ITALIAN TRANSLATIONS
Siamo fatti l'uno per l'altra - We’re made for each other
Sei tutto per me - You’re everything to me
Cuore mio - my heart
Sei più bella di un angelo - you are more beautiful than an angel
Tesoro –treasure/darling
Amore – Love
Sempre – Always
Bastardo – Bastard
Stronzo - asshole
Oh Dio – Oh God
Bambino – child
Ti amo – I love you
Ti adoro - I adore you
CHAPTER ONE
Stefano
I sat back, studying the design I was sketching out. I rubbed my tired eyes and, scowling, gave in and reached for the glasses I’d recently acquired. I hated using them, but I had to admit, once I slipped them on my nose, the lines on the paper in front of me were much clearer.
I liked to hand-draw my ideas before using the software we’d recently had installed. I felt the flow of the design under my fingers, using that to guide me. My boss, Maxx, felt the same way, and his wife, Charly, laughed, informing us to “get with the times.” She’d shaken her head in frustration when I agreed with Maxx as we discussed it over dinner one night.
“Holy moly, I thought you’d rub off on the curmudgeon here, Stefano, not the other way around.”
I had chuckled. She was droll and funny. She kept us all in line and ran the shop like a well-oiled piece of machinery. Maxx had hired her to help him sort out his house and garage, and in addition, she sorted out his heart. He was crazy in love with her, and anyone close to them could see it.
The sounds of shuffling met my ears, making me smile. Without even looking, I called over my shoulder, “You’re not supposed to be in here. Fumes.”
Charly appeared in the doorway, a grin on her face. Her red hair tumbled over her shoulders, and she was sporting a pair of loose denim overalls emblazoned with the garage’s logo, over a pink T-shirt. She rested her hand on her rounded stomach, and her eyes were bright.
“I’m pregnant, Stefano, I don’t have a cold. I sniffed—I knew you didn’t have any paint open.” She came closer. “What are you working on?”
I showed her the layered design for a restored bike Maxx was working on. The customer was into everything classic on the bike—skull and crossbones, black, white, and silver, and I was trying to come up with a twist to make it unique. The client was British, so I was weaving in the Union Jack under the design in a couple of places, the colors muted but visible. I was pleased so far and hoped he would like it.
“Oh, cool.” She handed the paper back to me and gripped the edge of the table as she attempted to hoist herself up onto the stool beside me. Chuckling, I helped her settle, making sure she was fully seated before perching on the edge of my own stool and regarding her.
“Maxx know you’re out here?”
“He’s reading a book to Thomas. Mary’s doing the dishes. She told me to go relax. I saw the light on in here, and I thought I’d come check on you.”
“Ah,” I replied, waiting. She didn’t disappoint.
“Are you okay, Stefano? You seemed quiet at dinner.”
I smiled at the woman who was like another sister to me. Maybe even more. She was a caretaker and constantly fussed over everyone—especially Maxx. She ran him as well as the garage, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. She was the light to his dark, and she kept him smiling and happy—most of the time. She compared him to a growly grizzly bear, although at times, I was certain, most of that was for her benefit. She loved to rile him up, and he never disappointed her. It made for some interesting moments in the garage. We had all learned to deal with it and grown used to seeing him flip her over his shoulder and carry her into the house. We chose to ignore what happened once the door shut behind them.
“I’m fine,” I assured her. “Working through this design. You know how I get.”
“You only ate one helping. Was my lasagna not up to Rosa’s standards?”