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“Good for him.” She seemed to buy my story. “And your mother hasn’t reached out since?”
“I think she got all the information that she needed.”
“Which was?”
“To know I wouldn’t fall for her lies and that I chose my father’s family over her.”
The wrinkles that bordered her eyes smoothed out as a smile crossed her face.
“You chose wisely, my dear granddaughter, though we have much to catch up on. I think it’s best you get some sleep now.”
I stood and waited for her to do the same. She was old, but she was quite fit and had no trouble getting to her feet without so much as a wobble.
She turned just as she reached the door. “The man you’re dating, the son of the Capri Don. Is that over?”
I felt as though I had been sucker punched in the gut. I knew she knew—of course she did—but I wasn’t ready for it. My face registered my surprise, and she seemed to take pleasure from catching me out.
“Very,” I assured her.
“Good,” she squinted as if trying to read my mind, “because that would be a very big problem if it wasn’t.”
“I understand.”
“Why do I get the feeling you know what’s going on?” I asked Oscar, who hadn’t looked me in the eye all morning. “We’ve never withheld anything from each other before, so why start now?”
“I’m not purposely trying to be mute about something. It’s just thatthatsomething isn’t mine to share. Also, if I did, I’m not at all sure how you’ll react about that something.” He rolled his eyes and sighed as if he heard himself.
“So, you’re saying whatever Ugo is about to tell me, I won’t be pleased about it.”
“Let’s just say, I know I’m not.” He looked over my shoulder, and I saw relief flash across his face. Ugo must have arrived.
“I apologize for being late.” He waited for me to nod for him to sit. “I missed the train this morning and had to wait for the next one.”
“Train?” I asked, curious as to where, exactly, he was hiding my daughter.
“Yes.”
“No.” I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “One-word answers won’t work this time, Ugo. I want details on what’s going on and where my daughter is.”
“I set this meeting up, Ms. Elenora. I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you, but I must respect your daughter’s wishes when she asks me to do something for her.”
“Which was?” I didn’t like his tone.
“For me to give her a little time while she figured out what she wanted to do next.” He glanced at Oscar, and I grew even more impatient.
“It’s been almost three weeks. What has she figured out?”
“That she wanted to meet her father’s family.”
It was as if someone had poured freezing cold water down my back. It pooled in my lungs and sucked the air down. I was numb to the core.
“Tell me,” I cleared my throat heavily, needing a moment to steady my breath and get hold of my temper, “that you didn’t just drop my daughter off at the Devil’s doorstep.”
“There’s a little more to it than that.”
“Answer my question, Ugo.”
“In a nutshell, yes, I did.”
