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“Okay. I’ll stay while you finish up.”
After collecting the chicken and cheese with Aloysius following me, we went to pay. As he stood at the checkout next to me, I thought how I’d only talked with him briefly at the wedding and today was probably the longest conversation I’d had with him so far.
He was almost as tall as Lorenzo, although his body was leaner, and he had jet black hair and almost-black eyes. He definitely seemed a bit friendlier than Lorenzo.
I noticed that he didn’t have any purchases to pay for. “So, what are you doing here if you’re not grocery shopping?”
“I was on my way to your mansion, and I saw Lorenzo’s SUV in the parking lot. I’d just left him at the club, and I knew it couldn’t be him. He’d also said that the kids were at our mother’s, and that you were spending the day at home, so I thought I’d better check it out.”
If I ever snuck out on a grocery run again, I’d have to go somewhere further from the mansion and with a parking lot that wasn’t visible from the main road. “Ah, so my plan wasn’t so clever, after all,” I said, in an attempt to make light of the situation. “I’m going to have to sharpen up my sneaking-out skills.”
“Seriously, Anni, you need to be careful. There are bad people around and Lorenzo has plenty of enemies.” He kept his voice low as we were in public, but I could tell that he meant what he said. “You shouldn’t be driving yourself. If something were to happen, your bodyguard has advanced driving skills and will be better equipped than you to get you out of danger.”
After I’d paid, Aloysius followed me out to the parking lot as I returned to my SUV.
“Where do you think you’re going now?” He quirked an eyebrow up at me.
“Back to the mansion.”
“Not by yourself you’re not. Come on.” He took my arm and purposely led me over to his vehicle. “I’ll drive you home and get one of my men to bring your vehicle back to the mansion.” He held his palm out. “Keys,” he demanded.
“Honestly, I’m fine. I really don’t need a bodyguard just to go the short distance home.”
“You’re Lorenzo’s now,” he stated. “You don’t get a choice.”
It was clear he wasn’t going to take no for an answer, so I handed my keys over to him.
Although Aloysius was bossy, at least he was easier to talk to than Giuseppe had been. Giuseppe hadn’t said anything to me yesterday apart from ‘yes, ma’am’, ‘no, ma’am’, and ‘I’ll carry your bags, ma’am’.
When we arrived back, Aloysius went to drop some money in the safe in Lorenzo’s study and then left.
During the afternoon, I passed the time by playing with Wilbur and unpacking more of my belongings.
Then in the early evening, I started to prepare the cutlets. Lorenzo was picking up the children from his mother’s and bringing them home in time for dinner.
When dinner was almost ready, Lorenzo arrived home. And crossing my fingers, I took a deep breath and hoped to myself that tonight’s dinner would be a better success than yesterday’s.
CHAPTER 21
LORENZO
I had just picked up the children from my mother’s house.
Mother said that the children had been fine but that Clara hadn’t eaten much for lunch again. I was glad that at least she had eaten the eggs this morning. I had hoped that she was getting her appetite back, but the eggs must have been a one-off.
I frowned as I noticed how old and shabby her dress was getting. Although her hair had been looking much better since Anni had been brushing it.
“Your hair looks so pretty when it’s brushed and you’ve got a ribbon in it.”
“Wilbur matches,” she whispered.
“Yeah, I guess he does.” Maybe that was why Anni was brushing the cat’s fur this morning and putting the ribbon on his collar—to get Clara to have her hair brushed? Perhaps Anni was starting to get the hang of how to deal with the children.
When we got back to the mansion, Clara and Clemente went to find Anni. I followed them into the kitchen, wanting to check up on what my wife was up to.
“Anni!” Clemente said in greeting.
“Hi Clemente. Hi Clara.”
