“Disney World?” Celine rested her chin in her palm as she stared up at him. Today she’d forgone the ponytail and let her dark hair fall gently onto her shoulder.
Pierce gave it some thought then shook his head. “No, a bit too much for her I think. Sort of from one extreme to the other, you know?”
“What about a Caribbean cruise? One of those that caters to children?” Celine asked with a slight tilt of her head. She looked so cute when she did that.
He wrinkled his forehead. “Hmm, no. That’s just more of the same.” He released his arms and stretched them wide to loosen the kinks in his back. “I want to take her somewhere different but I want it to be a more gentle change of environment. Not so fast paced.”
Then a thought came to him. Celine had spoken with such animation each time she’d mentioned her kid brothers and her mother. Would a week or two in the company of a loving family be the change that Kylie needed?
“What about a trip to Europe?”
At his words Celine’s brows lifted and she looked up at him with just a hint of excitement in her eyes. “Europe?” she asked. “So far away?”
Pierce chuckled. “A seven hour flight? That’s not bad. Try fourteen or eighteen hours. I’ve done lots of those. Now that’s far.”
There was a faraway look in Celine’s eyes. It was clear that she was thinking of home.
Pierce decided to press home his point, get her on board while she seemed to be in a nostalgic mood. “How would you like to go see your family?”
Celine turned wide expressive eyes to him. “Do you mean it?” Her voice was a breathless whisper, almost as if she were afraid to utter the words.
“Of course. You’ve talked so much about Marc and Sylvan that I feel I almost know them. I’d love to meet them.” He was smiling as he walked over to the table and pulled out a chair. He sat down across from Celine. “More importantly, it would be great for Kylie. Being around other children is probably what she needs right now.”
Celine began to worry her bottom lip with her teeth. “I don’t know. I would absolutely love to go home for a visit but…the boys and Kylie? I’m not too sure. They can be a bit rough.”
“Don’t underestimate the depth of understanding that kids can show. And even though they’re boys,” he said with a chuckle, “they can be compassionate. Hey, boys aren’t that bad. I know. I used to be one.”
At that comment her face relaxed and her lips curved in a smile. Her liquid brown eyes sparkled as she looked back at him. “You’ve convinced me. I would love to take Kylie to meet my family.”
He put on a mock frown. “What about me?”
Celine burst out laughing. “And you, too, Pierce. I’m sure they’ll all love you.”
***
“So this is Mr. Pierce D’Amato. Bienvenue, Monsieur.”
Claire Santini took his hands in hers then stood on tiptoe to kiss him on both cheeks. She was a diminutive woman with raven black hair caught up in a bun on the crown of her head. Her dark eyes shone in her rosy face and her lips told of much laughter and mirth. She reminded Pierce of a sprightly little sparrow, full a lively energy that could never be extinguished.
She was something of a contrast to her daughter. Where she was tiny and slightly plump with eyes as black as night, Celine was of slender build with deep brown eyes a man could lose himself in. Even though she was of medium height she was at least four or five inches taller than her mother.
When Claire released his hands Pierce looked over at Celine as she stood in the middle of the modest living room. “So where are the young men I’ve heard so much about?”
She rolled her eyes. “Hiding I’m sure, just waiting to play a prank on us.” But then she smiled broadly and her eyes flashed with eager anticipation. She put her fingers to her lips and tiptoed to the door that led into the kitchen. It was slightly ajar and, without warning, she reached an arm around and came back with a boy, now howling with laughter.
“Marc, what do you have there?” She demanded as she pulled a huge water gun from his hands. “You were going to soak us, you naughty boy. Tu es si mechant.” She deposited the toy on the floor. “Come, you naughty boy. Give your sister a hug.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed the top of his head.
“Ugh, kissing. Gross. C’est pas bon.” Marc struggled out of her arms but his flashing dark eyes showed that he was loving the attention.
“Marc, not like that, mon petit. Behave.” Claire shook her head and gave him a stern look. “Now go and get your brother. Tell him enough with this hiding.”
Sylvan had obviously been listening to everything because at his mother’s words he peeped round the door then stepped out into the living room. With his huge brown eyes and dark hair he was like a male version of Celine. More subdued than his brother, or maybe wishing to seem more mature, he approached his sister with a small smile which widened into a huge grin. Obviously he was unable to contain his joy at seeing his sister again.
“Sylvan,” Celine cried. “You’ve grown so tall.” She gave him the same treatment she’d given Marc, hugging him close, but he was almost as tall as she was so she ended up kissing him on the cheek. Unlike his brother, he showed no objections.
Then Celine went over to where Kylie stood hiding behind Pierce. “Come, cherie. Don’t be shy.” She took the little girls hand. Gently, she pulled her forward. “Guys, this is Kylie. Come on over and say hi.”
Kylie clung to Celine with one hand then stuck the thumb of her free hand in her mouth. She stared up at the boys with huge, tired eyes.
Marc grinned and gave her a quick wave. “Hi,” he said then shoved his hands into his pockets.
Sylvan, though, took a different approach. He must have seen Kylie’s uncertainty at being in a strange house with three strangers who talked funny. He crouched low and looked into her eyes. With a smile he extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mademoiselle Kylie.”