The Italian

“What? Is he okay?” Henry is my elderly uncle. He’s gay, never been married, and has no family of his own. He’s like a second father to my mum at eighteen years her senior.

“No, love, he’s not. He broke his hip. I’m on my way to the hospital now but I wanted to let you know.”

“Oh no.” My heart drops. “I was going to see if you wanted to come over for the engagement party.”

“When is it?”

I wince, knowing how ridiculous this sounds. “Next weekend.”

“Oh, love, I just don’t think I can swing it. I haven’t saved enough money.”

“We will pay. It won’t cost you anything.”

“Honey, I can’t leave Henry at the moment.”

My heart drops again. Great, I’m going to have none of my own family at my own engagement party.

“I’ll come over for the wedding and stay a few months. How does that sound?”

I smile sadly. “That would be great, thank you.”

“Did you ask your father?”

“No.” I exhale heavily. I don’t want Dad here ruining my mood. “It’s okay. You go to the hospital and send Henry my love, okay?”

“Okay, love. Sorry, but it is really short notice.”

“I know.”

Enrico

“What are we doing here?” Lorenzo asks from the passenger seat.

I watch the front doors of the Milan Library from our parked car across the street. “Just checking something out.”

“Like what?”

“You don’t think it’s weird that Francesca has been frequenting here?”

Lorenzo frowns. “What do you mean?”

“Francesca has been here every day for weeks.”

“So? She’s studying.”

I watch Francesca’s car arrive and pull into the parking lot. She gets out of her car with her driver and walks up the front steps. “I smell a rat.”

“You’re being ridiculous.” He scoffs.

I smile and sit back in my seat. “We shall soon see, won’t we?”

Twenty minutes later, Francesca’s guard is sitting on the front steps of the library having a cigarette. He did his job, went in, and searched the premises with her. I get out of the car and cross the street. He stumbles to his feet as he sees me.

“Mr. Ferrara.” He throws his cigarette to the side. “I just checked on her.”

“It’s fine. Stay where you are. I’m just here to talk to her.” I brush past him and walk into the library to take a look around.

Where is she?’