—
SHE WANDERED AROUND THEold Sicilian farmhouse, trailed by the two shaggy dogs that lived there. There was a giant hearth stacked with wood: Lee could almost imagine chilly winter nights on the overstuffed couch, reading by firelight, snuggled up with…Kiko.
Lee frowned. She wanted to strengthen her bonds with her family, get the courage to pee on the stick, and figure out a new career path. She needed to find a way to feel more stable. Daydreaming about a Maltese tour guide did not further any of these objectives. Yet she gazed at the fireplace anyway. Did Kiko like snuggling by the fire?
Her phone buzzed again, and she read:
Let me convince you?
Air Malta Flight 63
6:10 p.m. departure
From Rome, Fiumicino—Leonardo da Vinci Intl. (FCO)
To Malta Intl. (MLA)
1h 25m, Nonstop
This ticket is purchased in your name. Yours, KIKO
—
THEY WOULD BE INRome in two days. What an adventure, to fly back to Malta! Lee put her phone away, feeling buoyed by Kiko’s invitation. At table, she breathed in the delectable smells, and served herself heaping portions of garlicky spaghetti, breaded chicken with roasted grapes, and spicy caponata. Regan had taken an early taxi back to the port, so Lee ate two slices of coconut cream cake.
On the bus back to theMarveloso,Lee wrote Kiko back:
Maybe.
THE SHIP HORN SOUNDED,and from their table in Shells Restaurant, the Perkins family watched as the mightyMarvelosoengines churned Sicilian waters, pulling away from the island and heading across the Tyrrhenian Sea to Naples.
“I keep thinking about Malta,” said Lee, her chin in her hand.
“You mean Kiko?” said Regan.
Lee smiled shyly. “He was nice,” she said. “But I feel like I need to take a break from guys. I need to figure out my own self, honestly.”
“A break?” said Charlotte. “What about Jason?”
Lee sighed, placing her hands on either side of her plate. “I guess I might as well just tell you,” she said. “Jason dumped me for the girl onMe & My Robot. Alexandria Fumillini.”
“The girl whoownshim on the show?” said Cord.
Lee nodded.
“I’m so sorry,” said Regan. “He’s like her…pet.”
“That about sums up the situation,” said Lee, shaking her head. Cord put his hand on hers. “And while I’m talking,” said Lee, her words speeding up. “I might as well tell you this, too. My career’s over. I haven’t booked a job since the Tampax commercial. I was lying about a big, new project. I was lying aboutLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
They were silent. Charlotte felt nervous, saying emphatically to try to smooth things over, “You wereexcellentin that Tampax commercial.”
Lee looked at her sadly. “Thanks, Mom,” she said.
“Things don’t always work out,” said Regan.
“Yup,” said Lee. She exhaled. “It feels good just to tell you guys,” she said. “So I don’t know what’s next. I don’t. I need to figure out what the heck I want, I guess.”
“I wish I had,” said Regan.
