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“He is a little creepy,” says Chloe and turns to me. “Isn’t he? Seriously hot, but he scares the bejesus out of me. Strict. Always fancy suits. I’ve always wondered if he couldn’t afford having his kid in a private care facility instead. It’s almost like he’s hiding him at the center.”
My stomach clenches. He does give off a bit of a strange vibe. “You all watch too many movies. Come on. He’s just a guy. Probably an accountant or some other boring suit-job… Oh shit! Sorry, Chloe, your job sounds incredibly fun.” I grimace, embarrassed, but she laughs.
“It’s not for everyone. I like numbers. Numbers are my friends.”
“Hey, I thought we were your friends,” says Rebecca with a pout.
I listen to the conversation the rest of the night with half an ear, wondering how I’ll go about asking the dad tomorrow.
Three hugs and six cheek-kisses later, I fall into bed, my head already pounding from too much red wine. I won’t be at my best tomorrow morning.
Luciano Salvatore haspitch black eyes and studies me with an intensity that makes the skin on my back feel too tight.
“You wanted to speak with me?” His voice is well modulated, smooth.
I swallow hard. Chloe is right. He’s a very attractive man, tall, dark brown hair that’s always well combed, a proud Roman nose and a squared jaw shaded by a two-day stubble that seems very intentional, but there is something eerie about those dark eyes. It’s like he sees right through me.
Inhaling deeply, I fight to shake off the feeling I’m doing something really stupid. “Yeah… David said something yesterday, and I wonder how I should interpret it. I think he’s seen something that shook him and… I wonder if you know what it might be?”
Mr. Salvatore is absolutely still as he regards me. His face betrays no emotions. Again, an ice-cold trickle of unease runs through me.
“A cousin of mine was working on the garage door. It snapped closed and cut off his foot. It was a horrible accident, and unfortunately my son happened to witness it. Does this help you, Miss…?”
“That’s horrible! Jackson. Kerry Jackson. Yes, thank you. If David has been traumatized by this, he might speak about it again, maybe draw something… It’s good that I know.” I smile and sigh with relief. Like I figured. Nothing but an accident. “How is the cousin?”
Salvatore stiffens and his eyes turn a shade darker. “He is well. Good day, Miss Jackson. Talk again soon, yes?”
He spins on his heels and strides to his car, a black Mercedes with tinted windows. I remain on the first stair leading up to the yellow, worn-down brick building where I work, my heart pounding hard. That’s an expensive car, I don’t know much, but even I see that the Mercedes is something extra.
The skin on my back crawls as I walk back inside. I’m not sure what just happened. Probably nothing.
David doesn’t speak again.Maybe it’s for the better? My day goes about as usual, but I can’t seem to shake off the eerie encounter with the boy’s father. I wonder what he does, who he is.
My phone chimes as I’ve just pushed on the helmet and started my Vespa. Struggling to get it off again, I fumble with my pocket and finally get the phone to my ear.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Kerry, dear, what took you so long?”
“I had logistical issues.” I turn off the engine and jerk the motorcycle back up on its support, placing my pink and white helmet on the seat. “What’s up, Mom?”
“We wanted to see if you are available tonight. We’re celebrating our thirtieth anniversary and would be overjoyed if you would grace us with your presence.”
I wince. I love my parents, but Mom can be a bit much. She always gets a little tipsy, and starts nagging on me about my future.
“Aren’t you supposed to do that as a couple? I mean, go out to a fancy restaurant, get a room, all that?”
She laughs her tinkling, well-practiced laugh.“Those days are over. Can you make it?”
I pace back and forth on the sidewalk, kicking at pebbles. “Free food. What’s not to love?” And hanging with Dad is always fun.
“Splendid! Eight o’clock.”
I glance at the phone. It’s almost six. “Sure. See you then.”
As I hop on my Vespa and drive home, unease creeps up on me again. I don’t know why this affected me so much. No, I do know. I’ve cared for David for about a year. His behavior yesterday was way off from his usual. And then the dad’s piercing eyes, as if he saw right through me.
I’m wearing a thin dress and freeze like hell on the way to my birth home. It’s only a thirty-minute drive, thank God.
