Page 70 of Roman

“You can go join your wife now,” I instructed. “Make sure Vi isn’t giving Effie instructions on how to be more like her. She is already too mouthy.”

Aldo laughed, carrying the tray outside, leaving Nonna and me to wait for the coffee.

“He is right,” she repeated. “You are different with her.”

I shrugged, knowing she was right but not wanting to admit it.

“You care.”

I nodded, refusing to discuss it.

“Is she in my suite?” Nonna asked, a twinkle in her eye.

I met her gaze. “No.”

“Ah.”

“She was hurt. I needed to watch over her.”

“And now?” she challenged.

I sighed. “I like her with me,” I admitted.

“I want to see more of her. More of you. I know you are busy, but you need to live outside work.”

“I’ll try, Nonna.”

“You can send her to me to visit. She and Vi will keep me young.”

“I will.”

“She is good for you.”

I sighed. “Too good for me.”

“No. Just good. I like her.” She smiled and slipped her hand into her pocket. She pulled out a small box and tucked it into mine. “You might need this.”

I knew what it was without looking. “Nonna,” I chastised.

She shook her head. “Put it away, then. But trust me, I know what I see.”

And she left me.

We drove back to the hotel, the afternoon sun high. Effie was quiet but more relaxed. It had all gone well. Nonna liked her. Approved. Aldo saw Effie was fine. Vi was Vi. Amusing, disrespectful, and full of laughter. It was easy to see Aldo was crazy for her.

Effie liked Nonna. They had talked gardens and cooking. Nonna told her how much she loved the bagels I had brought her. She made Effie promise to come and teach her how to make them. She, in turn, promised to show Effie how to make the risotto.

It all went well, yet I was tense. Uneasy. It felt as if my nerves were on the outside of my body. Exposed. I didn’t like it.

At the hotel, we parked and headed upstairs, Effie’s expression turning sadder. In the suite, I looked at her, unsure.

“What is it?” I asked, sounding a little curt.

“How can you leave all that beauty and come here to these four walls? The sun and the breeze, the peacefulness of your estate,” she wondered. “That lovely house.”

I shrugged off my jacket and leaned against the desk. “I have responsibilities. The hotel. The casino.”

“Don’t you have people to handle all that?”