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‘I’ all those little faces staring atwhen they get it right is a itself’

‘You must be a natural’

‘Oh, I’ and so do they’

Just then the crowd of little girls carass, back fro up and down, giggling excitedly

‘Where are you going?’

‘Are you co back tomorrow?’

‘Please coain—we had so much fun’

And then they all swars

‘You see, you’re a natural,’ he said sole and then he squeezed her hand to underline histo be with our little one’

They walked towards the car, and he felt her fingers weaken in his grip as silence descended around the to let it take hold of her He was going to power through He could not afford for her to get cold feet

‘We’re all set for the weekend We’ll go from here to the airport and land in Roht, so you won’t see her until tomorrow Ceremony’s set for eleven’

He paused, stole a quick glance at her over the roof of the car But her face was hidden behind huge sunglasses and heraway

‘I spoke with Augusto this afternoon, too We’re expected there next Friday, by which point we’ll be married’

She was pulling her seat belt across her body with infinite care He started the engine and nosed the car along the driveway

‘Which is just as well because it turns out Claudio is going to visit them immediately after us’

He turned sharply to look at her, to see her reaction There was none

‘So anything he tries to say—any dirt he tries to dish up—we’ll have covered all the bases We’ll play the happiest, cutest needs this side of the Apennine Mountains And there’s nothing Arturo lovesItalian family and all that promises to follow Kids and houses and happily-ever-after’