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“Congratulations.” You fiddled with a knob on the front of the car, “This has a radio?”
“New miniature type, yeah, doesn’t even make the car cost that much more. Just find whatever you like on there.”
“I thought you and Marcella just wanted two, though?” You asked, “Now’s a bit late. Your kids will leave the house while the youngest is still little.”
“Cesare and Chiara have been getting more independent anyways lately. I think she’s felt lonely,” Leo shrugged, “I always thought she felt the same with machines as she did with people, but then, I suppose she’s had a lot of time with them lately, and not so much with me. Makes me feel a bit bad, even if she says it’s fine.”
“You can’t make fun of me for not pulling out anymore, then,” you mused as you found a brass band on the radio.
“Like hell I can’t, Bonetto.”
Your new “office” in Lapizlazulli’s downtown was a multi-tiered building crammed into a corner, a thin structure, with only a couple rooms per its three floors from just looking at it. Newly purchased and appointed, a pair of tough looking young men sat in the foyer, standing up and saluting you and Leo as you came in.
“<span class="mu-i">Signore</span> Bonaventura, <span class="mu-i">Signore</span> Leone,” the younger one recognized you both breathlessly, “Good morning. The coffee pot is still hot.”
“Both of you have any?” Leo asked as he looked over to the small kitchenette in the back.
“No, <span class="mu-i">Signore</span>, not until you have.”
“Just grab some,” you said, though it looked like somebody already had a few cups themselves. “Are you two the only ones here?”
“No,” the older guard said, “There’s the new secretary. Yours, I believe, <span class="mu-i">Signore</span> Bonaventura.”
First you’d heard of them. “Well, Leo,” you said, “Better introduce me.”
“I actually had some good luck with finding them,” Leo said as he led you upstairs, “You know her. Or you might now, I don’t know.” He opened the door and let you in. “Antonia, we’re here.”
The smartly dressed young woman sitting at the file-smothered desk with a half-full coffee cup did indeed look familiar. The blonde hair, the green eyes, she could practically be-
“Hello, cousin,” Antonia said dully as she hooked a finger around her coffee cup. “I think this is the first time we’ll have met, actually. I’m your uncle’s youngest daughter.”
“Born just before you left, apparently,” Leo said, “You’re an inspiration in getting the country folk to head to the big city. I wanted to find somebody that Yena wouldn’t feel threatened about. I’d say you were in luck, but honestly, Bonetto, I think the rest of your family breeds the same way you do, so it might have been a guarantee.”
“A pleasure to meet you anyways, cousin,” you said with a nod.
“Come along then,” Leo gestured to you both, “To your chair, Bonetto. Top floor. Lovely view of the sea.”
