“Thanks.”
Mariano jumped in the car, and I barely had my safety belt fastened when he slammed the car into drive and took off down the winding road.
“Listen, Sienna. I try not to take you leaving me to live up in the Hill House too personally, but I’m starting to think you might be tired of me.”Wow, so we’re jumping right into it, are we?“I felt a little better when you joined me and Anna last night, but then you disappeared.”
Stay the same, don’t act like anything has changed, echoed in my head.
“You know, Mariano, you keep asking what it takes to be with me, but you don’t listen,” I shot back, tired of the same conversation. “I’m reserved. I like respect and a little chivalry, but I get none of that from you. You say you want to date me, but in the next moment you have your tongue down Anna’s throat. I don’t drink to get drunk, but you do. You have such tunnel vision of what you want that you can’t see what others might need from you. So, don’t sit here and give me shit about me pulling away. You’ve had chances to change things, but you didn’t take them.”
I took a deep breath in and was shocked at my candor. I pulled out my purse, flipped down the visor, and reapplied my lipstick for something to do.
“Well, that’s a lot to take in.” He chuckled, and I fumed with anger. “Who knew that was inside of you?”
“You do push my buttons.”
“I wonder what else I can do to make you pop off like that.” He poked my arm, and I slammed the visor up with exasperation. He was hopeless. “Well, if you’re finished, I need you to tame the wild horse and come inside.” He parked outside Elio’s aunt’s house. “I have to speak with Elio’s uncle. I won’t be long. He’s a real ass, but what boss isn’t?” He made a face, and I knew he was referring to Elio.
The green vines that hugged the walls moved like a wave in the breeze. The house was a spectacular stone structure with two chimneys on either side. Mariano was already inside by the time I made it up the stairs, leaving me to hover outside the door.
“Are you coming?” he called, and suddenly Aunt Noemi appeared with an annoyed face.
“Hello again, dear.” She waved me in. “I’d apologize for his behavior, but then I’d be apologizing too often.”
“It’s all right.” I laughed, thinking how true that was.
“The boys’ father will only need him for a few moments, so why don’t we sit in the sunroom and enjoy a little girl time?”
I followed her through the long hallway, down two little stairs that led into a pretty river stone room filled with potted flowers. She offered me a drink from a small table designed to comfortably sit three, but I declined. I felt awkward enough at being there unannounced.
“Did you enjoy the party last night?” I fought for something to talk about, but as soon as the words came out of my mouth, flashbacks of the look that had passed between my mother and her hit me hard.
“It was eventful.” She broke off a piece of cookie and popped it in her mouth. “I never stay long at those events, but it was fun to see Vinni let loose a little and have fun.”
I chuckled. “He’s quite the dancer.”
“That’s all his father, Bosco.” She fiddled with the cloth napkin she had pulled onto her lap. “Would you mind maybe spending some time with the poor girl who was found at the dockyard? I’m teaching her Italian, but I think she’s very lonely.”
“Of course, I’d be happy to.” I was pleased she asked. I could only imagine how scary this entire experience had been for her.
“I’ll set something up maybe next week.” She seemed pleased with my answer.
I couldn’t help myself as I felt the probing questions form on the tip of my tongue. “Have you always lived here? It’s gorgeous.”
“Bosco, Vinni and Niccola’s father,” she repeated, reminding me who Bosco was, “was born and raised here. After we met, I moved in, and the rest is history.”
“How did you two meet?” I wondered at her choice of words when she referred to him, as she never said “my husband” very often, if at all.
“It’s no fairytale.” Her smile seemed strained. “Our paths kept crossing, and finally one day he made the move to talk to me, and nine months later Niccola was born.”
“Love at first sight.” I smiled.
“Something like that, yes.” She looked away and dabbed the corner of her eye. “Will you please excuse me, dear?” she apologized. “I will be back in a few moments.”
“Of course.” I stood when she did. I felt completely uncomfortable and now was even more confused. Wrapping my arms around myself, I wandered the room, admiring the different plants and trinkets that were placed here and there. Little ornaments were nestled into the soil or between the pots. The urge to just ask how she knew my mother tugged at me hard. As a journalist, I was never one to beat around the bush, but this was a whole new situation and a very personal one. The painfully careful way my mother imparted such tiny tidbits of information made me tread carefully.
“Well, hello, there.” I spotted something familiar as it glinted in the light. It was buried right to its tiny head. “Don’t you look familiar, little teddy.” I went to brush some soil from it but retracted my hand quickly at a sound. A clinking like someone tapping together two stones became louder as it got closer. It was the same sound I had heard when I was here with Elio.
What is that?