Page 102 of The Fall Affair

I looked around while I waited thirty seconds. Matteo was in the field talking to Tomasso. He looked over, and I waved before lifting the phone to my ear again. “Hi. I’m fully booked today and tomorrow. Would Friday work?”

“Is one o’clock okay?”

“Yes, that’ll work.”

“Wonderful. Where would you like me to send the Zoom link?”

I gave Elizabeth my personal Gmail and made a mental note to look into getting a more professional email address. When I was done, Matteo walked over.

“Everything okay?”

“Yes.” I tucked my phone into my back pocket. “That was…just a call about the case I’m working on.” I wasn’t sure why I didn’t tell him the truth. And when he smiled—trusting, unsuspecting—I felt a pang of guilt I couldn’t shake.

“Enjoy your day.” He leaned in for a kiss.

“You, too.”

***

Matteo stopped over a few minutes before six, carrying two bottles of wine. I could tell from the label that they were from his reserve line.

“Thank you. But you didn’t have to give me the fancy ones. All your wine is delicious.”

“I’m happy to.” He caught my eyes. “How are you holding up?”

“Well, I changed into this sweater so she wouldn’t see the rash on my chest.” I smiled. “And the good news is the house is sparkling. But if she doesn’t come soon, I might have to start polishing the cans in the cabinets.”

“You’re going to be okay.” He smiled. “Do you still want me to come by?”

“If you don’t mind. Maybe about seven? That’ll give me an hour alone, and I’m not sure I can handle too much more than that.”

“She’s Italiano,” he said. “It will give you forty minutes with her, maybe. No one shows up for dinner on time.”

I laughed. “Okay. Just come whenever you feel like it.”

Matteo cupped my cheeks and tilted my head up for a kiss. Planting a soft one on my lips, he stroked his thumbs along my skin. “It takes a lot of courage to open a door you didn’t ask to knock on. You are brave even when you don’t feel it. She’s lucky to have you for a sister.”

I tasted salt in my throat and laughed, wiping my eyes. “God, don’t make me cry before she even gets here.”

“Call me if you want me earlier, yes?”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

The twenty-five minutes after he left were excruciating. Matteo had been right that my sister wouldn’t show up on time. Camilla pulled into the driveway at twenty minutes after six, driving a small red convertible that was adorable.

I went to the door, and she got out and lifted a bottle of wine.

“Scusa. Sorry I am late,” she said. “I have no excuse other than I am never on time.”

I smiled. “I love your car.”

“I like my cars like my men, old but with low mileage.”

She put me at ease almost instantly. “What kind of a car is it?”

“An Alfa Romeo Spider. It will have a big birthday next year, turning fifty. Same as Vittorio, the man I am dating.”

“Oh.” I chuckled. “You weren’t kidding. You do like older men.”