Page 225 of Valentino

Better….

“Umm.” I shrug. “I guess. Happy. In love. Married, hopeful of starting a family.”

Never told anyone that before but surely that’s a perfect answer…nailed it.

“And where will you work?” she replies.

Huh?

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said, where will you work?”

“Ferrara. Of course, I’ll work at Ferrara. That’s a no-brainer.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” I screw up my face in question. “What do you mean, okay?”

She kisses me. “I’m happy that you’re happy.”

What the hell is going on here?

“Why does where I work have to do with anything?” I fire back.

“Everything actually.”

I snap my arms around her waist. “I asked you a question, when am I going to see you again?”

“I’m sorry.” She kisses me again. “I’m not cut out for the life you live.”

“What?”

“It’s just….”

“Not cut out, what does that mean?”

“Just that.” She kisses me, longer this time. “This is goodbye.”

“What do you mean?” I hold her to me. “Anna….”

She takes my face into her hands and kisses me, her face screws up against mine.

I pull out of her kiss so I can see her face. “What’s going on with you?”

“Just ….” She shrugs. “I can’t be a witness to you getting yourself killed.” She breaks out of my arms, pulls away and fiddles with the zipper on her suitcase as if it is something that needs urgent fixing. “It’s just not something I can do, Val.”

“Anna.”

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes hold mine and she gives me a sad smile. “I wish things were different.”

“They could be.”

“But they aren’t.” Her eyes hold mine. “Are they?”

“What do you want me to say, Anna?” I shrug.

Silence….