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Startled, Alfredo released Bella’s teats. No one ever came here, much less a woman. Ginevra raised her head to the sound.
“Coming!” Alfredo rose, dried his hands on his pants, and left the shed to find an attractive woman standing outside in a red dress. Her dark hair flew in the wind, and she held it back with her hand, smiling.
“Signore, I don’t know if you remember me. I bought cheese from you last week. My name is Signora Tozzi. I hope you don’t mind my coming to your home.”
Alfredo did. “How did you know where I live?”
“I asked around.”
Alfredo didn’t like that. “How can I help you?”
“Do you have any more cheese?”
“No.”
Signora Tozzi’s shoulders let down. “You don’t haveany?”
“No, I make it fresh. I’ll be at the piazza soon again.”
“When?”
“I go twice a week. Sometimes one time.”
“But the others are there every day.”
“It takes time to make the cheese. You have to let the curds drain.”
“Oh no.” Signora Tozzi’s lower lip puckered. “My husband isn’t feeling well. I think I mentioned that last time.”
Alfredo remembered. “A stomach problem?”
“Yes, he improved on your cheese, so I need to buy more.”
“I don’t think my cheese helped. Cheese doesn’t improve stomach problems.”
“I think it made a difference, I truly do.” Signora Tozzi smiled. “I tasted some, and it was delicious, unusually so.”
“Mycheese?” Alfredo asked, incredulous, then caught himself. He wasn’t a good salesman. “I mean, I know it’s good.”
Meanwhile Ginevra ambled out of the stall, and Signora Tozzisquealed in delight. “Look at those horns! They’remagical! I’ve never seen a goat like that! Where did you get her?”
“From Agrigento.” Alfredo could tell that Ginevra didn’t like Signora Tozzi. “The Girgentana is a rare breed, and their milk has a lot of fat.”
“How did she get here?”
Alfredo hesitated. “My family is from there.”
“And you say her milk is special?”
“No, I said it has a lot of fat.”
“I think that’s what cured my husband’s stomachache!”
“No, your husband got better on his own. Or perhaps you took good care of him.”
“Are you flirting with me?” Signora Tozzi asked with a giggle.
Alfredo felt taken aback. He had forgotten how to flirt, if he had ever known. He still loved his late wife, Felicia. “I should get back to milking.”
