Chapter 49

“What a lovely house,” Mrs. Piccioni said.

“What a beautiful location,” Mrs. Rosati said.

When I led them into the living room, Grandmother and Father Rinaldo stood. “Ladies,” I said, “may I present my grandmother la Contessa di Conti, and Father Rinaldo, who has served as parish priest in Conti for many years. Grandmother, Father Rinaldo, this is Dani’s mother, Mrs. Rosati, and her mother, Mrs. Piccioni.”

Greetings were exchanged, and Lucia chose that moment to bring the boys in from the terrace where they’d been playing. “And these noisy little fellows,” I said, “are Marcus, Bernardo, and Giovanni.”

“Are they yours?” Mrs. Rosati said.

“I’m their biological father, but for all practical purposes they are both Dani’s and mine. Their nanny is my cousin Lucia from Sicily.”

It got a little noisy for a few minutes; then I said, “Lucia, why don’t you take the boys somewhere just long enough for me to show our guests to their rooms?”