"I lost track of time."
Giulia sets the tray on the small table by the window. "Kristen mentioned you seemed distracted this morning. I thought you might need something."
Kristen noticed.
Of course she did.
"Thank you." I move to the table. "That's very kind."
Giulia watches me for a moment. Her eyes are sharp despite her age. Observant.
"Is everything alright, Mrs. Sartori?"
The name still sounds wrong. Like a costume I haven't grown into yet.
"Everything's fine."
Giulia doesn't believe me. I can see it in the slight tilt of her head. The way her lips press together.
But she doesn't push.
"If you need anything," she says, "you only have to ask."
"I know."
She leaves.
I sit by the window with my tea and sandwiches.
Outside, the gardens stretch green and manicured. Perfect hedges. Perfect flowers. Everything in its proper place.
Nothing like the chaos inside my head.
Bruno
Valentino finds me in the gym.
I'm on the parallel bars. Arms shaking. Sweat dripping down my face.
"Your mother called," he says.
I don't stop. Don't look at him.
"And?"
"She's coming to Chicago."
My grip tightens on the bars. "When?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Fuck.
I lower myself back into the wheelchair. My arms burn. My legs ache from the exercises Will put me through earlier.
"Did she say why?"
Valentino crosses his arms. Leans against the doorframe. "You know why."