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“Of course, go ahead. It’s your birthday, too.”
Roberto straightened. “I think we need to move into the sulfur business.”
“No.” Franco hated the idea, suspecting that its source was Bruna, not Roberto.
Roberto raised a hand. “Hear me out, brother. Sulfur is a precious mineral, in demand worldwide. England and Europe need it for sulfuric acid, gunpowder, and the like. It’s a very lucrative market, and there’s plenty of sulfur east of here, around Mussomeli in Caltanissetta province.”
“Roberto, no. We’re growers. We nurture beautiful trees in the fresh air. My plans for expansion take us west to Marsala. The Florios and others are growing grapes there to make Marsala wine, and we can protect grapes the way we protected lemons.”
“The Florios, still?” Roberto shook his head. “We’re not them.”
“We’rebetter. We protect lemons, so grapes are logical for us. We’re not miners.”
“We can become miners.”
“Why? It’s a dirty business, sulfur. You have to dig through hard rock. It’s dark and smelly. It’s poisonous, that gas.”
Roberto touched his arm. “Think about it, for me. Mussomeli’s only ninety kilometers or so away, and it’s more like where we grew up.”
“But there are no roads between here and there. The ride is long and hard. Going back and forth is crazy.”
“I know, that’s why I could move there, someday.” Roberto glanced at Bruna, and Franco tried to keep his temper.
“Because she’s from there? You want to move because of your wife?”
Bruna started to respond, but Roberto waved her into silence. “Franco, it’s not for her, it’s for me.”
“What would I do when you’re away? What happens to our business?”
“There are many who could take my place—”
“Not family. I have one twin.”
“Nevertheless, they could do my job.”
“I don’t want them, I want you.” Franco set down his fork. “It’s out of the question.”
“Why?” Roberto leaned forward in frustration.
“I told you, I need you here and I don’t want to go into sulfur.”
“What about whatIwant? I want to be boss.”
Franco rolled his eyes. “Come on, Robo. We both know you’re not a boss.”
Roberto recoiled. “I know no such thing!”
“Be honest with yourself. Ever since you were little—”
“You act like I’m your little brother, but I’m yourtwin.”
Bruna snorted, interjecting, “Roberto, Franco knows you can do it, he just doesn’t want you to. He’s holding you back.”
“What?” Franco asked, offended. “How dare you? I love my brother!”
“Youuseyour brother!” Bruna shot back.
“Whatdid you say?” Franco felt a surge of anger and Roberto put both hands up.
