Chapter 66

Mom’s jaw had dropped when she saw the bright red boxer-briefs, which were quite form-fitting.

“Didn’t you ever see a guy in boxer-briefs before, Mom?” I said as innocently as possible.

“Not that color and not that tight,” she said.

“Maybe you ought to buy a pair for Dad—it might spice things up in the bedroom. They sell them all over Italy, and here in Aragoni.”

“Danilo Rosati, watch your tongue.”

“Let’s go down to lunch,” Marco said, changing the subject. He didn’t crack a smile, but the crinkling in the corners of his eyes said it all.

Lunch was enjoyable, and I managed to make it back up the stairs almost unaided. When I was settled back in bed, I had a visitor—Marco’s grandmother came into the bedroom, and closed the door behind her.

“I just came to tell you good-bye,” she said.

“I appreciate your being here, and there’s no doubt in my mind that your presence had everything to do with keeping things from getting out of hand.”