“What happened, Livio?” I asked softly.
He sniffed and turned his back on me.
“You can tell me.”
He waved a hand, indicating for me to give him a minute. He sniffed once more. “Santina’s father has forbidden her to see me.”
“Oh, well, I’m sure—”
“No! She cannot go against him. I know we are in an age where women can do as they please, but not a virtuous woman such as Santina.”
I didn’t even need to ask, but I did. “Do you love her, Livio?”
“Sì, è stato amore a prima vista.”Yes,love at first sight.“Do you believe in such things, Scarlett?”
“Me?” I took a seat on the edge of Brando’s desk, letting my leg dangle. “Yes. I do.”
The door came open and Brando’s head came through. Livio stiffened and turned to face the wall. It was then that I saw he was crying. I hadn’t heard it in his voice.
Brando took quiet steps to me, putting his mouth to my ear. “You left me.”
I nodded toward Livio.
“Tell me what is on your mind, man,” Brando said to him in Italian.
I went to open my mouth, but Brando held a hand up.
“There is no shame in crying over the woman you love,” he said. “We’ve all done it.”
“Tu?”You?
“Sì. Solo sopra mia moglie. Mostra il tuo volto. Siamo una famiglia.” Only over my wife. Show your face. We are family.
Livio turned to us then, and the entire conversation took place in Italian.
“I cannot live without her.”
“Why should you?”
Livio shrugged, his eyes red-rimmed and spilling over. “Her father knows what I am now. Who I am. He will not allow his daughter to be tangled with such mess.”
“I see,”Brando said in English, watching him earnestly. “I will talk to him.”
“You will?”
“I can’t have you moping around, broken-hearted. My wife will have me sleeping on the floor.”
The years had offered Brando all the knowledge he needed in dealing with me. He knew that I was going to ask him to speak to Santina’s father.
Livio smiled, but it was broken. “Donato has tried. Santina’s father says he will not be bought.”
“No,” Brando agreed. “Any respectable man wouldn’t be, not for his daughter. Maybe he can be persuaded.”
Light came into Livio’s eyes. “It is worth a try. When?”
Brando glanced at the clock. “Now.”
“Sì!Let me first change into something more presentable.”
