“Only three, sir: first, to make sure you take your medicine,” he said and then paused and watched my expression for second before going on. “Second, she requests you shave your beard, and the third, she wants you to remove your wedding band before coming to breakfast.”
Wedding band?
I glanced down at the ring I’d put back on while spending time with my family; however, I’d taken it off last night. When the hell did she put it back on?
Just like an assassin.
While I was fast asleep, she’d used the night to prepare. Wait, was that why she had poisoned me? So she could set her stage for this morning’s act?
“Were there people around when she made these demands? Did they hear?”
“Yes, sir. She gathered most of us and gave us a list of things to do for the day.”
That explained that. She had put the wedding ring back on so everyone would believe it was because of her that it was off.
Bravo, la mia anima. It was the little details that mattered.
“Are you finished, or did she request you shave me personally?” I asked, suddenly feeling much better.
“That is all, sir. Please excuse me.” He nodded before walking to the door, and I did not move, didn’t even blink until I heard the door close behind me.
“What chaos is she plotting today?” I wondered, walking into my bathroom. Sliding the ring off my finger, I tossed it into the toilet before reaching up and grabbing my beard. She’d pulled at it last night, and I could tell she was annoyed at how long it had gotten. She did not say a thing, though, and I actually didn’t mind it. Part of me wanted to keep it to annoy her. However, because she was a madwoman, and I was often swept up into her madness, I knew if I did not follow her demands, she might drug me again and shave me poorly herself.
Snickering at the thought, I reached over to where my old single-blade straight razor always was…only to see a small familiar wooden box there instead with a sticky note on the top.
“Did that medieval contraception hold some sentimental value? If so, know that I used restraint and did not toss it into the trash. It is merely under the sink. I brought this back with me as well.”
Opening it, there was a new, yet old single-blade straight razor. It was the one she had bought for me years ago; however, I had only used it a handful of times when I had visited. In fact, as I looked around the sink, all of the things she had bought for me over the years were on my side. Everything from an electric toothbrush to cologne.
The creams and soaps she had scattered all over the place yesterday were now neatly organized on her side of the sink. Clearly, she had not gone to sleep and had chosen to settle in. There was no question about forgoing shaving now.
Smearing the foam over my jawline, using the razor she’d given me, I lifted my chin to the mirror. I slowly slid the blade across my face. With each slice of foam off, I saw my own flesh, and the more I saw of my skin, the better I felt, like the air was returning to my lungs. And when it was done, when I looked at my reflection, I saw myself clearly.
“Welcome back, Ethan Callahan,” I muttered, a dark grin spreading over my lips. Oh, how I had missed myself. All those years of holding back, waiting, taking insults…it was over. I now had everything in my grasp.
All I had to do was hold on.
CALLIOPE
“No, the bombolinis go with the pasticciotto, and the cornetto is—never mind—stop!” I held out my hands, and all four of the maids froze as I walked back to the dining table. Lifting the plates, I rearranged them in the center myself. When I was done, I glanced over the table. “Something is still missing,” I muttered to myself.
“Flowers, Mommy,” Gigi said, sitting on her knees on the chair beside me, her beautiful brown and green eyes looking over the table. “There are no flowers, Mommy.”
“You’re right. That’s it, my pretty girl,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “Now sit properly; you don’t want to mess up your clothes,” I said, fixing the bottom of her pleated green dress and then turned to the maids.
“From now on, I want seasonal flowers on the table with all of our meals. Let everyone else know. I still need to look over everyone’s qualifications, but I rather not repeat myself later—”
“What’s going in here?” A new voice spoke from behind me.
I turned to Evelyn, dressed in dark pants and a light tan blouse, a single diamond necklace around her neck. Her short, graying copper-brown hair was cut into layers, brushed over her forehead in slight bangs.
“Bisavola!” Gigi said, sliding off the chair and running to her. “Buongiorno.” Good morning!
Immediately she smiled down at Gigi and cupped her face saying, “Buongiorno, Giovanna. I’m so happy to see you this morning.” Her old crow eyes then found me.
Walking closer to her, I smiled politely. “Good morning, Evelyn. We haven’t been properly introduced. I am Calliope Seraphina Orsini, Giovanna’s mother.”
“I now understand where the other half of her beauty comes from,” she said, glancing down to my hand before my meeting my eyes. “What I don’t understand is how someone I’ve just now been properly introduced to is bossing around my staff and ordering breakfast for the family.”