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I turn. “Yes?”
“Um…It’s nothing. Never mind.”
“Sure?”
“Yeah, just a long drive. I’ll go have a bath.”
I nod. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I walk out, close the door behind me and don’t like the feeling of leaving her alone. But I have to get this meeting with my dad over with. He doesn’t know about the flowers at Natalie’s house. I didn’t tell him because it’ll only worry him that someone would get that close to me. But I wonder if that’s what he wants to talk about anyway. If it isn’t the Lucia DeMarco situation he’s more interested in discussing. In getting my acquiescence once and for all, especially now that Natalie’s in the picture.
“Dad,” I say, entering his study without knocking.
He’s sitting behind his desk. “Pretty girl,” he says, resting his arms on his desk and looking at me. “Close the door.”17NatalieMy phone rings a moment after Sergio walks out of the room. I pick up my purse which I’d tossed on the bed and dig inside for my phone. It’s Drew so I answer.
“Hey Drew.”
“Hey. You there? At the house?”
I smile. “Yes.” I plop down on the bed. “Weirdo.”
“Well, what’s it like?”
“Huge. Lavish. I wonder if it’s haunted.”
“Ha. Did you meet Franco Benedetti?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And nothing. He’s just like you’d expect. Cold. Sergio’s mom’s nice though. And one of his brothers seems okay.”
“Yeah, well, what did you expect? I still can’t believe you’re with him.”
“I know.” I know Drew doesn’t approve. He thinks I’m going to get hurt and I can see how he’d think that, especially given what just happened. I lied to him for the first time since I’ve known him, too. I told him the flowers were from Sergio. But I force that worrying thought from my mind. “How’s Pepper?” He took Pepper for the weekend.
“She’s fine, you don’t need to worry about her.”
“Thanks again for taking her on such short notice.”
“Don’t worry about it. Hey, I heard something about Professor Dayton taking a few weeks off.”
Shit. “Is he?” I play dumb.
“Heard your boyfriend paid him a visit.”
“Drew—”
“Just be careful, okay? These are dangerous people.”
“He told me he loved me.”
My comment is greeted by silence on the other end of the phone. “Did you tell him?” he finally asks.
“Not yet. But…”
“Nat, I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. He won’t hurt me.”
“It’s not him hurting you that worries me. It’s you knowing him putting you in danger.”
I know this already. “I have to go.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, I actually called to tell you to have fun. I don’t want to be a shitty friend.”
“You’re not. You never could be.”
“So go have fun.”
I chuckle.
“And call me ASAP with any gossip!” he adds on, making me smile.
“You’re worse than a woman.”
“I know. Love you.”
“Love you.”
After slipping my phone back into my purse, I open the closet door, and walk in. There, hanging between several suits, is the most beautiful red dress I have ever seen. Beneath it on the floor is a pair of matching red pumps.
I touch the dress, feel the silky material, rise up on tip-toe to lift the hanger off the rack. The tags are still on the label, and I don’t recognize the name of the boutique but I do know the Italian designer. I don’t want to think about how much it cost.
I carry it back into the bedroom and walk to the ornate, full length mirror standing in one corner. I hold the dress up to myself. The long, layered skirts fall to mid-calf, and thick straps leave a wholly exposed back. The color is perfect, a deep, rich crimson. I love it.
Laying it on the bed, I walk into the bathroom. It, too, is large, and old-fashioned with a clawfoot tub set in the middle of the room boasting copper fixtures. I plug the drain and turn on the water, adjust the temperature and let it fill up as I wind my hair on top of my head and check out the soaps, shampoos and bath oils. I choose one that smells of jasmine, drop a few droplets into the rapidly filling tub and stand back to watch as I undress. I then climb in, letting the splash of water tickle my toes as I look out the window onto the dark, starry night.
This is why I don’t mind the cold. The skies are clear then and out here, a million stars dot the midnight sky.
Midnight.
Like Sergio’s eyes.
I close mine, and take a deep breath in and slowly sink deeper into the tub as I switch off the water with my foot. The scent of jasmine steams upward and I let myself relax, listening to the drip of the last few drops from the tap.
This weekend is important to Sergio for his mother’s sake. I get the feeling this will be one of the last times they’ll all be together and that she’ll be healthy enough not to be confined to a bed.
