Page 43 of A Touch of Fate

Azzurra came in. I hadn’t touched the cornetto on my plate yet and had only taken a sip of my cappuccino. The events of the morning had spoiled my appetite.

“Mrs. Mione is here to see you.”

Ines poked her head in behind Azzurra with an apologetic smile. “Can I come in? I hope I don’t interrupt you?”

“Ines, good morning,” I said in surprise and turned my phone off. I didn’t want Ines to find out I suspected her son of infidelity. “Please come in. Do you want to join me for breakfast?”

Ines came over and kissed my cheeks in greeting before she sank down across from me in Samuel’s place. “I only had a fruit salad…” She eyed the assortment of pastries. “Oh well.” She picked up a cornetto and smiled as she took a bite.

“Did Samuel ask you to come over to keep an eye on me because he worried I can’t be alone?” I motioned at the wheelchair.

Ines smiled, a hint of embarrassment playing across her face. “He called me this morning and asked if I could come over to help you put your clothes in the closet.”

“That’s all?”

She let out a laugh. “He’s worried because this is a new house for you, and you don’t know anyone yet.”

“I’m used to spending lots of time on my own in a house. I can handle it, especially because Samuel made sure the house is accessible.”

“Don’t be mad at him. I’m sure he’ll soon see that you can handle the situation.”

I definitely wasn’t mad at Samuel for trying to help. I was angry because of his second phone. I nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m not. We don’t know each other very well yet. He’ll soon realize that I’m more than capable of handling myself and more.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it!” Ines chuckled. “Which is why I asked the priest in our community if you can help. We have a sort of self-help group for Made Men and their families with disabilities that our priest leads.”

“Thank you. If you give me his contact information, I’ll try to be useful as soon as possible.”

After breakfast, Ines and I moved on to the bedroom. I realized I still hadn’t seen my bodyguard. Because Samuel had left so abruptly in the morning, he didn’t introduce me to him.

“My shoes and most of my bags are still down in the lobby in boxes,” I said when we entered the bedroom together.

“I could ask Leo, your bodyguard, if you want. Have you met him yet?”

“No,” I said, sparing Ines the details of my morning.

“Let me give him a call.” She picked up her phone and gave him instructions on where to find the boxes. She ended the call. “He was Sofia’s bodyguard before she married your brother. Samuel thought it was a good idea to have him become your personal bodyguard, and I agree. He’s very discreet, professional, and vigilant. Let me give you his number. Samuel’s head is always at work. It might be a while before he remembers to give you the details you need to really thrive here.”

He had his head with a certain F. too. I tried to push the thought aside because it was ruining my day. There wasn’t anything I could do about it now.

Ines put a hand on my shoulder. “Are you not feeling well?”

“I’m just a little tired. I didn’t sleep all that well.”

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation.

“Come in,” Ines and I said at the same time. She gave me an apologetic smile and stepped into the background. “This is your home. I’m sorry.”

I sent her a smile to show her it was okay.

A tall, very bulky man with a neck like a bull came in carrying two boxes. “Where should I put them?”

“In front of the walk-in closet, please,” I said, motioning in that direction. He put them down where I pointed, then turned to me. He wasn’t as young as I’d suspected. Maybe in his late forties, but he would definitely scare away many people. He had a buzz cut, and his T-shirt strained over his muscles. Tattoos of a woman and five children graced his right arm. I had to admit I never understood why someone got a detailed portrait of their loved ones tattooed into their skin. They rarely resembled the real person. They creeped me out like Madame Tussauds wax figures.

He gave me a broad smile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Mione.” He glanced at Ines. “And to see you again, Mrs., uh, Mione.”

I laughed. “How about you call me Emma? It’s less confusing.”

“And I’ve told you before that I’m Ines.”

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