‘Her nursing home was the first place we trialled the toothbrush. Did you know,’ she added as she fell into step with him, ‘There’s a direct link between dementia and tooth decay and gum disease? So it’s actually a lot more important than just having clean teeth, although that, obviously, is very important too.’
Nico hadn’t really considered what visiting a nursing home would entail, but what he hadn’t expected was the memories that slammed into him as soon as he set foot in the door and breathed in that antiseptic smell.
For a second he faltered, and Ashley glanced at him in concern. ‘Nico…?’
He blinked, an acidic taste on his tongue. The colourful walls, the cheerful care workers, the smell… they all brought it back.
Roberto… How he’d failed him.
‘I know some people find nursing homes…challenging,’ Ashley said quietly, and he shook his head.
‘It isn’t that.’ He hated her to think he was just feeling nervous or queasy. It was so much more than that, and he could not bear to explain it. He forced himself to straighten, swallowing the taste of bile. ‘I’m fine.’
And he was fine, pushing all the memories back as he followed Ashley into the day room and listened to a nurse explain how the robotic toothbrush worked and helped residents who struggled to brush their own teeth…just as Roberto had.
But, Nico reminded himself, he wasn’t going to think about Roberto.
‘Do you mind if I say hello to my mother?’ she asked once they’d seen the toothbrush in action.
‘No, of course not.’ He was curious about this woman who was so much a part of Ashley’s life, and yet at the same time had been so absent.
‘Hey, Mom.’ Ashley came into the private room where a pale slip of woman lay in bed, the expression in her eyes distressingly vacant…until she caught sight of her daughter, then her whole face brightened as her mouth curved into a lopsided smile. ‘It’s so good to see you,’ Ashley continued as she gave her mother a hug and kissed her cheek.
Watching the two of them interact, seeing the joy on both their faces, Nico felt that pressure build in his chest again, and behind his eyes, which was seriously alarming. He wasn’t about tocry.
Except, he almost felt as if he was. Seeing Ashley acting so tenderly with her mother brought back the memories, but it also made him appreciate her all the more—her strength and her grace, her kindness and her spirit.
She’d said she had feelings, but Nico realised he did as well. And what was even more amazing and alarming than that was he found he didn’t mind.
‘Mom, this is Nico Galletti,’ Ashley said, gesturing for him to come forward. ‘He’s helping with Infinite Innovations.’ She gave him a quick look of warning and he smiled back in reassurance. He wasn’t about to tell this kindly woman, with all her struggles, that he’d just acquired her daughter’s company in an exceedingly hostile takeover. He didn’t want the reminder himself just then.
They talked for a few more minutes, and then it was time to head for their third appointment of the day, at a lab uptown.
‘But maybe we could use some lunch first?’ Ashley suggested uncertainly, and Nico nodded.
‘Let me make a call.’
Half an hour later, they were seated at a secluded table in the alcove of a French bistro near Columbia. Ashley shook her head, seemingly rueful at how quickly he’d had it all arranged.
‘Do you know everyone?’ she asked as she picked up the menu.
‘No, but I know a lot of someones,’ Nico replied. ‘And someones who know someones.’
She laughed, the sound clear and even joyful. ‘I’ve enjoyed today,’ she admitted as she lowered her menu. ‘More than I meant to.’
‘So have I,’ he replied, and her eyes clouded with uncertainty. ‘This isn’t for the camera,’ he told her. The photographer was on a lunch break, anyway, just as they were. ‘This is just me being honest.’
Ashley nodded slowly. ‘So…what are you saying, exactly?’ she asked. ‘If anything?’
Whatwashe saying? What did hewant?
Nico put down his own menu as he reached for Ashley’s hand. ‘I’m saying I like what we’ve started,’ he told her. ‘And I don’t know where it could go, but I do know I don’t want it to end.’
‘Okay…’ Ashley’s voice wobbled as she nibbled her lip, clearly waiting for more.
‘I have to go to Italy in two days, for some business meetings,’ Nico told her. He laced his fingers through hers as he squeezed gently, feeling reckless and yet also so very sure about what he was going to say next. ‘It’s only for a week or so, and there would be plenty of time to do other things—explore the cities, the countryside…’
He paused, and in that brief silence he let Ashley imagine what other kinds of things they could explore.
