Her head turned down a hallway. “Marie, viens avec les enfants.” Marie, bring the kids. On cue, clamoring ramped up in the background, with the high-pitched cry-laughing of children. There was more talking in the background. Persetta sighed. “Sorry. Dominique and Juliette are finishing up dinner.”
“There’s always next time.”
“Oh, so there’ll be a next time then?”
“I’m not sure I like the surprise in your voice.”
“Considering it took you five days to call?”
I scratched the back of my head. “I deserve that.”
She huffed but didn’t look the least bit put out. “At least I can rely on Ainsley to keep me up-to-date. I never used to get anything from Vinny or Tore unless I asked before she stepped up.”
“You like her?”
“Oh, please. She’s an angel. I hope you know how lucky you are.”
“Am I?”
Her smile was soft. “Why do I get the feeling she’s why you’re calling?”
“What? I can’t just callmia sorellina?” My baby sister.
“For no reason? You’ve never been the type.”
I sighed.
“Oh, that sounded heavy. Big brother needs little sister’s help. This is new. I like it.”
“Don’t tease, or I’ll hang up.”
She laughed so genuinely, it took me off guard.
“You’re happy with Adrien?”
“Yeah.È meglio di quanto immaginassi. .” It’s better than I ever imagined. “Juliette’s turning four soon. You should come visit. Meet your niece and nephew in person.”
I sighed. “I’d like that, but…I need to settle business here first.”
“Any of that business because of Ainsley?” I let the question hang. “Look, I don’t know what’s between you two. Honestly, I don’t know if I even want to know. But she’s a nice girl, and she cares about you.”
“You got that from a couple of visits?”
“She’s an open book, and I don’t need to see to understand how she feels about you. It bleeds into everything she says and does. She got you to accept visits from me. She sent you birthday gifts. She kept in touch more than I doubt anyone else did. She even helped get you out. If not for her, I wouldn’t have known you were out or your new number.” Persetta’s face bounced inand off screen, giving me a prime view of the ceiling and her nostrils as she walked through her home. “Question is, though, do you feel anything for her?”
“I’m not calling to discuss feelings.”
“Right. Then what do you want?”
“I need some advice.”
The top of a doorframe passed by, the image jumping around. Then a couple of simple, bright chandeliers popped in and out of view. Soft taps smacked through the line, probably as she felt along the walls for furniture.
“Well, my advice? I think she might be a little young for you.”
“Yeah.” I swept a hand through my hair. “I’ve already scrambled my fucking brains over that.”
“But so what? Age is just a number. It only matters if you let it. You’re both adults. As long as you both consent, what does it matter what everybody else thinks?”
