Page 129 of The Unraveling of Julia

“Yes, true, there’s that.” Fiamma looked up, unsmiling. “I remember when she commissioned them. She planned every one.”

“How old were you?” Julia asked, but Fiamma was already heading into the living room, stopping at a distance from the broken wall to the underground tunnel.

Oh no.“I’m so sorry.” Julia went to her, feeling a rush of sympathy.

Fiamma seemed rooted to the spot, her expression agonized as she confronted a childhood horror. She didn’t speak for a moment, then said, “So you know.”

“Yes. I found the… room.”

“She had the entrance plastered over?”

“I guess so, yes.”

Fiamma shook her head. “It used to have a door.”

“I can’t imagine what it was like.”

“I can’t forget what it was like.” Fiamma spoke quietly, her voice pained. “She put me down there for a few days every month, sometimes a week, and itterrifiedme.”

Julia shuddered.

“Sometimes she would stay with me until I fell asleep, but then I would wake up, even more afraid because she was gone. I would scream but she didn’t let me out.”

Julia touched her arm. “Let’s go to the kitchen. We can have some wine.” She walked that way, and Fiamma followed her. They enteredthe kitchen, and Julia poured Chianti into their glasses while Fiamma looked around with disapproval.

“This kitchen used to be so wonderful. This is sad.” Fiamma’s expression changed when she noticed Bianco, still fully asleep. “This must be her dog. She adored this breed.”

“His name is Bianco.”

“I know. She names them all Bianco.”

“Really?” Julia almost laughed.

“I’m telling you, she was crazy.” Fiamma bent down and stroked Bianco’s head, smiling. “But she loved animals, I’ll give her that.”

“Here we go.” Julia handed Fiamma her glass, picked up her own, and hesitated, thinking of a toast. “To the future?”

“Yes, perfect.” Fiamma managed a smile, they clinked glasses and took a sip, and Julia never needed alcohol more than this very moment.

“Anyway, thank you for everything tonight. Courtney told me you called the police and they wouldn’t have gotten to me, if not for you acting so quickly.”

“It was the least I could do.”

It kind of was, Julia thought but didn’t say.

“Why were those men after you? What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you, but first I want to say I’m sorry about crashing your opening night. I never meant to ruin it for you.”

“The show?” Fiamma dismissed it with a wave. “I called Paolo and my friends to apologize. Don’t worry.”

“I didn’t know if I should come.”

Fiamma smiled. “I’m glad you did. It was brave of you.”

“Thank you,” Julia said, pleased, which struck her as pathetic. She was seeking the approval of a mother she didn’t know.

“I’ve dreamed about meeting you, and here we are.”