Page 69 of Always Be True: Tino
This was Tino’s mother? She looked nothing like him, but maybe he took after his father’s side of the family. “Yes, I’m Natalie, Mrs. Gianelli. It’s nice to meet you.”
Looking a bit puzzled, the woman said, “Actually, it’s Mrs. Lukash, but please call me Marlene. Any other time I would invite you in for some coffee, but I have to be at an appointment in a few minutes.”
She pointed back up the driveway. “But then you’re not here to see me, are you? Tino’s car is here, so I assume he’s home. If you knock on the garage door, he should answer.”
“I’ll do that.”
“You might need to knock a few times and then give him a few minutes to answer. His bedroom is upstairs on the second floor, so he might not hear you the first time.”
Marlene got in her car and drove away as Natalie slowly walked up the driveway and tried to make sense of the directions Tino’s mother had given her. Why would she knock on the garage door if his bedroom was on the second floor of the house? It was also interesting that their last names were different. He hadn’t mentioned his mother remarrying after his father died.
None of this was adding up. Suddenly, she had a bad feeling about how this was going to turn out. It was tempting to go into full retreat and simply drive away. That wouldn’t work. Marlene was sure to mention she’d been there when she got home from her appointment.
Bracing herself for whatever came next, Natalie raised her hand and knocked.
