Page 96 of The Fall Affair

Matteo’s head turned toward me with a smile. I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled across. “Your turn. Tell me a secret.”

He laughed, but nevertheless leaned toward the wall. I pressed my ear close to the tiles, and his whisper came through loud and clear. “I don’t think it’s a secret, but I’m falling for you, Allegra.”

Warmth spread through me. I walked back to him with the biggest smile plastered on my face. Taking his hand, I swung it. “I’m falling for you, too, Matteo.”

Hours later, we arrived at the last stop of the day. The timing was perfect because the sun was just starting to go down. Jefferson Market Garden was tucked behind an old courthouse. We entered through the wrought-iron gates at Sixth Avenue and 10th Street and walked along one of the brick paths that meandered through lush greenery.

“I grew up uptown in Lenox Hill,” I said. “At least until my parents died. My aunt, who I moved in with after, lived here in Greenwich Village, a few blocks away.”

I led us to my favorite spot, a bench tucked behind a curtain of ivy, overlooking a koi pond, and Matteo and I took seats next to each other. “The first week I moved in with my aunt, I came here every day and sat on this bench before school started and cried. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t want my aunt to see me. She worked weekends, selling her artwork at local fairs and markets, so I could cry in the safety of my room then.”

Matteo squeezed my hand.

I smiled. “The tears only lasted maybe two or three minutes, and then I was fine for the rest of the day. It was really kind of strange. I guess I just needed to let it out. Anyway, my parents died in December, and school let out for the holidays a week or two later, so that was the first time I was home in the morning with my aunt. I was in the living room when the emotions hit, and my aunt walked in while I was crying. She looked at me, turned around, and walked straight back out.” I exhaled a hollow laugh. “That sounds awful, so I want to tell you that she was a good guardian—always made sure I had what I needed, and I knew she loved me. But she didn’t have kids, so maybe she had no clue how to handle a crying teenager, or perhaps she thought I needed privacy. Either way, after that, I came to my little secret spot whether she was home or not, until a few months later when one day the crying stopped.” I pointed to the koi pond. “I would sit here and stare at the fish until my face was clear enough to go home.”

Matteo squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry.”

“A lot of kids who lose parents go through way more than not having someone to comfort them when they were crying, so I was lucky, really. But I think that was the first time I realized I couldn’t depend on anyone emotionally. Maybe the second, since my parents left one day and never returned.” I shrugged. “I came back to this spot a lot over the years, whenever I had a case at work that I couldn’t seem to find a solution for, or if someone let me down. That sounds pretty depressing, but this little magical place tucked in the middle of the busy city has helped me find myself countless times, so I love it here.”

I paused, feeling Matteo’s eyes on me, though I was looking straight ahead. I turned to face him. “I brought you here today because when I found out I had a sister, I ran straight to you. When I went to meet her and learned my dad had been living a secret life, I ran straight to you. I didn’t run away because I knew I could count on you.”

Matteo’s face softened. “You can, bellissima. It’s an honor, and I will always be here, for as long as you want me to be.”

I reached for his hand and laced my fingers with his. Resting my head on his shoulder, I sighed. “That means so much to me.”

His thumb brushed against my skin. “I have a confession to make. I think I lied to you at your secret wall. I said I was falling for you…but the truth is, I’m already there.”

Chapter 32

Allegra

I ROSE SLOWLY, buttoning my jacket as I stepped toward the witness stand, and smiled. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Ellington. How are you today?”

“Fine. Thank you.” Nina Ellington lifted her chin high.

“So, you testified earlier that you purchased a property in the Bahamas six years ago, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

I nodded. “In the signed asset listing you provided, you indicated that the value of that property is approximately four hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“And to the best of your knowledge, that is what the property is worth?”

She shifted in her seat. “Yes.”

“And you purchased that property for what price?”

“I believe it was three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.”

I picked up a paper, glancing down for effect only since I already knew what it said. “Three hundred, twenty-five thousand and five hundred, to be exact.”

Mrs. Ellington rolled her eyes. “I stand corrected.”

“And how did you come to the value of the property?”

“I had an appraisal done.”