smiling and she was laughing, the whole atmosphere of the room had changed again.
Yes, that's so. I happen to be the genius around the office these days, or hadn't you noticed?
Not at all. And every morning when I look in the mirror and say, Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the genius of them all ' ?' But they were both laughing now and suddenly their faces were closer again and he could feel her soft breath on his cheek, and all he wanted to do was kiss her again, and he could see her mouth waiting for his, but this time he didn't do it, the moment passed, and in embarrassment Isabella laughed oddly, stood up, and walked away. No, it was not going to be easy at the office. They both knew that now.
Look what Luisa baked for Santa! On his soft sleeper-clad feet, he had approached unheard. But they looked up now to see Alessandro carrying two plates covered with gingerbread that he deposited carefully on a little stool he placed next to the fire. He looked at them soberly and then picked up one large warm piece of the gingerbread, which he rapidly ate. And then he disappeared again, having broken the painful spell.
Isabella' . He looked at her and smiled. Don't worry. She only patted his arm, and they exchanged a smile as Alessandro returned, uneasily carrying two mugs of milk.
Are you having a party or feeding Santa? Bernardo grinned at him and sat down again.
No. Nothing's for me.
All of that is for Santa? Bernardo watched him with a broad grin, but the boy's face grew slowly serious, and he shook his head. Is it for me? The head shook soberly again.
It's for Papa. In case ' the angels let him come home ' just for tonight. He looked again at the two places he had set near the fireplace and then kissed his mother and Bernardo good night. And five minutes later Bernardo left and Isabella went quietly to her room. It had been a very long night.
Chapter SEVEN
How's the carousel holding up? Bernardo stretched his legs in front of him as he and Isabella ended a private conference at the end of a long day. It was three weeks after Christmas, and they had been doing nothing but work. But at last things seemed to be settling into a routine again. It had even been almost ten days since they'd had a good fight. And he hadn't mentioned his Christmas confession again. Isabella was relieved.
I think he likes it almost as much as your bike.
Has he broken any of the furniture with it yet?
No, but he's certainly trying. Yesterday he set himself a race course in the dining room and only knocked over five chairs. They laughed for a moment, and Isabella stood up and stretched. She was relieved that the holidays were over and she was pleased with the work they had done. With some effort they had both returned to their old relationship, and even Bernardo could see that she was in a peaceful mood. And then he saw her stiffen as she heard Amadeo's phone. Why are they ringing that office?
Maybe they couldn't get through to yours. He tried to underplay it, although for a moment it had startled him too. But they both knew that the men who cleared her phone calls sometimes tied up all the lines. Do you want me to get it?
No. It's all right. She walked quickly into Amadeo's office and was gone for only two minutes when Bernardo heard a scream. He ran in to find her white-faced and hysterical, with both hands to her mouth, staring at the phone.
What is it? But she didn't answer, and when she tried, all that came from her was a croak and then another scream. Isabella, tell me! He was holding her by both shoulders and shaking her as desperately he searched her eyes. What did they say? Was it something to do with Amadeo? Was it the same man? Isabella' . He was seriously considering slapping her as the guard who haunted her outer office rushed inside. Isabella!
Alessandro! ' They ' said ' they ' have him! ' She fell, sobbing, into Bernardo's arms as the guard ran frantically for the phone, dialing her home number, but he couldn't get
Yes, that's so. I happen to be the genius around the office these days, or hadn't you noticed?
Not at all. And every morning when I look in the mirror and say, Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the genius of them all ' ?' But they were both laughing now and suddenly their faces were closer again and he could feel her soft breath on his cheek, and all he wanted to do was kiss her again, and he could see her mouth waiting for his, but this time he didn't do it, the moment passed, and in embarrassment Isabella laughed oddly, stood up, and walked away. No, it was not going to be easy at the office. They both knew that now.
Look what Luisa baked for Santa! On his soft sleeper-clad feet, he had approached unheard. But they looked up now to see Alessandro carrying two plates covered with gingerbread that he deposited carefully on a little stool he placed next to the fire. He looked at them soberly and then picked up one large warm piece of the gingerbread, which he rapidly ate. And then he disappeared again, having broken the painful spell.
Isabella' . He looked at her and smiled. Don't worry. She only patted his arm, and they exchanged a smile as Alessandro returned, uneasily carrying two mugs of milk.
Are you having a party or feeding Santa? Bernardo grinned at him and sat down again.
No. Nothing's for me.
All of that is for Santa? Bernardo watched him with a broad grin, but the boy's face grew slowly serious, and he shook his head. Is it for me? The head shook soberly again.
It's for Papa. In case ' the angels let him come home ' just for tonight. He looked again at the two places he had set near the fireplace and then kissed his mother and Bernardo good night. And five minutes later Bernardo left and Isabella went quietly to her room. It had been a very long night.
Chapter SEVEN
How's the carousel holding up? Bernardo stretched his legs in front of him as he and Isabella ended a private conference at the end of a long day. It was three weeks after Christmas, and they had been doing nothing but work. But at last things seemed to be settling into a routine again. It had even been almost ten days since they'd had a good fight. And he hadn't mentioned his Christmas confession again. Isabella was relieved.
I think he likes it almost as much as your bike.
Has he broken any of the furniture with it yet?
No, but he's certainly trying. Yesterday he set himself a race course in the dining room and only knocked over five chairs. They laughed for a moment, and Isabella stood up and stretched. She was relieved that the holidays were over and she was pleased with the work they had done. With some effort they had both returned to their old relationship, and even Bernardo could see that she was in a peaceful mood. And then he saw her stiffen as she heard Amadeo's phone. Why are they ringing that office?
Maybe they couldn't get through to yours. He tried to underplay it, although for a moment it had startled him too. But they both knew that the men who cleared her phone calls sometimes tied up all the lines. Do you want me to get it?
No. It's all right. She walked quickly into Amadeo's office and was gone for only two minutes when Bernardo heard a scream. He ran in to find her white-faced and hysterical, with both hands to her mouth, staring at the phone.
What is it? But she didn't answer, and when she tried, all that came from her was a croak and then another scream. Isabella, tell me! He was holding her by both shoulders and shaking her as desperately he searched her eyes. What did they say? Was it something to do with Amadeo? Was it the same man? Isabella' . He was seriously considering slapping her as the guard who haunted her outer office rushed inside. Isabella!
Alessandro! ' They ' said ' they ' have him! ' She fell, sobbing, into Bernardo's arms as the guard ran frantically for the phone, dialing her home number, but he couldn't get
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