Chapter 60
LA FA?ON, MANHATTAN
Luca was late. Again. He rushed from the entrance into the cold evening breeze and put his hand in the air to hail a cab.
The driver zipped straight past him. This wasn’t good.
He checked his watch. It was just less than an hour until Gabriella had to be talking at the bookstore.
Did he have time to take the subway? He was just debating this when…
‘Luca.’
He turned around and there was Steffi, standing on the street, looking like she had been waiting a while because, as he moved towards her, she was shivering.
‘Steffi,’ he greeted. ‘What are you doing out here? Why didn’t you come inside?’
‘I didn’t know whether I should,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know whether I really wanted to.’
‘O-K,’ he said, absorbing the words. ‘And how do you feel now?’
‘Undecided,’ she answered. ‘But I don’t need to go in now. You’re outside.’
That was fact. He nodded. ‘Steffi, you don’t have to agree with what I did. You don’t have to be happy with what Dad has decided to do. It’s OK to have a different opinion. You said that yourself, outside the prison, remember?’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘And you know me, Luca, all of my life I’ve had a different opinion on most things.
Except, with this, it means accepting that my brother did something that took our father away from the family and also that, just when I thought his sentence was down to single figures and we’d be getting him back, you’re saying he’s never gonna come back. ’
He swallowed, hearing the emotion in his sister’s voice all over again. He knew it was hardest on her and their mother but he also knew, without doubt, this was the best outcome for absolutely everyone.
‘Steffi,’ he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. ‘What Dad’s doing now is the bravest thing he’s ever done. It’s the biggest sacrifice he has ever made. And he’s doing that for us.’ He took a breath. ‘It doesn’t transform him into a saint but, I don’t know, I feel that he gets it now.’
‘You think he has remorse?’ Steffi asked, eyes wide.
‘Let’s not go too far.’
She sighed. ‘So, what do we do now? What happens next?’
‘We breathe,’ Luca said. ‘And we live. With no more looking over our shoulders, with Mom not thinking about pressing a new panic alarm every time someone knocks on the door. With no use for a special umbrella, I’m really hoping.’
‘Well,’ Steffi said. ‘The special umbrella does have multiple purposes. Last week I used it to separate some grocery store baskets that were stuck together.’
‘Yeah?’ Luca asked. ‘And no one got maimed. A great result.’
Steffi sighed. ‘We won’t be able to visit him as much though, will we?’
‘I don’t know yet,’ Luca said. ‘There’s a lot to work through but Dad is committed to the idea.’
Steffi nodded. ‘So, it’s what he really wants?’
‘Yes,’ Luca said sincerely. ‘It’s what he really wants. To keep us all safe.’
‘OK,’ Steffi said, sniffing. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her coat and pulled the fabric closer.
‘OK?’
She nodded. ‘Yeah.’
‘Good.’
‘So where are you going now?’ Steffi asked.
‘I have to be at Rizzolo Bookstore to dress Gabriella and I’m late and every cab is already hired.’
‘OK,’ Steffi said, getting out her phone.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Getting us a lift.’
‘Have you seen the traffic? I’m gonna have to get the subway.’
‘Have some faith, Luca,’ Steffi said. ‘There are perks to being a Marcello and I’m not afraid to use those when I need to. I’m calling Dad’s favourite getaway driver.’ She turned away, seeming to concentrate on the call. ‘Hey, Beppe, it’s Steffi. Yeah, I need a favour… like now.’