“And we’d be more comfortable,” Anna said dryly. “But really the Rational Dress Society isn’t so extreme as you think. You should come with me to a meeting, Bambina.”
The look on Bambina’s face was almost comical, but she was spared answering because the detective sergeant was walking toward them.
He had taken off his suit jacket and vest to reveal emerald-green suspenders over a white shirt, his sleeves folded up to reveal muscular forearms. Elise had little experience of men beyond her father and brothers and priests, but she could see why Jack Mezzanotte was considered handsome. It was more than his features; it had to do with the way he moved, the energy and purpose of him. Right now he was coming for Anna, and Elise wondered what that would be like, to have a man look at her with such obvious affection and pleasure.
He stopped right in front of Anna and, bending down, kissed her cheek.
This was nothing out of the ordinary for Italians, as Elise had observed. They hugged and kissed as a matter of course, men just as unself-consciously as women. Men kissed brothers and sons and nephews, clasping hands on both shoulders. Mothers and sisters, aunts and young children were kissed more gently, sometimes with an arm looped around the neck.
And still this kiss was different. Because she was sitting so close, Elise saw exactly how it fell, the touch of his mouth not to cheek or jaw or even to mouth, but high on Anna’s neck, below her ear. It was simple and devastating, a gesture that spoke of possession and passion. She felt her own cheeks flushing with color, as Anna’s did.
“Savard,” Jack said with a smile. “Let’s go.” He stood back, pulling her up to walk with him. She went without protest and only the slightest hint of hesitation.
“Elise,” Jack said. “Come and meet my family.”
In her surprise she heard herself stutter. “I’m—I’m needed here.”
“Go ahead,” Chiara said. “We’ll cope just fine.”
? ? ?
BECAUSE THERE WAS no way to remember all the names and faces, Elise simply didn’t try, and really, it didn’t matter; the detective sergeant’s family members were mostly interested in Anna, which was to be expected. What did surprise her was Anna’s easy way of handling it all. She remained calm and friendly, concentrating completely on whoever was in front of her in the moment, answering questions with no trace of the impatience she would show if an orderly moved too slowly or a nurse was less than precise. Another surprise was that all of Jack’s generation spoke English without any trace of accent, and none of them talked Italian among themselves, at least not when Anna and Elise were nearby. Out of courtesy or as a matter of course, that was hard to tell.
The one exception was Carmela, the wife of Jack’s second oldest brother. Her English seemed hard-won, something she used because it was expected of her, a chore to be gotten out of the way.
Carmela had a baby on her hip, a little girl called Lolo who clung like a monkey. She had huge bright eyes and a shock of black hair, and she smiled toothlessly at everyone who stopped to admire her. Lolo first looked at Elise solemnly, her forehead creased. Then she leaned forward and launched herself as though she could fly. Elise caught her neatly, looking to her mother to see if she might be taking offense.
“She’s never seen a redhead, I take it.” And then, touching her own hair. “Sono rossa.”
“Yes,” Carmela smiled. “She will pull your red hairs.”
Elise tilted her head down for the baby’s examination. “What’s a little hair pulling between friends?”
? ? ?
JACK HAD WARNED Anna that the importance of food in Italian culture could not be underestimated, but Anna had managed somehow to do just that. The bowls and platters would have fed everyone in the park, but every now and then another rig would pull up and disgorge relatives who carried steaming pots and covered dishes.
All the adults had gathered around one long table, while children were seated at another, close enough to keep an eye on but not so close that they drowned out adult conversation. A few older nieces were stationed there to make sure high spirits didn’t get in the way of eating. Babies had been put down for naps on blankets, with a couple of dogs on alert nearby.
“Jude’s primarily a sheep farmer,” Jack explained. “His dogs do double duty on days like this, keeping track of the kids and making sure they don’t get too close to the fire pits.”