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“Pass me that,” I point at his breakfast in the corner and he passes it to me.
I know him. He was only teasing her. If she loosens up, she might start to enjoy his company and even return double for the trouble of his playful bullying.
“I'm set when you are,” Orazio downs my coffee.
“Almost,” I take another bite of my brioche, and dump the rest on the plate, “done,” Orazio passes me his cup of coffee, and I take a large gulp.
“Alright Rosa, see you never,” he winks at her and she rolls her eyes at him.
I'm about to cross the threshold of the kitchen to the living area when she stops me by mumbling something I can't make out clearly.
“What?” I ask over my shoulder, craning my head to face her.
“I want to come,” she pouts, “I don't want to be alone all day.”
“Do you even know where we are going? Orazio asks, “Besides, it’s not like a ghost would haunt you here.”
“Ghosts don’t exist,” she bites back, maybe a bit too fervently.
Interesting.
“Rosaline, it might not be something you’d want to spend your time doing,” I keep my tone benign.
She shakes her head, “But you are going, so I want to come too,” she shrugs.
I give up. I was only trying to persuade her otherwise because I know I would have blue balls for agreeing to this. But then again, she can make do with some outdoor events. It's not like she is in prison or anything. And I won't even lie, it makes me happy she is the one offering to tag along.
“Let's go,” I stretch out my hand, not expecting her to take it, but she surprises me as she stands, snatches a brioche from her plate, and takes my hand.
It smells like another good day. Maybe Orazio and his stupid authors might be up to something with their deranged books about sending positivity.
“Be careful there,” Orazio strains to me and hits a shot as the ball bounces once on the grass.
“Careful, why?” I hit back.
We are at the golf course just opposite the manor. It's now mine but I still like to call it my father’s.
“I don't know, but just be careful,” he runs to the corner after the green ball, almost slipping, but the tip of his racket hits it, “I don’t want you to walk yourself into something that you would regret. And you know you would regret it because you know that I know you enough to know you are already on your way there and that this thing with her is exactly what I’m thinking it is.”
“What is it with you this morning and thinking you are fucking Buddha?” I hit back.
“Just be careful,” he hits.
“If you have something to say,” I hit, “say it.”
“You are not getting…” he hits, “more…” he hits, “Than…” he hits, “That…” he hits.
“Slow the fuck down,” he yells, missing the ball.
I smile at him, feeling pleased with myself.
Rosaline hurries to pick the ball up and hands it to him.
We just ended the second set of the lawn tennis match and I'm winning by twelve points, while Rosaline is a little away from us, acting as a voluntary ball girl.
Orazio walks over to me and throws his hand over my shoulder.
“Tell me, Sunshine,” he walks me to a corner, away from hearing distance for Rosaline, “Tell me that I have nothing to worry about,” he lets go and comes to stand in front of me, “Everything looks good on the outside, but is it?” He cocks his head, “I know you, and I know something is up.”
