Chapter 64

“That is a remarkable woman,” Mom said.

“Yes, she is,” I said. “Marco and I have both become extremely fond of her. Where is he, by the way?”

“In the den using the computer.”

“Is there anything you need?” Grandma said.

“Now that I’m here, no.”

“Now that we’re alone,” Mom said, “I have to ask you a question.”

“Ask. I’ll answer it if I can.”

“You seem to be ‘living large’, as they say. What will become of you if something happens to Marco?”

“Absolutely nothing will happen to me, except that I will suffer from a great deal of loneliness. This property is in both of our names, and we have reciprocal wills—what’s his is mine and vice versa. Not to mention the fact that we took out a hefty mortgage to build this house. Did you think that I was some sort of kept boy?”

“Not really, but I don’t understand how you pay for everything.”