I call you Gabi?”
“Of course.”
“Evviva!”
For the next two hours Gabi had the time of her life helping him put the project together while they ate. They talked about dinosaurs and his favorite emojis. Soon they got on the subject of another comic book character called Tex, from American television; the indomitable hero. Dino was so smart and a perfect delight. You’d never know anything was wrong with him.
Unfortunately, she’d overstayed her welcome and the time had come when she needed to leave for Padova. Edda would want a report in person before the day was out. “Guess what, Dino? I’ve had such a terrific time, but now I’m due back at the office.”
“No—” he cried out and jumped to his feet. The abrupt change in his demeanor took her by surprise.
“I’m sorry.”
Tears filled his eyes. “But I want you to stay.”
“I would love to if I could.”
“Will you come tomorrow?”
“She has to get back to work,” Giustina spoke up. “Now thank her and say goodbye.”
“But I don’t want her to go.” He was relentless. It was an indication of how difficult life could be for him at times. Her heart ached for him and his whole family. His grandmother looked absolutely crushed.
As Gabi turned to leave, he dashed past her and out of the family room.
The older woman seemed frantic. “I’m sorry. I’ve never seen him act quite like this before.”
“He’s going through a very difficult time in his life.”
“I shouldn’t have mailed his letter.”
“Don’t say that. He loves and trusts you. Now he knows our foundation received it. He believed in something and it happened. That has to have increased the faith he needs to face his operation.”
Giustina followed her to the door. “About his letter... There’s something I have to tell you before you go. As I told you, his father doesn’t know about it. When he finds out, I don’t want him to know everything Dino said. It would kill my son if he thought Dino saw him so unhappy all the time.”
“I hear what you’re saying and will let Edda know.”
“Thank you, Gabi.”
“Thank you for the delicious lunch. I’m happy to have met you.”
Gabi hurried out of the villa to her car. As she started the engine, she looked up and saw Dino standing at an upstairs window staring down at her. That precious boy. There was so much sadness in that house, she could hardly bear it as she drove away.
Between the grandmother’s pain and the worry in Ines’s expression, Gabi couldn’t see any happiness. She wished something else could be done, but she didn’t know what.
* * *
At four o’clock, Luca ended the staff meeting and headed for home. His mother’s earlier message that she’d be picking up Dino had allowed him to get a lot of work done today.
For the last two years Luca had trimmed his work schedule in order to put his traumatized boy first. Because he was no longer in kindergarten, their normal routine had changed.
Monday through Saturday they ate breakfast together first before he drove Dino to primary school at eight o’clock. Then Luca would leave his office in time to pick him up at one o’clock and they’d go home for lunch. After that, Luca would go back to work until five and Dino’s nanny, Ines, would take over.
But today had been an exception from start to finish. Now he could enjoy the rest of the time with his son. Maybe they’d go to another hockey match. He liked watching it with Luca.
He got back in his car and drove to Tauriano. He was furious that his father, who’d always been cold and unyielding, seemed especially devoid of human feelings when it came to Dino. He’d always resented Luca’s marriage to Catarina, and had passed on a feeling of dislike toward his grandson.
Thank heaven for Luca’s mother and Catarina’s aunt and uncle Maria and Tomaso, who’d raised her from a young age. They were like another set of grandparents to Dino, and he adored them.
For the next three weeks he needed to fill each day with activities for both of them in order to face the ordeal coming up. Once the tumor had been removed, who knew what other problems might ensue. But right now he needed to shelve that worry and handle the present.
He pulled up to the villa and hurried inside. Since his son was usually in the family room, he headed there first. “Dino? Papà is home!”
There was no answering cry, and nothing from Ines. Luca paused long enough to see a giant set of building blocks on the table. The box it came in showed a winter wonderland scene. A certain amount of work had been done on it already. He was impressed.
Apparently this was a surprise from Luca’s mother and that was why she’d gone to pick up Dino today. Maybe he’d gone home with his grandmother for dinner.
Curious, he took the stairs two at a time to the next floor, passing Dino’s bedroom on the way to his own suite for a shower. That’s when he heard sobbing and opened the door to see Ines sitting on the side of the bed trying to comfort his son. Luca felt like he’d been kicked in the gut.
Ines got to her feet and hurried over to him. Sorrow was written all over her face. “He’s had an upset today,” she whispered, “but it’s not because of a nightmare or a headache. He had a visit from a woman representing the Start with a Wish foundation. She brought him a gift, but when she had to leave, it upset Dino. I’m glad you’re home. He’ll be much better after talking to you.” On that note, she left the bedroom.
Luca walked over to the side of the bed. Dino lay on top of the covers on his stomach, hugging a pillow. He was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. Luca sat down and began to rub his back.
“Polpetto mio.” The meatball endearment he’d used with him forever usually brought a laugh, but not this time. “Want to tell Papà what’s wrong?”
He whirled around and sat up. His face was a study in misery. Luca hadn’t seen a look like that in a long time. “My nonna is mad at me. Did she call you?”
His mother didn’t have a mean bone in her body, but clearly something had disturbed Dino to the point of tears. “No. I just got home from work.”
“She didn’t say anything?”
Luca put up both hands. “I swear it.”
“Well, she’s going to.” He slid off the bed. “And then you’re going to be really mad at me.”
Since when? What the devil had gone on here? “Why would I be mad?”
“Because... I was rude to Gabi.”
Gabi? “Who’s that?” he asked, though
