Page 5

Cisca is my mom's oldest friend. She went into hiding after my parents' death. Before she disappeared, she gave me her number. I call her using a phone app that blocks my number and location. Raffaele taught me this trick before I left Italy in case I needed to contact him.

I call her first, allowing the phone to ring repeatedly, but no answer comes.

Next is Sophia, an old friend from the neighborhood. She's not as trustworthy as Cisca, but as the neighborhood gossip, she's a good source of information. I call the number I have scribbled on an old notebook paper and am immediately greeted by the familiar rasp of her voice.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Sophia... This is Nicolleta... Ludovica's daughter..."

An audible silence remains on the line; I can barely even hear her breathing.

"I lived just down the—"

"I know who you are. And why have you called me?"

"I... didn't know who else to contact. I'm in the South now hiding out, and I just wanted any information... Have you seen Gio around? Or heard anything of him?"

She goes silent again.

"If he's smart, he's hiding like you. No, girl, I know nothing of your brother, nor would I want to. What I do know is that the Serpenti left a message for every soul in this neighborhood topass on to you—if we are brave enough not to turn you over, that is."

I hesitate for a moment, then finally speak. "What's the—"

"They say they are closer than you think, and if you know what's good, you'll find them and come clean before they find you." She goes silent once more, before adding, "Don't call here again."

The phone clicks in my face, and I'm left with the dead tone of the receiver at my ear. I hang up the phone and call back Cisca immediately. I let the phone ring as long as I can before it eventually disconnects.

Later at lunch, I read Jaime his favorite book while he sits at the table in front of his food. Stirred, afraid, and on the edge of breaking down, I still push on, keeping a happy face on for Jaime. He deserves that much. I look up from the book and notice he's not eating at all but sorting through his food and removing the mushrooms, placing them on a napkin next to the plate.

"You don't like mushrooms, bud?" I say to him.

He shakes his head left to right, pulling one impaled on his fork's end and tossing it atop the pile with the rest of them.

"I'll keep that in mind," I say with a smile, returning to the book. Every muscle in my body and nerve in my head urges me to get on the first flight to Italy and find my brother.

Hold it together, Nicole. Going back won't do anyone any good, I keep telling myself.

I continue with the story. "Lily and Jason walked through the garden toward the lake with only their map and trusty dog Spikey at their side," I say, mimicking my best narrator's voice.

"There's a big garden by my old house. It's got all kinds of flowers. Pink, purple, orange... I used to play there with the kids in my class," says Jaime.

"That's nice. Do you like flowers?"

"Sometimes, but too many give me agogries..."

I smile. "Yeah, I get allergies too."

"Uncle Shane doesn't take me out too much. But I'd really like to go to a park. I don't have any friends here, but maybe I could meet some there."

"I think it's a wonderful idea, Jaime."

"So can we go?"

"We'll see, sweetheart. You let me deal with grumpy Uncle Shane," I say, laughing.

He laughs in return, and for a few moments, all my concerns are lost in his smile. He goes back to his pasta, and I go back to the story.

Later that day I find Shane and tell him my thoughts on Jaime going out.