Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
R eese sat hunched on the edge of the bed in their Roman hotel called Zoon Phonata, watching Oriana sleep sweetly beside him. It had been a long flight, and Oriana had gotten a migraine halfway through that would probably keep her out of action for the rest of the day. He was glad she could sleep, but Reese was restless. He couldn’t stop thinking of Joel’s face when they’d been at the airport, waiting for Lauren. “She’ll be here. She’s on her way.” It had broken Reese’s heart all over again. But he’d known better than to say anything.
He had to make Joel understand he was on his side no matter what.
Reese put on jeans and a T-shirt and left Oriana a note. Went for a walk . He left the room and took the elevator to the lobby. There, he found Peter and Tyler chasing one another across the marble floor as a receptionist turned red and prepared to yell at them. Reese hurried forward to calm them down. “Hey, buds! What do you say we go outside? Find a park?” He scanned the lobby to find Joel hunched against the wall with his phone pressed to his ear. Reese knew he was trying and failing to call Lauren. Has she finally left him?
Reese approached Joel as Joel shoved his phone into his pocket. Peter announced he was starving, which was a good reason to take everyone out to find a snack. Joel’s eyes were rimmed red.
“Zoon Phonata,” Peter said over and over again to Tyler. “Zoon Phonata!”
Joel laughed nervously. “He likes saying the name of the hotel. I told him it means Talking Animals in Greek.”
“Someone is a history scholar,” Reese quipped.
“Which animals can talk?” Peter asked.
“Just humans,” Reese said.
“Are humans animals?” Peter asked.
Peter glanced at Joel and marveled at the wide-eyed optimism of the world’s children. There was still so much to learn and hold up to the light and wonder about. But Reese was fifty, and Joel was almost thirty, and they were so dark-hearted and cynical. It was a waste.
“Humans are definitely animals,” Reese said. “And we’re not even the smartest ones at that.”
“Elephants are smarter,” Tyler said sagely.
Joel couldn’t look Reese in the eye, but he smiled. “Which of these animals wants pizza?”
They wandered through Old Town, through throngs of tourists, past the Vatican. Peter and Tyler begged for ice cream, but Reese and Joel scooped them into a piazza where a fast-talking Italian man sold glistening pizzas the size of school desks with oozing mozzarella cheese. They sat down. Joel and Reese ordered aperol spritzes, and Peter and Tyler got Italian sodas. They got three different types of pizzas. Reese was suddenly famished. He checked his phone to make sure Oriana wasn’t looking for him. She was probably still fast asleep.
“What’s our schedule this week again?” Joel asked when too much silence had passed. “We have an opening party with Carlotta tomorrow, right? And then Darcy has her first pitch in two or three nights?”
“Yes to all that. And we have several meetings arranged throughout the week,” Reese said. “I put them all in the shared calendar.”
Joel looked relieved. “Thank you.” He turned to look down at his sons. Reese could feel his panic. What were they going to do with the boys now that Lauren wasn’t here? Oriana had clients she wanted to meet with, too. She had a career to maintain.
“Let’s ask the hotel for help,” Reese said. “Maybe they can hook us up with a babysitting service.”
“I hate to do that to them,” Joel said.
“It happens,” Reese said. “I had to do that from time to time when I was a stay-at-home dad. I felt real shame about it at first, but it faded as I got used to it.” He paused and wet his lips. He couldn’t ask what had happened to Lauren, but he guessed Joel was going to have to get used to being a single father. “They’ll have a blast. They get sick of us anyway.”
Joel pressed on his eyes with his fingers and sighed.
“We’re tired. Everyone is tired,” Reese said.
Joel didn’t have an answer to that either. He used his fork and knife to slice a triangle of cheesy pizza and ate with his eyes on the piazza. Beautiful Italian couples walked hand in hand or drank light beer, sunlight streaming through the green bottles. It was surreal, Reese decided, to be here with his son.
And he decided to say it before he was too frightened to.
“I never thought we’d go on vacation together. As adults, I mean.”
Joel eyed him with a mix of curiosity and also an air of don’t go there .
The boys weren’t paying attention. They were gnawing their pizza and people-watching. Peter’s face was streaked with sauce.
“I never thought you could stand me,” Reese offered.
“I never thought you could stand me,” Joel said quietly.
