When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos, #1)(83)

“You’re not.”

“I know that. But a judge might see it differently. It’s called being responsible with money, Dad. I know it’s a foreign concept for you.”

“Hey!” But he was smiling.

She winked at him.

“I talked to J-Jay.”

Jay was a friend from Upland.

“That’s great. How is he?”

“He said he will, uhm . . . v-visit.”

“That’s great, Dad. I told you, it’s not a prison.”

Her father looked out the window. “I know.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT


Luca had the staff on alert.

When Brooke and her father arrived, one of the waiters told him she was there, and he rushed to the back door to meet them.

He saw her standing beside the passenger door, walker in one hand, the other on her father’s shoulder.

“I don’t need this,” Joe said to Brooke.

“Humor me. I can’t have you falling tonight.”

Luca grinned as they argued and walked toward the back door.

Brooke glanced at him, already looking frazzled. He saw a shoulder rub in her future.

“Why are we w-walking in-in here?”

Luca stepped toward them. “I know it looks like the service entrance, Mr. Turner, but it’s the family entrance.”

Joe looked up, saw him, let go of the walker, and stood taller. “You are Luca.”

“I am.”

Joe reached out a hand.

While he did shake it, Luca remembered that the man’s stroke had affected his right side. Still, Joe looked him straight in the eye, and he had to admire that.

“You’re the one, one . . . sleeping with my daughter.”

“Dad!” Brooke yelled, but started laughing.

“What? Am I wr-wrong?”

“Okay, Dad. Listen, yes, that’s funny. But none of that in front of Franny. She’s a kid.”

Joe waved Brooke away. “I know. I had a st-stroke. I haven’t lost it com-completely.”

Brooke blew out a breath. She looked at Luca. “I warned you.”

“You’re not wrong, Mr. Turner, but I promise my intentions are good.”

Joe looked at him.

Then Brooke.

Made a point of looking down.

“I don’t see a r-ring.”

“Oh my God!”

Luca laughed.

“Don’t take advice from a man with four divorces under his belt.”

Joe shrugged. “She’s not wr-wrong.”

Luca was still laughing. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“It smells good.”

Luca walked slowly beside them as they made their way through the staff portion of the restaurant and toward the grotto.

Franny ran their way, dodging a waiter.

Luca stared at her.

She blinked those big brown eyes of hers, and he shook his head. God help him when she asked him for a car.

She stopped in front of Joe. “Hi.”

“Dad, this is—”

“I know wh-who this is.” He smiled. “You’re Franny.”

Franny looked between father and daughter. “You look like Brooke.”

“I couldn’t de-deny her.”

“Dad!” Brooke’s voice held a warning. And if that wasn’t enough, she flicked him with a finger.

“Hey. Elder abuse.”

Luca swiped a hand over his face and down his jaw. This was going to be a very interesting night.

“C’mon. Everyone is waiting.” Franny walked ahead of them.

Brooke whispered something to her father that Luca couldn’t hear.

Luca glanced at her, mouthed It’s okay.

They stepped into the grotto and his mother moved in. “Mr. Turner. Finally, we meet you. I’m Mari D’Angelo. Mother of this clan.”

Joe smiled. Looked around the room. “A pl-pleasure. I don’t speak as well . . . as good.” Joe shook his head. “I had a stroke.”

Luca’s mother smiled. “We know. Take your time. We have all night. And many more, I’m sure.”

Joe moved the walker aside and used the backs of the chairs to walk beside Mari.

“Dad.”

“I’m fine.”

Luca moved next to Brooke, who watched her father like he’d watched Franny taking her first steps.

“He’s stubborn.”

“Hmmm. I know where you get it now.”

Brooke stopped. “Wait.”

“Kidding.”

“No, you’re not.”

Luca shrugged.

She flicked him with the same “elder abuse” she’d delivered to her father.

“My daughter, Chloe, and son Giovanni.”

Mari pulled out a chair. “Here. Sit next to me so we can talk.”

“Zio Gio e Zia Chloe,” Franny said.

“That’s Uncle Gio and Aunt Chloe, Dad. Franny practices her Italian at Sunday night dinners.”

Luca winked at his daughter. “We can make an exception tonight.”

“Okay.” Franny bounced into a chair opposite the one pulled out for Joe.

The entire grotto was cleared for their family dinner, not something they normally did, but considering the occasion, Luca and his mother agreed.