Page 87 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

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LIGHTEN THIS CONVERSATION

The next week, Gabriela pulled open a drawer at Luca’s, looking for one of his T-shirts since she’d just spilled coffee on hers.

They’d agreed that they weren’t going to see each other until their shifts were done.

His ended at nine last night and he asked if she’d come over and stay the night.

Yep, she packed a bag and off she went. It wasn’t like they were going to get up and go to the gym on Sunday. She never went on the weekends and he said he wouldn’t either.

And his playfulness in the kitchen just now while cleaning up breakfast, well, it resulted with the rest of her coffee landing on the front of her shirt.

She was glad to know that he shared in her silliness at times rather than think she might not take things seriously.

Hell, their job was serious enough, so being able to disconnect for periods of time was needed.

She moved clothing around, found a T-shirt and pulled it out, then noticed a frame in the back.

Her fingers itched to pull it out.

She turned and looked over her shoulder, not sure why, when she could hear Luca still downstairs in the kitchen.

Fuck it.

She pulled it out and turned it over, saw the picture of Luca laughing with his arms around Zoe.

The picture had to be older. He looked younger, not as fit as he was now, but not heavy by any means.

She just noticed that his biceps around his wife weren’t as large or defined.

Hadn’t he said he was spending more time working out when he was alone?

“What’s wrong?”

She spun around, the picture in her hand with no way to hide it. “Nothing. Sorry. I saw this getting a T-shirt. Guess my curiosity got the best of me.”

She was obviously standing there longer than she thought staring at it for him to come up behind her without her knowledge.

He moved closer, his hand out, reaching for the photo, then looking at it like he wasn’t sure what was on it.

Rather than tuck it away like it was some secret, he stared at it for a moment in silence.

“This is almost ten years old,” he said, his voice not sad, but not as strong as it normally was.

“I thought it was older. I’m sorry. If you have it hidden because of me, please don’t. I know the situation. It’s not going to bother me.”

He put the picture back and shut the drawer as simply as if he were returning clean laundry to its place. “It’s for me, not you.”

Most times she’d crack a joke. Or he would.

It didn’t seem to call for it now.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the bed to sit. “Can we talk about it? Or you don’t have to. I just thought, maybe we should.”

“I’m not purposely holding back.” His eyes were searching hers. “I’m really not. And honestly, that picture has been there since I moved. It hasn’t come out.”

She frowned. “Why?”