Primary Colors Read Free Page B

first, then it’ll work out.”
    “You didn’t. You and Adam jumped right into bed, aka the lawnbehind the museum, right away.”
    “You and I know we’re different, sis. It’ll happen for you, not the same way, though.”
    “Let’s table this. It’s a beautiful night.” The sky was clear, there was a full moon and the air was balmy enough for them to dress in jeans and light sweaters.
    “Okay. I didn’t have time to ask today, but did your meeting with sexy Rafe Castle go well?”
    “Yeah,he’s a nice guy. He’s starting Sal’s lessons Friday.”
    “Sal will be so happy. And I meant what I said. I’ll chaperone anytime. I wouldn’t mind getting to see that sexy butt for a few hours.”
    “Shoulders.”
    “What?”
    “He’s got great shoulders.”
    “Does he now?”
    Nia glanced at her sister. “Don’t start on him. He’s way out of my league.”
    “No way is that true.”
    Nia turnedserious. “No, Paulie, don’t view him as a prospective beau. Having him come out is only for Sal. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize that for my son by some dalliance with him.”
    “I know. I’ll shut up.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “So long as I get to ogle his butt.”
    “I’ll tell Adam.”
    “You wouldn’t dare.”
    She thought of Rafe’s comment.
You can’t be all that shy, darlin’.
    “Don’t beton it.”

 
    Chapter 3
     
    Donuta sat with Sal as he arranged his paints, colored pencils and chalk on the big table in the kids’ playroom. “How many times have you changed all those things around,
kochanie
?”
    He smiled up at her. Of the four children in the family, this one was the most somber, so a smile from him was a gift. He reminded her of Sofia
.
    “A lot, I guess. I want Rafeto like it.”
    “I’m sure he will. I hear he likes you.”
    Now a big grin. “That’s what Mommy said.” He shrugged. “Cool!”
    The doorbell rang and Sal glanced at her. The children had been taught not to answer the door without an adult. After the deaths of her beloved sons-in-law, they were stricter about enforcing the rule than other households. “We’ll go let him in.” She stood, took hishand and went to the foyer. “You can open it now.”
    Sal yanked on the door. For a brief moment, Donuta studied the artist on the stoop. Rafael Castle was about six feet tall, with longer, curly hair. Bending down, he looked Sal in the eye. “Hi, Salvador Dali.”
    “Hi, Rafael…Umbrio.”
    “Close enough.”
    What was that called? An inside joke?
    The man stood. He towered over her. “Hello,Mr. Castle.”
    “Please call me Rafe, Mrs. Ludzecky.”
    “Then you call me Donuta.”
    “Or
Babka
,” Sal suggested. “That’s what I call her.”
    Sal and the man headed through a parlor to the larger area beyond it. Rafe stopped at the entryway. “This is so cool, Sal. You got your own space.”
    “It was a room for everybody before we moved in here.”
    “A living room,” Donuta told him. “Whenthe children came to live with me, I wanted the boys to have their own place. A while after the bedrooms upstairs were completed, we added a family room on the back of the house, and this one became theirs.”
    “That’s right. You live with your cousins. I know them from school. That Ben’s a little rascal.”
    “What’s a rascal?”
    “Somebody who causes a lot of trouble,” Donuta announced dryly.

    “So,” Donuta said, taking the…cow by the horns. “I will stay over there at the desk doing my household accounts. Is that acceptable?”
    “Of course. You don’t know me. But you will.” He gave her a smile that reminded her of Stash, her deceased husband, when he was young. “In the meantime, you should supervise us.”
    The two of them settled at the table and Donuta went to the computer. Magdalenahad spent weeks teaching her how to use it. Now she enjoyed the email device and the ability to locate information. Three messages from her children awaited her
.
    Lukasz:
Morning, Matka. I love you. Have