Reese’s heart ballooned. He thought he was going to burst into tears. He considered apologizing for involving himself too much in Joel’s life and his wife’s affairs, either real or imagined. He just wanted his son to like him. He just wanted to show his love.
Maybe they could start over here in Rome. Maybe they’d return to Martha’s Vineyard with a renewed sense of loyalty and love.
It was the day of Carlotta’s party. Reese and Oriana spent all morning scavenging the city, browsing museums, drinking espresso, eating gelato, and kissing in sun-drenched piazzas. Reese felt like a young man with his young lover by his side. If you’d told him he was actually in his fifties, he’d have said you were a liar.
Maybe travel helped you turn back the clock. Perhaps it forced you to realign the vision of your life.
Only once over lunch did they discuss what they had to do today. Oriana had plans to visit a collector on the outskirts of Rome, somebody she called “very old money, whose taste I can’t quite understand yet.” Reese was, of course, attending Carlotta’s party with Joel. The hotel had a wonderful babysitter from England, which was essential as the boys needed to be able to speak English with her.
“Can I ask you a question?” Oriana asked. She set down her fork and looked at him.
“Of course.”
“Do you really think Carlotta has good intentions for Darcy?”
Reese’s thoughts swirled. “I can’t think of a good reason she would bring her all the way over here if she didn’t.”
“Sam mentioned Darcy spent several nights at the yacht.”
“They were preparing for the pitch.” Reese shrugged. “Darcy isn’t practiced in this business world. Carlotta likes that about her, I think. She sees potential, and she wants to hone it.”
“I just don’t trust her,” Oriana said. “Will you watch out for her tonight?”
Reese wanted to say she’s twenty-five and can take care of herself. But he knew this wasn’t true. Women like Darcy were at the mercy of people like Carlotta. Carlotta could give and give until she decided to take it all away. And there was no telling what would happen to Darcy when or if that happened.
Joel, Oriana, Reese, Peter, and Tyler had a light dinner together before the babysitter came and took the boys back to the hotel room. This left Joel, Reese, and Oriana at the restaurant, enjoying a glass of rosé as the sun dropped. Oriana had to get going; she always liked to be a few minutes late but not overly so. “I have to keep them guessing.” This left Joel and Reese and the big night awaiting them. It was time to go.
Carlotta’s party was held at her residence not far from Old Town. Industry professionals would be there—everyone from people Reese and Joel needed to know now to people who could boost their careers down the line. Carlotta had already explained that the European market wasn’t as far ahead as the American one. European investors and app creators would be pleased to have American minds aboard. “They think you’re geniuses. They think you’re a part of the San Francisco tech boom. Just play into that.”
Out front, two lion statues guarded Carlotta’s six-story Roman apartment building. Reese rang the doorbell, and they walked into a marble-walled foyer and up to the top floor to find the most romantic and fabulous party they’d ever seen. Everyone was beautiful and wearing couture. Everyone spoke a mix of Italian, French, English, and Spanish to form a sort of musical dialect. And in the corner was Carlotta beside her American boyfriend, Bobby. Recently, Reese had read that Bobby was “cleared of all charges.” But he’d run into Susan on the street immediately after, where she’d said in confidence, “Bobby is the most manipulative man I’ve ever worked with. I’ll never fight for him again.” It seemed likely that Susan hadn’t wanted him to win. And she’d been his lawyer!
That confused Reese to no end. He put his guard up.
Not that Bobby Ringmaker wanted anything to do with him.
“My handsome islanders are here!” Carlotta announced and swept across the room to greet them.
Bobby watched them with a sinister expression on his face. What is he thinking?
“Tell me your journey went well?” Carlotta asked, still holding Joel’s hand. He seemed confused and eager to shake her off.
“It was wonderful. Thank you,” Reese said. “And this is a beautiful apartment.”
“Is it? I already miss the yacht and the house on Martha’s Vineyard. We had so much space. But that’s the story of America, isn’t it? Help yourself to some wine and hors d’oeuvres. I’ll introduce you to some very important people soon.” She winked at Joel and turned away.
Reese balked. Is Carlotta after Joel? Did she do something to Lauren to make sure she couldn’t come?
It didn’t make sense.
“I need a drink,” Joel said.
