Unforgotten Read Online Free PDF

out and drew her over.
    “Com bella.”
    Rese took the hand that jerked toward her with skin that felt like fallen leaves. She didn’t know how to answer because she hadn’t understood the greeting but didn’t want to make her repeat it.
    “That means ‘how lovely’,” Lance said.
    No wonder she hadn’t understood. It wasn’t English.
    The woman reached up her other hand to hold both of Rese’s. “L … et me s … ee you.”
    Rese tried not to flinch as the pale eyes scrutinized her. Maybe they were weak, because the woman pulled her close, then closer. She brushed her cheeks with her papery lips, then made a cross on her forehead with her thumb and followed that with a kiss too.
    Rese drew back slowly, strangely moved by this demonstration and not nearly as awkward as she had been with the others. Maybe she was getting used to it, or else the age and dignity of this shrunken woman imbued a certain relevance to the gesture.
    Lance turned. “This is my Nonna Antonia, Rese. It was her grandfather I buried.”
    Rese nodded. “I’m happy to meet you.” This woman had apparently grown up in the villa Rese had just renovated. The woman Lance was willing to lie and cheat for. She shook that thought away. Seeing them together, she glimpsed the bond that had driven him. Glimpsed, but didn’t understand.
    Or did she? Visions filled her mind of her own mother and the fierce love she’d felt for her. Hadn’t she done everything to protect her, even lying to her father? She didn’t want to think about any of that. There were decisions to be made about her mother’s care, but not now, not here.
    The door opened and a young woman came in, slighter and fairer than Monica, but similar enough to guess a family connection. “Non—” She stopped. “Lance!” She set down her briefcase, came over and hugged him tightly, an honest hug with no cheek kissing. They looked close in age, but there was life and intelligence in her face that Rese hadn’t seen in Monica.
    Lance held her back and studied her. “How you doin’?” There was tenderness in his tone that hadn’t been there with his older sister.
    She tipped her head and shrugged.
    “Sofie, this is Rese.”
    And suddenly the sister realized she was there. She turned. “Hi. Sorry. I was surprised to see Lance.” She held out her hand to shake.
    Rese took it firmly. “Nice to meet you.”
    “Nurse or therapist?”
    Rese blinked, but Lance said, “She’s with me.”
    Up went the eyebrows. “Oh.” Then came the kisses, one for each cheek. Rese stifled her laugh. So far, Lance was the only one who hadn’t. It might have been easier getting it all over with at once. But then, it was kind of nice too.
    Sofie bent and kissed Antonia. “Com stai?”
    “Bene, cara.” She seemed to speak Italian without halting and dragging the words.
    “Do you need anything?”
    “No, grazie .”
    Sofie straightened. “So tell me everything. Does Momma know?”
    Lance laughed. “Don’t start making plans.”
    Sofie turned to her. “He’s dragging his feet?”
    That was one thing that could never be said about Lance.
    “We’re in business together,” he said.
    “Business?”
    “Business.” He looked her over. “Are you finished with classes for the summer?”
    “No, I’m in for the summer. It never ends.”
    “Sofie’s getting her doctorate in behavioral disorders.”
    Rese nodded. “Wow. Sounds like work.” And just the sort of brain exercise she’d never pursued herself, until recently, trying to understand her mother’s condition—and possibly her own.
    “It’s hard.” A shadow passed over her features as Sofie slipped her loose blouse off and laid it over the back of a chair, then walked in her sleeveless top to the window. She opened the one that looked out over the street. “What’s Momma doing for dinner?”
    “Ferragosto.”
    “Madonna mia!” Laughing, Sofie turned to her. “Ferragosto is the Belmont street festival. Opera, folk dancing,