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Kate came out of the bathroom towel-drying her hair, the steam from her recent shower glazing the cold bedroom windows with a light layer of fog. Marco sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
“What a great day we have ahead of us,” she said. “I have to tote that big lug, Sal, around town trying to find a condo, and you have to tote the other lug around town.”
Marco rubbed his forehead. “I know, Kate. It sucks, but we just need a little more time. We like the two townhouses we’ve found for ourselves, and I’m feeling pretty good about my interview at that last place. We’re almost ready to leave.”
“Thank God,” she said. “I’m so sick of Sal. I swear he is dragging this out on purpose. The way he leers at me—it’s creepy! I don’t know how much more I can take.”
“Want me to tell Eddie he’s leering at you? He’ll make him stop.”
Kate walked to the dresser and started digging around in the drawers. “No. I can handle this. That’ll just make it worse next time I have to see Sal. It’s fine. Don’t say anything. We need this commission.”
“True. I’ll stop by later and grab some more boxes from the grocery store for packing. Renzo hasn’t even started packing his room.”
“I know.” Kate’s voice raised. “He’s still raging about this whole move. It’s that girlfriend of his. He doesn’t want to leave her.”
“Can you blame him? It’s like us. I mean, what if you had to leave me? You’d hate that, right?”
She smiled and walked over to him.
“I would hate that. I don’t even like thinking about that. I suppose we need to give him our understanding and make arrangements for them to still see each other. It’ll be annoying, but hopefully it won’t last.”
Marco climbed out of bed and grabbed her around the waist. “Time will tell how that plays out. Right now, I gotta’ get in the shower. Micola has a bunch of errands this morning. She doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
“I know. Get going. I’ll get breakfast started.”
Marco kissed her. “Be down in a few.”
She slapped his naked ass. “Hurry up.”
After breakfast, Kate left in their new SUV to meet Sal, and Marco left to pick up Micola for the day’s usual errands. He pulled up to her house promptly at ten-thirty.
“Buongiorno, Marco,” she said, lumbering into the passenger seat. “Cold day today.”
“Sure is, sweetheart. But I’ll keep the car nice and warm for you.”
“Grazie. You-a good boy.” She patted his hand.
They drove in silence. Marco turned from Payne onto Tedesco next to Morelli’s Market and parked.
“I’ll wait here and then help you put the stuff in the trunk.”
Micola paused, her hand lingering on the door handle.
“Marco,” she said.
“Yeah?”
A dark look crossed her face. “I have to tell you something.”
Marco frowned. “Okay. Anything wrong?”
Micola wrung her gloved hands and stared at them for a moment before looking at Marco. “I hear something.” She paused. “Eddie and Sal. Arguing.”
“Arguing? About what?”
She pointed. “You.”
“Me?”
“Sí. About money. Sal say to Eddie that you take-a money.”
“Me? I took money?” Marco whipped his head back and forth. “Micola, I never took money from anybody.”
“Sí, I know this, Marco. I know you. You-a good man. But Eddie, he-very angry. Sal said you took two thousand dollars.”
“What the f—” Marco held his tongue as he shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I must tell you. I—”
Marco took her hand and kissed it. “Thank you. I appreciate you tellin’ me this. I’ll talk to Eddie. Let him know I didn’t steal nothin’. Alright? It’ll be fine.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Okay Marco. Molto bene. This will be fine. Yes?”
“Yes,” he said. “Go on in. I’ll see you in a bit.”
After Micola left the car and headed into the Italian market, Marco slammed his hand on the steering wheel.
“Shit!”
