Page 249 of Lorenzo

Victoria notices too and says, “You can come closer.”

Donna crosses toward her. Mocha starts after her automatically, then stops when she glances back and lifts one finger.

“Stay.”

He sits.

Mario watches that.

I lean closer to him. “Feeling better?”

“A little,” he says, begrudgingly.

Donna bends beside Victoria and looks down at Leonardo.

“Well, hello,” she says softly.

Leonardo stares back at her with the solemn concentration of babies meeting someone new. Then he lifts his hand toward her.

Donna looks apologetic. “I haven't washed my hands,” she says.

“That's all right, maybe later,” Victoria says, taking his finger instead.

Donna’s smile changes, going soft.

Something inside my chest tightens. The conversation with Mario this morning returns before I can stop it.

Have you ever thought about having more children?

I force the thought away almost immediately. This is exactly what I told him I would not do.

Donna and I have barely just said we love each other. I am not going to stand here and imagine babies.

That would be insane.

Victoria looks toward Mocha.

“Can he come closer?”

Donna glances back. “Sure.”

She gives a small motion with her hand. Mocha rises and walks over.

Mario shifts almost imperceptibly.

Ricardo sees it too, apparently, because he makes a small sound of amusement from where he is standing near the fireplace.

Mario glares at him, and Ricardo suddenly becomes very interested in adjusting the cuff of his shirt.

Mocha approaches Donna and stops beside her, leaning forward just enough to sniff Leonardo while keeping a respectful distance. The baby watches him with wide-eyed fascination, and after a moment, Mocha gives one slow wag of his tail before settling onto his haunches beside Donna.

Victoria smiles. “Oh, he is beautiful.”

Mocha turns his head toward her as if he understands the compliment.

“He knows,” Donna says.

Leonardo makes an excited sound and reaches toward him with an uncoordinated little jerk of his hand. Mocha leans closer, and Donna rests her palm lightly on his shoulder.