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After dinner, Sophie and Angelo load the dishwasher while I tidy the kitchen and put the spare bedding in the linen closet.
When Sophie has brushed her teeth, Angelo and I tuck her into bed.
“Beatrice wants to watch more television,” Sophie says as I place the doll next to her on the pillow.
Angelo pulls the covers up to her chin. “Tomorrow. Little people need their sleep, because that’s when they grow.”
She turns her face to me. “Is that true, Sabella?”
“Yes.” I switch on the lamp. “That’s why it’s important that you sleep enough.”
She sighs. “All right. I’ll sleep so that I can grow tall like you, Bella.”
I tap her nose. “We’re all different. You’ll grow as tall as you’re supposed to be.”
She wrinkles her nose. “How tall is that?”
Angelo grins. “It’s hard to say, but a doctor can make a calculated guess based on your weight, age, and a few other factors. Would you like one to visit to see how tall you may get?”
She takes her arms from under the covers and crosses her hands over her chest. “Will it hurt?”
“No,” he says. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“Can we go tomorrow?”
“I can do better than that,” he says. “I’ll arrange for a doctor to come here.”
“Will he measure Beatrice too?”
“Yes.” Angelo kisses her forehead. “Now, go to sleep.”
“Goodnight, Sophie,” I say, following Angelo to the door.
“Angelo?” Sophie says. When he pauses in the doorframe, she continues. “Are you sleeping here too?”
“Not tonight,” he says with a smile.
Sophie frowns. “Sabella?”
“Yes, Sophie?”
“If you and Angelo are married, why don’t you live in the same house?”
Not knowing how to answer that question, I look at Angelo.
He replies with a blank expression. “I work a lot, and sometimes, I have to work very late. It makes more sense that I sleep at the big house.”
“Will you work less someday?” she asks.
“That’s enough questions for one night, young lady,” he says. “Sweet dreams.”
He steps aside for me to exit and closes the door behind him.
For a tense moment, we face each other in silence.
Lowering his voice, he says, “I should go.”
“Can we talk first?”
