Page 74 (1/2)

“Yesup the next fish

Though she didn’t kno to read anything but a feords, she pressed her face beside

And that’s hoere, for a good hour until she fell asleep on my shoulder It wasn’t that late, but at least she was only sleeping at night now In a few more days, she’d be used to her life here It wouldn’t erase the time she was in Italy, but slowly, day by day, this would be the only home she really remembered

Gently rising off the bed, I picked her up and put her farther up the bed, placing the blanket on top of her

“Keep going, Daddy” She yawned

“Sleep We will read more tomorrow,” I whispered

“I’ht off the sleep, but snuggled into her pillow more

I waited for a fewup Walking to the sliding door, I glanced back at her oneon the ca the door behind me

Taking off my jacket, I tossed it onto the couch and pulled down my tie The bottle of red wine I had called for was already on the coffee table And as soon as I uncorked it, Calliope entered the roolanced at me as if she were a little shocked to see me

“She let you go?” she asked “When Gigi is interested, she never stops asking questions”

I didn’t reply, needing a drink first

“You are upset withthe bottle of wine, and I still did not reply “A 1949 Do your sorroith a fifty-thousand-dollar bottle of wine?”

I glanced up to her with my eyes narrowed “A drop in the bucket compared to what I lost today”

Her face fell as she took a seat opposite me “I fucked up—”

“Since when do you fuck up, Calliope?” I snapped, grippingat my side to prevent fuck ups?”