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N EUROCHIRUGIA , or, neurosurgery, read the sign, and Julia hurried off the elevator and down the hallway.

She’d asked downstairs about Gianluca’s condition, and they’d directed her to a waiting room on the fourth floor, telling her he was in surgery.

The thought terrified her. She hustled past patients’ rooms and a nurse rolling a grayish standing desk.

Julia spotted a waiting room with glass walls at the end of the hall. She got closer and saw it contained a handful of people talking and comforting each other. She realized they had to be here for Gianluca.

How can he be gone, just like that?

She recognized the voice, disconcerted. It was her mother-in-law, grief-stricken at Mike’s wake, and Julia flashed back to the scene, which had looked just like the waiting room.

Mike’s family, lawyer friends, basketball buddies, fraternity brothers, secretaries, and other staff had come, but impossibly, he was gone.

It was like a sick joke. Come to the party, where the guest of honor lies in an open casket.

Her mother-in-law said, He looks good.

Her father-in-law said, They did a good job.

Julia had said nothing. She’d avoided looking at Mike in a casket.

She’d touched his hand, which felt cold and oddly tacky.

His flesh-toned makeup had come off on her fingers, appalling her.

She couldn’t accept that he was dead, dressed in a dark suit that she remembered him trying on at Bloomingdale’s.

Babe, am I partner material or what?

The tie that Mike was buried in was her birthday present to him, a blue silk Hermès with tiny horseshoes. When he opened the gift, he’d been puzzled.

Thanks, babe! But why horseshoes?

That’s their trademark.

Who knew that?

Everybody but you.

So it’s a flex? Nice!

At the wake, Julia played the role of Mike’s Widow, but inside she was horrified, utterly horrified , struggling to metabolize the fact that he’d been murdered . That he died so violently reverberated deep within her, and she overheard snippets of conversations.

If there were more cops on the street.

What’s the matter with people.

They better catch the guy.

I hate the new DA.

Julia shook off the memory as she reached the waiting room and pulled open the door.

Conversation subsided as heads turned in her direction. There were eight people in the waiting room, and worry strained every face. They were all adults, and an older woman sat wrapped in a paisley pashmina, praying a crystal rosary.

Julia introduced herself. “I’m a friend of Gianluca’s. I came to see how he was.”

“I’m Sherry Borsoni, his mother,” a middle-aged woman said in an American accent, managing a shaky smile.

Julia knew it was Gianluca’s mother from the family resemblance.

Sherry had his large eyes, but hers were blue, with thick eyebrows and almost the same mouth, wide and generous.

Her hair was the same lustrous black, but straight to her shoulders, shot through with silver.

She was lean, too, in a tan V-neck sweater, skinny jeans, and black flats.

“I’m so sorry this happened.” Julia extended a hand, and their eyes met with shared anguish.

“Thank you. I never would have believed it.”

“I know, it’s awful.”

“He was so careful, but I know that accidents happen, and the weather was so…” Sherry didn’t finish the sentence, her lower lip trembling.

“I know.” Julia let the moment pass. She doubted that Sherry knew about her and Gianluca being followed by the white Fiat, and it wasn’t the time or place to air her suspicions.

Meanwhile everyone else was watching them, whispering in somber tones, and she got the impression they knew who she was, which surprised her. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

“Not at all. I’m glad you came. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Aw. “How is he? They wouldn’t tell me.”

Sherry sighed, pained. “He was in surgery when we got here. The doctor said he had a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull. There were also several broken bones, two ribs, his femur, and a bone in his arm, the ulna I believe.” Sherry’s dark eyes filmed.

“He was in hemorrhagic shock when they brought him in. He lost a lot of blood. They had to transfuse him.”

“Oh no.” Julia flashed on blood glistening in the darkness, then realized it was a memory from Mike.

“They tend to the brain injury first. He’s in surgery now, and they say it will take several more hours, then he’ll go into the recovery room.

We won’t see him until dawn.” Sherry’s mouth trembled at its downturned corners.

“But it’s a good hospital. He’s in wonderful hands. We’re praying for a full recovery.”

“So what’s his prognosis?” Julia blurted out, trying to get her bearings.

“We don’t know at this point.” Sherry tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He called me before he left. He was on his way to your place for dinner, wasn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“Please, let me introduce you. My family has taken over the way we always do. We don’t visit, we invade .” Sherry motioned to the crowd. “Everyone, this is Julia Pritzker, Gianluca’s girlfriend.”

Gulp. Julia felt mixed-up. A minute ago she was mourning Mike, now she was Gianluca’s girlfriend.

“I’ll introduce you, but you don’t have to remember the names.

” Sherry pointed out her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law, her brother-in-law, and teenaged cousins.

Julia shook their hands and said piacere to each one.

They smiled with muted goodwill, Sherry most of all.

“My son is so excited about you. I must say, I noticed the change in him, almost overnight. It’s as if he was brought back to life. ”

“Oh my, thank you.” Julia felt touched.

“I’d love for you to meet my husband and daughter. They went downstairs to get coffee and sandwiches.” Sherry seemed to catch herself. “Would you like something to eat? I can text them.”

“No, thanks, I’m fine.”

“Oh, look, here they are. I’m sure they have extra, knowing my husband.

” Sherry motioned to the door, which was opened by a handsome, middle-aged man carrying a tray of sandwiches, snacks, and soda.

He had cool wire-rimmed glasses, a gentle smile like Gianluca’s, and graying black curls.

He was wearing a striped shirt with jeans and started speaking Italian when Sherry interrupted him.

“Tonio, this is Julia, Gianluca’s girlfriend.”

“Hello, Julia,” Tonio said in Italian-accented English, with a teary smile. “It’s good to meet you, even on this terrible day.”

“I’m so sorry this happened to Gianluca.”

“I know, thank you. We pray for him. Julia, this is Raffaella, Gianluca’s older sister.” Tonio gestured behind him to a young woman with short blue hair, funky silver earrings, and a flowery boho top with jeans. A snake tattoo coiled around her right arm.

“Nice to meet you.” Julia was about to extend a hand, but Raffaella’s pierced lips parted.

“Why are you here? You’re not family, and it’s only family.”

Julia blinked. “They told me—”

“Wait. Are you married ?”

Julia’s mouth went dry. “No, I’m not—”

“Then why are you wearing a wedding ring?”

Sherry’s eyes flared. “What? I didn’t notice—”

“See, Mamma, this is what I mean!” Raffaella threw up her hands, turning to her mother. “He leads with his heart, he always has. She’s on her little vacation fantasy, then she goes home, leaving him in pieces!”

“No, I’m… not,” Julia said, stammering.

Everyone looked shocked, bursting into excited chatter, and Julia edged back toward the door. She didn’t want to tell them she was a widow, that she was sleeping with one man and feeling married to another.

“I’m sorry.” Julia fled the room and hurried down the hallway.