It took Luca showing her online images of girls wearing dresses with cute tennis shoes to convince Franny the outfit worked. All of it came together when everyone in the restaurant complimented her as they walked out.
Luca guided her through the hotel lobby and out into the courtyard. He scanned the tables, his eyes landing on his ex-wife.
She wore dark sunglasses and was on a cell phone.
When she caught sight of them, she raised her hand and got off her call.
Franny tugged on his arm until he leaned over. “Is that her?”
“Yes.”
They crossed the courtyard slowly. As they did, Franny moved closer and closer to Luca’s side.
“Oh, my . . . would you look at you. How grown-up you are.”
Franny placed a timid hand in the air. “Hi.”
Antonia knelt down, opened her arms. “Don’t you have a hug for your mama?” It was then that Luca noticed the high heels and the skirt she wore.
Franny pushed closer to Luca’s leg.
“Why don’t we give Franny some time here, Antonia.”
The smile on her face wavered as she stood without the hug. She removed her sunglasses and looked between the two of them. “Of course. Sit, sit. I ordered some snacks. I hope you’re hungry.”
Franny smiled. “You’re pretty.”
“Oh, baby, that’s so sweet of you to say. You are, too.”
“I told you that you looked like your mother,” Luca said.
“I can’t get over how big you are.”
“Nonna says she’s going to buy a shoe store because I go through so many pairs.”
Antonia laughed. “And funny.” She looked at Luca. “She’s so witty.”
A waiter showed up at the table with french fries, fried chicken pieces, and an order of mini tacos.
“What do you want to drink, precious?” Antonia asked Franny.
“Just water.”
“They have milkshakes and soda . . .”
Franny looked up at Luca for permission.
He wasn’t about to say no.
“Whatever you want, tesorina.”
Franny shook her head. “I don’t want a tummy ache.”
Luca looked at the waiter. “Water is fine.”
“How very grown-up of you.”
He watched his ex . . . “You don’t really drink sodas very often, do you, Franny?”
She shook her head. “That machine is gross.”
“It is.”
Antonia sat forward. “Well, eat, at least.”
Franny sat up a little more in her chair and reached for the fries.
“How do you like school?”
“I like it. Brooke says I’m really good at math.”
Antonia smiled. “Is Brooke your teacher?”
Franny shook her head, a french fry in her mouth. “She’s Papa’s girlfriend.”
“Oh?” Antonia looked directly at Luca. “I didn’t know your father had a girlfriend.”
“She’s pretty, too. She likes going to the park and playing Frisbee. Do you like going to the park?”
“I love going to the park.”
Luca pictured Antonia in the park with her high heels and tight skirt. Yeah, no.
The waiter returned with the waters and quickly disappeared.
“Why did you go away?”
Antonia opened her mouth, closed it.
She glanced at Luca before grabbing her sunglasses and putting them back over her eyes.
He couldn’t help but think she was hiding from the question.
“Well . . . your father and I got a divorce and . . .”
Luca narrowed his eyes at her, a warning to keep any blame off him. He’d shut this whole party down if Antonia thought she could pin this on him.
“。 . . and I thought it was best.”
Franny nibbled on the end of a chicken nugget. “I have a friend at school, his parents got divorced and his mama didn’t go away.”
Luca sat back, kept his mouth shut. The innocent and pure questions from his daughter were interrogation enough.
“I had my reasons.”
Franny put the chicken down and looked at her.
What Antonia didn’t know was that her daughter was better at waiting for an answer than any adult he knew.
“What reasons?”
Luca felt, more than saw, the glare coming from behind Antonia’s sunglasses. “Well, sweetheart, I don’t think today is the time to go over this. I’m sorry I left, but I’m home now and hope I can make it up to you.”
Franny had something to say, but she was holding it back.
Antonia leaned over and brought out a colorful gift bag from her side. “I bought you something.”
“It’s not my birthday.”
“I know, honey. I was there. But I missed your birthday, so . . .” She pushed the present closer.
Franny reached for the gift, pulled the paper from the top, and unearthed a Barbie doll.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
Luca stared at his ex-wife. He supposed if he were in her shoes, he’d be buying Franny gifts as well, but it hurt to watch. She was trying to buy her daughter’s love.
The question was . . . would it work?
“To us!” Mayson raised a glass, and Brooke and the others followed.
“We did it.” Kayleigh seemed surprised.
Brooke looked between the four of them feeling justified and happy, but more than that, just thankful it was over. At least the two weeks away from home.
She’d had three phone calls from her father. All for things like the haircut he felt he desperately needed, to a toilet seat raiser that would make his life easier, to a legitimate need for an eyedrop medication that she then had to spend two hours on the phone to fill.
“Now the work really begins,” Nayla told them.
“Could you be more of a killjoy?” Mayson asked.
“You know I’m right.”
“We’re here to celebrate getting the client, Nayla. We are all aware we’re back to work on Monday.” Brooke couldn’t wait to put Nayla in her rearview mirror. With the four of them working together on the job, they should have all the design needs for the client within the month. Then poof, Nayla and Brooke never had to work together again.
If Portia insisted, Brooke would agree only if she were the one in charge. Nayla was good at her job, but the woman didn’t bend well. And she’d forgotten there is no I in team.
“When are you headed home?” Mayson asked Brooke.
“I changed my flight to tonight since we finished early.”
He turned to Kayleigh. “What about you? Any chance we can grab a ride to the airport tomorrow?”
Brooke glanced at Nayla, who looked away. “Are you sticking around?” Brooke asked.
“I am. I haven’t been out of Manhattan much. I thought I’d rent a car and take the weekend to see what’s around here.”
Brooke was surprised to hear that, considering Nayla seemed to eat, sleep, and breathe this job.
“Have fun.”
“Find a cowboy,” Mayson added.
His way of saying Nayla needed to get laid.
Brooke glanced at her watch. “I have to break this up. I will see you all on next Tuesday’s Zoom meeting.” She stood and pushed her chair back.
“Safe flight,” Mayson said.