Page 91 of Storm in a D Cup

‘He’s been arrested?’

‘You think we’d let him get away with this bullshit?’

‘Thank God…’

‘Listen, I’m coming over to pick up your kids. You go to theCarabinieriright now. And then get your ass back here. I’m making a cake to celebrate this bastard’s downfall, and you’re getting the biggest slice.’

A low, bitter laugh. ‘I love you, Erica.’

I swallowed. ‘Hurry up.’ And then I put the phone down.

*

The filthy bastard finally got a jail sentence the size of a medieval cathedral. He ended up selling most of his properties to pay for the legal fees. Too bad for him. That ought to teach him to try and lure minors to his bed. But little did I know my actions had picked up momentum:

Erica Foxham, politically incorrect marriage blogger, and husband Julian Foxham attack the lover of a friend, read the title in the paper. Oh, I only wished I’d had a swing at him! That the friend was my daughter’s and was also a minor was apparently a minor issue. I decided to set the record straight.

Tuscan prince of medieval hamlet caught with his pants downsounded like the perfect title, but I wanted it to say more.

Town pedophile finally gets what he deserves.

I told of how many hearts he’d broken, how many marriage promises he’d sowed and no woman had ever reaped; of how he propositioned them (I’d had the unpleasant experience myself, if you remember), obtained what he’d wanted and abandoned them.

Leonardo Cortini had even shamelessly run for mayor but had never made it. Thanks to secret ballot. To his face, everyone was helpful and sustained him, but only in words. Every time someone went behind the curtains in the voting booth, you could be sure they weren’t voting for him.

‘Do you know how many years we’ve been wanting to nail this asshole but just couldn’t get to him?’ our agent-friend Massimo Guarini had told us. ‘We’re putting him away for a very long time.’

Amen.

21

Going Global

After things got back to normal, Julian flew to the States – with Genie Stacie – to sort out the legalities while Joey stayed with us where she belonged. The days without Julian went by so slowly, my only contacts with the world being the kids, my dad, Paul and Renata – my lifelines.

‘You’re going to love Joey,’ I told Paul over the phone.

‘She sounds adorable. Just think of how she’ll benefit from all this. A stable family – a stepmom who actually listens. And cooks!’

I smiled into the mouthpiece. ‘Stepmom. Does that sound OK? I keep thinking of bloody Cinderella’s stepmom.’

Paul chuckled. ‘You’ll do fine. You’ve always been so full of love. And right now Julian needs you more than anything.’

‘I know. I miss you, Paulie. When are you coming back? I want to have a special lunch for Joey when they get back. Introduce her to the townspeople. If Julian can get Genie Stacie to agree to her living here I want her to feel at home.’

‘She’salreadyhome with you guys, Erica.’

‘Thanks, Paulie…’

I thought about it. Paul was right. It was amazing, the clarity that derived from sharing a problem with a loved one. Paul was such a scatterbrain in his own love life, but in mine he saw everything crystal clear. Julian and I would be Joey’s rock. We would all be each other’s rock in this family.

*

‘Honey, are you OK?’ came my sister’s voice over the phone, all the way from Boston. And it wasn’t even one a.m. yet.

‘Yes, Why?’

‘You don’t watch your satellite TV much, huh? Do yourself a favor and turn it on, will you?’