Free When Love Finds a Home by Megan Carter

said. "I hope my wild family hasn't scared you too
much."
    "We held our own,"
Rona said as she reached down and mussed Karla's hair. "I didn't realize
Karla had such a pitching arm. Did you see her throw? This girl has some
serious muscle." With her thumb and forefinger, she squeezed the child's
upper arm through the coat. Karla grinned and hid her face against Tammy's leg.
    "As soon as Mom makes all
of us savages sit down, I'll properly introduce you to everyone."
    "Why are you doing
this?" Tammy blurted out.
    The question stopped Anna
short. "I don't know," she replied. "I want to help if I can. My
parents worked so hard to make things easier for me and my brothers." They
stood staring at each other until Anna's mom called them into the dining room.
    "Come on, come on. The
food is getting cold and those babies need to eat," Mrs. Pagonis scolded.
    Anna smiled. "I should
have warned you. Mom loves to feed people. I guess it comes from all those
years of working at the restaurant."
    "Your mom works at a
restaurant?" Tammy asked.
    "Actually they own it.
You may have heard of it—Athenians. It's near Ingram Park Mall. We practically
grew up in the restaurant."
    All of the kids, except for
the two sets oftwins and Julian's three-year-old daughter, Ellen,
disappeared to other rooms. The adults began to crowd around the long table.
The three highchairs lined up against the wall were carried to the table.
    "Julian," Gina
called. "Go to die pantry and get two more highchairs for these
babies."
    "We can hold them,"
Tammy replied.
    Gina waved off the protest.
"We have plenty. If there's one tiling this family has plenty of, it's baby
items. It will be more comfortable for you and die girls."
    "This family has been
blessed with many grandchildren," Mrs. Pagonis added.
    Julian and Pietro went for the
chairs and placed one on either side of Tammy. With much chair shuffling and
good-natured banter, the Pagonis adults and their guests were soon seated.
    "Children, it's
time," Mr. Pagonis's voice boomed. The sound of running feet filled the
house.
    "Don't run," Mrs.
Pagonis and her three daughters-in-law called out at once.
    Anna leaned over to Rona, who
was sitting to her right, and murmured, "They've yelled it so many times,
they don't even realize they do it anymore."
    The children positioned
themselves randomly around the table and the Pagonis family members and their
guests joined hands.
    Rona tried to block out her
own father's voice as Mr. Pagonis's deep clear voice said grace. Even though
they were at Gina and Julian's, it was obvious to Rona that the elder Pagonises
still ruled over their brood. After a hearty chorus of amens, the children
disappeared into the kitchen where they would eat.
    Chapter Nine
    As Anna's family settled down
to the table, Rona tried to remember the names of those she had already met.
There were so many names she wasn't sure she'd be able to remember them all. To
her right was Karla's highchair, then Tammy with Katie to her right. Rona
watched as Tammy's twins tried to absorb all the activity going on around them.
Watching them and listening to their laughter while they worked on the snowman
only served to reinforce her determination that none of them would ever have to
return to the streets.
    She glanced at Anna. She
appeared to be a decent person. In fact, the entire family seemed like good
people. Rona found herself hoping that she and Tammy could find full-time work
and it would not be necessary for her to steal from Anna or anyone else.
    Anna started the introductions
and Rona set about committing them to memory. At the foot of the table sat
Julian's wife, Gina. Her twins were perched in highchairs on either side of
her. She was short with blond hair and robin's-egg blue eyes. A little farther
down on her right sat the muscular Pietro and then his wife, Lupie, whose high
cheekbones and aristocratic nose suggested her ancestors might have walked
among the ancient Aztec tribes. Next to Lupie sat the