ter

ad

lear and joyful like a little deer in mid-bounce-sweet

e Suzanna gently tapped his arm. Her tone was

You can't call someon

me with an apo

ve been trying to correct him latel

alri

ugged Moore, gently p

l me that, I'd be h

a good boy to

oudly held up one

could have a

anna. She nodded softly, a

was a mess," I said as

ng between the roses and me, a

. are

nd and we headed into that fam

d woman in her fifties-waved en

r! Same tabl

w directions in Italian to the st

pressing his small hands against th

ace is s

lose," I reminded him while p

ll be out soon-you

ound the cozy rest

lovely. Do you

time t

h Su

aus

the mines

s further-just

d the air with the rich scent of tomatoes and spices. The plump shrimp

ces, placing them on Moore's plate, and t

at me and s

l as thought

dy always this

his innocent face

r." Suzanna gave him a slight glare

the corner of Moore's mouth, the

ds say whatever com

s ok

at Moore,

ish we really

zanna said, her smil

r finds out, s

ly do appre

me, her voice a

going really well. The eye feels comf

u're happy, I'

looking in

I wanted to tell yo

her expression s

y. Starting tomorrow, yo

For a moment, she froze-then her smile slowly

all

cour

ers curling around the edge of her napk

and Summer? If it's still no

sitate. I c

nd. I already

ly relieved, then gave a s

just. didn't want to mak

She was always like this-putting my s

ike S

g. Too emotional. Always startin

y pocket-only to realize my p

was

message from

late, she'd call and send voice m

na noticed my distrac

thi

pulled m

to clean Moore's mouth, then pou

the juice, swinging his legs back a

Suzanna put down her ute

amazing. Moore

as he's

nds and glanc

y. Let me take y

rd "go back to the room,

park! There's a claw machine ther

ntly, "It's too late. And A

ttle while

my arm, whin

st time you'

him, those little

's face flashed

hat hospital bed, lookin

u take me to the Ferris wheel? I w

d no

you recover, I

recovered,

it me like a p

had been after returning from the

't help

a Fos

pulled me back

little face, ful

, I made u

uld spend proper

orry,

ut and ruff

l take you to the amusement

nted was to get hom

eft my mouth, the smile

ou had time toda

itch, eyes brimming

take me! You don't even like me

rowned, my v

want

attention of everyone around us. A

ng when Suzanna quickly stood up, scooped Moor

eyes apologetic and f

really sorry." H

ith you. We don't get this chance of

in an instant, all my

cou

igure. It's no wonder h

nd softene

ou're already part of our pack. From now o

mplex-as if she wanted to say someth

u," she w

getting late. Let me

and though he was still sniffli

rd the parking

o the hotel, night h

s about to leave when Moore sudden

go. D

fr

gainst my shoulder, his

e. Just toni

elashes fluttered slightly,

door, hesitating. T

it. maybe you could s

aving night

better with

was barely

nconvenience,

n at Moore's little hands cli

t," I sai

like sunshine breaki

, like he'd just been

heart s

ould un

more time with S

y of