Page 72 of Three Times You

“Listen, I’d do it, for real…”

“What should we order?”

They decide on a couple of espressos and go on talking.

“So he never said a word to you about any of this?”

“No.”

“Still, can I tell you something? If you love him so much, anyway, and if he dumped her…”

“Yes, but I don’t know why it ended, who decided. I don’t know anything.”

“Okay, but whether it was him or her, what do you care? The main thing is that it’s over, right?”

“Yes, definitely.”

“Well, in that case, just forget about it. Go on ahead as if nothing happened. You two have a daughter, maybe nothing more will ever happen, with her or with anyone else. She was his only weakness, and you always knew it, right?”

“Yes, but he swore an oath to me.”

“Think about Aurora. Make it clear to him that he didn’t make a mistake, that he made the right choice, that you’re so much better than she is…”

“But Iamso much better than she is!”

“Then don’t let him forget it. Don’t throw this mistake in his face. Forget about her and just think about all the time the two of you can spend together, just you and him, and Aurora…”

“Right, except there’s another problem there…”

“Another problem?”

“I’m afraid so. I don’t know how much time I’ll have after all.”

Ele looks at her, bewildered.

“I’ve just come from a visit with my oncologist. I’m afraid I have a tumor.”

Ele breaks into tears. She looks at Gin and weeps in silence, unable to say a thing, not a word, and then, in the end, once she’s recovered a little, she whispers, “Forgive me…”

“Oh, don’t be silly.” Gin smiles at her. “Just think that the doctor told me to talk about it with someone, to choose a person among those closest and dearest to me so that I wouldn’t have to carry this burden all by myself, and I chose you. Looks to me like I made the wrong choice though.”

And Ele starts laughing, or a mix really, laughing and crying at the same time. She picks up a paper napkin and blows her nose into it. “Oh, damn it to hell, I never should have started crying. I’m just no good at this. And here I was, ready to tell you my wonderful news, Marcantonio asked me to marry him, but as usual, you come along and steal my spotlight.”

This time it’s Gin who laughs. “Come on. I’m just too damn happy right now. I hope I will be there that day too.”

“Oh God, don’t even talk like that. I’ll just run out of tears. Maybe it’s not so serious after all, right?”

“Well, I couldn’t really say for sure, but I’m afraid that it really is. The doctor is talking about needing a miracle.”

Chapter 56

Gin has been awake for about an hour now, and she has given Aurora her milk. She’s holding the baby in her arms and is bouncing her lightly, waiting for the tiny burp that finally comes. I see them profiled in the living room window, illuminated by the morning’s first light.

“How was dinner?” I ask.

Gin turns around in surprise. Then she smiles at me. “Not as good as I’d hoped. But it’s probably better that way.” She walks past me and goes to set Aurora down in her bassinet. Then she goes into the bathroom and washes her hands. She puts on her dressing gown and walks into the kitchen. “Do you want an espresso?”

“Yes, please.”

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