Page 61 of Three Times You

Claudio makes it all clear. “We put a second mortgage on the beach house, but also on this apartment, and all the land and the other real estate, including the two little shops that were offering excellent returns.”

Raffaella emphasizes the concept more clearly for her daughters. “We don’t have a penny left.”

“Well, we’re not completely broke. We have fifty thousand euros in our bank account.”

“No, we have forty-six thousand, five hundred euros.” Raffaella’s clarification makes it clear just how painful this situation is for her.

Babi shrugs. “Speaking honestly, it seems like you engaged in some really reckless behavior. But I’m glad that this turns out to be the problem, rather than a matter of health. Papà, you’ll see, things will work out. Maybe the two of you will have to be a little more careful in your spending, start scrimping and saving, and at the financial services company that you manage, you’re going to have to start watching your step…”

Raffaella gives a false smile. “Yes, certainly.”

But Daniela is much more direct. “Yes, but why have you called us here?”

Claudio says nothing. Raffaella looks at him for a long interval, and then, seeing that he’s unable to come out of his silence, she shakes her head in disappointment. “We need your help. We’ve done our accounting. If we hope to stay in this apartment, it’s going to cost us about eight hundred thousand euros. Of course, we’ve already thought of a repayment plan. We’d be able to pay a monthly installment of fourteen hundred euros. Maybe a little more.” Raffaella looks at Babi. “For your husband, that would be a trifle.”

Then she turns to Daniela. “Same thing for Sebastiano. We thought it could be six hundred thousand euros from Lorenzo and two hundred thousand from Sebastiano. The monthly installment could be split in two, with half going to each of them. But that’s something you might have some choice on. You can give us the instructions that you think best.”

Babi smiles. “Mamma, I’m so sorry, but I really can’t help you at all.”

“Excuse me, but just let Lorenzo decide. Maybe he’s happy to do it. It might make him feel important, like a great gentleman.”

“Give me a break, Mamma. You know that we’re getting a divorce. I don’t know whether or not it’s going to be amicable, but no matter how well it goes, I certainly can’t go to him for a loan of six hundred thousand euros for my parents.”

Raffaella turns to look at Daniela. “What about you? What do you think of it?”

“Mamma, I know how much you helped me when I was a single mother, and I’ll always be grateful to you for it. I’m happy I finally have a job, and that at last I can do without your money. Sebastiano has chosen to recognize Vasco as his own son, and he helps us enormously, but I absolutely wouldn’t dream of making him think that I sought him out because of his money. Ionlywant him to be Vasco’s papa, and not Mr. Moneybags. He’s got to give Vasco his love, his time, and his attention, in part because these things are worth much, much more than anything else, and even the wealthiest among us are often lacking in those very things.”

Raffaella smiles. Then she looks at Babi and goes on smiling. Then, all at once, she entirely changes her expression, turning serious, harsh, and angry, the way her daughters have so often seen her.

“So now the two of you are teaching me a lesson, explaining to me what comes first in the priority of values. In fact, you’re making me understand how lucky I’ve been, thinking that I never understood any of this. Isn’t that right?”

Babi, big sister that she is, is the first to weigh in, doing her best to calm her down. “Mamma, don’t take it that way. We’re not trying to teach anyone any lessons. We’re just explaining to you what our situation is, what we can do with our resources and our assets. If you need money, as far as we are able to help you, we’ll give you whatever we can, I imagine…”And she looks at Daniela.

“Yes, certainly. If you have to give up this place, for instance, we’d be happy to take you in as guests in our house.”

Babi nods. “Absolutely.”

Raffaella smiles. “Good. Now excuse me, but I want to go to my room and think things over.” And she stands up.

Babi follows suit. “Mamma, it’s not so tragic. Just think, you’re not sick. Nothing’s wrong with you. You’ve been prosperous your whole life long. Now you’ll just have to live a slightly more restrained lifestyle, and that’s all. If you want to, let me repeat, my house is open to you. I have a guest bedroom, and I feel sure you wouldn’t be all that uncomfortable there.”

“You’re both far too kind, thanks. Now I hope you’ll excuse me.” And her mother walks away, walking stiffly and proudly. She calmly and quietly shuts her bedroom door behind her.

Claudio looks at Babi and Daniela. “You’re both right, and you’ve been very kind and helpful. Thank you, from the heart. This is just a bad moment. It’s just that your mother never knows how to deal with change…”

And he smiles with the same lighthearted nonchalance with which he’s just lost seven million euros.

Chapter 47

Hey, you came home late last night. I woke up at three in the morning, and you still weren’t home.” Gin smiles at Step over breakfast.

“Yes, it must have been about four when I got in.”

“I wish I could have gone with you. I haven’t been out dancing in years.”

“The music was fantastic.”

Gin gets up from her stool with considerable effort. “But how am I going to go anywhere with this belly?”

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