“When do they want to do it?”
“They said this week or next.”
Julia swallowed hard. She thought of her promise to Courtney. “Can it be next week? Or later?”
“Julia, really?” Gianluca frowned, his lips parting. “There’s a Sword of Damocles hanging over my head. Why the delay?”
“Yes, but I told you Courtney was arrested. I can’t leave her alone.”
“Courtney is a married woman. Where’s Paul?”
“He’s not here yet.”
“Excuse me, heshouldbe.” Gianluca’s dark eyes widened, incredulous. “Everything is out of order. Paul should be with his wife. You should be home with me and your daughter.” He shook his head. “What can you do there now? You said she has a lawyer. Let the lawyer help her.”
“This is an emergency.”
“So isthis!” Gianluca frowned. “I’m sorry about Courtney, but she can’t be your problem. I need you, Leni needs you. You can’t put a child on simmer, like Bolognese sauce.”
“She has you guys. She has three adults taking care of her, who love her.”
“Sometimes, there’s no substitute for a mother. This is one of those times.”
Julia felt it like a knife wound. She had no immediate reply.
“I don’t know why you would choose your friend over your family.”
Julia realized that Gianluca’s closest friends were his family, which was very Italian, but that wasn’t the case with her and never could be. “Gianluca, not everybody has a wonderful family like yours. I had atroubled family, and Courtney got me through it. She was there for me every step of the way, growing up and in college, where she practically saved my life, from that guy from the library. And after Mike died, she made sure I fed myself, got out of the house, and survived. Courtneyismy family.”
Gianluca shook his head. “Family is blood.”
“Really? Well, I’m an adoptee, remember? Fiamma is my blood, and I didn’t meet her till five years ago. Same with my birth father, whom I never see.”
Gianluca seemed to take it in. “Okay, I understand that. It’s not an easy choice, but you’re making it the wrong way.”
“I’m making it the only way I can.”
Gianluca’s dark eyes narrowed. “Julia, I know you. You were at the police station all afternoon. Don’t tell me you’re not looking into Kay’s murder.”
“Just a little,” Julia had to admit.
“This is exactly what I was afraid of. Are you having visions?”
“I had one, that’s all.”
“Are you following it up? Are you going to unravel, like last time?”
“This is different from last time. I feel stronger, I can do this, I have to.”
“Julia, this is everything I warned you about.” Gianluca shook his head in anguish. “You promised me.”
Julia’s gut wrenched, torn between her promises to Gianluca and to Courtney.
“I know, but I never dreamed that Courtney would be arrested for Kay’s murder, never in a million years. I’m doing the best I can, and you have to trust me and let me do what I need to do.”
“Okay, I hear that, but then what’s the plan?” Gianluca asked, resigned. “When can I tell the authorities my wife will be joining me to attest to our happy marriage?”
Julia winced. “I’m not sure. I’ll get home as soon as I can.”
