Three Times You by Federico Moccia

Author:Federico Moccia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2023-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

Babi walks out of little Massimo’s room.

“I sent you a dozen red roses, and you didn’t even text me to say thank you.” Lorenzo is standing in the middle of the living room.

“I was out all day, and I knew you’d be home later. I needed to check Massimo’s homework.”

“We have a nanny to do that.”

“I want my son to grow up in contact with me. I want him to hear the sound of my voice. I thought you knew me. I don’t like having nannies around the house. When we were little, my sister and I never had one.”

“We can afford them though.”

Babi glares at him angrily. “My folks could afford them, too, but they preferred not to.” She walks over to the roses, arranges them to give them a little more room in the vase, and then picks up the card on the table next to them. I love you more than ever. She folds it back up. “Thanks. They’re beautiful.”

“Do you know what they’re for?”

Babi says nothing. She picks up a few action figures from the floor where Massimo had been playing with them.

Lorenzo looks at her, with her back to him. “Because today is our monthiversary. It’s from the first time we kissed. It was at night, and we were up on the Gianicolo Hill. We got out of the car, it was cold, and you said to me, ‘Hold me tight.’ So I did. I embraced you, and we stood there like that for a while. Then I kissed you, and you laughed, and you asked me, ‘So what does this mean? Are we going steady now?’ And I told you, ‘No, it means I want to marry you.’” Lorenzo smiles, pulls out a pack of cigarettes, and lights one. “So? Do you remember?”

“Perfectly. Just like you never remember not to smoke indoors.” Babi walks out on the terrace. Lorenzo picks up an ashtray and follows her. He sets it down on the parapet and stands near her. They remain in silence, looking down on the passing cars on the Via Nomentana. There’s a bit of traffic. Over a distant roof, the flag of an embassy waves and beyond that lie the magnificent vaults of the church of Santa Costanza.

Lorenzo looks around. “The terrace has turned out perfectly. I like the lighting too. Shall we sit down?” He points to a sofa near several potted strawberry trees and a maritime pine, illuminated with faint blue lights.

Babi goes over to him while Lorenzo walks to the light switch to dim the terrace lights ever so slightly. When Babi turns around, she can’t see him, but then she hears the melody of “Meraviglioso” by the Negramaro coming out of the speakers, filling the terrace with atmosphere and sound. A second later, Lorenzo appears with a remote in one hand, smiling at her.

“Turn the music down. I’m afraid that if Massimo wants something, we won’t hear him.”

He shows her, in his other hand, a baby monitor with the green light indicating that it’s turned on.

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