With arms wide open

 Rico was feeling as if it was all falling into place with Mona. It was like a soft laugh that got caught in his throat. He couldn't believe it was happening. And she was a happier person too.

"Well, who knows when that will end?" Gabe pretty much baffled Rico lately. Maybe it had something to do with that small affair of his twin brother Pan. Although, Rico didn't dare ask. After all, it was such a quiet matter. It happened in a blink of an eye.

Of course, Gabe didn't invite Mona over, but Sammy (his wife did) who made a pasta dinner. Of course, Vada and her new boy showed up too. 

Rico hadn't expected that for Halloween. Gabe looked at him then as if he'd told him so. But they took it in stride. And Rico didn't ask about Pan and Wade. 

Rico focused on knowing Kevin that night. Sure, he had plenty to talk about and said he'd remembered Rico somewhere. 

"Oh, I might have seen you too," Rico smiled. Although, Vada was giving him the eye that he better not talk to her boyfriend too much. Of course, she wouldn't say anything to Mona.

Thank god, Sammy was the buffer who kept the conversation going and included Mona at every turn. It was of course, awkward. But Rico knew there would be times like this. It was hard to get to know Mona, but Sammy was doing her best even if Gabe was quite a pest.

"What's the matter with him," Rico got a chance to ask Sammy in the kitchen.

"Oh, he doesn't like change," she shrugged.

Rico nodded. He never thought of that. He didn't ask any more questions but took her lead to talk about the weather, and no news was good news about the election these days. Although, there was that funny postcard everyone was getting in the mail about an independent candidate that some one kept calling a radical Democrat. 

Later, Mona asked if Rico really thought of Sammy as a sister. "Of course, I do. She treats me much better than my big sister." But he explained Caitlin didn't have time for him these days with a growing family. "Sammy's like a little sister I never had." Although, he did have a little sister, but she was still in elementary school and he couldn't remember the last time they talked since he never kept in touch with his mother. 

"I never had a sibling," she told him. However, her uncle Ari always felt like an older brother. 

Rico nodded. He knew Ari was important to her. "Maybe we need to invite Ari and Jade over for supper, sometime." He even said he'd do the cooking.

Of course, she got a laugh out of that. 

"Evidently, you haven't tried my food," Rico shrugged. "I've watched my Dad cook a lot, so I know a thing or two in the kitchen."