It is late as I open the bedroom door and creep in slowly, putting the bowl of dessert next to my armchair before I notice that the bed is empty. Sheets still made, the room untouched from earlier today.

I walk to the bathroom and open the door, but find that empty too.

She isn’t downstairs, so I walk out the bedroom door and down the hall to Leo’s room, the only other logical place she might be. Stepping quietly inside, I spot her. Curled up on her side, on top of the blankets, lying next to Leo, his hand holding hers. The both of them are sleeping, looking peaceful together.

I haven’t seen this before. Angelina never stayed with Leo. Never nursed him or read him stories. She never played with him, ate with him. It was almost like she didn’t even want him. Maybe she didn’t. Maybe she was just doing her duty as a mob wife. She never spent much time with him at all, which is why her contacting me now to see him is so odd.

I watch them for a moment, looking at how perfect and peaceful they are. Little Red’s caring nature is something I have never experienced before. With parents who both left this earth when I was young and an arranged marriage that was a shambles before it even began, this maternal instinct and feminine energy she is bringing to my home, to my boy and to me, is thawing me right down to my bones.

She is all woman, and I fucking love it.

I spot the pile of sheets nearby and put two and two together. Understanding washes over me that Leo may have had an accident. He usually does when his mother starts to crawl back into his life, and I feel the anger beginning to well inside of me at how distressed she makes him.

Looking back at the bed, Little Red moves slightly, obviously feeling my presence.

“Hey,” she whispers quietly, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, before looking over at Leo to ensure she doesn’t disturb him.

I don’t reply, but rather walk over to her side of the bed and reach down, picking her up, her hands immediately circling my neck as I kiss her. Because I’ve been gone mere hours, but it feels like days.

“Everything alright?” I ask her quietly as my nose caresses her cheek and my lips kiss up her jaw.