They found the bar shortly after and got two negronis, then leaned against the wall and assessed the space: the gold-laid frames that hung priceless paintings that Oriana would have known all about; the photograph of Carlotta with Cameron Diaz, a close friend; the lush sofas; the thick plants. Everything smelled divine, like fresh bread and simmering tomatoes and oregano and very expensive perfume, and all of Rome glowed out the window. Even though Joel and Reese weren’t entirely on “great” terms, they were in this bizarre world together. It brought them closer.
Plus, they’d both acknowledged how nervous they were around the other yesterday. That was a start.
Suddenly, Darcy appeared in the throng. She wore a simple dark blue dress and smiled nervously, clutching a full glass of wine. Reese waved her over and smiled.
“How are you? We haven’t seen you all day!”
Darcy grimaced and set her wine on a bookshelf beside them, directly next to a vintage globe. “I’m okay. I just met so many ‘important’ people. People I’m supposed to pitch in front of tomorrow.” She used air quotes. “And now I’m exhausted. I hope I did okay?”
“There’s no question,” Reese assured her. “You look the part, and you seem very professional.”
Darcy winced, as though she didn’t believe him and would rather he didn’t lie.
“I can’t help but feel that nobody believes I should be here,” she said under her breath. “Like everyone can tell I didn’t go to college. Like everyone knows this is my first and only shot.”
“Don’t discredit yourself,” Reese reminded her. “You’ve worked incredibly hard the past few weeks. Carlotta wouldn’t throw you to the wolves before she knew you were ready.”
Or would she?
Carlotta approached with a team of Italian businessmen who required several updates and apps to be developed this autumn and onward. Reese fell into conversation easily, shaking their hand and listening to their questions. It was true that they handled themselves differently than American businessmen. They laughed more openly and demanded more information about Reese, Joel, and their families than most American businessmen would have.
“And you, Joel? You are also married?” a man called Tristram asked.
Joel’s cheeks brightened to pink. Carlotta touched his shoulder a bit too lovingly, and Joel looked as though he wanted to shake her off again. Reese furrowed his brow.
“I am,” Joel said. “Almost ten years now.”
Reese saw red, remembering that Joel and Lauren hadn’t invited them to their intimate wedding. He’d been at home that afternoon changing his bandages and biting his tongue to keep from crying. He remembered Alexis limping through the kitchen as she made herself a sandwich. He remembered thinking what has happened to my family?
“Is your beautiful wife here in Rome with us?” Tristram asked.
Joel was pale. “Something came up at home, unfortunately.”
“Is that true, Joel?” Carlotta sang. She walked behind Joel and turned his torso to the right so that he peered through the party. Reese followed his gaze as his heart thudded.
There in the doorway stood Lauren.
Reese blinked wildly, trying to unsee what was so clearly before him. How was this happening? Why was Lauren there? Joel’s face was crumpled with surprise.
“Excuse me,” Joel said to the businessmen. He hurried through the crowd to speak to Lauren. He bowed his head so that their noses almost touched and whispered furiously. His eyes glinted with tears.
Carlotta spoke in rapid Italian, explaining what was going on. Reese couldn’t fathom what she was saying.
“Excuse me?” he demanded. “What is Lauren doing here? Did you bring her here?”
“She missed her flight,” Carlotta explained, whipping her dark hair behind her shoulder. “I know what it feels like to be the woman left at home. I can’t tell you how often Bobby’s done it to me.”
“To you, Carlotta?” Another Italian businessman feigned surprise. “I cannot imagine what’s wrong with him.”
“Americans are impatient. Fickle,” Carlotta said.
Reese’s head throbbed with curiosity, with fear. He had the sudden sensation that Carlotta was a spider, wrapping him, Joel, and Darcy up in a dramatic web, preparing to swallow them whole. Joel glanced from side to side, put his hand on Lauren’s lower back, and led her down the long hallway. It was clear they needed to talk.
“Excuse me,” Reese said, shooting off to follow them. But when he reached the hallway, Joel and Lauren were nowhere to be found. They could have ducked behind any of the closed doors. They could have left.
Reese’s forehead was damp with sweat. He wanted to call Oriana; he wanted to find Darcy and get them out of there. He couldn’t fully explain it, but something wasn’t right. But when he pulled his phone out of his pocket, he discovered ten missed calls from the babysitter back at the hotel. His heart thudded.
His was the only phone number they’d given her. Which meant he was the point of contact in case of an emergency.
Reese pressed his phone to his ear and closed his eyes tightly. The phone rang and rang across the wild Roman night. It suddenly occured to him just how far away from home they were. They never should have come.