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“Sure,” I say, stepping inside when she opens the door wider.
The dog barks in all earnest, obviously not liking my intrusion.
“Quiet, baby,” she says, but the little creature pays her no heed.
Going down on my haunches, I offer the dog my hand to sniff. “Hey, buddy. What’s your name?”
The dog stops barking and reluctantly comes closer. After sniffing me, she licks my hand.
“That’s Diva,” Mrs. Paoli says. “She likes you.”
“She’s cute.” I scratch Diva’s chin. “Mrs. Campana said you may need someone to walk her while you’re feeling under the weather. I’m looking for small jobs, so if you—”
“Done.”
I straighten. “Really?”
“It’s not often that Diva likes someone. I was considering paying one of the older kids to walk her, but you never know what mischief those boys get up to. The last time, they dressed my Diva in a doll’s dress and put a frilly hat on her head. The poor thing was miserable. Imagine. A frilly hat,” she exclaims. “I prefer that an adult takes care of her.”
I smile. “I have nothing planned. I can take her out today.”
“Diva will like that. Come on in,” she says, going down the hallway. “Come sit in the kitchen while I write the cheque. You can walk Diva to the pharmacy and back. It’s a walk she knows well, and she likes to sniff the lampposts on the way.”
She leads me to a small kitchen with pink cupboards and a small table with a pink cherry motive tablecloth. Diva follows on our heels, her nails clacking on the wooden floors.
“Would you like a cup of tea while you wait?” she asks. “I can do with one. It’ll drive this nasty chill from my bones.”
“Why don’t I make the tea while you write the cheque?”
“Are you sure?” She clutches the ends of her robe together. “I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“Not at all. Just show me where everything is.”
“All right then.” She sniffs. “If you insist.”
She opens a cupboard filled with pink crockery and takes down a hot-pink tea pot. “The cups are here.” She points at a pantry door. “The tea is in there. Sugar too.” She shuffles toward the door. “Or honey if you prefer.” Her voice drifts down the hallway as she disappears through the doorframe. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
While she gets her cheque book, I wash my hands with the rose-perfumed soap at the sink and dry them on the baby-pink towel that hangs on a hook on the wall. After filling a pink vintage kettle with water, I switch it on for the water to boil. I’m not surprised that the tea in the pink tin decorated with ballerinas is a pink hibiscus and raspberry mixture. Even the drawer from which I take a teaspoon is lined with pink polka dot kitchen paper.
When Mrs. Paoli returns and sits down at the table, I pour two cups of the fragrant infusion. I take the chair opposite her and frame the paper-thin porcelain teacup with the roses painted around the rim between my palms, enjoying the warmth that seeps into my skin.
“You said you live in the house on the hill,” she says, stealing a glance at me as she signs her name on the cheque.
“That’s right.” I blow on the tea before taking a sip. “This brew is divine.”
“Thank you,” she says with a lift of her chin. “It’s not available in the store. I order it online from an organic producer.” She puts the pen down. “Are you family of the Russos?”
“No.” I clear my throat. “I mean yes. I suppose so.” Flustered, I add, “I’m Mr. Russo’s wife. I’m not used to the new surname yet.”
Placing a hand over her heart, she says with round eyes, “You don’t say.”
I take the medicine from the bag and shake a vitamin from the bottle, which I leave in her saucer. “Mrs. Campana said this will help for your cold.”
She leans across the table and asks in a hushed voice, “Is it true that the house is a pigsty?”
I flinch. “I can’t deny that it was in a less than desirable state when I moved in, but you don’t have to worry. It’s been cleaned since.”
“Oh.” Red blotches taint her cheeks. “I didn’t mean that you’re dirty. I can see you’re perfectly clean. I was just wondering. Word goes around. Toma mentioned something to a friend of a friend’s cousin.” Leaning closer still, she whispers, “Does he live there now? Your husband?” She crosses herself. “I suppose after what happened with the accident it must be difficult to live in the big house.”
