Page 67 of Three Times You

Chapter 52

My love? I’m back!” I enter the living room and shut the door.

“I’m in the bedroom.”

I join Gin. She’s changing Aurora, who’s lying on the bed. I embrace her from behind and give her a kiss.

She turns and smiles at me. “We missed you.”

“And I missed the both of you. Look what I brought you.” I put a package at the foot of the bed.

Gin finishes fastening up Aurora’s onesie and then opens my gift.

“They’re lovely, thanks so much!” Two light-blue T-shirts, identical but different sizes, withMATADORwritten on them and a black picture of a bull. “I’m putting mine on right away.” She puts it on, and then she smiles at me in delight. “How does it look on me?”

“Beautiful,mi guapa…”Then I realize that her face is white as a sheet. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, why?”

“You’re a little pale.”

“Aurora had colic all night. I didn’t get a wink of sleep. Lucky you to have missed it! How did it go in Spain?”

“Really well. We locked up a three-year contract. Now I’m going to take a shower and go to the office. We have a very important day. We’re trying to see if we can nail down a production deal for another drama series for next year.”

“The one you let me read,At the Bottom of My Heart? The story of two young people in love even though they belong to two families that hate each other?”

“Yes, a modern-dayRomeo and Juliet. It’s nothing revolutionary or new, but it’s well done, and lots of things happen.”

“Yes, I agree. I liked it. Well, fingers crossed.”

I go into the bathroom and take my clothes off. Then I realize there are lots of medicine bottles on the sink. I reach out for one, but Gin walks in. “What are these?”

“Nothing, just supplements. My iron levels are low. I need to build back up. That’s partly why I look so pale.”

“Tell me if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“No, darling, don’t worry. You’re back, that’s the important thing. Maybe tonight, if I’m too tired, maybe you can give her a bottle or two.”

“Sure, I’ll set my alarm. It’s no problem. Later on you can give me thorough instructions.”

And I step into the hot shower.

Chapter 53

Gin is changing Aurora, talking to her in amusement, as if the baby could actually understand her. “How much poop are you capable of producing? Are you doing this intentionally? It’s been since this morning that I have to change you every fifteen minutes! You’re trying to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?”

Then the cell phone that she left on the bed starts ringing, and without even glancing at the display, she answers. “Hello?”

“Gin, it’s me, Giorgio Renzi. I’m sorry, but I need to let you know. Step is at Santo Spirito hospital. He’s been in a crash.”

“Oh my God. What? How is he? What happened?”

“I don’t know anything. I just heard the news myself, and I’m on my way to the hospital.”

“I’ll see you there.” Gin quickly finishes dressing Aurora and immediately calls her parents’ house. “Mamma, I’m so glad that you are there.”

“Yes, I’m here. What’s wrong?”