Page 19 of Amadeo
“What?” Zia caught her head shaking.
“What if someone falls in love and it destroys them?”
“Well, that is not true love,” Zia explained. “One of them loves themselves more.”
“Yeah, mostly the men.” Gia scoffed.
Zia looked past me to Gia. “Mostly, but I’ve known a few women who broke male hearts for a hobby. Some even did it for revenge against men and their ways.” She looked away. “I got to have true love but it was all too brief.” She looked back at Gia. “Losing my husband was the worst thing in the world. But I would do it all over again. Because it was worth it.”
“So there’s only Luca and I, hmmm?” I spoke up to change the subject.
“Si, mio Deo.” She raised her hand and pointed at me. “You are so sweet and kind that I cannot understand how you remain single. And oh! Just look at you. You are a beautiful man.”
“Beautiful?” I asked on a dramatic gasp. “Men aren’t beautiful, Zia.”
“Oh, they can be,” Gia spoke up now.
I turned my head to look at her. I could see her expression was that blank slate again. So I had no idea if she was kidding or what? Then I remembered Luca’s crack. “Well, Luca did say I lookedpurtytonight.”
Zia and Gia both turned their heads to stare at me. Then they both laughed.
“Yeah, he wasn’t serious. I told him he was just jealous.”
“Do you and him get along?” Gia asked.
I shrugged. “He seems to think so.”
Gia did laugh at this.
Zia shook her head. “Have some lemon cake, you two. Then go out and visit the moon. It will be full tonight.” She stood from her chair and looked down at us. “There are so many wonders in the world. Walking hand in hand under a full moon is one of them.” She grabbed her plate up and headed toward the kitchen.
Chapter Eight:Garden Path
Gia
After dinner, Amadeo asked me if I wanted to take a walk under the moon.
I smiled and said, “Yes, especially since Zia recommended it.”
“One of the wonders of the world.” He nodded at me. “Right next to her desserts.”
“You got that right. I don’t understand why all of you aren’t fat.”
He laughed. “The gym, baby. The gym.”
“Oh, that’s right.” I walked beside him in the hallway now. “You have a full gym here. Tito told us about it.”
He rolled his eyes. “Our house has what? Thirty bedrooms, thirty two bathrooms. Three kitchens. Two studies. Maybe five offices? I lost count. Let’s just say it is ridiculously large. Ok?”
Laughing, I shook my head.
“It's monstrous really. So, I can understand why my father hired servants and people to help with the upkeep,” he continued as he opened the French doors so we could pass through.
“Like Max?” I asked. “He has startled me in the hallways a few times.”
“Yes, he could scare almost anyone.” Amadeo chuckled as he shook his head. “But no, he never hired Max.”
“What do you mean?” My curiosity pushed at me. “He works here as a butler, right?”
