Page 19 of Three Times You

It’s not true at all. He’s lying shamelessly. He always insisted that my mother cook the same things every night;anything out of the ordinary would disgust him. Instead, with Kyra, he’s turned into a human doormat. Is that the way we work, we men? Is twenty years’ age difference with just any woman enough to turn us into such complete losers?

“How do you like it?” Kyra asks me.

“Excellent, that’s really a distinctive flavor.”

Actually, I’d happily eat a pasta alla carbonara or a pizza, but why not make them happy? Papà is happy, and so is she. But the spumante is excellent. I’m really pleased with my choice. And I’m happy that I didn’t tell them that Gin is expecting a baby. Will it be a girl or a boy? Who knows, maybe Kyra’s baby and our baby will grow up playing together. Even if their child will be my baby’s uncle or aunt, whether my baby is a niece or nephew!

“Delicious, really good,” I say, as I think to myself with a certain degree of confusion about just what our extended family is going to look like.

And I think about my mother and how badly I miss her. And at least, on this point, I’m being sincere.

Chapter 16

When I return to the office, I notice that the door to Giorgio’s office is open. With one hand, he’s pushing around the mouse of his computer, and with the other, he’s talking to someone on the phone in a low voice.

“Yes…”And he starts to laugh. “Exactly. The last thing anybody needs…That’s why you were paid.” He nods his head in my direction and continues, “That’s right, with my boss! And I’ll bet it was easy! In fact, you should have paidhim.” Then he says something else I don’t quite manage to hear, and then he ends the phone call. “Well, how was your lunch?”

“Fine. I was at my father’s.”

“Ah, and how is he?”

“Just fine. He’s going to have a baby.”

“Him, too? It’s a family thing, then. You really have the gift.”

Just then Alice walks by. “Would you like an espresso?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“Yes, one for me too.” And before she can turn to leave, I add, “Alice, thanks for the project synopses. They were very well done. And one more thing. Let’s be on a first-name basis.”

She smiles. “Thanks, but I’d just as soon remain somewhat formal.”

“As you prefer.”

She smiles. “So you found them useful, sir?”

“Yes, very.”

“I’m really happy to hear it.”

Alice walks toward our espresso machine, and Giorgio makes one of his perceptive comments. “Excellent, that means the work will just keep improving. See you later.”

I go into my office, and on my desk I find a well-wrapped and sealed package. There’s also a note in a sealed envelope. I open it.

You’ve always been with me, all this time. B.

Nothing but an initialB, but I have no doubt who it’s from.

I step out into the hallway, and I call Silvia, the secretary who sits at the reception desk.

“Yes?”

“Who put this package on my desk?”

Silvia blushes. “I did…”

“But who brought it?”

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