Chapter 5 - WHAT SHE WAS AFRAID TO SAY
Lorenzo’s face changed.
Not dramatically.
Something simply closed.
“What does that mean?”
Mrs. Gable reached them before Nora could answer.
“The girl gets confused.
She’s been emotional lately.”
Lorenzo didn’t look at her.
“I asked Nora.”
Hearing her name in his mouth startled her.
She hadn’t remembered giving it to him.
Then she saw his eyes drop briefly to the name stitched across her uniform.
A small thing.
It made speaking possible.
“His room was cold when I started.
The curtains stayed closed.
Sometimes his food sat for hours.”
Mrs. Gable laughed softly.
“That is ridiculous.”
“He needed clean clothes.”
“We have a schedule.”
“He needed somebody to care whether he was hungry.”
The hallway went silent.
Lorenzo looked at Mrs. Gable.
“Go get the care records.”
“Of course.
They’ll clear this up immediately.”
She left quickly.
Nora’s courage almost left with her.
“I should’ve said something before.”
“Why didn’t you?”
She looked at him.
“Who was I supposed to tell?”
His expression tightened.
Nora wished she could take it back.
Then she thought of the man behind the closed door.
No.
She didn’t.
Lorenzo led the way to room 4B.
The fire blazed.
Fresh food sat untouched beneath a silver cover.
He stopped inside.
“Papa.”
Giovanni’s eyes moved toward him.
Lorenzo crouched.
“It’s me.”
Nora stayed by the door.
She watched the old man look at his son, then past him.
At her.
Lorenzo noticed.
“You know her?”
Giovanni’s fingers shifted.
Nora came closer.
“He sometimes does that when he wants something.”
“What does he want?”
“I don’t always know.”
She reached for the water glass.
Giovanni looked away.
Nora set it down.
Lorenzo watched her pull up the stool, check the blanket, and straighten one of his father’s feet.
Each motion was practiced.
Quiet.
Familiar.
“How often are you here?”
“Every day.”
“For how long?”
“As long as I can.”
Lorenzo looked at the heated blanket beneath the expensive quilt.
“That wasn’t here before.”
“I bought it.”
“Why?”
Nora stared at him.
“Because he was cold.”
Behind them, Mrs. Gable returned carrying a thick blue binder.
“All documented, Mr. Moretti.
Meals, baths, medical visits.”
She placed it in his hands.
Lorenzo opened the first page.
Then Nora saw the signature at the bottom.
May you like
Her name.
In handwriting that wasn’t hers.
